Alex Cole-Hamilton

13 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-33208 by Humza Yousaf on 30 November 2020, in light of the cabinet secretary's comment that "as we gather data on how vaccines confer immunity, we will explore the potential role of immunity passports", whether it will provide an update on its posit…

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: It is too soon to introduce any form of certification. We need to know more about the efficacy of the vaccines, their impact on transmission and the length of immunity before it would be safe to introduce a vaccine certificate. We continue to engage in natio…

13 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether student doctors and nurses required to undertake placements on the frontline will be prioritised in the first wave of the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Student Doctors and nurses who are required to undertake placements will be prioritised for the COVID-19 vaccine, if they are in a frontline, patient facing roll.

13 Jan 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on Police Scotland's enforcement of the current COVID-19 restrictions.

12 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it will offer to (a) sandwich takeaways and (b) other similar hospitality businesses that are remaining open under the COVID-19 restrictions but are experiencing a significant loss in earnings.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government introduced COVID-19 reliefs at the start of the pandemic to reduce business costs, including 1.6% rates relief for all non-domestic properties and 100% relief for non-domestic properties in the retail, hospitality, leisure and aviation…

12 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason "shared lives" social carers do not qualify for the £500 bonus that is being offered to health and social care workers in recognition of their response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: We are hugely grateful to the efforts over recent months of the many key workers in different sectors across Scotland as they have risen to the challenge of responding to the pandemic. Shared Lives carers are eligible for the payment. We are working through t…

12 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether children whose parents are both key workers, but where one parent works entirely at home, are able to access childcare at key worker hubs and, if not, for what reason.

Answer · John Swinney: The purpose of the current, exceptional key worker arrangements is to ensure that those who are critical to essential and lifeline services in Scotland can request places for their children in schools or with childcare providers, where that is necessary to th…

12 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made with the rapid scoping exercise to develop an ePrescribing system across primary care.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The rapid scoping exercise to develop an ePrescribing system across primary care is progressing even with the added ongoing pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic response. In addition to initial work undertaken to clearly outline an initial solution required to …

12 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in delivering its commitment to expand computerised cognitive behavioural therapy and deploy this at scale by the end of October 2020, as set out in its Mental Health Transition and Recovery Plan.

Answer · Clare Haughey: The new computerised Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (cCBT) platform to increase treatment choice was successfully introduced in October 2020. To support this expansion, the Scottish Government provided £1.2 million in 2020-21 to NHS National Services Scotland …

11 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has a procedure in place to ensure that blind and partially sighted people are offered the COVID-19 vaccination at locations close to their homes or at their GP surgeries, as opposed to regional hubs, in order to avoid travel and the added complications that this involves and,…

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government has emphasised to all Health Board Chief Executives, highlighting the importance of resourcing the Covid-19 vaccination service, including ensuring individuals contacting them for an appointment are offered alternative options for thos…

11 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will allow primary school-aged children of single-parent families to access key worker childcare and learning at school under the latest COVID-19 restrictions.

Answer · John Swinney: The purpose of the current exceptional arrangements is to ensure that workers performing an essential role as set out in the updated schools guidance published on 6 January 2021 and the childcare guidance published on 7 January 2021, can request access to key…

9 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how qualified healthcare workers can enrol as vaccinators in the COVID-19 vaccination programme, and how it is signposting them to this process.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Information for individuals who want to offer their support as Covid-19 vaccinators can be found at: Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance on offering support - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) . Further pro-active communications are planned to signpost this guidance to …

8 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether parking charges will be suspended for NHS hospital car parks during the current lockdown, as they were during the first lockdown.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: In December 2020, the Scottish Government reached an agreement with the three PFI hospital car park providers to extend the free car parking arrangements until March 2021. This extension of free parking continues to support staff and remove the barriers to ou…

8 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it plans to offer the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland to renew the contract to retain the Chinese pandas at Edinburgh Zoo when it expires at the end of 2021.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: The possible extension of the agreement between the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland and the China Wildlife Conservation Association regarding the loan of Giant Pandas to Edinburgh Zoo and related conservation and research activities is primarily a matter…

8 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance and support it is providing to people with sight loss to help them to observe COVID-19 social distancing measures.

