Alexander Burnett

11 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-27798 by Joe Fitzpatrick on 18 March 2020, what social media campaigns have been run to raise awareness of Lyme disease since summer 2018.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government issued a tweet to raise awareness of Lyme Disease Awareness Month in May 2019 as a reminder to walkers when out and about in the countryside https://twitter.com/scotgovhealth/status/1126059581346603008 The material from the social m…

11 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on action being taken in relation to the dualling of the A96 from Inverness to Aberdeen, and at what stage of the timetable this project is currently at.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Our key priority at this time remains protecting 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 the A96 Dualling programme, whilst co…

8 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what reviews and updates are being made of the weekly grocery box provided to vulnerable people shielding from COVID-19.

Answer · John Swinney: Together with Food Standards Scotland, we are currently reviewing the contents of the grocery boxes provided to those who are shielding from Covid-19 to ensure they are continuing to meet the nutritional and other needs of recipients.  

5 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made with implementing the R100 high-speed broadband programme, and what additional work is being carried out to accelerate this to facilitate home (a) schooling and (b) working during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The COVID-19 pandemic – and the consequent lockdown and social distancing guidelines we have implemented – have resulted in some restrictions on the types of work that telecommunications suppliers can do at this time. However, guidance for councils and operat…

4 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures are in place to support home owners whose home reports expire during the COVID-19 lockdown period.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: To enable prospective purchasers to make informed decisions, it is vital the Home Report provides accurate information about the condition and value of a property. If a property was placed on the market before the lockdown period and has not been withdrawn fr…

20 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what business relief in response to the COVID-19 outbreak is offered to proprietors of guest houses that are not eligible for small business support grants because their businesses are also domestic properties.

Answer · Kate Forbes: Eligibility for the grant scheme is linked to the non-domestic rates system because it is the fastest, most effective way to reach businesses. However, it is important to note that it is not the only form of support that is available. The Scottish Government…

27 Mar 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review the timing rules of the Additional Dwelling Supplement application following the temporary suspension of Registers of Scotland activities.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: The Scottish Government is aware of the concerns that have been raised on this matter and is considering the position.

25 Mar 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding implications for the oil and gas industry in Scotland, in light of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government has regular engagement with the energy sector, Oil and Gas UK, the Oil and Gas Authority and UK (BEIS) Ministers and officials on the industry’s challenge in response to COVID-19 and the longer term issues facing the sector and its sup…

25 Mar 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any plans to contain COVID-19 among oil and gas workers who return to shore.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Oil & Gas workers who are identified as suspect cases offshore with mild and moderate symptoms and who return to shore will be advised to follow current guidance and self-isolate as soon as possible after arriving onshore, minimising any contact with the gene…

25 Mar 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will clarify travel restrictions for oil and gas workers in the North Sea, in light of their role as essential workers during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Scottish Ministers recognise the important role that oil and gas workers are playing in maintaining a secure supply of energy to consumers at this time, and for maintaining critical national infrastructure, and I have thanked them on behalf of the Scottish Go…

25 Mar 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what infrastructure is in place to allow for priority COVID-19 testing for offshore oil and gas workers in the North Sea.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: We are working hard to increase capacity to use testing to get critical workers in isolation back to work, but we will have to make difficult choices and currently we need to prioritise the health and social care sector. We continue to work with NHS Boards an…

18 Mar 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what coordination is taking place regarding supplies for community pharmacies, in light of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The supply of medicines is reserved to the UK Government. The four UK Governments are working together and with the pharmaceutical industry to ensure that the medicine supply chain continues to operate effectively throughout the UK. I met with Community Pha…

13 Mar 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to reduce or remove non-domestic rates on solar panel installations to support businesses in decarbonisation and help meet its target of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: The Scottish Government provides support to the renewable energy sector through a number of non-domestic rates reliefs, such as the renewable energy relief. We continue to consider ways to support the renewable energy sector and keep all of our non-domestic r…

6 Mar 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has used social media to raise awareness of Lyme Disease and active ways to avoid contracting it, and, if so, what handles, phrases, hashtags and words it has used in this regard.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Scottish Government, along with key partners, ran a social media campaign throughout summer 2018 encouraging young people to enjoy the outdoors, whilst promoting outdoor health messages such as checking for and removing ticks safely using the tags @ramblerssc…

6 Mar 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has undertaken an analysis of the efficacy of windfarm grant conditions imposed by its reporters when granting planning permission for wind turbine applications on appeal, and whether it has conducted a review into local authorities’ reasons and ability to enforce these condit…

