These are the official transcripts of what people said in:
- the Chamber – the place where Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) meet to debate and make decisions
- committee meetings - committees are small groups of Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) from different political parties
This part of the website also includes written questions and answers.
Debates and Questions Listing
Filters
Chamber
Official transcripts of what MSPs said in the Chamber. This is the place where all MSPs meet to debate and make decisions.
Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 17 September 2020 [Draft]
The agenda for the day:
First Minister’s Question Time, Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body Question Time.
Meeting of the Parliament 16 September 2020 [Draft]
The agenda for the day:
Portfolio Question Time, Sustainable Aviation beyond Covid-19, Business Motions, Parliamentary Bureau Motions, Decision Time, Museum for Human Rights.
Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 15 September 2020 [Draft]
The agenda for the day:
Time for Reflection, Topical Question Time, Migration and Care Workers, Decision Time, World Suicide Prevention Day 2020.
Meeting of the Parliament 10 September 2020 [Draft]
The agenda for the day:
First Minister’s Question Time, Portfolio Question Time, Scottish Parliament (Assistance for Political Parties) Bill: Stage 1, Internal Market, Decision Time.
Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 09 September 2020 [Draft]
The agenda for the day:
Presiding Officer’s Statement, Point of Order, Portfolio Question Time, Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill, Fisheries Bill, Business Motions, Parliamentary Bureau Motions, Decision Time, Dirty Camping.
Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 08 September 2020 [Draft]
The agenda for the day:
Time for Reflection, Topical Question Time, Baroness Cumberlege Report, Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill: Financial Resolution, Business Motion, Decision Time, Alcohol Foetal Spectrum Disorders.
Meeting of the Parliament (Virtual) 03 September 2020 [Draft]
The agenda for the day:
Portfolio Question Time.
Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 02 September 2020 [Draft]
The agenda for the day:
Point of Order, First Minister’s Question Time, United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill, Programme for Government 2020-21, Parliamentary Bureau Motion, Point of Order, Business Motion, Decision Time, Correction.
Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 01 September 2020 [Draft]
The agenda for the day:
Time for Reflection, Business Motion, Topical Question Time, Programme for Government 2020-21, Care Homes, Logan Review (Technology Sector), Committee Announcement, Agriculture Bill, Parliamentary Bureau Motions, Decision Time.
Meeting of the Parliament (Virtual) 27 August 2020 [Draft]
The agenda for the day:
Portfolio Question Time.
Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 26 August 2020 [Draft]
The agenda for the day:
First Minister’s Question Time, Life Sciences Innovation (Covid-19 Response), Business Motion, Agriculture (Retained EU Law and Data) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3, Agriculture (Retained EU Law and Data) (Scotland) Bill, Business Motion, Parliamentary Bureau Motions, Decision Time.
Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 25 August 2020 [Draft]
The agenda for the day:
Time for Reflection, Business Motion, Topical Question Time, Ferguson Marine, Business Motion, Children (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3, Children (Scotland) Bill, Parliamentary Bureau Motion, Decision Time.
Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 20 August 2020
The agenda for the day:
First Minister’s Question Time, Portfolio Question Time, Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan, Parliamentary Bureau Motions, Decision Time.
Meeting of the Parliament 19 August 2020 [Draft]
The agenda for the day:
Solicitors in the Supreme Courts of Scotland (Amendment) Bill: Preliminary Stage, Health, Scotland’s Redress Scheme for Survivors of Historical Child Abuse in Care, Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, Business Motions, Decision Time.
Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 18 August 2020 [Draft]
The agenda for the day:
Time for Reflection, Topical Question Time, United Kingdom Internal Market, Business Motion, Decision Time.
Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 13 August 2020 [Draft]
The agenda for the day:
Portfolio Question Time, Motion of No Confidence, Parliamentary Bureau Motion, Decision Time.
Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 12 August 2020 [Draft]
The agenda for the day:
One Minute’s Silence, First Minister’s Question Time, Return to School, Economic Recovery Implementation Plan, Business Motion, Decision Time.
Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 11 August 2020 [Draft]
The agenda for the day:
Time for Reflection, Business Motion, Topical Question Time, Coronavirus Legislation, Examination Results, Covid-19, Business Motion, Decision Time.
Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 30 July 2020 [Draft]
The agenda for the day:
Covid-19 (Next Steps), Internal Market.
Meeting of the Parliament (Virtual) 23 July 2020
The agenda for the day:
Progress Towards Reopening Schools, Childcare.