Answer · Clare Haughey: The Scottish Government understands that some people, including those with sight loss, may find physical distancing rules more difficult to follow than others and our Stay at home guidance includes information on Support for people, which highlights these a…

8 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider allowing children's shoe shops to open during the latest lockdown, in light of the importance of correctly fitted shoes for growing feet.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: In order to help reduce transmission rates, it is crucial that we take action to reduce unnecessary journeys and opportunities for interaction between people, including in retail settings and particularly indoors. Therefore only essential businesses are permi…

8 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the advice for key workers who are on the shielding list, and who have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, is that they are safe to continue to work.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: We advise people on the shielding list, whether or not you've had the vaccine, to keep following the extra advice for the level your area is in. If you live or work in a lockdown area, our advice is that you should not go to work if you cannot work from hom…

6 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether car auctions will be allowed to open under the most recent COVID-19 restrictions.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The current stay at home regulations mean that people should only leave their homes for an essential purpose. Further covid-19 regulations came into effect on Saturday 16 January which state that outdoor motor vehicle lots may open only for the collection of …

6 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the planned roll-out of electric vehicle charging points in Edinburgh.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Local Authority Install Programme (LAIP) is the main delivery vehicle to provide grant funding Scotland’s local authorities to install publicly available electric vehicle (EV) charge points. This scheme has been running since 2011 with over £32 million po…

5 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether dog groomers can remain open under the most recent COVID-19 guidance.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: Dog groomers can remain open to provide essential welfare services under the Guidance for Animal Owners, updated on 11 January 2021. This guidance is available at https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-animal-owners/ . The Scotti…

5 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether professional dog walkers will be able to carry out their business under the most recent COVID-19 restrictions.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: Professional dog walkers may continue to carry out their business under the current Covid-19 restrictions. The Scottish Government issued Guidance for Animal Owners on 11 January 2021 which permits this to take place within the requirements of the guidance o…

4 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether domestic cleaners will be permitted to carry out work in homes under the most recent COVID-19 restrictions.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: For areas in Level 4 or under the current Lockdown restrictions work carried out in other people’s homes around services for the purpose of the upkeep, maintenance or functioning of the home is restricted to essential work only. This is to help suppress the s…

23 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how taxi drivers can access the new COVID-19 support funding made available to them.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: We recognise the unprecedented financial challenges facing taxi and private hire vehicle drivers as a result of the necessary restrictions introduced to control the spread of COVID-19. To that end we have launched a £57 million fund which will provide one-off…

22 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether driving to have an MOT carried out is classed as essential travel under the COVID-19 travel rules.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 do not require the closure of premises offering car repair and MOT services. Where an area is under a level 3 or level 4 protection it is reasonable…

22 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its reasons are for children under 12 being included in the numbers allowed to attend wedding ceremonies but not included in any other setting.

Answer · Ash Denham: The restrictions on gatherings are a consequence of the current pandemic and are designed to reduce the transmission of the virus. Marriage ceremonies are an exception to the general rules on social gatherings and the number of people who can attend a marriag…

22 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the number of people who can attend a wedding ceremony or reception is different depending on the level of restrictions for the area in which they take place, in light of people being able to travel from areas subject to different levels of restrictions to attend such eve…

Answer · Ash Denham: All of Scotland is currently at level 3 or level 4. At level 3, marriage ceremonies can take place with up to 20 people attending. At level 4, marriage ceremonies can take place, but under The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) …

22 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what financial support is being made available to the private leisure industry, including (a) fitness clubs and (b) leisure centres.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Since the start of the Covid-19 outbreak the Scottish Government has worked closely with the UK Government and private and public sector partners to develop a range of support mechanisms for businesses. To varying degrees, the leisure industry have utilised t…

21 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether respite foster care is still able to take place under Level 4 COVID-19 restrictions.

Answer · Maree Todd: Respite foster care can go ahead under Level 4 COVID-19 restrictions subject to the appropriate professional assessments being carried out. Care planning and issues surrounding care planning are a matter for local authorities to decide and we would expect loc…

21 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it compiles the exemption list for travellers entering Scotland who would normally be expected to quarantine on entry.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Individuals entering Scotland from outside the Common Travel Area must self-isolate for 10 full days unless they are covered under a country or sectoral exemption. Scottish Ministers take decisions about exemptions for travellers to Scotland on the basis of a…

17 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason public pools are open for private individual swimming lessons in areas subject to Level 3 restrictions, but club swimming training is prohibited.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government fully recognise the importance of being physically active during the Covid-19 pandemic, both for physical and mental health. While we appreciate the social interaction that club activity provides, limiting group activity, where there m…

17 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what COVID-19 guidance is in place regarding naming ceremonies.

Answer · Ash Denham: The Scottish Government has not published specific guidance for ceremonies such as baby naming ceremonies, Christenings or baptisms. We have issued specific guidance for marriage ceremonies and civil partnership registrations . Our guidance for the safe u…