Parliamentary questions
Alexander Burnett
1,406 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
25 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-01449 by Humza Yousaf on 23 August 2021, within what timeframe it plans to consider further steps to support good ventilation practices, in light of reports that some public and community buildings are currently unusable.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government has established a Covid Ventilation Short Life Working Group (SLWG) of expert advisors to consider what actions can be taken in the short, medium and long-term. It first met on 3 September 2021, with advice on initial recommendations d…
25 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether any ring-fenced funds are being provided to local authorities to cover the cost of installing (a) ventilation aids, such as fans, and (b) CO2 monitors in all public buildings, including schools and community groups.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government provided Scotland’s local authorities with an additional £1.2 billion in direct support during 2020-21 through the local government finance settlement – over and above their regular grant payments to combat COVID-19. Taken together wit…
19 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-01147 by Maree Todd on 29 July 2021, what measures it is taking to improve the efficacy of COVID-19 antibody testing, in light of reports that current testing is unreliable.
Answer · Maree Todd: As part of the NHS Scotland response to coronavirus (COVID-19), an Innovation Workstream has been created to manage the evaluation of antibody and swab (PCR) tests. This workstream is led by NHS NSS and clinical scientists from NHS Health Boards, and is desig…
19 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making on reviewing the criteria for organisational blue badges, in light of reports that some local community transport services have had their blue badge renewals declined despite holding a badge for many years.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government have previously been made aware of this issue and earlier this year investigated the it further. Our investigation established that this was a historical, localised issue in the Aberdeenshire area where they had not been applying the g…
13 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action Scottish Forestry and Forestry and Land Scotland are taking to reform the Forestry Grant Scheme in order to encourage riparian planting.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Forestry Grant Scheme already supports planting native broadleaved riparian woodland in a range of situations. Since 2016 the Forestry Grant Scheme has supported the planting of over 500 native broadleaved riparian woodlands. Furthermore, all tree planti…
13 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review any guidance that permits replanting following clearfell on deep peatland.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: Guidance on replanting on deep peat following clearfell is contained within the Scottish Government’s Practice Guide, Deciding Future Management Options for Afforested Deep Peatland (2015). It sets out the circumstances where a presumption to restore the peat…
6 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-00904 by Michael Matheson on 23 July 2021, whether it will provide further clarification of what is meant by the term (a) "principle contract owners" and (b) "officiate of a contract"; whether it meant "principal contract owners", and whether it wil…
Answer · Michael Matheson: (a) the UKG are the principal contract owners of the Managed Quarantine Service contract. Any use of the term “principle” in this context would have been in error, for which we apologise. (b) The use of the term “officiate of the contract” is used to describe…
6 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-01221 by Maree Todd on 23 July 2021, what consideration it has given to a voucher scheme that could be administered on a first-come, first-served basis, as opposed to an entitlement, in order to take the action outlined without the requirement for p…
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government has committed to the removal of all NHS dental charges in the lifetime of this Parliament. All dental charges were suspended in the initial period of lockdown through to 31 October 2020. Pregnant women and nursing mothers who required…
5 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide funding to cover the repair of vandalised defibrillators, to ensure this equipment can be returned to service as soon as possible.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government does not routinely provide funding for Public Access Defibrillators (PAD). The purchase of PADs is usually through fundraising in the community, from charitable sources or business resources. Charities and organisations including the B…
30 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much remains to be distributed from the funding that it allocated to provide COVID-19 support grants to travel agents based on their rateable value.
Answer · Kate Forbes: The Contingency Plus Fund offered additional funding to Travel Agents, Breweries and Indoor Football Centres in recognition of the specific challenges that businesses operating in these sectors experienced as a result of COVID-19 restrictions and regulations.…
27 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when British nationals who live abroad, and who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 outside of the UK, will be able to travel to Scotland without being required to quarantine.
Answer · Michael Matheson: From 2 August, travellers who arrive from amber list countries (who have not travelled through a red list country in the previous 10 days) who are residents of and have been fully vaccinated as part of programmes in the UK, US and the EU as well as a number o…
27 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason Young Scot Card holders must pay in cash when using their card to receive discounted travel on a bus.
