Parliamentary questions
Monica Lennon
3,484 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
18 Oct 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether employers are required to provide face coverings for their employees.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: A requirement has been placed upon staff to wear face coverings in workplace canteens (when not seated, eating or drinking) and indoor workplace communal areas from 16 October 19 October respectively. Communal areas in workplaces are places where people mingl…
18 Oct 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much of the funding available to the Drug Deaths Taskforce has been used to reduce the consumption of benzodiazepines, or so-called "street Valium", and what projects have been funded.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: To ask the Scottish Government how much of the funding available to the Drug Deaths Taskforce has been used to reduce the consumption of benzodiazepines, or so-called "street Valium", and what projects have been funded.0 The availability and use of street be…
15 Oct 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-32107 by Jeane Freeman on 29 September 2020, how much of the additional funding for supporting social care spent to date has been on (a) PPE costs, (b) staffing or sickness costs, (c) the 3.3% pay uplift, (d) reduction in occupancy costs and (e) oth…
Answer · Jeane Freeman: To date, the Scottish Government has provided over £245 million of additional funding to support Health & Social Care Partnerships (HSCPs) in responding to additional COVID pressures in 2020-21. Details of the allocation by expenditure categories are set out …
15 Oct 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the total cost is of the Test and Protect programme, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: NHS Test and Protect is a complex public health intervention and uses a whole system approach for delivery across NHS Boards, local authorities and other key delivery partners. As spend may be incurred centrally, rather than by individual partners, costs incu…
15 Oct 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which companies or organisations are responsible for running the (a) regional COVID-19 testing programme and (b) Glasgow Lighthouse Lab.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: (a) UK Governments Department of Health and Social Care are responsible for the delivery of the UK Covid 19 testing programme, and as part of this, the Glasgow Lighthouse Lab. (b) These three large NHS labs will, go live over November and December, and provi…
15 Oct 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the annual cost will be of the 3.3% pay increase for social care staff announced on 12 April 2020.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The total cost in 2020-21 of the pay uplift is estimated to be in the region of £36 million. I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-32584 on 9 November 2020. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, …
13 Oct 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether NHS boards have been effective in making period products accessible to (a) patients and (b) staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: We have no information or evidence to support that as required NHS Boards have and are continuing to fulfil their duty in making period products accessible while meeting the extraordinary demands placed on the service by the Covid-19 pandemic.
13 Oct 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether any changes to the contents of the Baby Box are planned, to take account of the needs of mothers, parents and babies during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government currently has no plans to make any changes to the contents of Scotland’s Baby Boxes. The Baby Box ensures that every family with a newborn has access to essential items needed in the first six months of a child’s life. The Baby Box ba…
13 Oct 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-29950 by John Swinney on 1 July 2020, how much financial support has been provided since April 2020 to organisations and charities that run outdoor activity centres, and what other assistance has been provided.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: As set out in the answer to question S5W-29950, the Scottish Government has provided a package of support to outdoor education centres impacted by the pandemic. We continue to be committed to supporting centres and we have been in regular contact with sector …
13 Oct 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) the Scottish Ambulance Service and (b) NHS Lanarkshire regarding ambulance waiting times and their impact on patients.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government has not held any specific discussions with NHS Lanarkshire regarding ambulance waiting times in the area. We receive daily and weekly updates on ambulance service performance across the country, broken down by Board area and if any ma…
13 Oct 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what advice is being given to schools regarding ventilation in classrooms and communal areas in response to COVID-19.