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government has not undertaken any analysis in respect of the efficacy of planning conditions in wind farm developments. It is the responsibility of the determining authority, whether that be the planning authority or Scottish Ministers on appeal,…

5 Mar 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the study by Ernst & Young in 2019 on England’s Premier League, what information it has on how much is raised in tax revenue as a result of the Scottish Professional Football League; how many jobs it supports, and what contribution it makes to the tourism sector in Scotland.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: HM Revenue and Customs is responsible for income tax data across the UK. While anonymised sample data is shared with the Scottish Government, we do not have detailed breakdowns for football or any other sectors. Data at such a specific level is often not disc…

4 Mar 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-27594 by Kevin Stewart on 4 March 2020, in the event that residents of residential caravan sites are unaware of their legal right to a Written Statement, who is legally responsible for ensuring that site owners of residential caravan sites issue the…

Answer · Kevin Stewart: It is the responsibility of the resident to familiarise themselves with their rights. As with all forms of home ownership, the Scottish Government would encourage prospective purchasers of residential caravans to make themselves aware of all of their rights a…

26 Feb 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question to S5W-27191 by Joe FitzPatrick on 25 February 2020, whether it will provide the information that was requested regarding how many boys will not receive the vaccination.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Information on the number of boys born in 2006 is available on the National Records for Scotland website available at: https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/. As per my previous answer, eligibility for the HPV vaccine is based on boys being in S1 during 2019/20 and…

25 Feb 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-27329 by Kevin Stewart on 21 February 2020, whether caravan site owners are obliged to use the written statement in the format set out in the Mobile Homes Act 1983, or are permitted to produce their own statement, and who is legally responsible for …

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Mobile Homes (Written Statement) (Scotland) Regulations 2013 require that the written statement must be in the form set out in the Schedule to the Regulations or a form substantially to the same effect. The Mobile Homes Act 1983 states that if the owner h…

6 Feb 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the provisions in the Mobile Homes (Written Statement) (Scotland) Regulations 2013, whether issuing a Written Statement is a legal requirement and not just a condition of a residential licence, and who is responsible for the site owner’s compliance with the Written Statement.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Mobile Homes Act 1983 requires that, before making an agreement to station a mobile home on a site and occupy the mobile home as an only or main residence, the site owner shall give the proposed occupier a written statement. The Mobile Homes (Written Stat…

29 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what advice is being given to concerned parents of boys who will not be covered by the HPV vaccination programme.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Vaccination policy in Scotland, as with the rest of the UK, is based on recommendations from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The JCVI has not recommended a catch up of older boys at this time on the basis that the girls’ HPV vaccin…

29 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the NHS will introduce a catch-up programme to provide HPV vaccinations for all boys at school who were born in 2006, and, if not, how many boys will not receive the vaccination as a consequence.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: I refer the Member to the answer to question S5W-27190 on 25 February 2020. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusin…

29 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether HPV vaccinations for boys are administered according to age group or school year, and whether boys born in 2006 are being inoculated.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Vaccination policy in Scotland, as with the rest of the UK, is based on recommendations from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). Following the Committee’s recommendation the HPV vaccination programme has been extended to include S1 boy…

23 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to affording the same legal protection to employees who have been bullied in the workplace as employees who have been harassed in the workplace.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Our position on this matter is clear, bullying and harassment of any kind is wholly unacceptable. The powers to extend equality and employment protections, including on matters such as bullying and harassment, remain reserved to the UK Government. However, w…

21 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government (a) how and (b) when the debt advice levy will be distributed.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: In 2020-21 the debt advice levy funding will be used to support the Scottish Government's vision for a user-centred, collaborative and sustainable free debt advice system which was set out in A Debt Advice Routemap for Scotland published on 17 December 2019. …

21 Jan 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to ensure that older and disabled people can easily access local services.

15 Jan 2020 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its forestry planting targets.

9 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the remaining provisions of the Civil Litigation (Expenses and Group Proceedings) (Scotland) Act 2018 will come into force.

Answer · Ash Denham: Since the passing of the Civil Litigation (Expenses and Group Proceedings) (Scotland) Act 2018, the Scottish Government has been working with stakeholders including the Scottish Civil Justice Council which is responsible for developing the Court rules that wi…

7 Jan 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made with the Police Scotland digital, data and ICT strategy.

7 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what responsibility NHS boards have to ensure that bereavement training is provided to midwives when specialist cover does not meet demand.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Scottish Government supports the NHSScotland workforce to deliver a resilient, efficient and high quality healthcare service. All Health Boards have midwives who are trained in bereavement care and all NHS Boards are accountable to Scottish Ministers, support…