Daniel Johnson

13 Aug 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when assessments for dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD, ADD and other neurodevelopmental disorders will be allowed to resume, in light of them having been suspended since the beginning of the lockdown restrictions.

Answer · Clare Haughey: Scottish Government have supported health boards to redesign the way they offer services through the introduction of technology assisted appointments such as NHS Near Me. In some circumstances a face to face assessment will still be required. This is therefor…

10 Aug 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide the scientific reasoning for extracurricular classes at school not being permitted to restart until mid-September 2020.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government believes that the reopening of schools had to be the priority, given their critical importance to the life and wellbeing of our children and young people. The reopening was contingent upon there being low community transmission of the …

10 Aug 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of the clinical advice and evidence that it has considered in relation to the closure of swimming pools.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The reopening of indoor sport and leisure facilities such as swimming pools and gyms is 31 August with physical distancing and enhanced hygiene measures in place. The Scottish Government have produced new guidance for the opening of indoor sport and leisure f…

6 Aug 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the timeline for opening the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People and Department of Clinical Neuroscience to patients.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-31520 on 2 September 2020. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusine…

29 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has cost for the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People and Department of Clinical Neuroscience to remain open each month while empty of patients.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The current costs are within the forecast costs, I provided to Parliament in October last year and have been budgeted for. The Estimated costs (of £28 million covering both the Settlement Agreement and costs associated with the delay) are being managed centra…

8 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the COVID-19 outbreak, how it will ensure that conditions in shared tenements with properties that are let will not impact on (a) residents' and (b) community health.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government has taken action throughout the pandemic to ensure that people are protected and that appropriate steps are taken to suppress the spread of the virus. Enclosed spaces present challenges and we have published guidance that has taken acc…

8 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on establishing an online COVID-19 rehabilitation service, similar to that planned by NHS England.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-30555 on 30 July 2020. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/2…

6 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of there being a more detailed local picture of COVID-19 outbreaks and deaths compiled at council ward level across the country, and, if so, whether it will publish this.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: An important strand of an effective pandemic response is data to inform decisions at national, local, and sectoral levels as part of a responsive system of community surveillance, and to support public awareness and choice. To deliver this well, we have broug…

1 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is encouraging large retail stores to implement a free click and collect service for customers to reduce the risk of further COVID-19 infection as lockdown measures are eased.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government has published guidance for the retail sector which sets out our expectations on the steps which retail business will take before and after reopening. This includes an operational guide for retailers with actions to consider and state…

1 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will seek to minimise the distress to children of potentially invasive and regular COVID-19 testing in schools.

Answer · John Swinney: Subject to scientific advice on the continued decline in the prevalence of Covid 19, it is our intention that schools should return for all pupils full time at the start of the autumn term. This will greatly enhance the wellbeing of children and young people …

30 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when indoor swimming pools will be permitted to reopen, and what additional social distancing and hygiene measures will be put in place.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: We are currently preparing guidance in consultation with sport scotland, Community Leisure Scotland, the Scottish Leisure Networking Group, Local Authorities, Leisure Trusts, Hospitality Sector, Trade Unions, Scottish Governing Bodies of sport and other partn…

30 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the average waiting time for a COVID-19 test result is, and how many have taken more than 48 hours.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The average total turnaround time (ie, time taken from taking of swab to reporting of result) in local health boards is just under 23 hours. For testing carried out by the UK Government, the vast majority of test results are sent automatically within 48 hour…

29 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many public buildings use both external aluminium composite material (ACM) and non-ACM flammable cladding systems, and what plans are in place for the removal of flammable ACM from these.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government does not hold information on this matter for all public buildings. Local Authorities are required to keep building warrant records in Part 2 of the building standards register. Requirements for cladding systems set through building reg…

17 Jun 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many young people in the Edinburgh Southern constituency will be eligible for the Job Start Payment.

11 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide specific social distancing guidance for the use of communal or shared tenement gardens.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government has provided clear guidance in accordance with public health advice and physical distancing measures on the safe use of all outdoor areas. This covers all outdoor spaces including the use of communal or shared tenement gardens.  

