Alexander Burnett

1 Jul 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on by what date guidance on visiting care homes will be changed to allow for visits from three or more designated visitors.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: All residents should be able to enjoy meaningful time with loved ones (where local conditions support this) particularly given the beneficial impact which visits have on mental and emotional wellbeing. Existing guidance, published in February, encourages car…

30 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to provide COVID-19 antibody and vaccine immunity tests through NHS Scotland for people with low immunity and health conditions who have received both vaccinations but are at risk of not developing antibodies.

Answer · Maree Todd: If an individual has specific concerns arising from the results of a test they have taken, including related to their immunological response following vaccination, they should consult their primary clinician, who can determine whether further investigation is…

29 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has plans to extend the £500 "thank you" payment for health and social care workers to include (a) personal assistant employers and (b) unpaid carers.

29 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-00139 by Humza Yousaf on 1 June 2021, whether it will provide an update on what plans are in place to ensure that all students aged 18 and over have been offered the COVID-19 vaccination prior to starting college or university.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has issued advice indicating all those aged 16 and 17 should be offered COVID-19 vaccination. Anyone's who's 16 th birthday is on or after 1 August 2021 you can self-register for an appointment at: …

29 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what advice is being given to under-18s who are starting college or university and have not received a COVID-19 vaccination.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has issued advice indicating all those aged 16 and 17 should be offered COVID-19 vaccination. Anyone's who's 16 th birthday is on or after 1 August 2021 you can self-register for an appointment at: ht…

28 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-00148 by Clare Haughey on 8 June 2021, what action it is taking to disseminate the information, and who is responsible for this in (a) Scotland and (b) the northeast of Scotland.

Answer · Clare Haughey: The Scottish Government is responsible for coordinating public awareness and understanding of the implications of the Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Act 2019. This responsibility extends to the whole of Scotland. The Scottish Government…

24 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what protections there are for older people who have been mis-sold mobility scooters.

Answer · Tom Arthur: Consumer protection remains reserved to the UK Government but through advice and advocacy, we are doing all we can with them to support consumers. Consumer Scotland will have a general function of providing consumers advocacy and advice with a view to reduce…

24 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which department holds responsibility for the definition of business classifications for the purpose of determining the receipt of COVID-related support funding; where a list of such classifications is published; for what reason the classifications are structured in the way that they are…

Answer · Kate Forbes: The financial support we have made available to businesses has, in the main, been predicated on the restrictions in place on specific businesses through legislation agreed by the Scottish Parliament rather than on sectoral classifications. Businesses were gro…

21 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on providing vouchers for one free NHS dental check-up for new mothers that can be redeemed after the baby’s first birthday if the mothers were unable to access this service before the birthday because of COVID-19 restrictions.

Answer · Maree Todd: Dental check-ups for all NHS patients in Scotland were made free from 1 April 2006. Throughout the pandemic dental teams have been advised to prioritise NHS patients, including new mothers, on the basis of their dental care needs.  

21 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the timescale is for implementing a ban on domestic coal use.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government's new air quality strategy 'Cleaner Air for Scotland 2 - Towards a Better Place for Everyone' will be published later in 2021. Any proposals for implementing a ban on domestic coal use will be set out in this strategy.

18 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will allow people who have yet to have the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccination to sign up for an appointment to do so, following reports that it had urged people in their 40s to get their second dose sooner.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: From 21 June 2021, the Scottish Government brought forward the second COVID-19 vaccination dose to eight weeks. This week sees the launch of the online self-registration portal, see Registering for a coronavirus vaccine | The coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine …

18 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the cost of managed hotel quarantine is a fixed price regardless of which hotel the person is staying in.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The UK Government (UKG) are the principle contract owners and managers of the Managed Quarantine Service (MQS) and its suppliers. The UKG are therefore best placed to provide information in relation to the costing model of allocation of managed isolation faci…

18 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it has provided to people in managed hotel quarantine for COVID-19 who wish to raise complaints regarding issues such as noise, stress and food quality, in light of helplines for Corporate Travel Management and mental health having long waiting times or not operating outside…

Answer · Michael Matheson: Whilst the UK Government (UKG) are the principle contract owners and managers of the Managed Quarantine Service (MQS) and its suppliers; the Scottish Government acts as officiate of these contracts with the service providers. The Scottish Government has clos…

18 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will extend driving theory tests expiration dates in recognition of cancellations and delays to practical driving tests during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Answer · Graeme Dey: Driver and vehicle licensing and testing is reserved to the UK government. The UK government have advised that despite the circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic and the consequent disruption to practical driving tests, the validity period of theory test pass…

18 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will clarify its plans to improve waiting times and tackle the backlog for driving tests, both practical and theory, and what its position is on the impact that this has on rural communities where there is limited access to public transport.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The UK government`s Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is responsible for the delivery of driving tests in Scotland, however the Scottish government works closely with the DVSA to ensure that waiting times to access a driving test are minimised as muc…

10 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of claims that such a move could help the tourism sectors and might help prevent the spread of COVID-19, whether it plans to develop compatibility between the Check in Scotland app and the equivalent apps in the rest of the UK and, if so, what discussions it has had with the ot…

Answer · Maree Todd: A significant difference with the underpinning data model makes interoperability between the Check in Scotland app and the NHS Covid19 app. challenging. However, we are exploring what enhancements can improve the overall user experience for citizens and visit…

9 Jun 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the local government minister has had with the finance secretary regarding creating a permanent financial settlement for local authorities.

