Alex Cole-Hamilton

7 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-06819 by Keith Brown on 4 March 2022, how many of the (a) 403 cyber-attacks that were reported under sections 1 and 2 and (b) 72 cyber-attacks that were reported under section 3 of the Computer Misuse Act 1990 originated from Russia.

Answer · Keith Brown: The data the Scottish Government receives from Police Scotland is a general count of the number of crimes and offences recorded by the police, split by local authority. We do not receive further details on the characteristics of these cases and so are unable …

7 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide additional funding for schools that take refugee children from Ukraine.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Scotland has a proud history of welcoming displaced people and people seeking asylum. The Scottish Government and Scotland’s local authorities stand ready to welcome and support people with the safety and security they need to rebuild their lives. The Gover…

2 Mar 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to resettle Ukrainian refugees in Scotland.

28 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to require homeowners to improve their property's energy performance certificate (EPC) rating.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Heat in Buildings Strategy confirms our intention to introduce, subject to consultation, regulations requiring Scotland’s homes to meet EPC Band C, or an equivalent standard, where that is technically feasible and cost effective from 2025. We plan to cons…

28 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the system under which council tax bandings are designated.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The valuation bands for council tax are part of the wider council tax system set out in the Local Government Finance Act 1992 and associated secondary legislation. We are committed to reforming council tax to make it fairer, working with the Scottish Green Pa…

21 Feb 2022 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister when the Cabinet will next meet.

16 Feb 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with the teaching unions.

15 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made any plans to receive any refugees from Ukraine.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S6T-00553 on 1 March 2022. Answers to Topical Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official…

15 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the cost is of (a) oil and (b) gas imports to Scotland from Russia, and what its position is on how much Scotland's economy relies on these imports.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Using official statistics, which are at a UK level, in 2020 indigenous gas production met more than half of UK demand with the remainder supplied via imports of gas, of which 5% came from Russia. In 2020, UK demand was met by imports of approximately 80% of c…

15 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-02263 by John Swinney on 31 August 2021, whether it will provide details of the cyber-attacks that occurred in the last three years, broken down by (a) the source of the attacks, (b) the sectors that were attacked and (c) the dates when the attacks …

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government will not provide further details. The organisations that report cyber incidents under the Notifiable Scottish Public Sector Cyber Incidents procedure reasonably expect these details to be treated as confidential. Disclosure of these to…

9 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the trial in nine schools in North Ayrshire in October 2021, and the answer to question S6F-00388 on 28 October 2021, during which the First Minister stated that the use of such technology in schools "does not appear to be proportionate or necessary”, whether it is aware of a…

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government is not aware of any further plans to use facial recognition technology in schools in Scotland however, as the First Minister stated in her response question S6F-00388 on 28 October 2021, she is clear that the use of facial recognition …

9 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government (a) what its position is on and (b) whether it is aware of the use of Hikvision cameras by (i) Police Scotland and (ii) private companies in Scotland, and whether it has any plans to prohibit or limit their use.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government published the National Strategy for Public Space CCTV in Scotland in March 2011. The Strategy was created to provide guidance and a common set of principles to operators of public space CCTV across Scotland. It did not impose requireme…

9 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it (a) can and (b) has any plans to widen the remit of the Scottish Biometrics Commissioner to include oversight of facial recognition technology used in schools, shops, supermarkets and other public places.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Biometrics Commissioner was created through legislation introduced by the Scottish Government to the Scottish Parliament in 2019. The first Commissioner, Dr Brian Plastow, was appointed by Parliament and took up post in April 2021. The Commission…

9 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ban biometric surveillance in Scotland, in light of reported calls from Amnesty International and more than 170 organisations for its use to be prohibited.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government has noted the 2021 open letter by Amnesty International and its concerns around the use of mass surveillance biometric technology in public spaces. The Scottish Government recognises that assurances are required in order to secure pub…

9 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to extend the use of facial recognition technology within Police Scotland.