Answer · John Swinney: The safety of all school users is of paramount importance to the Scottish Government. Evidence suggests that adequate levels of ventilation can limit the spread of COVID-19. As winter approaches, we have issued updated guidance to local authorities that bala…
13 Oct 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much financial assistance has been provided to (a) communities and (b) businesses affected by the COVID-19 restrictions in the NHS (i) Lanarkshire and (ii) Forth Valley area.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Communities, including those affected by the COVID-19 restrictions in Lanarkshire and Forth Valley health board areas, continue to be supported by investment through the Scottish Government’s Communities funding package. Details of funding allocated by local …
13 Oct 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the (a) membership and (b) remit of the Care Homes Clinical and Professional Advisory Group.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Clinical and Professional Advisory Group (CPAG)is co-chaired by the National Clinical Advisor on Ageing and Health, Chief Medical Officer Directorate, and the Depute Chief Nursing Officer, Chief Nursing Officer Directorate in the Scottish Government. Gro…
13 Oct 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what specific consultation the Care Homes Clinical and Professional Advisory Group has undertaken with the care home workforce regarding (a) care home visiting and (b) other staff health and safety matters.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Clinical and Professional Advisory Group is a multi-disciplinary group of care home providers, clinicians, nursing, GP, social work and social care, scrutiny and third sector representatives which considers and advises on issues during the pandemic. Meeti…
13 Oct 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of people in Scotland who have tested positive for COVID-19 following a routine test have been asymptomatic.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring information on the Covid-19 epidemic in Scotland is available to the public. On this occasion, The Scottish Government does not hold the information requested, officials continue to work with Public Health Scot…
13 Oct 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what its position is regarding having regular and routine COVID-19 testing on people who are asymptomatic.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: As set out in our strategic framework for the pandemic published on 23 October, our plans to develop the testing element of Test and Protect in the next three months are focussed on building capacity within NHS Scotland and deploying expansions in UK Governme…
8 Oct 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many ICU beds each NHS board has, and how this compares with each of the last five years.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: NHS Boards have provided the following figures for current ICU capacity and surge capacity: Health Board Baseline ICU Capacity Double Capacity and Commitment to deliver in one week ‘Triple plus’ Capacity Commitment to deliver in two weeks ICU Max Surge B…
2 Oct 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to increase funding for NHS residential rehabilitation services.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Our budget commits a further £20 million to reduce the harm caused by drugs. This means the total Scottish Government spend on drugs and alcohol in 2020-21 will be up to £95.3 million. Decisions on configuration of local services, including residential rehab…
2 Oct 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to a recent University of Glasgow survey that suggests there was an increase in rates of (a) alcohol consumption and (b) distress among the general public during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government has provided support to vulnerable people in various ways during the Covid-19 lockdown period, and recognises it is just as important now that we continue to make sure support is available and accessible to those that need it. We have…
2 Oct 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to refresh its public health messaging regarding safe drinking limits.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Our Alcohol Framework set out a commitment to engaging in a national social marketing campaign to increase public awareness of the UK Chief Medical Officers’ low-risk drinking guidelines. We delivered the ‘Count 14’ marketing campaign over two phases, for th…
2 Oct 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will reconsider its position regarding the establishment of a commissioner for older people, in light of the impact of COVID-19 on that age group.
Answer · Christina McKelvie: Further to my response to the answer to question S5W-29789 on 18 June 2020, I can advise that the Scottish Government’s position on the creation of a Commissioner for Older People has not changed. I would refer to the process which led to the establishment o…
2 Oct 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) self-referrals and (b) and referrals by each NHS board for residential rehabilitation services there have been in each of the last five years.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Complete information on (a) self-referrals and (b) and referrals by each NHS board for residential rehabilitation services is not held centrally. Information on referrals by Health Boards is not collected centrally. However, data collected for Public Health …
2 Oct 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has set a five-adult limit on attendance at baby and toddler classes but none for gyms, pubs or restaurants.
Answer · Maree Todd: Guidance on organised activities for children was updated on 5 October to allow that when all children in a group are less than 12 months old, and other health and safety criteria are met, groups will now allow up to ten adults to be present at one time.
2 Oct 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what contingency plans there are to respond to any increased NHS and social care staff absences during the winter.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: We are undertaking work across our health and social care settings to assess our preparedness for Winter. As part of this we are working with Boards and delivery partners to ensure that we are as prepared as we can be for the months ahead in the context of Co…
30 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how Getting It Right for Every Child is being implemented in early years education, in light of COVID-19 restrictions that affect baby and toddler classes.
Answer · Maree Todd: Getting it right for every child is our starting position for all policies. Due to the current restrictions on households meeting up indoors or outdoors, the organised activities for children guidance has been put in place as recognition of the needs of young…
29 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the evidence for its decision to ban music in pubs and other hospitality venues, and whether it will summarise what this evidence states.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Factors such as background sound that may lead to raised voices or cause people to lean-in close to others to be heard are a risk factor in the transmission of coronavirus. This is recognised by a wide body of publicly available scientific evidence in relatio…
29 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has carried out an Equality Impact Assessment of continued restrictions on NHS dentistry.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The remobilisation of dental services has been effected as part of the wider Route Map devised by the Scottish Government to respond to the coronavirus pandemic which was the subject of an Equality and Fairer Scotland Impact Assessment (EQFSIA) as a whole. Th…
29 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to resume cancer treatment, and what plans it has for public health messaging regarding cancer symptoms, in light of a reported rise in presentations of advanced cancer patients.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: Urgent treatment, including for cancer has continued through the pandemic. Our priority remains to ensure that vital services are delivered to patients based on their clinical priority and clinical risk. We have invested £10 million to support cancer service…
29 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many flu vaccinations have been ordered for winter 2020-21, and how this compares with each of the last five years.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The number of vaccines procured for five previous years is contained in the table: Season Total volume procured (excluding Fluenz) 2016-17 1,462,994 2017-18 1,463,000 2018-19 1,559,330 2019-20 1,530,000 2020-21 2,366,400
29 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people it estimates will need a flu vaccine in winter 2020-21, and how this compares with each of the last five years.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government is aiming to vaccinate more people than ever before. In total, the Scottish Government is aiming to vaccinate 2.4 million people, which is an increase of 800,000 vaccines from last year’s programme. Further details in the following tab…