Daniel Johnson

11 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much in total was allocated from its Budget in 2019-20 to non-governmental organisations, including those designated as charities.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: Scottish Government expenditure is allocated across portfolios to various sectors, including non-governmental organisations, to improve a wide range of outcomes. Spending is not all specifically classified as to whether or not it is allocated to non-governmen…

5 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the average time has been since March 2020 to provide substantive responses to written parliamentary questions that have received holding responses.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The information requested is not held centrally. The Scottish Government remains committed to answering all parliamentary questions as quickly as possible and within the deadlines agreed with the Parliament. The vast majority of questions continue to be answ…

1 Feb 2021 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the effectiveness of the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccine in Scotland compares with the rest of the UK.

27 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to allowing (a) GPs and (b) pharmacies to order COVID-19 vaccine supplies directly, bypassing NHS boards.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: As supply is limited, the current model under which Health Boards direct where supply goes is the best approach to ensuring vaccine supply is targeted to locations in line with vaccination prioritiesVaccines are being delivered on a weekly delivery schedule. …

20 Jan 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to make staff and customers aware of the measures that are proposed to prevent assaults on retail workers.

19 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to reform the procedures for claiming Disabled Students Allowance.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) are currently leading a project on behalf of the Scottish Government, reviewing the disability related student support element, encompassing both Further Education and Higher Education. The project aims to deliver a suit…

13 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many clinicians have volunteered to support the NHS outwith their working hours since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and how they have been supported to do this.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: NHS Scotland's staffing levels are at a record high, with 19,500 more whole time equivalent staff members working in our NHS under this Government. Decision on the deployment of clinicians within NHS Scotland are the responsibility of individual NHS Boards. …

12 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many deaths there have been since the start of the COVD-19 pandemic that were as a result of difficulties in accessing treatment in hospital or cancelled appointments.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: This information is not held by the Scottish Government. It may be available on request from health boards.

12 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what communication it has had with universities regarding the return of students; what COVID-19 testing is in place for their return; how many students it anticipates will return, and what its advice is to university students who are currently preparing to return to their (a) university …

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government continues to engage regularly with the college and university sectors, NUS Scotland, trade unions and student accommodation providers on a range of matters, including the return of students to campus. Following the First Minister’s an…

12 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to making police officers an immediate priority in the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: To save lives, it is essential that vaccination be given to the first priority groups as set by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), these being residents in a care home for older adults and their carers, people over the age of 80, and …

5 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many teachers have tested positive for COVID-19 in each month since February 2020, also broken down by the cumulative number of days of absence from work as a result of this.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government does not hold this level of detail. Information on Surveillance of Covid-19 in education from Public Health Scotland can be found here: Surveillance of COVID-19 in education: key findings for schools, pupils and staff - News - Public…

5 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by the First Minister on 4 January 2021 (Official Report, c. 1), what scientific evidence it has regarding the impact of closing schools on the transmission rate of COVID-19 among the general population.

Answer · John Swinney: An update of the evidence on COVID-19 in children and the role of school settings in transmission by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) highlights that the incidence of COVID-19 in school settings appears to be impacted by community…

4 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish its plan for the provision of second-dose COVID-19 vaccinations, and what the expected average time will be between the first and second doses.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Our planning assumption is predicated on ensuring everyone that receives the first dose will receive their second dose within 12 weeks from the first dose. Health boards are prepared and ready with vaccine supply for second doses. Second doses started on the…

22 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what investigations it has undertaken regarding the impact of the new COVID-19 variant on children and young people.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government COVID-19 Advisory Group and the Sub-Group on Education and Children’s Issues have discussed this issue at their regular and extraordinary meetings held in recent weeks. However, the evidence of the impact of the new COVID-19 variant on…

14 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-33506 by Aileen Campbell on 9 December 2020, and the reported comments by the First Minister on the matter, what representations it has received regarding establishing a retail or high street voucher scheme, and what the timescale would be to introd…