Answer · Keith Brown: The decision to use any technology with facial recognition capability is an operational matter for Police Scotland, whilst having regard to the relevant laws. The Scottish Government understands from Police Scotland that they have no plans to use live facial …

7 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to address any financial scams linked to the NHS Scotland Covid Status app.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government works closely with CyberScotland Partners including Police Scotland and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to help protect the public from cyber threats. The NHS Counter Fraud Authority (NHSCFA), which works to fight and preven…

7 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the prevalence of financial scams linked to the NHS Scotland Covid Status app.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government works closely with CyberScotland Partners including Police Scotland and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to help protect the public from cyber threats. The Scottish Government supports the publication of a regular technical a…

25 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government (a) whether and (b) when new stroke care guidelines will be published.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) guidelines on stroke have been withdrawn due to being over 10 years old. SIGN therefore recommend that healthcare professionals look to other up-to-date evidence-based guidelines to inform practice. A goo…

25 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what exact date the previous stroke care guidelines expired.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The stroke care guidelines in question were developed by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN). Information and archived guidelines are available at: https://sign.ac.uk/our-guidelines/ . The dates for withdrawal of these stroke guidelines a…

25 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the current sentencing guidelines are for those convicted of fly-tipping.

Answer · Lorna Slater: Flytipping is a criminal offence. People who flytip can be issued with a fixed penalty notice up to £200. If prosecuted, a person who is caught flytipping can face a fine up to £40,000. SEPA are engaging with the Scottish Sentencing Council on behalf of the S…

24 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what regulations govern domestic CCTV and Ring doorbell cameras in Scotland; whether any powers to change such regulations are devolved, and, if so, what plans it has to review the regulations that apply in Scotland.

Answer · Ash Regan: Domestic CCTV, such as video doorbells, is covered in legislation by the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA) and regulated by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). Data protection is a matter reserved to …

24 Jan 2022 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister when the Cabinet will next meet.

21 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reasons no requests have been granted for victims to attend parole board hearings since this was permitted in March 2021.

Answer · Keith Brown: The measures that the Parole Board had to take in response to COVID, to ensure the safe working of staff and others, meant that it has not been feasible to facilitate arrangements for a victim to observe a Tribunal. The Parole Board rules require proceedings …

19 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce legislation to prohibit the use of packaging that cannot be recycled or which contaminates other items for recycling.

Answer · Lorna Slater: The Scottish Government is working with the other UK administrations to introduce extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging. How much producers pay for a particular type of packaging will depend on its environmental impact. This will create a power…

19 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what data it holds on the amount of any packaging that is uplifted for recycling, but which is (a) incinerated and (b) sent to landfill.

Answer · Lorna Slater: Segregated waste collected for recycling is sent to either a recycling facility or a materials recovery facility to be sorted before recycling. In some cases, where waste is too contaminated to be recycled or sorted, it may be diverted to incineration or land…

18 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05091 by Humza Yousaf on 23 December 2021, how many referrals have been made to Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland’s Long COVID Support Service in each month since the service was established.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Including self-referrals, a total of 1157 referrals were made to the Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland long COVID Support Service from April to December 2021. The Scottish Government does not hold this information broken down by month.

18 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £10 million Long COVID Support Fund has been (a) spent, (b) allocated and (c) identified by the Strategic Network for targeting at areas where this additional resource is most needed, since 18 January 2021.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: NHS National Services Division is establishing a Strategic Network bringing together clinical experts, NHS Boards and lived experience to support the ongoing development, resourcing and implementation of services for people with long COVID. When established, …

12 Jan 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been made of the impact of COVID-19 restrictions over the festive period on theatres and other performance venues.

10 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether IVF treatment for unvaccinated women is being deferred due to the risks of contracting COVID-19 during pregnancy, and whether it will lift the age cap for women whose IVF treatment was disrupted due to the pandemic.

Answer · Maree Todd: The recommendation that fertility treatment for unvaccinated patients be deferred at the current time was made on the grounds of safety. There is robust published evidence of increased risks of morbidity, risk of severe illness and poorer outcomes from COVID-…

20 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on actions it is taking in response to further reports of increasing levels of drink spiking in hospitality venues.

Answer · Keith Brown: Following the urgent roundtable meeting I chaired on 4 November, I met with partners and representatives from across the sector on 8 December. The key outcomes were a focus on training and prevention, with the Violence Reduction Unit supporting Police Scotlan…