11 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update regarding the position with one-to-one sports coaching during the phases of the route map out of the COVID-19 lockdown.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Following the First Minister’s statement on 18 June 2020, a group of up to 8 people from two different households can meet up outside. Coaches can now therefore coach up to 7 people from two different households at one time, ensuring social distancing measure…

10 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people to date have been captured in the test, trace, isolate, support strategy as a result of coming into contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, and how these figures will be regularly reported to the public.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Test and Protect data, which was successfully rolled out across all Health Boards from 28 May. From 28 May to 14 June, provisional Test and Protect figures are: 992 cases (of which 891 have completed contact tracing), and 1,239 contacts traced from comple…

10 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-28122 by Jeane Freeman on 8 June 2020, how many antibody tests have been carried out on a (a) daily and (b) weekly basis, and how these figures will be reported.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Antibody tests can tell us whether an individual has had COVID-19. However, there is currently insufficient clinical evidence to conclude that people who have recovered from COVID-19 are protected from a second infection or from infecting others. Therefore, h…

3 Jun 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of recent international events, what data it keeps on the injuries incurred by BAME people in police custody.

1 Jun 2020 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to reports that Scotland has one of the highest per capita death rates for COVID-19 in the world.

29 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects dental practices to reopen, in light of the target in England of 8 June 2020.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The reopening of dental services in Scotland presents a number of specific challenges which the Chief Dental Officer and officials continue to strive to address in collaboration with NHS colleagues. At the present time the position of the Scottish Government …

27 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government at what phase of the current COVID-19 route map social distancing rules for non-cohabiting couples will no longer apply, in light of marriages and civil ceremonies being set to resume in some form in phase 2 of the plan.

Answer · Michael Russell: In all our decisions on the phasing of changes to restrictions, we have to be conscious of the need to avoid the rapid spread of the virus and the NHS being overwhelmed. We appreciate that the current physical distancing measures are difficult, particularly f…

27 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what additional requirements and advice are in place for local authorities and parents on the re-opening of daycare centres during phase 1 of the COVID-19 route map.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government published ‘ Strategic Framework for Reopening of Schools and ELC Provision’ alongside Scotland’s Route Map on 21 May. This puts in place a framework to ensure that children and families can access safe, high quality ELC and childcar…

27 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what risk assessment it undertook of the opening of daycare centres during phase 1 of the COVID-19 route map.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government is maintaining a cautious approach to changing lockdown measures as outlined in the Route Map and each step taken is based on scientific evidence that it is safe to do so. The Framework for Decision Making makes clear that we are putti…

27 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the partial easing of the Job Retention Scheme in July 2020.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: On the 7 May 2020, in a joint letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Kate Forbes MSP and myself to the Chancellor, we noted that the Job Retention Scheme is a lifeline for employers and employees, but highlighted that the scaling back of the scheme sh…

25 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the COVID-19 testing procedures will include a random sample of the general public in order to provide a more representative figure of prevalence.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Through the work of the Health Protection Scotland surveillance team, a range of random samples from the general public are being collected to inform our understanding of the prevalence of Covid-19. This testing is for surveillance purposes.

21 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason people who are currently receiving working age benefits, such as universal credit, and those who have recently applied but have not yet started receiving such a benefit, are not eligible to apply for the Newly Self-Employed Hardship Fund.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Newly Self-Employed Hardship Fund is aimed at providing hardship support to those who have lost work due to Covid-19 but are ineligible for support through the UK Government’s Self-Employment Income Support Scheme because they have only been trading as se…

21 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many letters have been sent by each NHS board to people who are shielding during the COVID-19 outbreak, and how many are letters are still outstanding.

Answer · John Swinney: Public Health Scotland issues shielding letters on behalf of the NHS Boards. The following table provides information on the number of individuals who have been sent shielding letters by area of residence. Letters are sent as people who should shield are id…

21 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what programmes it has in place, and what further measures it plans, to provide free internet devices to low-income and digitally-excluded people.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: The Connecting Scotland project was announced on 7 May and will support 9,000 low income individuals across Scotland that are clinically at risk. Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is working with local authorities and other voluntary sector …

20 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether specific advice will be provided for each leisure activity as the COVID-19 lockdown measures are eased.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government is working with sportscotland and sports governing bodies to ensure robust, medically assessed, guidance is in place to ensure participants can engage in activities safely and in line with the current physical distancing restrictions i…