Daniel Johnson

19 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information and data it holds on the use of do not resuscitate (DNR) notices in hospitals.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government does not centrally collect information or data relating to the use of Do Not Attempt Cardiovascular Resuscitation (DNACPR) forms in hospitals. As with all other clinical treatments, decisions about CPR should be based on the individua…

15 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many primary schools have not been inspected for 10 years or more; what the longest time is that a primary school has waited since its last inspection; how many schools are used to create the virtual comparators for South Morningside Primary School on parentzone, and how many of thos…

Answer · John Swinney: Education Scotland has significantly strengthened its scrutiny functions and increased the number of school inspections it carries out. In the last academic year (2018-19) Education Scotland completed 252 school inspections, an increase of over 30% on the pre…

15 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people who have been identified as (a) vulnerable, (b) clinically vulnerable and (c) clinically extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 and are shielding from the virus, and who have indicated that require assistance with access to food supplies and/or other essentials, are receiving t…

Answer · John Swinney: Individuals identified as being at the highest risk of severe illness if they become infected with coronavirus are advised to shield. As at 20 May, 57,621 people have requested weekly grocery boxes. Under the Scottish Government’s agreement with Brakes and B…

15 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people who have been identified as (a) vulnerable, (b) clinically vulnerable and (c) clinically extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 and should shield from the virus it estimates require assistance with access to food supplies and/or other essentials.

Answer · John Swinney: Individuals identified as being at the highest risk of severe illness if they become infected with coronavirus are advised to shield. We do not hold estimates of the number of people who require assistance with access to food supplies and/or other essentials…

14 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried of the capacity of the dedicated local authority phone lines that have been set up to provide support for people who are vulnerable to COVID-19 and are shielding from the virus with getting access to the food supplies and/or other essentials that they require.

Answer · John Swinney: We asked local authorities to provide information about the number of phone lines they had available ahead of the establishment of the national phone line which diverts callers to their local authority. Scottish Government is in regular contact with local aut…

14 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people who have been identified as (a) vulnerable, (b) clinically vulnerable and (c) clinically extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 and are shielding from the virus have indicated that they do not require assistance with access to food supplies and/or other essentials.

Answer · John Swinney: Individuals identified as being at the highest risk of severe illness if they become infected with coronavirus are advised to shield. The letter which shielded individuals receive sets out the support which is available to those who require it, for example t…

14 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people who have been identified as (a) vulnerable, (b) clinically vulnerable and (c) clinically extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 and should shield from the virus have been issued with a letter informing them of this.

Answer · John Swinney: Individuals identified as being at the highest risk of severe illness if they become infected with coronavirus are advised to shield. These are individuals who have a condition or disease identified by Chief Medical Officers across the UK, or, who do not hav…

1 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work it has undertaken to employ contact tracers; how many it expects to employ, and when they will be ready to respond to cases of COVID-19.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government set out our approach to contact tracing on 4 May in the Test, Trace Isolate, Support Strategy . Existing health protection teams have high quality skills and experience in delivering contact tracing and some are already undertaking COV…

23 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has examined the feasibility of conducting Scottish parliamentary elections exclusively by postal ballot should social distancing restrictions remain in place in whole or in part in May 2021.

Answer · Graeme Dey: I refer the Member to the answer to question S5W-28689 on 1 May 2020. A feasibility study into conducting the Scottish Parliament Election exclusively by postal ballot has not been undertaken at this point. All answers to written parliamentary questions are…

23 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it is giving to the implications of holding Scottish parliamentary elections in May 2021 if full or partial social distancing restrictions are in place.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government fully expects the Scottish Parliament Election scheduled for 6 May 2021 to go ahead. If necessary we will work with Returning Officers and others to look at options for running an election in different circumstances from the norm but t…

22 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is considering removing or lowering the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) membership scheme fee, in light of the need for volunteers during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Answer · Maree Todd: We announced on 2 April that Ministers had decided to suspend disclosure fees until at least 11 May where the application was from an individual or an organisation recruiting individuals as part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The fees are suspended…

22 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which local authorities are stockpiling body bags in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Answer · John Swinney: Scottish Government officials are working closely with Local Authorities to respond to the challenges presented by COVID-19, however the response of individual Local Authorities, including the potential stockpiling of body bags, is a matter for their discreti…

21 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has provided updated guidance to the funeral sector in Scotland on the care of the deceased and for managing a funeral during the COVID-19 outbreak, similar to that published by the UK Government.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Guidance on cultural requirements in advance of burial or cremation was published for religious organisations, faith and cultural groups on 6 April. The Scottish Government published dedicated guidance for the funeral sector on 13 April 2020. This include…

21 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what input (a) local authorities and (b) NHS boards have given to the funeral sector to help to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) and body bags during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government has had, and will continue to have, regular weekly discussions with the funeral industry in order that we may support them as best we can, including on PPE supplies and type and usage of body bags. Organisations, including funeral dire…

21 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the funeral sector regarding safety procedures and the provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) and body bags during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government understands the importance of protecting the funeral industry from the risk of infectious transmission of COVID-19 via contact with the deceased. We have had, and continue to have, regular weekly discussions with the funeral industry …

20 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide urgent clarification on the shielding procedures for people who are deemed vulnerable to COVID-19 but not classified as "at risk".

