Alexander Burnett

28 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the role that oil and gas workers have played as key workers during the COVID-19 pandemic; whether it will continue to consider them as key workers, and how it will continue to support them, and the industry, through the pandemic and beyond.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Scottish Ministers recognise the crucial role that oil and gas workers, as key workers, are continuing to play in not only maintaining a secure supply of energy to consumers at this time, but sustaining critical national infrastructure throughout this pandemi…

22 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the construction of the schemes that make up the A96 dualling programme will be approved; what further detail it can provide on when a design will be available for the full east of Huntly to Aberdeen section, particularly the Kintore to Aberdeen section; whether it can confirm that …

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government is committed to dualling the A96 between Inverness and Aberdeen. Design work is well underway on the dualling programme, including the East of Huntly to Aberdeen stretch of the route. Delivery of the schemes that make up the dualling p…

22 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on (a) the A96 route option assessment work on the section between the east of Huntly and Aberdeen and (b) timescales for identifying a preferred route option on this section.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The design and assessment work for the East of Huntly to Aberdeen section of the route is taking into account the considerable feedback received. Following extensive engagement with local communities, road users and other stakeholders, a number of changes hav…

22 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether ground investigation work has been able to resume for the A96 dualling project following the lifting of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.

Answer · Michael Matheson: In line with the Scottish Government’s construction sector guidance ground investigation site work has resumed on the A96 Dualling Programme. Site work on the Preliminary Ground Investigation contracts for the preferred option on A96 Dualling Hardmuir to Foc…

22 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers a "virtual consultation" on the A96 dualling project appropriate; what provision is being made for people who would wish to participate but do not have access to IT equipment or a suitable broadband connection, and what measures it has taken to minimise stress, distr…

Answer · Michael Matheson: Our key priority during this time is to protect the lives of everyone in Scotland as we continue to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. However, where it is possible to do so, our consultants continue to advance design work on all our major road projects across the…

21 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it can provide to students who are unable to access jobs that they have to support their studies in the event they are required to self-isolate for two weeks before the Christmas holidays.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: We want students to have the option to return home safely at Christmas. We are engaging with the sector and students on the best approach and will make an announcement in due course.

21 Oct 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when Skills Development Scotland will reopen its training provider register.

19 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government who has responsibility for the inspection of Microgeneration Certification Scheme accreditation, and what action is being taken to ensure that this accreditation remains reliable.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) is a standards organisation which, through the participation of over 200 independent industry and consumer protection experts, creates and maintains standards underpinning the certification of products, installer…

19 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether guidance for parent and baby groups will be changed to increase the maximum number of adults to 10 for groups where the children are aged 24 or 36 months old.

Answer · Maree Todd: The organised activities for children guidance was changed on 12 November to increase the maximum number of adults to 10 for groups that take place indoors, where the children are aged under 5, at protection levels 2 and 3. At baseline (level 0) and level 1, …

14 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it is giving to people who (a) are shielding and (b) have concerns regarding the new fire safety requirements for homeowners that are due to come into force is on 1 February 2021.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: While improving fire safety remains a key priority, the Scottish Government recognises the challenges, due to COVID-19, that affect all home owners, including those who are shielding, and which will impact on the work needed to meet the new safety standards f…

13 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ensure that personalised stratified follow-up is introduced with a digitalised IT remote monitoring system to all suitable prostate cancer patients as pathways recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROM) have the potential to provide vital information in how we configure our services. A range of very effective digital solutions are already in place to support these. Our Cancer Recovery Plan will set out the national su…

9 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what rules govern (a) telephone and (b) video calls between patients at the State Hospital and their respective family members and/or guardians, and what guidance there is regarding staff surveillance and monitoring of these.

Answer · Clare Haughey: At the start of the pandemic the State Hospital developed a process for safe use of video visiting facilities for patients and approved visitors to maintain relationships when that is in the best interests of the patient. This development builds upon existing…

7 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its local area energy planning-related activity, and how this is supporting strategic investment for a net-zero transition.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Local energy planning is a critical part of taking a strategic approach to investment for the net-zero transition. Dundee City Council’s local area based district heating strategy is an excellent example of this in practice. The strategy informed investment i…

7 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support strategic investment in electricity networks as part of the net-zero transition.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The regulation and funding of electricity networks are reserved to the UK Government. However, we are engaging closely with Ofgem and BEIS to ensure that its policy and regulation recognises and enables Scotland’s world leading net zero target, and unlocks in…