Committee
Transcripts of committee meetings are uploaded as soon as they've been checked for accuracy. This may be a few days after the meeting has taken place.
Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints
COVID-19 Committee
Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs Committee
Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee
Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee
Education and Skills Committee
Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee
Equalities and Human Rights Committee
Finance and Constitution Committee
Health and Sport Committee
Justice Committee
Justice Sub-Committee on Policing
Local Government and Communities Committee
Public Audit and Post-legislative Scrutiny Committee
Public Petitions Committee
Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee
Social Security Committee
Solicitors in the Supreme Courts of Scotland (Amendment) Bill Committee
Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
Written Questions
These are questions that MSPs have asked the Scottish Government about its work. It also includes any answers to these questions.
S5W-31894: Iain Gray (East Lothian)
Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 17 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to review the funding arrangements for student allied health professionals; how this review will be carried out, and who will conduct it.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31898: Colin Smyth (South Scotland)
Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 17 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce waiting times for access to chronic pain clinics within the NHS Ayrshire and Arran area.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31895: Iain Gray (East Lothian)
Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 17 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comment by the First Minister on 2 September 2020 (Official Report, c.27), what consideration the Scottish Government has given to the campaign, Pay Student Paramedics, which is calling for the introduction of a bursary.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31885: Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire)
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 17 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-31375 by Jamie Hepburn on 7 September 2020, whether it will provide a breakdown of its targets for the disability employment gap that will lead to it reducing by at least half by 2038, and how regularly progress is reviewed.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31862: David Stewart (Highlands and Islands)
Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 17 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the comments by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills regarding residential outdoor learning continuing to be part of the curriculum for excellence, what its position is on local authorities commissioning specialists from outdoor education centres to visit schools to run activities with pupils; what action it can take to encourage such an approach across all councils, and what financial support it can provide to help facilitate this.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31884: Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire)
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 17 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-31375 by Jamie Hepburn on 7 September 2020, how the figures provided for the period between April 2013 to March 2014 and April 2019 to March 2020 compare with its targets for narrowing the disability employment gap.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31888: Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands)
Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 17 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5T-02387 by Michael Matheson on 15 September 2020 (Official Report, c.7), how much it has spent on repairs and other associated costs on the Rest and Be Thankful (a) in each of the last 10 calendar years and (b) since January 2020, broken down by (i) actual repair and clean-up costs for the A83, (ii) rental, lease or similar access costs for the use of the Old Military Road, (iii) upgrading, maintenance and traffic management and associated costs required for the Old Military Road, (iv) assistance to ferry companies for the provision of additional services, by company and (v) remediation engineering works, including for catch nets, catch pits, wig-wam warning signs, slope erosion protection measures, culverts and similar hydrological control measures.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31897: Colin Smyth (South Scotland)
Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 17 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will carry out a full review into the reasons for the 18-week waiting time target for access to chronic pain clinics not being met.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31865: Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western)
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 17 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to ensure that the Spaces for People programme will be fully evaluated to assess (a) value for money and (b) the programme's impact on (i) communities in general and (ii) disabled people.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31872: Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire)
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 17 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what the indicative time frame is for the planned transfer of powers to Social Security Scotland from the DWP.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31881: Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire)
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 17 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the £1.5 million invested in the Digital Participation Charter, and what proportion of this focused on older people and isolation.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31873: Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire)
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 17 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of how the £60 million investment in its Youth Guarantee will be allocated, and how this will be implemented.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31880: Lewis Macdonald (North East Scotland)
Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 17 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government how many COVID-19 cases have been identified as part of a cluster related to licensed premises in Aberdeen in August 2020 and Lothian in September; what action it took to deal with the impact of each cluster; whether it considers that this action was proportionate and, if so, what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31883: Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire)
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 17 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of how the £100 million of funding for employment and skills support announced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic will be allocated, and how this support package will be implemented.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31866: Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western)
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 17 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what lessons it can learn from the roll-out of Spaces for People regarding the need for effective and accessible community consultation, which can be applied to other initiatives.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31868: Miles Briggs (Lothian)
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 17 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government how much it will cost to implement the commitments set out in the Respiratory Care Action Plan for Scotland, and whether it will provide this funding.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31882: Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire)
