Alex Cole-Hamilton

3 Aug 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason travellers from Estonia must submit to two weeks quarantine on entry to Scotland, in light of COVID-19 infection rates in that country reportedly being lower than in Scotland.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: From the outset, we have adopted a public health focused approach to these border health measures. The data and evidence we receive to inform our decisions on these measures comes from the Public Health England and the Joint Biomedical Centre (JBC) via the UK…

28 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether people being asked to self-isolate on return from foreign travel are allowed to leave home to exercise pets and, if not, what guidance it provides.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: As set out in the Scottish Government’s “Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for animal owners” ( https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-animal-owners/pages/self-isolating-households/ ), individuals who are self-isolating should ensure…

28 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-29508 by Joe FitzPatrick on 16 June 2020, in light of the reported concerns regarding graded exercise theory, how many people it estimates will be diagnosed with ME in the period to April 2021, also broken down by how many will be given graded exerc…

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: In developing the Neurological Framework for Care and Support in Scotland, which was published in December 2019 , we commissioned the NHS Information Services Division to undertake a study of available data to investigate how many people in Scotland are li…

28 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether mobile beauty salons that provide treatments such as massages are able to resume providing services.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: Mobile beauty and massage close contact services performed in customers’ homes are currently not permitted. This is due to concerns regarding the provision of certain services in uncontrolled environments. Beauty and massage services can take place in a busin…

22 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to ensure that best practice guidance will be adhered to when joint replacement surgery resumes following the easing of the COVID-19 lockdown, and how people with arthritis will be involved in informing and shaping any proposed changes to trauma and orthopaedic waiti…

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government are working to ensure that high quality care is available for Trauma and Orthopaedic patients, and discussions on the resumption of Orthopaedic services have taken place with Mr Alastair Murray, Chair of the Scottish Committee of Ortho…

22 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether its electronic patient record (EPR) will be available to all practitioners in primary and secondary care.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-30838 on 31 July 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/parliamentarybusiness/28…

22 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when acupuncture clinics will be able to reopen as part of the easing of the COVID-19 lockdown.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Following a clinical assessment, personal retail services, including Complementary and Alternative Medicine services (CAMs) and massage therapy, were advised that they could resume services as of 22 July 2020, where the service is carried out in a therapist’s…

21 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it is having with banks regarding making it easier for young people to open accounts, in light of the increase in outlets requesting card-only payments because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government engages regularly with the banks through the Banking and Economy Forum and the Financial Services Industry Advisory Board (FiSAB). While people are being encouraged to use contactless payments as a result of the health crisis, we reco…

21 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has given to banks regarding safe opening as part of the easing of the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The financial sector is designated as a Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) sector, providing essential services for businesses and society. As such, the sector has continued to operate throughout the COVID-19 crisis, adjusting its operating practices to e…

21 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when all Scottish Natural Heritage sites will reopen to nursery and forest school classes.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: This is an operational matter for Scottish Natural Heritage and I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the Member to provide details.  

21 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with assistive technology equipment providers to ensure that disabled people and their families and carers are able to use technology to its full potential at home, particularly during the current pandemic. 

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Assistive technology support is largely provided by local authorities, housing providers and third sector organisations. The majority of the support provided is via telecare services which has been a well-established lifeline for disabled or elderly people fo…

21 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support is being given to families and carers of disabled people who require additional moving and handling solutions at home as a result of COVID-19, and what preparations are being made to support them from the impact of a second spike of the pandemic. 

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: It is crucial that carers are supported to undertake their caring role safely. That is why this Government brought forward the Carers Act to enhance and extend the rights of all adult carers and young carers to support across the country. Local authorities h…

21 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when companies and third sector organisations that supply assistive technology equipment will be able to access care homes.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government is developing a plan for a staged approach to the return of services that contribute to the wellbeing of residents in care homes. The plan, which will be published in due course, is aimed at people, organisations and professionals incl…

20 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made with the roll out of electronic patient records (EPR).

Answer · Jeane Freeman: We continue to work with key partners across Scotland to ensure that information is available to all staff when and where they need. This includes work to develop Regional Clinical Portals and the roll out of HEPMA ( Hospital Electronic Prescribing and Medici…

20 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to launch the "Doctor's Health Service" that it announced at the end of 2019.

Answer · Clare Haughey: The Scottish Government did not make an announcement at the end of 2019 regarding a launch of a ‘Doctor’s Health Service’. The Scottish Government is working with partners to ensure that all health and social care workers, including doctors, have the support …

20 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what date marriages will resume in places of worship and civil settings as part of the easing of lockdown restrictions.