7 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with (a) Ofgem and (b) the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy regarding the role that strategic investment in electricity networks can play to enable a cost-effective net-zero transition.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government has been engaging closely with BEIS and Ofgem over recent months to highlight the vital role that strategic investment in electricity networks will play in meeting Scotland’s more ambitious decarbonisation and net zero targets. I resp…

29 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the role played by the UK Government regarding the delivery of Royal Navy ships for yards on the River Clyde, whether it has sought the advice of UK ministers regarding procuring ferry construction at Burntisland Fabrications (BiFab), and what the reasons are for its positio…

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Ministry of Defence and Scottish Government procurements are generally undertaken publically through a competitive process. Although the Scottish Government holds a minority shareholding in BiFab, Scottish Ministers do not participate in operational managemen…

29 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-31778 by Paul Wheelhouse on 25 September 2020, whether it will clarify the term "majority"; whether it expects that 49% of the contract build in the Central and South lots will not be completed by the end of 2023; whether it will provide further det…

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Based on current information provided by BT, we expect around 90% of the contract build in the Central and South lots will be completed by the end of 2023. As set out in my answer to your recent parliamentary question [S5W-31777 on 30 September 2020], we anti…

25 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £11 million allocated for the Scottish Child Payment in 2020-21 will be spent on administration costs.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The £11 million is the updated forecast published by the Scottish Fiscal Commission https://www.fiscalcommission.scot/forecast/supplementary-costing-scottish-child-payment/  this will go directly to the recipients of the Scottish Child Payment. The administr…

25 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when NHS chiropodist services will recommence.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Throughout our response to the Covid 19 Pandemic, where an urgent clinical need has been present access to Chiropody/Podiatric services has remained. Since the publication of the Scottish Government’s framework on how those services which had been paused cou…

24 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the letter of 10 September 2020 to the Member from the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, whether it will provide a breakdown by local authority of the £25 million investment in the provision of devices and connectivity for disadvantaged or digitally excluded childre…

Answer · John Swinney: Funding has been allocated to local authorities as set out in the following table. We are considering how best to invest the remaining £1m to further support digital inclusion.   LA Total allocation Aberdeen City £503,633 Aberdeenshire £1,320,234 Angu…

23 Sep 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with local authorities regarding the proposal in its Programme for Government for a revaluation of non-domestic rates in 2023.

21 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date mobile therapists, including massage and beauty therapists, who attend clients in their own homes will be allowed to resume business.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: We recognise that this is a difficult time for mobile therapists. However, our primary driver is safeguarding public health and wellbeing and preventing transmission of the virus. While we are not yet able to provide a date for when these services will be pe…

15 Sep 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the support it is providing to local authorities in their response to COVID-19.

15 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what dispensation or alternative visitation guidance is being given to families of patients who are receiving palliative care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Visiting guidance in health and social care settings recognises that visits to those nearing the end of life are deemed essential and as such we would expect those working in clinical settings to accommodate such visits where it is safe to do so. This provisi…

15 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it measures the impact on children’s psychological and developmental wellbeing of its current measures to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.

Answer · Maree Todd: We recognise the impact that the COVID-19 measures will be having on children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing. We are taking a number of steps to understand those impacts, and take action to address them. We established a Covid-19 Children and…

14 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding the number of false positives that have been included in the COVID-19 statistics, and what impact their inclusion has on the accuracy of the data.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: In the case of weakly detected positive results (i.e. not true current infection), the sample is reprocessed and if, when more detailed virology analysis has been undertaken, it is assessed that there is no current infection or infectivity present, then the o…

11 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of plans to close any learning disability facilities.

11 Sep 2020 · Written Question

 To ask the Scottish Government what plans there are to expand the learning disability wards at the State Hospital, and whether it is aware of plans to close any other such facilities elsewhere in the NHS that would necessitate such an expansion.

Answer · Clare Haughey: There has been a review of the Clinical Service Delivery Model in The State Hospital (TSH) which included review of the Intellectual Disability ward. The findings of that review were made available publically as part of TSH Board papers on their website in Oc…

11 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date R100 superfast broadband programme will be completed, and what percentage of communities will not be connected after this.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: As previously advised, we expect the majority of the contract build in the Central and South lots to complete by the end of 2023. Until there is an agreed contract in place it is not possible to confirm exactly when physical contract build in the North lot wi…

11 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it can provide regarding the settlement of its recent dispute with Gigaclear regarding Lot 1 of the superfast broadband programme; how much it paid to Gigaclear to settle the dispute, and whether it will provide a breakdown of its legal costs.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The terms of the settlement are confidential to the parties involved. We are pleased that the matter is now resolved, thus allowing us to get on with the task of delivering superfast broadband to the people of the North of Scotland as soon as possible.