Answer · John Swinney: The term shielding is applied to those who fall in to the highest clinical risk group. The Scottish Government has published an explanation of who is in the highest clinical risk group here. Following the shielding advice involves strict social isolation w…

19 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment Police Scotland has made of the percentage of compliance with social distancing measures.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: This is an operational matter for the Chief Constable of Police Scotland. Police Scotland have advised that the vast majority of people are complying with the social distancing measures because they understand it is the best way to protect the NHS and to sav…

19 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been cautioned under provisions in the Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020 for contravening social distancing measures.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Information has been published by Police Scotland on the number of arrests made and Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) issued (as well as other enforcement actions) using the new coronavirus powers. This reports that between 27 March and 23 April police officers ma…

14 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-28071 by Michael Matheson on 7 April 2020, what it is doing to monitor the situation closely to measure whether its response is sufficient, and how it is identifying where capacity means that social distancing is not possible on public transport.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Transport Scotland continues to liaise with public transport operators to ensure appropriate social distancing measures are in place. We are engaging with bus operators, through CPT, to share the latest, updated health guidance and ensure we hear their ongoin…

13 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has issued to local authorities regarding waste uplift and recycling during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has been working closely with COSLA, Local Government and partners from across the waste industry through our Waste and Resources Sector Forum to identify pressures that have arisen as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak and to ensure re…

7 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has a timetable to re-introduce the medical screenings that have been suspended to help deal with the COVID-19 outbreak.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: On 30 March, the Scottish Government announced a temporary pause to a number of national screening programmes. This suspension of these programmes will be reviewed after 12 weeks, or earlier if indicated by the evidence. Each screening programme has a board t…

7 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether people with motor neurone disease will be included on its vulnerable person register in relation to its response to the COVID-19 outbreak, similar to policy in England.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The ‘extremely high risk’ group criteria was approved by all four nations Chief Medical Officers having been informed by the Royal College of Physicians. People in this group are being advised to shield themselves within their households. We recognise this is…

6 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the impact of COVID-19 on the exam timetable, what discussions it has had with the SQA regarding pupils sitting exams in the autumn of 2020.

Answer · John Swinney: In response to the current challenging circumstances, I continue to have extensive discussions with the Chief Examiner. I made clear in my statement to Parliament on 19 March that given the scientific and health advice available at the time, there can be no e…

2 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has undertaken of the impact on businesses of continuing to meet leasing obligations and business loans during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: While official data sources do not provide timely information on these types of financial payments, the Scottish Government is engaged through a wide variety of channels to keep abreast of the unprecedented challenges being faced by businesses to inform how w…

2 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Sottish Government what meetings it has held with the retail industry regarding critical food distribution and public health in light of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government and Food Standards Scotland have daily contact and frequent meetings with food retailers and their trade associations on a wide range of issues, including food distribution and equity of supply, public health and support and protection…

1 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce a financial assistance package in response to the COVID-19 outbreak that will allow each franchised retail property to apply for a cash grant of £25,000 as opposed to just one, similar to that in England.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: On 15 April, the Scottish Government announced the Second Phase of the Business Grants Funding Scheme which will commence on 5 May, and expands upon the measures announced on 18 March 2020. The new measures are specifically aimed at ratepayers with more than…

1 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to seasonal workers who started work after the 29 February 2020 deadline and are not eligible for assistance through the job retention scheme incentive that has been set up in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: In certain circumstances, seasonal workers who started work after 28 February, and were on the employer’s PAYE payroll scheme on or prior to 19 March, will be eligible for furlough. The Scottish Government is working to ensure that people who are not eligibl…

1 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the COVID-19 outbreak, what its position is on introducing a central self-registration system to allow vulnerable people to seek assistance with access to provisions, similar to that in England.

Answer · John Swinney: The UK Chief Medical Officers (CMO) have listed the conditions which place individuals at the highest clinical risk from COVID-19 – those being ‘shielded’. We have now written to individuals in all of the groups who are being asked to shield, setting out the …

1 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of their obligation to publish efficacy data as part of their clinical testing, what information it has received from manufacturers regarding their confidence in the reliability of their COVID-19 testing kits, expressed as a percentage.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. The type of tests being used in Scotland (real time PCR assays) ar e widely used for the detection of respiratory viruses, as well as a range of other viral pathogens, owing to their speed and versatili…

27 Mar 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance is in place to determine what construction work is still deemed essential during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: We are clear that all construction work in Scotland must cease for the time being, as a precaution, on safety grounds to avoid further potential spread of Coronavirus and to protect life. The only exception is where construction work is supporting crucial inf…