8 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it monitors local authority adherence to the Nutritional Requirements for Food and Drink in Schools (Scotland) Regulations 2020 and, if so, what its response is to reports of inconsistencies with menu choice across local authority education boards.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Compliance with the Nutritional Requirements for Food and Drink in Schools (Scotland) Regulations 2020 is monitored by Education Scotland Health and Nutrition Inspectors who support local authority caterers to undertake a nutrient analysis of school lunch men…

3 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to remove the three-property limitation rule regarding grants for energy improvements in the private-rented sector.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government provides a range of grants and loans to help deliver energy efficiency improvements and support investment by owner occupiers, private and social landlords. Last year we introduced a new loan scheme for private landlords to support ach…

2 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when dental work under the NHS will be available again for all new mothers up to their child’s first birthday.

Answer · Maree Todd: Throughout the pandemic NHS patients, including new mothers, have been able to receive care and treatment, including aerosol generating procedures (AGPs), through one of 75 urgent dental care centres in Scotland. We have taken a precautionary approach to the …

2 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to reduce the social distancing requirement in places of worship from two metres to one metre.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: We acknowledge how challenging this past year has been for everyone in our society, including places of worship. We are grateful to all of Scotland’s faith and belief communities for all they have done to keep their congregations safe and to support our commu…

1 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures are being put in place to track the progress of ventilation improvements and the deployment of ventilation monitoring equipment (CO2 sensors) across all primary and secondary schools.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Our Coronavirus guidance on reducing the risks in schools was developed in collaboration with local authorities, unions, parents representative groups and teaching bodies, with input from technical experts working across the UK. This includes a section on the…

31 May 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what long COVID-related initiatives (a) are currently in place (b) will be put in place to (i) track and record data relating to those affected by the condition and (ii) educate GPs to help them to recognise the symptoms of long COVID in adults and children, in order to ensure proper and…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Diagnostic codes for post-COVID-19 syndrome, or long COVID, were recently added into the primary care information systems used by GP practices. Guidance on coding has been issued to GP Practices, most recently in the Scottish Government ‘Implementation Suppor…

28 May 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the number of cases of infection is being used as a criterion to assess the threat of COVID-19, when it is disassociated from the number of hospital admittances and the number of deaths caused by COVID-19.

Answer · John Swinney: The coronavirus outbreak remains a real and sustained threat to human life in Scotland as well as to social and economic well-being. The Scottish Government has always relied on a range of indicators and criteria, combined with clinical advice and local intel…

28 May 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what evidence is available to demonstrate that the benefits of vaccinating under-30s outweigh the risks, given that the vaccines that may be used for this are still undergoing trials.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which is the UK body responsible for ensuring that medicines and medical devices work and are acceptably safe, and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), an independent clini…

27 May 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the telemedical abortion care, “pills by post”, which is provided to women who are unable to access a hospital or specialist clinic for the administration of the medication required to terminate pregnancies, will still be made available after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Answer · Maree Todd: Early medical abortion at home and the changes adopted in March 2020 to enable women to take the first abortion drug, mifepristone, at home where this was felt to be clinically appropriate for them and where the patient wished to do so has been an important m…

27 May 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what criteria needs to be met in order for all GP surgeries to allow routine face-to-face appointments between GPs and patients.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: General practices are following Public Health Scotland’s advice to reserve face to face appointments in primary care settings for those consultations where the GP decides it is clinically necessary. This is not just to prevent the general transmission of the …

26 May 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether NHS Scotland plans to introduce a less invasive endoscopic procedure and post-operative helmet to treat craniosynostosis, and whether a more time-sensitive referral process to Great Ormond Street Hospital will be implemented if the procedure is not available through the NHS in Sc…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Paediatric craniofacial surgery in Scotland is delivered by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde as a national specialist service commissioned by the National Services Division. Within the Board there is an ambition to develop endoscope assisted surgery as part of a…

24 May 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether people travelling to Scotland will be able to buy PCR tests from providers such as Eurofins, in line with other parts of the UK, as opposed to more expensive COVID-19 travel tests purchased through the CTM Booking Portal.

Answer · Maree Todd: To date, we have required travellers to use the NHS tests, which can be booked through the UK Government’s booking portal for international travel. The purpose of these tests is to identify any positive cases as quickly as possible so that contact tracing an…

24 May 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it will put in place to support the aviation industry in its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, given that it supports thousands of jobs, is a key economic driver and provides global connectivity. 

Answer · Graeme Dey: We recognise that globally, as well as here in Scotland, the aviation industry faces one of the longest recovery periods given the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on route networks, which is why we have extended the 100% non-domestic rates relief for the avia…