Alex Cole-Hamilton

12 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the Parliament can amend the remit of the Ministerial Code referral of the First Minister to ascertain (a) whether she misled the Parliament over her meetings with Alex Salmond, (b) the timeline of her knowledge of complaints against him and (c) when she first knew that the complaint…

Answer · John Swinney: Parliament was advised on 3 August 2020 about the terms of the remit for the Ministerial Code referral in PQ answer S5W 31054. The decision to proceed with a referral and the setting of its terms are consistent with the provisions set out in the Ministerial C…

8 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-31840 by Jeane Freeman on 28 September 2020, whether it will issue an exemption card for people who are unable to use hand-sanitiser for medical reasons.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Repeated cleansing and use of alcohol gel can result in increased dryness in hands which can worsen symptoms for those with eczema or other dermatitis conditions. Understandably, sufferers may be reluctant to use alcohol gels when entering retail, hospitality…

8 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is making available to beauty salons that are unable to offer facial treatments because of face covering requirements.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: We know how challenging the current restrictions to enable safe working are for many businesses, including beauty salons. The Scottish Government has endeavoured to support as many businesses as possible through measures such as the Scottish Government’s Busi…

8 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the transmission rates of COVID-19 in supermarkets.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government continues to monitor the transmission of Covid-19, including in retail settings. Guidance for the retail sector which set out our expectations on the steps that retail business should take to safely conduct business was published in …

7 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether non-cohabiting couples who live with other people are required to form an extended household in order to meet.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government “Staying Safe and Protecting Others” guidance on extended households sets out the circumstances in which we advise extended households could be formed. There is a section in this guidance entitled “Couples who do not live together”, …

7 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service has spent on child custody cases in each of the last five years.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who will reply in writing within 20 days.

5 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what evidence it has that confirms the accuracy of COVID-19 tests.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: RT-PCR Testing Each laboratory that carries out RT-PCR testing for SARS-CoV-2 validates and verifies the tests that are used. This includes External Quality Assessment participation, which independently reviews the tests used in each laboratory. The initial …

5 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason extra-curricular sports at schools, such as football, are unable to resume.

Answer · John Swinney: It is not the case that extra-curricular sports at schools, such as football, are unable to resume. The Guidance on preparing for the start of the new school term in August 2020 emphasises the importance of the provision of activities and clubs outside the…

5 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with dental practitioners regarding immediate additional support that they require to operate out-of-hours and at weekends to reduce the waiting list of dental patients awaiting (a) check-ups, (b) diagnosed treatments and (c) emergency treatments that has deve…

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government has regular discussions with the Scottish Dental Practice Committee of BDA Scotland. We have put in place an unprecedented set of financial support measures for NHS dental contractors. For dental practices that provide predominately NH…

5 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the number of dental patients, including children, in the Edinburgh Western constituency who are (a) currently overdue their six-monthly check-up and (b) waiting for treatment, and how many emergency cases, on average, are seen in the constituency each day.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The information is not held centrally. NHS primary dental services are mainly provided through NHS dental contractors (‘high-street’ dentists) and as independent contractors will hold information on their respective patients.  

2 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the processes and prerequisites required for the eviction of tenants.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016 introduced the most significant changes to private renting in over 30 years, including the new Private Residential Tenancy (PRT) which modernised the way landlords can recover possession of their properties.…

1 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has with ScotRail regarding how the price of peak fare tickets are set.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that rail fares are affordable for passengers and taxpayers across Scotland. Therefore, we have taken action to minimise the impact on passengers by capping increases for regulated ScotRail peak fares at the le…

1 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will commence (a) section 1 and (b) the remaining provisions of the Age of Criminal Responsibility (Scotland) Act 2019, and what the reason has been for any delay.

Answer · Maree Todd: Throughout the Age of Criminal Responsibility Bill’s Parliamentary passage, the Scottish Government made clear its desire to commence this legislation as quickly and as safely as possible. It is important to recognise the complexity and volume of work require…

1 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Age of Criminal Responsibility Advisory Group last met; what was discussed; when it will complete the report on its findings, and by what date this report will be published.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Age of Criminal Responsibility Advisory Group last met in plenary form on 9 January 2020. The minute from this meeting can be accessed via the following link – https://www.gov.scot/publications/age-of-criminal-responsibility-advisory-group-minutes-januar…

30 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which current public health guidance covers the holding of peaceful demonstrations in an outdoor setting.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government is committed to upholding the human rights of those wishing to peacefully demonstrate. The unprecedented health risks posed by Covid-19 means that we have been strongly encouraging all of those wishing to demonstrate to consider whethe…

30 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, following the acquisition of Essential Pharma by Gyrus Capital, what discussions it has had with the company about the continued supply of the Lithium mood therapy, Priadel.

