Parliamentary questions
Alexander Burnett
1,406 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
21 May 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that COVID-19 helplines are frequently out of service or unmanned, with callers being placed in queues with hundreds of other patients and whether it will outline plans to introduce more efficient methods to allow people to access information, reschedule t…
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government greatly values the work of those working on the national helpline. The national helpline is available 7 days a week between 8am and 8pm as an alternative channel for those patients who are not able to access content or services digital…
21 May 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports of people receiving letters saying they have not attended their COVID-19 vaccine appointment after receiving their first dose, and whether it can confirm that (a) medical records will not be affected and (b) people will still be invited for their second do…
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I’m sure you can appreciate the vaccination program has been delivered at a pace and scale we have never experienced before and as such this is one of the largest and most complicated logistical exercises ever undertaken in peacetime. Over 3,267,290 people ha…
21 May 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to disseminate information on the Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Act 2019 to communities in the northeast of Scotland, and who is responsible for this.
Answer · Clare Haughey: The Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Act 2019 removed the common law defence of “reasonable chastisement” from the law of Scotland on 7 November 2020. That Act also provides that the Scottish Ministers are to take such steps as they consid…
20 May 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the COVID-19 vaccination status letter complies with foreign border requirements, particularly those for green list countries.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S6T-00019 on? 26 May 2021. The answer is available on the Parliament's website at: Official Report - Parliamentary Business : Scottish Parliament
20 May 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its plan to offer the COVIID-19 vaccination to people aged 18 to 39 in some areas of Glasgow, whether it will reconsider the request from the offshore oil and gas sector to be given priority access to phase 2 of the COVID-19 vaccination programme.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Concerns raised over the rising number of Covid-19 cases in South Glasgow over the past several days and its links to the more infectious Indian variant of COVID-19 B.1.617.2. The JCVI highlighted the need to accelerate and promote vaccine uptake for everyon…
20 May 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what COVID-19 protections will be in place for the 2021 World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship, which will be held in Aberdeen.
Answer · Maree Todd: Domestic and international elite sporting events are permitted to take place in all strategic framework levels. Any event organiser must comply with the protocols set out under the Resumption of Performance Sport guidance and run their event in a strict ‘bub…
20 May 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what its position is regarding providing people with a COVID-19 vaccination certificate, similar to that offered in other parts of the UK, and what its response is to reports of some GP surgeries charging people money for such documentation.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I updated Parliament on COVID 19 Status Certificate on 26 May 2021 in response to question S6T-00019. I refer the member to that answer. The answer is available on the Parliament's website at: Official Report - Parliamentary Business : Scottish Parliament …
19 May 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-35844 by Fiona Hyslop on 16 March 2021, in light of the cabinet secretary's comment that "we have urged the UK Government to make improvements to" the Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) systems, whether it has suggested in t…
Answer · Ben Macpherson: Employment Support Allowance (ESA) is a UK wide benefit reserved to the UK Government. Guidance from the Department for Work and Pensions requires that GPs provide fit notes, as evidence of the advice the ESA applicant has been given about their fitness for w…
19 May 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what evidence is available to support the continued need for pupils to wear face coverings in schools.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Covid-19 Advisory Sub-Group on Education and Children’s Issues discussed the issue of face coverings in secondary schools at its meeting on 1 June. While vaccination is being rolled out, non-pharmaceutical interventions such as face coverings are the main…
18 May 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider changing its guidance so that children under the age of 18, from the same household, do not count towards the total number of people meeting both outdoors and indoors, in light of restrictions on larger families with teenagers who are still unable to meet with on…
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government regularly reviews restrictions on indoor and outdoor socialising to ensure they are appropriate and proportionate to the health risks and the direct harms of the virus. This past year has been highly challenging for our young people wh…
17 May 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether offshore workers can be prioritised for rescheduling their COVID-19 vaccination appointments if they are working offshore at the time of their given appointment, and whether they can have the flexibility to schedule their vaccination further in advance.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government greatly values the work of Scotland’s offshore workers and have been in regular discussions with Oil and Gas UK throughout this pandemic. Scottish Government appreciates and values the work that offshore workers are doing in what can b…
17 May 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider implementing the collection of lateral flow tests from local pharmacies or GP practices to allow those in rural communities or those who do not have digital access to collect free testing kits.
Answer · Maree Todd: Testing for people who do not have COVID-19 symptoms was made available to everyone in Scotland on 26 April. Everyone can now access free lateral flow devices (LFD), for testing at home twice a week. To get a LFD test you can:order an LFD test kit pack online…
17 May 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its plans are to introduce vaccine certification for people who have received their COVID-19 vaccine.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S6T-00019 on? 26 May 2021. The answer is available on the Parliament website at: Official Report - Parliamentary Business : Scottish Parliament
17 May 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has for administering COVID-19 vaccines suitable for (a) vulnerable and (b) disabled children who have been shielding.
