Parliamentary questions
Annie Wells
659 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
14 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what additional sources of funding are available to charities that are working to provide support to the hospitality sector and those who work within it during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: In March, in response to coronavirus, the Scottish Government announced a £350 million emergency package for communities. Before opening the current £40 million Community and Third Sector Recovery Programme (CTSRP), the Scottish Government had already awarded…
9 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the legislation guaranteeing an extra year of funded childcare for parents who defer their child’s entry to P1 will reportedly not come into effect until 2023.
Answer · Maree Todd: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-33917 on 21 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/parliamentarybusine…
8 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the legislation that guarantees an extra year’s childcare funding for all parents who defer their child’s school start will be implemented across all of Scotland.
Answer · Maree Todd: On the 2 October 2019, I confirmed that the Scottish Government would introduce legislation in this parliamentary session to entitle all children whose school start is deferred to access funded early learning and childcare in their deferred year. The legisla…
3 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide the scientific evidence regarding the transmission of COVID-19 on which it based its decision to require casinos in areas subject to Level 2 restrictions to close, while other hospitality venues are permitted to stay open.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-33679 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/parliamentarybusine…
2 Dec 2020 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to NFU Scotland’s call for Less Favoured Area Support Scheme payments for 2020 to be fully reinstated to 2018 rates.
1 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will outline the scientific justification for its decision to not permit spectators, who would be situated outside and socially distanced from one another, at semi-professional football matches in areas subject to Level 3 restrictions.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: We appreciate the impact on clubs and supporters, but our priority is to supress the virus and safeguard lives. Every human interaction is a potential bridge for the virus. Although outdoors is safer than indoors and small crowds safer than large, neither are…
30 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications have been made to the Private Rent Sector Landlord (non-business) COVID-19 Loan Scheme, also broken down by how many have (a) been approved, (b) been rejected and (c) yet to be processed; how much has been paid to date in total, and what the average award has been.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: As of w/e 2 October 2020 there have been 91 applications to the Private Rent Sector Landlord (non-business) COVID-19 Loan Scheme, please note of these applications 5 were later withdrawn by the applicants and 15 did not respond to requests for further informa…
30 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications have been made to the Tenant Hardship Loan Fund, also broken down by how many have (a) been approved, (b) been rejected and (c) yet to be processed; how much has been paid to date in total, and what the average award has been.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: This information is not yet available as the Tenant Hardship Loan Fund, as announced in August’s Programme for Government, opened for applications on Monday 7 December 2020. The Scottish Government have worked at pace with our loan administrators to develop …
25 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide the scientific evidence regarding the transmission of COVID-19 on which it based its decision to close gyms in areas subject to Level 4 restrictions.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Decisions on what sectors and activities to re-open on our route out of lockdown are guided by the principles set out in our Framework for Decision Making. Proposals are technically assessed using the best available evidence and analysis of their potential be…
23 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-32926 by Fiona Hyslop on 13 November 2020, whether taxi drivers will be eligible for financial support through the new discretionary fund announced by the First Minister on 18 November 2020.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Unlike previous funds which have been targeted towards specific groups or sectors impacted by COVID-19, the £30 million discretionary fund seeks to empower local authorities to direct additional financial support to specific groups or sectors within the busin…
16 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that businesses in the catering equipment hire sector are able to access the same COVID-19-related business rates relief and hardship support grants as their counterparts in the wider hospitality industry.
Answer · Ben Macpherson: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-33143 on 23 November 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…
16 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it would consider increasing the person limit for wedding ceremonies, especially in levels 1 and 2, as a way to support the wedding industry.
