Parliamentary questions
Jamie Greene
1,978 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
22 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide further clarification of the protocols for prioritising the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccine to healthcare workers at increased risk through direct and indirect contact with COVID-19.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the information sent to all MSP’s dated 23 December 2020 which provides the prioritisation information requested.
21 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will confirm the conditions under which a primary or secondary pupil is recorded as being absent from school for COVID-19-related reasons.
Answer · John Swinney: Statistics on pupils not in school due to Covid-19 related reasons can be found here: COVID19-SchoolsandChildcareInformation - SG Education Analytical Services: Learning Analysis | Tableau Public Pupils are recorded as being not in school due to Covid-19 r…
21 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting (a) ASN and (b) other pupils with learning difficulties whose mental health has been impacted through disrupted routines resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answer · John Swinney: In preparation for the return to school, the Scottish Government developed and published guidance which highlighted the need to consider the wellbeing of all pupils including those with additional support needs, this would include those with learning difficul…
16 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £185 million recently announced for struggling businesses is being allocated to the travel agent industry.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: We recognise that travel agents have been severely hit by the Covid pandemic and it is vital that we support them through the crisis. £5.1 million of the £185 million fund will be made available to travel agents. This covers agencies, limited companies and so…
16 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what specific action it is taking to support travel agents during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-34128 on 11 January 2021. 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/parliamentarybusines…
14 Dec 2020 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister whether she will provide an update on the conditions regarding blood donations.
3 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had regarding allowing charities and third sector shops that are currently classified as non-essential to open in areas subject to restrictions to allow them to provide support to the communities that they serve.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: We continue to do everything we can to support businesses in these unprecedented and challenging circumstances. This includes through the provision of grant funding through the Strategic Framework Business Support scheme, access to non-domestic rates relief a…
1 Dec 2020 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Climate Emergency Response Group’s interim assessment of progress report, which was published in November 2020.
16 Nov 2020 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how people with chronic health conditions are being supported to access GP services, in light of the added pressures resulting from COVID-19.
12 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the COVID-19-related mortality rate for people who have died in their own home for each week since 23 March 2020, and what proportion of all deaths related to the pandemic this represents, also broken down by the number of these deaths (a) that were directly attri…
Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-33230 on 2 December 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/parliamentarybusines…
12 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish details of how many people who have died in their own home from COVID-19-related conditions in each week since 23 March 2020 had been moved from a (a) hospital and (b) care home setting, and, if this information is not held centrally, whether, in the interests of …
Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to answer to question S5W-33231 on 10 December 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/parliamentarybusiness/2…
12 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish details of home many hospital patients who have died from COVID-19-related conditions in each week since 23 March 2020 had been moved from a care home setting, and, if this information is not held centrally, whether, in the interests of transparency, it will consi…
Answer · Jeane Freeman: National Records of Scotland (NRS) published an ad-hoc piece of analysis on 3rd June which showed the number of deaths of people whose usual residence was a care home, and who had died in a hospital. A link to the publication is provided here: https://www.nr…
12 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the COVID-19-related mortality rate for hospital patients for each week since 23 March 2020, and what proportion of all deaths related to the pandemic this represents, also broken down by the number of these deaths (a) that were directly attributed to the virus at…
Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to answer to question S5W-33230 on 2 December 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/parliamentarybusiness/28…
12 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the COVID-19-related mortality rate for care home residents for each week since 23 March 2020, and what proportion of all deaths related to the pandemic this represents, also broken down by the number of these deaths (a) that were directly attributed to the virus …
Answer · Jeane Freeman: National Records of Scotland (NRS) publish weekly statistics on the number of deaths where COVID-19 was written on the death certificate, either as a suspected or probable involvement in the death. National Records of Scotland do not publish weekly mortality …
12 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish details of how many care home residents who have died from COVID-19-related conditions in each week since 23 March 2020 had been moved from a hospital setting, and, if this information is not held centrally, whether, in the interests of transparency, it will consi…
Answer · Jeane Freeman: This information is not held centrally. The Scottish Government is working with Public Health Scotland, National Records of Scotland and the wider academic and science community to collect and analyse data to help inform our decision making throughout and bey…
11 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on subject choice in the senior phase of the 2020-21 academic year.