Answer · Maree Todd: Current JCVIadvice does not cover vaccination in those under 18 years old, so far only 16 and 17 years olds in groups 1-9 are covered. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advises that only those children at very high risk of exposure a…
17 May 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether international travel guidance will be updated to differentiate between people who are travelling for the purpose of visiting family members and those who are travelling for a holiday.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Travel restrictions are in place to prevent cases of COVID-19 being imported to Scotland. Travel restrictions will be in place as long as they are required and Scottish Government will continue to liaise with affected groups and stakeholders over any restrict…
17 May 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether records of weather conditions that affect the Queensferry Crossing and the Forth Road Bridge, including wind speed and wind direction, are publicly available and, if so, whether it will provide information on where the public can access these records.
Answer · Graeme Dey: Wind and weather information in respect of the Queensferry Crossing and the Forth Road Bridge are published on a daily basis at https://www.theforthbridges.org/plan-your-journey/wind-and-weather/ . Historical records are available on request at enquiries@b…
17 May 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures are being taken to ensure that all university students will be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the autumn term.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Students aged 18 to 29 (as of 17 May 2021) are currently being invited to register for their coronavirus vaccine: Registering for a coronavirus vaccine | The coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine (nhsinform.scot) . The registration service is available for 2 weeks…
14 May 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what date it awarded the contracts for the R100 broadband programme, and when the detailed programme will be announced for the (a) Highlands and (b) north east.
Answer · Kate Forbes: The contracts for the Central and South lots of the Reaching 100% (R100) programme were signed on 16 December 2019. Contract signature for the North lot was completed on 11 December 2020, following dismissal of a legal challenge which had delayed contract sig…
11 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its commitment to buy electricity from the Fort William smelter and associated hydro-electric facilities if there is a failure of the smelter business, at what price per kilowatt-hour (KWh) the guarantee is fixed.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government guarantee provides for timely payment of fixed amounts of income due quarterly under a power purchase agreement between the smelter and Simec Lochaber Hydropower Limited. The Lochaber guarantee does not require the Scottish Government …
11 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will issue revised timetable for the ScotWind auction process before 25 March 2021.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: As announced by Crown Estate Scotland on 11 February, the review is targeted for completion by 24 March 2021. Crown Estate Scotland plan to outline the conclusions of the review at that time and will set out any implications for the revised timetable.
11 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to accelerate the phasing out of raw coal for domestic burning, in light of its carbon impact and the availability of renewable, smokeless alternatives.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government's draft new air quality strategy includes a proposal to ban the sale of house coal. A consultation on the draft strategy closed on 22 January 2021. The strategy will now be finalised, taking into account consultation responses, and pub…
11 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to exempt any high sulphur, high smoke fuels from future air quality legislation.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government's draft new air quality strategy includes a proposal to restrict the sulphur content of all smokeless fuels to 2%. A consultation on the draft strategy closed on 22 January 2021. The strategy will now be finalised, taking into account …
11 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce consistent limits for the atmospheric particle, PM2.5, across all domestic fuel categories.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: A consultation on a draft new air quality strategy for Scotland, which included several proposed actions relating to domestic fuels, concluded on 22 January 2021. The strategy will be finalised, taking into account consultation responses, and published later …
11 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to reduce levels of the atmospheric particle, PM2.5.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government's policy framework for reducing air pollution levels, including PM2.5, is set out in the Cleaner Air for Scotland strategy. Following an independent review of Cleaner Air for Scotland which identified priorities for additional action, …
10 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that the current review of ScotWind maintains the confidence in the auction process of potential international investors in Scotland’s offshore wind industry.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Crown Estate Scotland’s review of the ScotWind option structure will take close account of the views of the offshore wind sector, focusing in particular on minimising further delay and thereby seeking to ensure that the leasing process retains their confidenc…
10 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether its review of the ScotWind lease auction process will include an assessment of what impact any changes to the option fee structure will have on the competitiveness of ScotWind projects in future Contract for Difference auctions.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The review currently being undertaken by Crown Estate Scotland into the ScotWind Option structure is considering any implications changes may have on the offshore wind sector in Scotland, including competitiveness in future Contracts for Difference auctions. …
9 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will clarify the international travel regulations and guidance for people who have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: We continue to engage in international developments in relation to COVID-19, including guidance on the issue of vaccine certification, for those who have received both doses of the vaccine. These discussions are led by the World Health Organisation and includ…
9 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what financial support it will provide to ensure schools can deliver the new Higher Applications of Mathematics course, in light of reports that the SQA-prescribed software is prohibitively expensive for most schools.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Qualifications Authority is not prescribing particular software for the delivery of the course. Learners are expected to be able to use spreadsheets to explore mathematical models and manipulate data. R studio, freeware that is commonly used in i…
9 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of concerns that that the new Higher Applications of Mathematics course requires knowledge and skills outside many teachers’ area of specialism, what (a) consideration was given and (b) steps were taken when developing the course to ensure there was no adverse impact on the …
Answer · John Swinney: Prior to the development of the new Higher, a national survey was undertaken to identify the purpose and content that teachers and other stakeholders believed were necessary in such a course. The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) worked with practising …
9 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it will provide to teachers in order to facilitate the development of the new Higher Applications of Mathematics course in time for its delivery in August 2021.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government is funding Scholar to provide online resources to support the Applications of Mathematics courses at National 5 and Higher level from 2021-22. The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) is developing resources, including additional qu…