Alexander Burnett

9 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Higher Applications of Mathematics course will be introduced, and whether delivery will be delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Answer · John Swinney: The new Higher Applications of Mathematics course is designed to get more young people studying mathematics and developing the skills they need for modern citizenry, such as statistical literacy, financial literacy and being able to use technology to solve pr…

9 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will outline its plans to publish the number of (a) adult and (b) child patients with long-COVID, similar to the data published in England.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Covid-19 Infection Survey is a UK wide survey which uses PCR testing to estimate the number and proportion of people in each of the four nations of the UK that would have tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19) in the community, regardless of wheth…

9 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government given that there are currently multiple healthcare databases, whether it will record long-COVID patients in a single healthcare database, and by what date this will be completed.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: We recognise the need to better understand the frequency, nature, and impact of Long COVID in the Scottish population and we have not ruled out the creation of a single healthcare database. We are working to develop data, which will allow for future analysis…

9 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when long-COVID clinics and treatment services will be delivered.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: We know from people living with Long COVID that the path to recovery can be unpredictable, with symptoms affecting different people in different ways that can have an impact on how they want to live their lives. There are already a range of NHS services in p…

9 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) employment protections and (b) financial support is available for parents who are unable to work while caring for children who have long-COVID.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: As the member will be aware, employment law is reserved to Westminster. We therefore do not have the powers to provide parents with the employment protections they need, particularly during the health crisis. Employees who have caring responsibilities for so…

9 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will introduce guidance for schools whose pupils require further home learning and a slower phased return to school.

Answer · John Swinney: There are no plans to provide guidance on this specific point. The existing schools guidance available at: Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance on schools reopening - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) provides a range of information on preparing for and implementing the …

9 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what educational support is available for children with long-COVID, who are too unwell to return to school.

Answer · John Swinney: The Standards in Scotland's Schools Etc. Act 2000 places duties on education authorities to make special arrangements for children or young people who are unable to attend school due to ill health to receive education elsewhere than at an educational establis…

8 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its latest guidance is regarding outdoor teaching following the full-time return of primary schools.

Answer · John Swinney: A refreshed version of the Scottish Government’s guidance on arrangements for the phased re-opening of schools was published on 8 March 2021. This guidance reiterates the Scottish Government’s message that schools should consider the increased use of outdoor …

8 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its latest guidance is regarding PE teachers who are asked to teach outside all day, including in poor weather conditions.

Answer · John Swinney: Guidelines on physical education and dance have been prepared by Education Scotland to assist with decision-making and the safe implementation of timetabled physical education. The guidelines are continually updated to reflect any changes in the scientific ad…

8 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government under what circumstances care home residents might be required to continue to be kept in isolation, and what plans it has to review the COVID-19 guidance regarding this.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: To minimise the risk of viral introduction to a care home from residents transferring in, all resident transfers must complete a total of 14 days of isolation either starting on or including the date of transfer in addition to the testing required. In addit…

5 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to allow acupuncture therapy clinics to reopen, in light of the support that they can provide to the NHS in treating people with conditions such as long-COVID.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Under the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Regulations 2020, as amended - close contact services, including Complementary and Alternative Medicine Services (CAMS) - which includes acupuncture - generall…

3 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether teachers with underlying health conditions are required to return to classrooms before (a) receiving their COVID-19 vaccination and (b) an adequate period of time has passed for their COVID-19 vaccination to take effect.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance on reducing the risks in schools - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) is clear that school staff who have underlying health conditions are able to work within schools. Where there are any concerns about the impa…

2 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the maximum 12-week waiting time for an NHS outpatient appointment is a mandatory legislative requirement.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Treatment Time Guarantee was established through the Patent Rights (Scotland) Act 2011 and sets out the maximum waiting time that eligible patients should wait for agreed treatment to begin - which is 12 weeks. To support Elective Care during COVID19 I p…

2 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether business rates relief includes empty property penalty rates, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The non-domestic rates system does not include a supplement or penalty for empty properties. The independent Barclay Review of non-domestic rates proposed a supplement on long-term empty properties but the Scottish Government did not ultimately accept this re…

2 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what efforts are being made to introduce professional home visits to families affected by eating disorders, in order to help parents to understand the condition and to train them to deal with mealtimes effectively. 