Answer · Clare Haughey: The supply of medicines is reserved to the UK Government and we continue to work closely with them and individual manufacturers to resolve supply issues and minimise any disruption to patients. On 6 October 2020, the Competitions and Marketing Authority (CMA…

30 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether students will be able to take a driving test, in light of new restrictions in place for them.

Answer · Michael Matheson: There is no specific restriction on students taking a driving test. They should have reference, however, to up to date guidance and any local restrictions that may apply.

30 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service regarding the safe transport of jurors to and from trials during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: While the day to day operation of the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service is a matter for the Lord President, regular discussions take place around the practical implications of public health policy and guidance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This in…

29 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been made of the (a) psychological and (b) financial impact on families of delaying the expansion to 1,140 hours of funded childcare until 2021-22.

Answer · Maree Todd: On 1 April, The Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 (Modification) (No. 2) Revocation Order 2020 was approved by the Scottish Parliament. The order revoked the change to the 2014 Children and Young People’s Act that requires education authorities …

29 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on the recommendation by the 2017 Independent Review of Targets and Indicators in Health and Social Care in Scotland to establish an information system to identify exposure to adverse childhood experiences.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Since the publication of the 2017 Independent Review of Targets and Indicators in Health and Social Care there have been new developments, including the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act (2018), which would make it extre…

28 Sep 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact on traffic levels on the A90/M90 of planned housing developments.

25 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether personal stylists are classed as tradespeople and therefore exempt from the new COVID-19 restrictions.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: The UK Standard Industrial Classification of Economic Activities groups businesses according to their economic activity; there is no standardised definition of “tradesperson”. The measures introduced on ? 22 September did not curtail retail or trade activit…

24 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the application process for legal aid to avoid people having to incur legal costs when initially applying for it.

Answer · Ash Denham: The Scottish Government commissioned an independent strategic review of legal aid, chaired by Martyn Evans, and whose findings and recommendations were published in 2018. The report concluded that the Scottish legal aid system compares very well international…

23 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether self-chartered physiotherapists who visit clients in their homes are classed as tradespeople and therefore exempt from the new COVID-19 restrictions.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Throughout our response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, where an urgent clinical need has been present access to Physiotherapy services has remained. As a statutorily regulated healthcare professional, a privately practising physiotherapist must undertake an indiv…

23 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-31553 by Christina McKelvie on 15 September 2020, and in light of the recent updated COVID-19 restrictions, whether the guidance regarding therapists and practitioners who run their businesses from home remains the same.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: I can confirm that my answer to the Member’s question S5W-31553 remains the same following the new measures announced by the First Minister on 22 September. Professionals who offer services from a fixed premises – including their own home - can continue to d…

23 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether people who tutor children in their homes will be able to continue to do so under the recently updated COVID-19 restrictions.

Answer · Maree Todd: Due to the current restrictions on households meeting up indoors or outdoors, it is recommended that services provided under the organised activities for children guidance are not carried out in a private dwelling at this time. Therefore private tutoring cann…

22 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the SQA exam diet for National 5s, Highers and Advanced Highers will proceed as normal in spring 2021.

Answer · John Swinney: Our ambition remains to run a 2021 examination diet, however, Covid-19 continues to present real risk of further disruption for individual learners, individual schools and colleges, or more widely across the country during the course of this year. We also do …

22 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that (a) trans men and (b) non-binary people with a cervix have equal access to cervical screening.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Scotland’s National Cervical Screening Programme works closely with the National Gender Identity Clinical Network Scotland (NGICNS) to improve access to cervical screening services for trans men and non-binary people with a cervix. This work has included the …

22 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any additional (a) patient demands on perinatal mental health services as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and (b) resources that may be required to meet any increased demand, and what additional support will be provided for the recruitment and retention o…

Answer · Clare Haughey: In order to support any increased demand for services, we have established perinatal mental health services as a priority area for the roll out of Near Me services, provided dedicated support around Covid-19 to third sector funded organisations, and built Cov…

22 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) criteria and (b) evidence was used by the Perinatal Managed Clinical Network when forecasting the funding needs of NHS boards for perinatal mental health services, and how many NHS boards currently without specialist perinatal mental health services have (i) expressed an interes…

Answer · Clare Haughey: All NHS Boards expressed an interest in recent perinatal and infant mental health funding from the Scottish Government and we are allocating funding of up to £2 million to all territorial Boards for the development of perinatal specialist community services. …