Answer · Graeme Dey: Due to a technical issue with some electronic ticket machines (ETMs), most operators can only accept cash payment when a Young Scot National Entitlement Card is used for discounted travel. This issue impacts across the UK and relates to the ETMs themselves as…
21 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what advice is being given to people who are not able to access their COVID-19 vaccination record if they have received their first vaccine in England, and their second vaccine in Scotland.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Anyone who has received either their first or second dose of the vaccine in Scotland can access a physical copy of their record of vaccination. They can request their record for the dose received in Scotland via the helpline on 0808 196 8565 or the website w…
19 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of how many anaesthetists in training (a) were hired and (b) remained unemployed following the most recent recruitment process, and what measures it is taking to assist anaesthetic trainees who are facing problems in the recruitment process due to tech…
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I would firstly like to thank the fantastic, flexible and supportive response from anaesthetists across the UK in supporting the pandemic surge requirements, particularly in Intensive Care, and as we now move to remobilise the NHS. From the recruitment that …
19 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that documents confirming that COVID-19 vaccinations have been received in countries other than the UK are not being accepted for the purpose of granting visitors to Scotland an exemption from quarantining; whether it (a) can and (b) will issue guidance on…
Answer · Humza Yousaf: People who have been fully vaccinated in the EU or the US will be able to travel to Scotland from amber list countries without quarantining from Monday (2 August). "Fully vaccinated" means that it has been at least 14 days since receiving the final dose of a…
19 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether its commitment to provide £7 million for school music lessons to be given for free to school children will be guaranteed beyond the school year 2021-22.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The agreement announced recently between the Scottish Government and COSLA will see the Scottish Government provide funding in the 2021-22 academic year to allow current levels of provision in local authorities to be sustained at no cost to families. The Sco…
14 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Scottish National Party manifesto commitment, whether it will provide additional funding to NHS Grampian to help to re-open Insch War Memorial Hospital, and, if so, by what date the additional funding will be made available.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: NHS Grampian’s current closure of Insch War Memorial Hospital is a temporary measure due to pressures resulting from the pandemic. Health and social care services continue to be delivered to the people of Insch and its surrounding areas. Future use of the ho…
14 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-00743 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 28 June 2021, what its response is to the campaign, Everyone's Invited, which encourages survivors to share their stories anonymously online, naming 120 schools in Scotland in connection with allegations of sexual…
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The significant work already underway in relation to this issue in Scotland, as outlined in S6W-00743, is a broader approach than suggested by the Ofsted review. The ongoing work across schools as well as the further and higher education sectors is designed t…
13 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to set a national standard for ventilation improvements and monitoring of CO2 levels in public buildings.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government has issued guidance emphasising the need to ensure good ventilation across all indoor settings. Our Covid-19 ventilation guidance includes reference to the possibility of monitoring carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) levels in buildings, with a l…
12 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what reassurances it can give that iconic species, particularly the red squirrel, will not have any level of reduced protection as a result of the 7th Quinquennial Review (QQR) of Schedules 5 and 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government is committed to enhancing biodiversity and to protecting vulnerable species in Scotland. Following the conclusion of the seventh Quinquennial Review the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) will submit recommendations for poten…
12 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that local authorities progress withdrawal from school requests from the parent with whom children ordinarily reside, in the absence of a court order, to prevent home education being undermined and used to exert control by coercive, abusive or violent former partners
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: It is for local authorities to process an application to withdraw a child from school, and the home education guidance advises local authorities to note that home education is a key aspect of parental choice, and that consent to withdraw a child from school s…
12 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will support the work of home education organisations to build constructive relationships with local authorities and tackle the culture of "home-eduphobia" that was identified in the Home Truths report, which was published in 2020.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: I refer the member to the answer to S6W-01413 on ? 26 July 2021. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/writte…
12 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many complaints it has received in the last three years regarding local authorities failing to take regard of the statutory home education guidance that was published in January 2008, and is now scheduled for review.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government do on occasion receive correspondence expressing dissatisfaction in relation to local authorities failing to take regard of the home education guidance. There have been 6 items of such correspondence in the period July 2018 – July 2021…
12 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what training it will commission to ensure that local authorities take regard of statutory guidance and recognise home education as a key parental choice with equal status in law to local authority or independent schooling.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Scottish Ministers intend to bring forward updated guidance on home education. As part of the follow up to the publication of this guidance, consideration will be given to what support is needed to ensure its successful application.
12 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether, in the light of findings contained in the research report, Home Truths, which was published in 2020 by the Scottish Home Education Forum and Home Education Scotland, it will take forward (a) some or (b) all of the 16 evidence-based recommendations in the forthcoming review of st…
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: As the Deputy First Minister set out in his answer to S5W-33331 on 2 December 2020, officials continue to actively engage a range of stakeholders on issues relevant to home education guidance, and will listen to the views of all stakeholders in the preparatio…
8 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether breast screening for women over 70 has been suspended, and, if so, (a) what the reasons are for its position on this matter and (b) when it plans to allow appointments to resume.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Breast Screening Programme invites women between the ages of 50 and 70 for routine breast screening every three years. This is in line with the recommendation provided by the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC). When the programme resumed on 3 Augus…
5 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-00961 by Maree Todd on 2 July 2021, what its position is on providing vouchers to mothers to enable them to receive free NHS dental treatments after their child's first birthday, in situations where the treatments would have been free prior to the b…
Answer · Maree Todd: Free NHS dental treatment for expectant mothers or those who have borne a child within the previous 12 month period is part of The National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978. The 12 month period is fixed by primary legislation and would require a primary leg…
2 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support procurement in the construction industry, in light of reports that there are shortages of bagged cement, given that some businesses are sourcing the product from England.
Answer · Ivan McKee: We have been working to address supply chain issues in the construction industry since the launch of our Construction Recovery Plan in October last year, working with industry and the UK Government to fully understand the current supply chain issues, which we…
2 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to people in rural areas with poor mobile phone or internet signals who are experiencing difficulties uploading their COVID-19 lateral flow test results.
Answer · Kate Forbes: The ‘Information for Use’ leaflet that is provided with each lateral flow test kit states that those who are unable to upload their test results can instead register them by calling the Freephone number 119. On the wider issue of poor internet and mobile sig…
1 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support and advice it can provide in arranging COVID-19 vaccine appointments for vulnerable adults, including whether there are concerns that there has been an absence of an adequate response from NHS boards or GP surgeries.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government continues to follow the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) guidance for the rollout of our vaccination programme. The JCVI has from the start advised a rollout of COVID-19 vaccination targeting the most vulnerable …