Answer · John Swinney: It is a matter for individual schools and local authorities to plan a Senior Phase that takes account of local circumstances and meets the needs and aspirations of learners, ensuring that young people can choose preferred subjects; however, timetabling, staff…
11 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress made on the new IT system for Disclosure Scotland.
Answer · Maree Todd: At the end of September 2019, Disclosure Scotland replaced an obsolete IT system with its new processing system, Protecting and Safeguarding Scotland (PASS). This has been used since then to process all disclosure checks. PASS is continually being developed t…
11 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress to roll out 1,140 hours of funded childcare nationally; how many hours of funded childcare is currently available in each local authority area, and what the current timetable is by which it is working towards ensuring and finalising full roll…
Answer · Maree Todd: The Improvement Service published a detailed report on delivery progress as of August on 11 November which showed that 93,438 children were accessing funded ELC as of the end of August 2020. Of these, 80% children were accessing more than the statutory enti…
11 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people work in care home settings of any nature or provide in-home social care to older or vulnerable people; (a) how many and (b) what percentage of these staff have had asymptotic testing for COVID-19; how often this testing has taken place, and what percentage of tests have b…
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The latest data published by Scottish Social Services Council shows that 53,080 staff worked in adult care homes and a further 71,350 in adult care at home/housing support. A total of 124,430 staff. There is currently a weekly offer of testing available to a…
11 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the commitment made by the Deputy First Minister to the Parliament on 12 August 2020, and in a letter to EIS, how many teachers, nursery and educational support staff have been tested for COVID-19; where these tests took place, and what percentage of the tests were positive.
Answer · John Swinney: We do not hold this information. For people who test positive we have information on their self reported occupation. This is published weekly here: https://beta.isdscotland.org/find-publications-and-data/population-health/covid-19/covid-19-statistical-report…
11 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the COVID-19-related mortality rate for each week since 23 March 2020, also broken down by the number of deaths (a) that were directly attributed to the virus at the time of death and (b) where the presence of the virus was recorded on the death certificate and, i…
Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to answer to question S5W-33230 on 2 December 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/parliamentarybusiness/28…
11 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the scientific evidence that it has received to determine the relationship between (a) the presence of alcohol and (b) responsible alcohol consumption in hospitality settings and the spread and prevalence of COVID-19, including the direct link of the impact on thi…
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Not all alcohol consumption is irresponsible and the levels approach makes allowance for this, particularly at level 2 and below. However, the disinhibiting effect of alcohol on behaviours is already well understood. It can pose a risk to adherence in relatio…
10 Nov 2020 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to recent statistics that show attacks on emergency workers have reached a record high.
3 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects all provisions of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 to come into effect, and in particular new restrictions on pavement parking.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The implementation of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 has been affected by the Covid 19 Pandemic, meaning that not all provisions of the Act will come into effect until the next parliamentary session. Officials have restarted work on parking provisions and …
2 Nov 2020 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what advice has been offered to local authorities regarding which measurements would trigger a move through the new tiered system of COVID-19 restrictions.
23 Oct 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the visiting regulations and testing plans for care homes, including those regarding designated visitors being screened on a weekly basis.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: Visiting is vital to the wellbeing of people in care homes and their loved ones and it is important that all steps are taken to enable visiting to resume safely. To support this, the Scottish Government published on 12 October updated visiting guidance which …
20 Oct 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that colleges are able to deal with any backlog of coursework marking to allow students to progress to the next level of their studies.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: We continue to work closely with the college sector on the best approach on all matters relating to the current situation to ensure students receive the best educational experience whilst remaining safe. We are absolutely clear that learners should continue t…
6 Oct 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when soft play centres and baby/toddler groups/classes will be able to resume.
Answer · Maree Todd: Provisional guidance was published on 1 September for ‘Indoor activities for children and young people (unregulated)’. Activities run indoors for children and young people, including babies and toddlers, could resume from 31 August as long as they adhered to …
5 Oct 2020 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will clarify the role that education settings would play in any "circuit-breaker" strategy.
29 Sep 2020 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much of the Sustainable Agriculture Capital Grant Scheme funding has been allocated.