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 17 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-31381 by Christina McKelvie on 8 September 2020, how many of the 9,000 people on low incomes or clinically at risk from COVID-19 who received support through the initial £5 million Connecting Scotland project were (a) older people, (b) disabled and (c) in other vulnerable categories.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31876: Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire)
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 17 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the financial support provided through (a) Best Start Foods and (b) Best Start Grant in (i) the Scottish Borders and (ii) Scotland in the last year.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31878: Miles Briggs (Lothian)
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 17 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-29736 by Clare Haughey on 18 June 2020, what the timeline is for the application process for the new Managed Clinical Network for National Child and Adolescent Learning Disability Services, and what progress has been made with the development of this process.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31874: Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire)
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 17 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide (a) an update on progress with its employability plan, No One Left Behind, and (b) a breakdown of how the £7 million invested in this was used.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31877: Oliver Mundell (Dumfriesshire)
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 17 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason some routine dentist treatments are available privately but not to NHS patients.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31889: James Kelly (Glasgow)
Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 17 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress with the termination of the Abellio ScotRail franchise, and when the new ScotRail contract will be put out to tender.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31871: Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire)
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 17 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-31380 by Clare Haughey on 31 August 2020, which initiatives have been allocated funding from the £6 million committed to mental wellbeing, broken down by the amount allocated to each.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31867: Colin Smyth (South Scotland)
Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 17 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to rectify any defects in the new Caledonian Sleeper rolling stock, and by what date this work will be completed.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31896: Mark Griffin (Central Scotland)
Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 17 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Office of the Public Guardian will accept an Access to Funds procedure application for adults with incapacity who are unable to access a matured Child Trust Fund.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31869: Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western)
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 17 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review support for all children with visual impairment from early years to school-leaving age.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31891: Dean Lockhart (Mid Scotland and Fife)
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 17 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, Europe and External Affairs on 10 September 2020 (Official Report, c.57), how it will distribute "nationally and internationally" its "full rebuttal" to the Internal Market Bill, and how much this will cost.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31892: Dean Lockhart (Mid Scotland and Fife)
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 17 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comment by the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, Europe and External Affairs on 18 August 2020 (Official Report, c.71) that "if a former President of the European Council can say to my face that we would be able to join the EU, I will take his word for it", on what date the former President offered the cabinet secretary this opinion; whether this has been confirmed in writing and if (a) so, whether it will publish this and (b) not, whether it will ask the former President to confirm his position, and whether it will place a copy of the response in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe).
Awaiting answer
S5W-31875: Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire)
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 17 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress with the (a) Community Jobs Scotland programme, (b) Employability Fund, (c) Discovering Your Potential programme and (d) Our Future Now fund in helping young people transition into further learning or employment, and how much funding has been allocated to each.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31893: Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western)
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 17 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what restrictions will be in place regarding where parent-led baby and toddler groups can meet to allow them to resume their services.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31899: Gordon MacDonald (Edinburgh Pentlands)
Scottish National Party
Date lodged: 17 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what impact the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown restrictions have had on Fair Start Scotland.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31848: Elaine Smith (Central Scotland)
Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what powers it has to intervene in rail infrastructure matters to help prevent redundancies.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31840: Beatrice Wishart (Shetland Islands)
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-31185 by Jeane Freeman on 26 August 2020, whether it will provide an update on the consideration it is giving to introducing an official exemption card for people who are exempt from wearing a face covering.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31835: Mark Griffin (Central Scotland)
Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government when the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Advisory Group last met, and whether the published minutes for the group are up to date.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31853: Donald Cameron (Highlands and Islands)
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government between what dates it plans to make flu vaccinations available to the public in 2020-21.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31861: Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands)
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide updated COVID-19 health and safety guidance for taxi and private-hire car licensees.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31841: Beatrice Wishart (Shetland Islands)
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been diagnosed with a lung condition during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31847: Elaine Smith (Central Scotland)
Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding the reason that Network Rail Scotland reportedly has over 200 vacant maintenance posts.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31839: Donald Cameron (Highlands and Islands)
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the need to ensure that families are able to visit loved ones who are recovering from treatment in hospital during the current pandemic.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31837: Donald Cameron (Highlands and Islands)