Answer · Ash Denham: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of marriage and civil partnership to couples and to society more widely. Whilst our priority is public health, we know that the wide range of businesses operating in the wedding sector have been significantly …
11 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that dentistry students from the 2019 cohort are receiving less funding and financial support compared with their predecessors.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Dental students are required to undertake a period of vocational training following graduation. Most students who graduated in 2019 would have completed their vocational training this year and have recently started in their first associate position in a denta…
6 Nov 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what scientific evidence it has used to determine whether socially-distanced and COVID-19-secure group exercise classes are more likely to transmit the virus than individual exercise in large gyms.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Under the current restrictions, indoor exercise classes can proceed in Levels 0, 1 and 2. Outdoor exercise classes can take place in all Levels with up to a maximum of 30 participants with physical distancing. You can find out more information on COVID protec…
29 Oct 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many businesses in each local authority area are (a) eligible and (b) ineligible for the new contingency funding for (i) nightclubs and (ii) soft play centres that it announced on 27 October 2020; what evidence it received from each council regarding the number of such businesses in …
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: This first phase of the Contingency Fund is targeted to support Scotland’s soft play and nightclub sectors, which have been unable to reopen since March. The grant is intended and is rationalised as a measure to protect jobs, prevent business closures and pro…
8 Oct 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £25 million of reserve funding announced on 18 March 2020 from the £350 million of funding for communities during the COVID-19 pandemic has not been allocated and remains in reserve.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The £25 million reserve announced within the Communities funding package has been allocated in full in order to meet increased demand and emerging need. The funding has been allocated as below:£5 million was allocated to the Third Sector Resilience Fund in or…
29 Sep 2020 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the action it is taking to implement the measures for victims outlined in the 2019 report, Transforming Parole in Scotland.
24 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the First Minister's commitment to "providing resources for additional environmental health officers" in her statement on 22 September 2020 (Official Report, c.16), how many officers it considers require to be recruited; by what date additional officers should be recruited, a…
Answer · Jeane Freeman: A total of £2.9 million is being provided over two years, to enable the recruitment of up to 64 Compliance Officers in total across the 32 Local Authorities. The recruitment process will be a matter for each individual local authority, but it is anticipated t…
24 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will issue guidance to local authorities regarding additional inspection and enforcement powers, as announced by the First Minister in her statement on 22 September 2020 (Official Report, c.12).
Answer · Michael Russell: The new enforcement powers came into force on 28 August 2020 through The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Directions by Local Authorities) (Scotland) Regulations 2020. See https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2020/262/contents for details. Statu…
23 Sep 2020 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent changes to the COVID-19 restrictions, what action it is taking to help older people who are more likely to be at risk from extended periods of loneliness.
10 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what basis it decided to restrict the playing of background music in hospitality venues, specifically where this music may not affect ambient noise levels.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Factors such as background sound that may lead to raised voices or cause people to lean-in close to others to be heard are a risk factor in the transmission of coronavirus. The current position of no background sound in hospitality, including low level music …
10 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to encourage increased uptake of the discretionary housing payment scheme.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: Councils are providing regular feedback to the Scottish Government on a range of issues relating to DHPs including work they undertake to promote uptake. This feedback shows councils promote uptake in a range of ways and at key points of contact with tenants.…
10 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to update the guidance for hospitality venues regarding the playing of background music.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: As announced by the First Minister on 14 August the current position of no background sound, including music, in hospitality is being kept under review. This work is currently being taken forward by an expert group comprising government, industry experts and …
10 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to giving local authorities the statutory right to buy properties from landlords who are struggling as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Affordable Housing Supply Programme can already support the purchase of second hand homes by local authorities or registered social landlords where this makes strategic sense. Private landlords interested in selling their property should in the first inst…
10 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the scientific evidence used to inform its decision to restrict the playing of background music in hospitality venues.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Factors such as background sound that may lead to raised voices or cause people to lean-in close to others to be heard are a risk factor in the transmission of coronavirus. This is recognised by a wide body of scientific evidence in relation to the role of ae…
10 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to converting existing loans, which are available to people in need of assistance with housing and rent payments, into grants, or using allocated funding to top up schemes such as the discretionary housing payment.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic we have twice announced additional funding to Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) in order to support those tenants financially affected, to help sustain tenancies and prevent homelessness. On 20 May 2020 an additional £…
10 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered changing the criteria for accessing the Private Rent Sector Landlord COVID-19 Loan Scheme to allow landlords in all categories to apply.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The PRS Landlord (non-business) Covid19 Loan Support loan fund is being extended in line with the anticipated extension of notice periods within the Coronavirus (Scotland) Act. During the first six months of the scheme we have listened to landlords and stake…
1 Sep 2020 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any potential benefits of improving transport links between Glasgow and Edinburgh.
12 Aug 2020 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the constitution secretary's comments to the Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs Committee on 18 June, whether it has revisited planning for a second independence referendum.
4 Aug 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government by what date it expects ten-pin bowling facilities to reopen as part of the easing of the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, and what financial support it is offering to these facilities while they remain closed.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The First Minister outlined in her statement on 20 August the date for the reopening of indoor bowling facilities was Monday, 31 August with physical distancing and enhanced hygiene measures in place. The Scottish Government have produced new guidance for th…