Answer · Ash Denham: With effect from 15 July, Scottish Ministers removed the restrictions in the Health Protection (Coronavirus)(Scotland) Regulations 2020 affecting attendance at marriage ceremonies and civil partnership registrations, subject to the need to maintain physical d…

20 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to allow personal trainers to begin teaching classes of up to 30 people from different households on an (a) outdoor and (b) indoor basis, as is currently the case in England.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Following the First Minister’s statement on 30 July 2020, from 3 August coaches are permitted to work with more than four households outdoors in a day, subject to sport scotland guidance. We will also be looking to make changes to allow coaches to work with l…

17 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it is limiting funerals in places of worship to 20 attendees, in light of normal Sunday services in the same venues being able to have up to 50 attendees.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-30834 on 12 August 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/parliamentarybusiness…

17 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to allow all veterinary services to resume all levels of animal consultation and treatment.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The regulation of the veterinary profession is reserved. The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) is the regulator in the UK. The Scottish Government has worked with the RCVS, in consultation with the British Veterinary Association (the professional r…

16 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reasons schools and other local authority venues are not permitted to open in the evenings or on weekends for youth work or youth sports clubs, in light of a return to school in August 2020.

Answer · John Swinney: The Covid-19 Education Recovery Group, which brings together councils, teachers’ representatives, parent bodies and trades unions, continue to meet to discuss the next steps as we plan for the safe re-opening of schools and on the 30th of July we published de…

16 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects trains to begin running to normal, pre-COVID-19, timetables.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Starting from 3 August 2020, a week before schools in Scotland are due to return, it is expected that rail passenger services will return from approximately 60% to approximately 91% of pre COVID-19 levels, with peak services across Scotland running at almost …

15 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when clarity can be provided to beauty salons as to whether specific treatments, such as facials, can be carried out when they reopen on 22 July 2020.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Updated guidance for the retail sector, which includes close contact services, such as beauty salons, was published on 17 July. This includes a section on services offered in the ‘high risk zone’, defined as ‘the area in front of the face where splashes and d…

14 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the particular challenges that children and young people with additional support needs face during the COVID-19 pandemic, which may require a multi-agency response, what plans it has to support the development of a digital platform that would allow secure case discussions an…

Answer · Maree Todd: Health Boards and Local Authorities are using established multi agency relationships and systems to continue and adapt GIRFEC approaches to support children and families including maintaining contact, assessing and planning for individual children. We publis…

14 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-29854 by John Swinney on 24 June 2020, what efforts it has made to (a) monitor and (b) disseminate best practice from local areas in delivering specialist practical support during the COVID-19 pandemic for children with the highest, most complex nee…

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government has been working with partners to publish expert advice and good practice in supporting children and young peoples’ learning throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. My answer of 24 June outlined the ways in which this information has been ma…

14 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-29856 by John Swinney on 24 June 2020, what monitoring (a) is and (b) will be taking place of efforts to reintegrate children with complex additional support needs into the school environment.

Answer · John Swinney: I recognise that children and young people with additional support needs, including those with complex needs, will require support to return to school. Schools and local authorities are best placed to identify how to meet the individual needs of their pupils …

13 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many homeless people in Scotland have died from COVID-19.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: This information is not collected or held by the Scottish Government. However, there have been no reported outbreaks of Covid-19 among people experiencing homelessness in Scotland. The Scottish Government took swift and effective action to ensure that all th…

13 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to open public swimming pools as part of the relaxation of lockdown restrictions.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The indicative date for the reopening of indoor sport and leisure facilities including swimming pools is 14 September. However the Scottish Government will continue to review the situation to see if earlier reopening is possible, with the intention to provide…

13 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to allow (a) baby massage and (b) baby yoga classes to resume as part of the relaxation of lockdown restrictions.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government is grateful for the cooperation of the people of Scotland in supporting our national response to the coronavirus pandemic, and we are very conscious of the considerable personal and professional sacrifices arising from the restrictions…

11 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when ice rinks will be permitted to open as part of the relaxation of lockdown restrictions.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: At present, the indicative date for the reopening of indoor sport and leisure facilities including ice rinks is 14 September. However the Scottish Government will continue to review the situation to see if earlier reopening is possible, with the intention to …

11 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, following the agreement between Vertex Pharmaceuticals and NHS England to make the cystic fibrosis drug, Kaftrio (trikafta), available in England, what discussions it has had with Vertex on making the drug available in Scotland.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: A revised pricing agreement has been reached between NHS National Procurement and Vertex Pharmaceuticals, which includes the new triple therapy, Kaftrio ® , for the treatment of cystic fibrosis. This means that clinicians, working in cystic fibrosis treatmen…