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered including dementia on its list of shielding medical conditions, and to what extent it considers that people with dementia would benefit from support similar to that provided to those shielding at the height of the pandemic.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31857: Donald Cameron (Highlands and Islands)
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government how many individual flu vaccinations it has in stock for 2020-21.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31852: Donald Cameron (Highlands and Islands)
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what assessments it has made in relation to people living in care homes receiving a flu vaccination.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31860: Mark Griffin (Central Scotland)
Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the UK Government consultation on changes to the Human Medicine Regulations to support the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines, and whether it will publish any representation it has made to the Department of Health and Social Care on this matter.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31845: Elaine Smith (Central Scotland)
Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to concerns that allowing railway infrastructure contracting companies, including Babcock Rail, SPL Powerlines, AMCO and Story Plant, to work on the network risks making existing skilled infrastructure workers, including those who are working on contracts gained through the public procurement process, redundant, and what its position is on whether such redundancies would be compliant with its fair work principles.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31858: Donald Cameron (Highlands and Islands)
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to administer flu vaccinations to the public in 2020-21.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31864: Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands)
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what targets it has set for the electrification of ferry services; what progress has been made since 2016, and what contribution the electrification of ferries can make to achieving the plan for net-zero carbon emissions by 2045.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31834: Mark Griffin (Central Scotland)
Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-28018 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 30 March 2020, when the consultation will begin.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31844: Elaine Smith (Central Scotland)
Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported concerns that financial considerations have taken precedent over the safety of passengers and staff in respect to the management of rail infrastructure.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31854: Donald Cameron (Highlands and Islands)
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has set a target for delivering flu vaccinations and, if so, what that is.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31856: Donald Cameron (Highlands and Islands)
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what assessments it has made in relation to meeting demand for flu vaccinations in 2020-21.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31843: John Finnie (Highlands and Islands)
Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the Member's letter of 4 August and its reply of 3 September 2020, whether it will provide an answer to the request for it to commission independent research into the social and environmental impact of tourism.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31842: Beatrice Wishart (Shetland Islands)
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to promote the flu vaccine to people living with lung disease during the 2020-21 flu vaccination programme.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31838: Donald Cameron (Highlands and Islands)
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the delivery of COVID-19 guidance to people living with dementia.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31855: Donald Cameron (Highlands and Islands)
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government how many people it estimates are eligible for a free flu vaccination in 2020-21.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31851: Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western)
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government whether people who collect friends and family from the airport who are returning from a country not on the exemption list also need to self-isolate.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31849: Elaine Smith (Central Scotland)
Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether rail infrastructure employment (a) vacancies and (b) redundancies are a contributory factor to any failures of the infrastructure.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31859: Donald Cameron (Highlands and Islands)
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what assessments it has made in relation to people who are in the shielding category receiving a flu vaccination, particularly in instances where they are unable to leave their home.
Awaiting answer
S5O-04628: Gillian Martin (Aberdeenshire East)
Scottish National Party
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to help local authorities recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Awaiting answer
S5O-04629: Ruth Maguire (Cunninghame South)
Scottish National Party
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken since 2019 to ensure that social housing rents are affordable to tenants.
Awaiting answer
S5O-04614: Liam Kerr (North East Scotland)
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made with its commitment to recruit 850 extra teachers and around 200 additional support staff to help schools deal with the pressures arising from their reopening following the lockdown.
Awaiting answer
S5O-04618: Maureen Watt (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine)
Scottish National Party
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to reassure people in the north east and elsewhere that signing up to the Protect Scotland app does not make them more at risk of scamming.
Awaiting answer
S5O-04619: Alison Johnstone (Lothian)
Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to Common Weal’s paper, Warning Lights: Ten Actions for Covid Elimination.
Awaiting answer
S5O-04620: Claudia Beamish (South Scotland)
Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to restore chronic pain treatment services, in light of official statistics for the quarter ending 30 June 2020, which recorded that over half of new patients waited over 18 weeks for a first appointment.
Awaiting answer
S5O-04611: Maurice Golden (West Scotland)
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of the impact of COVID-19 on the attainment gap.
Awaiting answer
S5O-04613: Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife)
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it has put in place in schools to reinforce the message that pupils need to adhere to social distancing guidelines.
Awaiting answer
S5O-04615: Johann Lamont (Glasgow)
Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what support it has provided to disabled children and young people during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Awaiting answer
S5O-04624: Dean Lockhart (Mid Scotland and Fife)
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is giving to small community-based football clubs that are facing financial difficulties and closure due to the COVID-19 crisis.
Awaiting answer
S5O-04616: Anas Sarwar (Glasgow)
Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with Skills Development Scotland to develop programmes to support people who have lost their job due to COVID-19.