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government has not received any direct representations on establishing a retail or high street voucher scheme. However on 8 December Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) called for the Scottish Government to use rates relief returns by chain reta…

14 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason appointments for a second dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine are reportedly 28 days after the first rather than 21; whether this decision was made by ministers, and what impact this might have on the effectiveness of the vaccine.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The dosing schedule was explained by the Chief Medical Officer in a letter published on the 8 January. CMO+explanation+of+covid+vaccine+efficiency+-+8th+Jan.pdf (www.gov.scot)

8 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by the First Minister on 8 December 2020 (Official Report, c. 11), what the political rationale was behind the decision to keep Edinburgh under Level 3 of the COVID-19 restrictions; what discussions were held with public health officials regarding the most appro…

Answer · Jeane Freeman: In order to have allowed limited gathering over Christmas, a deliberately cautious approach was taken for the review of levels allocations. Lowering prevalence of the virus prior to the festive period was considered key to avoiding the need for more restricti…

2 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the urgent question on support for the retail sector by Jamie Hepburn on 2 December 2020 (Official Report, c. 22), whether it will provide further details of its retail strategy in connection with the administration of Debenhams and the Arcadia Group; what progr…

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Development of a longer term strategy for Scotland’s retail sector was discussed on 5 November at the most recent meeting of the Retail Sub-Group, focused on the development of safe trading guidance during the pandemic. Representatives from the Scottish Retai…

24 Nov 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to investigate the introduction of a retail or high street voucher scheme to aid shoppers and shops, in light of such a scheme being introduced in Jersey and considered in Northern Ireland.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: We are aware of the schemes. Many towns, and Business Improvement Districts have already introduced loyalty cards with support from Government via Scotland’s Towns Partnership and ‘Scotland Improvement Districts’. We are now investigating the potential for a…

11 Nov 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will examine the viability of having a south Edinburgh metro and light rail service.

3 Nov 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that all bed and breakfasts and guest houses will be eligible for financial support in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

28 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether its practice of pre-release access to statistics is in full compliance with the UK Office for Statistics Regulation’s Code of Practice for Statistics.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government fully complies with the Code of Practice for Statistics which states that; ‘The circulation of statistics in their final form ahead of their publication should be restricted to eligible recipients, in line with the rules and principle…

27 Oct 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support older people, including those resident in care homes.

30 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what provisions it is making for local authority budgets in order to meet the cost of the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government have already taken exceptional measures in every area of government to deal with the challenges of COVID-19 and that is particularly clear in the support for local services. In addition to the £382.2 million of direct funding already …

30 Sep 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the prison population is, and how this is projected to change over the next 12 months.

22 Sep 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what provisions it is making for local authority budgets in order to meet the cost of the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.

8 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures are being taken to safeguard the 2021 Scottish Parliament elections from external interference.

Answer · Graeme Dey: Returning Officers have a responsibility for protecting the integrity of electoral processes and the Electoral Commission regulates campaign materials. Police Scotland also have a role in safeguarding elections. To assist with this we intend to legislate to i…

7 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, what work is being done to expedite provision for the flu vaccination (a) for the most vulnerable people and (b) beyond current entitlements.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Those most at risk from the seasonal flu are already eligible to receive the vaccine for free such as healthcare workers. The Scottish Government is expanding free eligibility for the Seasonal Flu Vaccine in 2020-21 to:Social care workers who provide direct c…

1 Sep 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Scottish Water regarding upgrading and improving the maintenance of urban drainage, in light of instances of heavy flooding.

26 Aug 2020 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will provide a technical report into the issues experienced with the new voting app; for what reason members have experienced delays with the app displaying votes, and whether these are due to (a) the technical design, (b) network and server infrastructure, (…

Answer · David Stewart MSP (on behalf of the SPCB): The remote voting web app was developed during the short summer recess and first used the week commencing 11 August.  It has been in place for 3 weeks of voting.  It was used for votes at Decision Time and in the second week for multiple Stage 3 votes during …