Parliamentary questions
Alex Cole-Hamilton
2,700 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
28 Jan 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the scientific basis for its decision to allow a 12-week gap between the first and second doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine; whether it is following the manufacturer’s instructions in this regard and, if not, for what reason.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The decision regarding the 12 week gap between the two Covid-19 doses was made based on the clinical recommendation from the JCVI. Furthermore, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) also recommends the interval between two doses is l…
28 Jan 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce COVID-19 testing into schools.
Answer · John Swinney: As announced in First Minister’s statement on 2 February, we are now introducing an enhanced asymptomatic testing programme for school and early learning and childcare staff and senior phase pupils. Staff and senior phase pupils will be offered twice-weekly, …
28 Jan 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on implementation of the Framework for Supporting People through Recovery and Rehabilitation, and what input has been sought from relevant assistive technology and equipment industry representatives and trade associations.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: Work is underway in delivering the Framework for Supporting People through Recovery and Rehabilitation. The National Advisory Board for Rehabilitation was established in December last year (2020) and is supporting with this implementation work. The Scottish …
27 Jan 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what financial support it is making available to supply teachers during the current COVID-19 lockdown.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government has provided local authorities with £80 million of additional investment in education staff, sufficient for the recruitment of around 1,400 additional teachers, including supply teachers, and 200 support staff this year. In addition, …
27 Jan 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it next plans to review (a) sentencing, (b) restorative justice and (c) diversionary measures for young people who commit violent offences.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government does not have current plans to review restorative justice or diversionary measures specifically for young people who commit violent offences. However, we continue to promote and support high-quality restorative justice and the use of d…
26 Jan 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what status EU students who have achieved settled status will have in respect of the payment of tuition fees at universities in Scotland.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer to my letter sent to all members on 16 July 2020 which confirmed that EU citizens who hold Settled Status under the UK Government EU Settlement Scheme will continue to be eligible to access home fee status and support from Student Awards Agency Scotla…
26 Jan 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will issue guidance to local authorities to recognise the cleaning industry as part of the supply chain to retail, hospitality and leisure businesses in relation to awarding funding from the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Business Grant Scheme.
Answer · Kate Forbes: We recognise that this is an extremely difficult time for businesses of all kinds across Scotland, including the retail, hospitality and tourism supply chains. The local authority discretionary fund empowers local authorities to direct funding at businesses w…
26 Jan 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is offering to the domestic and hospitality cleaning industry, in light of cleaners not being able to enter people's homes under the current COVID-19 restrictions.
Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government recognises and appreciates the real difficulties that are being faced as a result of COVID-19 and the challenging circumstances that businesses are facing. Work in other people’s homes is limited to essential services, so in most cases…
26 Jan 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to manage car parking and social distancing requirements at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre when the centre becomes a COVID-19 mass vaccination hub.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: As outlined in the vaccine deployment plan, Health Boards are responsible for identifying suitable sites for mass vaccination centres that meet the needs of their areas. We expect boards to arrange for free parking to be provided for vaccinators and understan…
25 Jan 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what auditing processes and criteria are currently in place across NHS boards to evaluate the performance of hospital shared care optometry clinics, and what plans there are to publish any evidence collected.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: An audit of shared optometry clinics is currently being undertaken by Public Health Scotland. This audit will consider the number of patients seen, location of where patients are being seen, as well as current ‘did not attend’ (DNA) rate. This audit is curren…
22 Jan 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the current COVID-19 restrictions that prevent estate agents entering a house to prepare it for sale when there is a sitting tenant in the property.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance on moving home ( www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-moving-home/ ) was last updated on 25 January 2021. It applies to home moves across all tenures, including those in the rented sector. It is kept …
21 Jan 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what pathway will be available for private healthcare clinics to access COVID-19 vaccination doses, and how the clinics will be (a) identified and (b) contacted.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The responsibility for delivering the Covid-19 vaccine rests with Health Boards and Integration Authorities. NHS Scotland Boards will use the delivery model which is most suitable for their local circumstances. It will be down to local health boards to ident…
21 Jan 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-34595 by Jamie Hepburn on 21 January 2021, whether the guidance for car dealerships applies to companies that buy cars from motorists and resell them.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The relevant regulations and guidance are applicable to all car dealerships and it is up to those businesses to ensure that they adhere to them. Indoor car showrooms must close and outdoor vehicle lots must ensure that car sales are operated lawfully and safe…
20 Jan 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether speech and language therapists that carry out home visits can continue to visit their clients under the current COVID-19 restrictions.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: Throughout our response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, where an essential or urgent clinical need has been present access to Speech and Language Therapy services has remained, though how this service is offered may have changed due to new ways of working introduce…
20 Jan 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what exemptions on quarantine on compassionate grounds there are for inbound international travellers visiting close relatives who are receiving end-of-life care.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Public health measures have been implemented at borders to minimise the risk of importation of the virus from foreign travel. This includes the requirement for travellers to self-isolate for 10 days upon arrival in Scotland. This applies to all arrivals with …
19 Jan 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether bed and breakfast establishments, and other similar hospitality businesses that pay council tax instead of business rates, are unable to claim COVID-19 hospitality support and, if so, what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Strategic Framework Business Fund (SFBF) provides grants for NDR paying businesses required to close by law. We have established a bespoke fund for B&Bs paying council tax allowing them to receive equivalent support comprising £2,000 every 4 weeks. This …
19 Jan 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what financial support it is offering to families that have had to return to shielding from COVID-19.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: We are not asking people to return to full shielding as we did during the first lockdown. We are not advising people on the shielding list to stop going outside, which we know is beneficial; or, to stop going for essential shopping or medicines. The extra ad…
18 Jan 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether supermarkets will be required to ensure that shopping orders for home delivery are placed in carrier bags so that those delivering the order are not required to enter the property, as a means to reduce any risk of COVID-19 infection.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Currently drivers are advised not to take the groceries inside the customers house to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection. The driver delivers the groceries to the door and it is for the customer to take the crate, the bags or items inside the home to unpac…
18 Jan 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the figures regarding bullying from each of its staff surveys in each of the last 15 years, and what its position is on any trend.
Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government has participated in the UK Civil Service People Survey each year since 2009, and prior to that held its own local survey. These surveys include figures regarding bullying, and have been published each year since 2005. These can be acce…
18 Jan 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on both the children and their families, what its response is to concerns that children with additional support needs, such as autism, are not permitted to access special educational provision during the current COVID-19 lockdown, and what the reasons ar…
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government has prioritised the needs of vulnerable pupils, including those with additional support needs, as part of our response to COVID-19. While schools remain closed for the majority of pupils, our guidance for the phased start of the spring…
18 Jan 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether allied health professionals, including podiatrists who provide care to patients who are at high-risk to COVID-19, will be prioritised for a vaccination against the virus.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: All of our decision making in the approach to responding to Covid-19 is guided by the latest scientific evidence from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) , advice from Health Protection Scotland and our Interim Chief Medical Officer. The Jo…
18 Jan 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what maximum number of children is allowed in classrooms in hubs/schools during the current COVID-19 lockdown.
Answer · John Swinney: Coronavirus (COVID-19): school re-opening arrangements for January 2021 provides guidance on the arrangements for the re-opening of schools in January including the provision for vulnerable children and young people and the children of keyworkers. Those who …
18 Jan 2021 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the opening of the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People will be completed.
16 Jan 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider health care industry workers in patient-facing jobs, including people who supply and fit medical aids, as health and social care workers as a priority in terms of the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out, as is the position in England.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: All of our decision making in the approach to responding to Covid-19 is guided by the latest scientific evidence from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) , advice from Health Protection Scotland and our Interim Chief Medical Officer. The Jo…
16 Jan 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance is available for pregnant dentists who are working during the COVID-19 pandemic, and what support it will provide to them if they have to stop working because of the risk that they face.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government advises that all pregnant dentists should follow the advice of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. This advises that, subject to a pregnancy risk assessment dentists without underlying health problems and prior to 28…
15 Jan 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider making the provision and use of hand sanitiser for customers entering supermarket mandatory during the current phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: Good hand hygiene remains one of the most effective methods for reducing the spread of COVID-19, as reflected in our FACTS campaign. To this end we have worked with Public Health Scotland and clinicians to develop guidance supporting the operation of superm…
15 Jan 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to the health impacts of cigarette smoke in common residential buildings such as tenements, and whether it will consider introducing legislation similar to the ban on smoking in public places.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Raising Scotland's Tobacco-free Generation, the Scottish Government's Tobacco-Control Action Plan 2018, lists tackling the problems caused by some individuals smoking in communal stairwells as one of the actions planned. It pledges to explore, together with l…
14 Jan 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance the car dealing industry must follow under the current COVID-19 restrictions.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The current stay at home regulations mean that people should only leave their homes for an essential purpose. While indoor vehicle showrooms cannot open to the public, car sales continue to be permitted. Further covid-19 regulations came into effect on Saturd…
14 Jan 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide funding to meet the childcare costs of keyworkers who have to pay for additional childcare due to family carers having to shield.
Answer · Maree Todd: All nurseries and out of school care settings can currently remain open but should only accept children of keyworker families or vulnerable children. All 3 and 4 year olds and eligible 2 year olds can access at least 600 hours of funded early learning and c…
14 Jan 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many health and social workers who qualify for the £500 "thank you" bonus in recognition of their response to the COVID-19 pandemic have received the payment, and how many are yet to receive it.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The payment process for third, voluntary, charitable or private sector providers opened on 1 February. There are approximately 170,000 people working for 1,200 employers, plus personal assistants in adult social care. Whilst this means some complexity, we a…