Answer · Clare Haughey: The Scottish Government is responsible for setting the overall policy direction of mental health services, and for working with and funding NHS Boards and local authorities to ensure they plan and deliver appropriate local services. It is for local NHS Boards…

1 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce a national register of people with long-COVID symptoms.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: At present there are no plans to establish a national register of people experiencing symptoms of Long COVID. The UK wide Office for National Statistics (ONS) COVID-19 Infection Survey has however recently introduced a question on whether people are experie…

1 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it would consider opening non-contact horse-related events such as endurance riding from 15 March 2021, in light of the safety measures that the Scottish Endurance Riding Club and other equine event organisers have put in place to allow their events to go ahead.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government recognises that sport has operated safely under robust guidance when restrictions have permitted it to take place. Currently only professional athletes are able to resume competition and events due to current status of the virus. The F…

1 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will permit the use of transparent face coverings, in line with other parts of the UK, and, if so, by what date.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government is aware that there are additional challenges for deaf people or those who rely on lip reading and facial expressions when communicating with others who are wearing face coverings. We actively encourage the use of transparent face cov…

26 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will undertake a review into climate education, and what plans it has to provide resources and support for teachers to provide students with the skills and knowledge to tackle climate change.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government is keen to respond positively to the asks of Teach the Future campaign, including considering specific asks around a review of elements of the curriculum and further support for teachers and learners. We will engage in a dialogue with …

25 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which COVID-19 vaccine priority group people with non-severe asthma are in, and when they will be offered the vaccine.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: At present, individuals who are well controlled on asthma inhalers are not eligible in priority group 6 for coronavirus vaccination (phase 1 of the vaccine rollout). However, a number of individuals with well controlled asthma may fall into the priority group…

25 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of the £120 million Mental Health Recovery and Renewal Fund will be directly invested into specialist CAMHS.

Answer · Clare Haughey: The additional £120 million supports a Recovery & Renewal Fund to help deliver the commitments set out in the Mental Health Transition & Recovery Plan. Those commitments span different types of need, including the provision of specialist child and adolescent …

24 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on local authorities paying different payment percentages for suspended school bus contracts, and what action it plans to take on this.

Answer · John Swinney: The provision of school transport is the responsibility of local authorities. It is for individual local authorities to decide on the level of support they provide to their contractors during the current Covid-19 outbreak. Local authorities will take into acc…

23 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support is being provided during the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccination programme to people who are needle-phobic.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Covid-19 vaccine is only available by injection at this point. COVID Vaccine is not the only vaccine given by injection as a large number of other vaccines are given by injection from childhood onwards. Whatever support and/or mechanism the NHS Boards use…

23 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support is in place for people with autism or additional support needs, who may require further assistance when receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.

Answer · Clare Haughey: Individuals that require adjustments for themselves or someone they care for with additional support needs should contact their Health Board and/or GP. This will allow for specialists to be made aware of any specific needs and adjustments required that are be…

23 Feb 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to increase funding to local authorities.

23 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government (a) which projects have been supported and (b) how much funding has been provided through the Energy Transition Fund since it was announced in June 2020 to (i) the end of January 2021 and (ii) date.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The projects that are being considered under the five year Energy Transition Fund (ETF) programme are; Global Underwater Hub, the Aberdeen Energy Transition Zone, hydrogen projects including Aberdeen Hydrogen Hub and ACORN Hydrogen, an innovation programme le…

22 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what additional resources have been made available (a) nationally and (b) by each NHS board to meet any additional demand for adolescent eating disorder services as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Answer · Clare Haughey: We have provided Beat, the UK’s eating disorder charity, with funding to ensure that their online and telephone services were able to support and help as many people as possible during this difficult time. In addition to these services, Beat launched a new mo…

22 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the demand for adolescent eating disorder services since March 2020.

Answer · Clare Haughey: We continue to monitor research, referral rates and engage regularly with the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service Lead Clinicians, Service Managers and Heads of Child Psychology Group to provide us with an understanding of how those with an eating diso…

19 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the COVID-19 quarantine requirements are for minors who are travelling home to Scotland, and whether they can self-isolate at home with their families.

Answer · Michael Matheson: We understand how difficult this is for families with children, but to manage the risk of importing new variants and to give vaccine deployment the best chance of bringing us closer to normality these limits on international travel are necessary. The clinica…

17 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-33980 by Jeanne Freeman on 14 January 2021, whether it will confirm by what date all people entitled to the £500 bonus for health and social care staff will have received their payment.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The majority of NHS Scotland staff will receive the thank you payment in February. For those staff who had previously left and have since returned to NHS Scotland, the payment will be made in March. For ex-NHS Scotland staff, the payment will be made from Mar…