Donald Cameron

15 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered including dementia on its list of shielding medical conditions, and to what extent it considers that people with dementia would benefit from support similar to that provided to those shielding at the height of the pandemic.

Answer · Clare Haughey: On 22 September the First Minister confirmed that Shielding would not be reinstated at this time. We will continue to monitor the evidence, and if the risks increase – whether nationally or locally – we will take the steps necessary in order to keep people as…

15 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the delivery of COVID-19 guidance to people living with dementia.

Answer · Clare Haughey: The Scottish Government is working with partners on developing a national COVID-19 Dementia Transition and Resilience Plan and we will work with national and local partners across all sectors to support implementation of that plan. As part of that plan we wil…

14 Sep 2020 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to recent figures showing that Scotland’s daily COVID-19 cases are at a four-month high.

8 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many COVID-19 tests processed by (a) the Lighthouse Lab Network and (b) NHS Scotland that were confirmed as positive have been reconfirmed as positive following retesting, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, the Scottish Government does not hold information on positive tests that were subsequently retested.

2 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how may beds NHS Grampian has procured through its lease agreement with BMI Albyn Hospital.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government have overseen national use of Independent Sector capacity throughout the pandemic. Our strategy has been to ensure this capacity is available to the NHS, providing a COVID free environment for urgent elective, primarily cancer, procedu…

2 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the surgical capacity of Aberdeen Royal Infirmary has been each month since May 2020.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Data on scheduled theatre operations is published monthly by Public Health Scotland in their Cancelled Planned Operations publication. The latest data for Aberdeen Royal Infirmary shows that there were 465 operations scheduled in theatres in May 2020, 689 in …

31 Aug 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle littering in the Highlands and Islands.

18 Aug 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the action it is taking in response to the UHI publication, The Gaelic Crisis in the Vernacular Community.

17 Aug 2020 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that 37 hospital patients were transferred to care homes after testing positive for COVID-19.

4 Aug 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what basis it determined that the number of people who can attend places of worship for communal services and prayer should be limited to 50.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: I recognise how difficult it has been for Scotland’s faith communities to be unable to come together in large groups within places of worship at this challenging time, and understand the important role of congregational worship in supporting spiritual wellbei…

3 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what legislative basis Police Scotland will enforce the wearing of mandatory face coverings in shops.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Police Scotland have enforcement powers under The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 as amended by the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 7) Regulations 2020. The Amendment (No. 7)…

30 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) letters and (b) emails it received from businesses in relation to COVID-19 between 20 March and 30 June 2020, and how many of those have been responded to in full and substantively, not including holding replies.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has received unprecedented levels of correspondence since March 2020 which led to a decentralised approach to the preparation of replies and associated data capture. The best available data available from these different systems confir…

30 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) letters and (b) emails the Cabinet Secretary for Finance received from businesses in relation to COVID-19 between 20 March and 30 June 2020, and how many of those have been responded to in full and substantively, not including holding replies.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government has received unprecedented levels of correspondence since March 2020 which led to a decentralised approach to the preparation of replies and associated data capture. The best available data available from these different systems confir…

30 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) letters and (b) emails the First Minister received from businesses in relation to COVID-19 between 20 March and 30 June 2020, and how many of those have been responded to in full and substantively, not including holding replies.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government has received unprecedented levels of correspondence since March 2020 which led to a decentralised approach to the preparation of replies and associated data capture. The best available data available from these different systems confir…

30 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) letters and (b) emails the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Culture and Fair Work received from businesses in relation to COVID-19 between 20 March and 30 June 2020, and how many of those have been responded to in full and substantively, not including holding replies.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has received unprecedented levels of correspondence since March 2020 which led to a decentralised approach to the preparation of replies and associated data capture. The best available data available from these different systems confir…

29 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review the non-compliance penalties associated with assessor information notices from Scottish Assessors, particularly for small businesses that are not professionally represented and may be struggling as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: The civil penalties associated with a failure to comply with an assessors information notice were debated during the parliamentary passage of The Non-Domestic Rates (Scotland) Act 2020, which was passed by the Scottish Parliament on 5 February 2020 and receiv…

29 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the postponement of the 2021 rating revaluations in England and Wales, whether it can confirm that the revaluation in 2022 in Scotland will go ahead as planned.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: The timing of rating revaluations in England and Wales are a matter for the UK and Welsh Governments. The independent Barclay Review of Non-Domestic Rates highlighted the importance of more frequent revaluations but also identified the risks associated with …

29 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it will make available to Scottish Assessors to complete a revaluation.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: The Scottish Government does not directly fund Scottish Assessors to perform their statutory duties. Each of the 32 local Councils within Scotland is a valuation authority and responsible for appointing an Assessor who must in turn compile and maintain a Val…

29 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what reasons CalMac has provided to it for suspending its Ardrossan to Campbeltown ferry service until Summer 2021.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Following engagement with local stakeholders, the difficult decision was taken to suspend the Ardrossan to Campbeltown ferry service until Summer 2021. This was due to the need to deal with the significantly reduced connectivity to Arran, that shares this ve…

29 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) ministers and (b) Transport Scotland officials have met CalMac to discuss the temporary suspension of the Ardrossan to Campbeltown ferry service.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Officials regularly discussed CalMac’s proposals for amending timetables with them and other stakeholders on behalf of Ministers.

29 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of ferry services, other than the Ardrossan to Campbeltown service, that CalMac plans to suspend temporarily until Summer 2021.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: There are no plans for CalMac to temporarily suspend any other ferry services until Summer 2021.

24 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, with regard to the Corran Narrows ferry service, what its response is to The Highland Council’s position that councillors need to decide whether to “invest and retain the service in house or transfer responsibilities to Transport Scotland based on the principles set out in the Scottish …

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Highland Council is currently wholly responsible for the Corran ferry service including plans for the investment in vessels and shoreside infrastructure. The Scottish Ferries Plan 2013-2022 states that the Scottish Government is willing to discuss with t…

9 Jun 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update of its plans to safely reopen sectors of the economy.

5 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has an indicative date for (a) certain types of and (b) all self-catering accommodation to trade again.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The route map shows how and when we will carefully seek to lift current restrictions beyond phase 1. Future phases are based on meeting particular criteria, including those set by the World Health Organisation. The Scottish Government is proposing a provision…

5 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers regarding plans to allow self-catering accommodation businesses to trade again when it is safe to do so.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government’s sector guidance for Tourism & Hospitality has been developed in partnership with industry and unions through a sub-group of the Scottish Tourism Emergency Response Group, of which the Association of Scotland’s Self-caterers (ASSC) is…

5 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with local authorities regarding plans to allow self-catering accommodation businesses to trade again when it is safe to do so.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Tourism Emergency Response Group was established at the beginning of the crisis on 17 March, and has meet weekly since then. It is chaired by VisitScotland, and contains members from the enterprise agencies, and the Scottish Tourism Alliance as w…

5 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what safety measures and guidance it is putting in place to allow self-catering accommodation businesses to trade again when it is safe to do so.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government will publish sector guidance for Tourism & Hospitality shortly to ensure all businesses are able to operate safe and compliant workplaces. This has been developed in partnership with industry and unions through a sub-group of the Scott…

15 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many grants from the Pivotal Economic Resilience Fund have been awarded that are less than the amount applied for, also broken down by where the award was (a) 75%, (b) 50%, (c) 25% and (d) 10% of the amount applied for.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Pivotal Enterprise Resilience Fund (PERF) provides grants for businesses which:support Scotland’s productive capacity,are of local or national economic importance,impact the wider business community,are a supplier or potential supplier to NHS or other COV…

15 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of applications to the Pivotal Economic Resilience Fund has been awarded funding that is less than the amount applied for.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Pivotal Enterprise Resilience Fund (PERF) provides grants for businesses which:support Scotland’s productive capacity,are of local or national economic importance,impact the wider business community,are a supplier or potential supplier to NHS or other COV…

15 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many grants from the Newly Self-Employed Hardship Fund have been awarded that are less than the amount applied for, also broken down by where the award was (a) 75%, (b) 50%, (c) 25% and (d) 10% of the value of the amount applied for.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Newly Self-Employed Hardship Fund (NSEHF) provides support to people who became self-employed since 6 April 2019 and who were therefore not eligible for the UK Government Self-Employment Income Support Scheme. The fund provides support to people in hardsh…