Awaiting answer
S5O-04631: Alexander Burnett (Aberdeenshire West)
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the support it is providing to local authorities in their response to COVID-19.
Awaiting answer
S5O-04612: Bill Kidd (Glasgow Anniesland)
Scottish National Party
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what the procedure and timescale is for probationary teachers to secure posts in schools.
Awaiting answer
S5O-04626: Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife)
Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that independent foodbanks have seen at least a doubling in demand for emergency food parcels compared with last year.
Awaiting answer
S5O-04617: Bob Doris (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn)
Scottish National Party
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on ensuring that a range of treatment options are available for people living with addiction.
Awaiting answer
S5O-04623: John Scott (Ayr)
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with NHS Ayrshire and Arran regarding measures to control the spread of COVID-19.
Awaiting answer
S5O-04627: Edward Mountain (Highlands and Islands)
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government whether community councils have been able to fully contribute to local government during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Awaiting answer
S5O-04625: Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife)
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to empower local authorities to take decisions that are right for their communities.
Awaiting answer
S5O-04621: Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston)
Scottish National Party
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what financial support it has put in place for NHS dentists during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Awaiting answer
S5O-04622: Clare Adamson (Motherwell and Wishaw)
Scottish National Party
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that suicide prevention support services are still available to people in light of the recent lockdown measures.
Awaiting answer
S5O-04630: Maurice Corry (West Scotland)
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, how it is working with local authorities and third sector organisations to help protect vulnerable people.
Awaiting answer
S5O-04632: Keith Brown (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane)
Scottish National Party
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of COVID-19 on local government services.
Awaiting answer
S5O-04610: Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western)
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what additional measures it is considering to support pupils and teachers who were shielding before the return to school.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31836: Monica Lennon (Central Scotland)
Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 16 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what information and assistance is available to Members and staff who are experiencing difficulties with alcohol or drugs.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31550: Liam Kerr (North East Scotland)
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 3 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is planning to announce any additional funding for the NHS to tackle winter pressures in 2020.
Answered by: Jeane Freeman on 16 September 2020
Answered by: Jeane Freeman 16 September 2020
As in previous years NHS Boards will receive winter funding to support them to put in place the additional resources and capacity required across the whole system to ensure sustainability and resilience over the winter period. Discussions are underway and Boards will be informed of their allocations shortly.
S5W-31538: Donald Cameron (Highlands and Islands)
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 2 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what the surgical capacity of Aberdeen Royal Infirmary has been each month since May 2020.
Answered by: Jeane Freeman on 16 September 2020
Answered by: Jeane Freeman 16 September 2020
I shall reply to the member as soon as possible.
S5W-31570: Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife)
Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 7 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what role the National Partnership for Culture has had in allocating the £97 million in Barnett consequentials that arose in July 2020, which it has confirmed will be issued to the arts, culture and heritage sector.
Answered by: Fiona Hyslop on 16 September 2020
Answered by: Fiona Hyslop 16 September 2020
The National Partnership for Culture has had no role in allocating funds from the £97m in Barnett consequentials.
However, at its second meeting on 23 July, which was attended by Scottish Government officials, the National Partnership for Culture discussed the £97 million support for the arts, culture and heritage sector, reaching the consensus that this funding should prioritise the ongoing creation of work and creative activities and noted the importance of embedding equality and diversity into decision-making.
These principles are reflected in important elements of the funding package recently announced by Creative Scotland, for example the £5m Sustaining Creative Practice Fund, which will support artists to continue developing new creative work.
S5W-31647: Patrick Harvie (Glasgow)
Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: 7 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on discussions with the licensed trade sector regarding the development of more nuanced guidance for music in restaurants and hospitality settings.
Answered by: Fergus Ewing on 16 September 2020
Answered by: Fergus Ewing 16 September 2020
As announced by the First Minister on 14 August the current position of no background sound, including music, in hospitality is being kept under review. This work is currently being taken forward by an expert group comprising government, industry experts and environmental health representatives. The outcome of the review will be announced soon.
S5W-31635: Lewis Macdonald (North East Scotland)
Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 7 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what its projection is of the number of diagnoses for (a) leukaemia, (b) myeloma and (c) lymphoma over the next 10 years, and what plans it is putting in place to address these.
Answered by: Jeane Freeman on 16 September 2020
Answered by: Jeane Freeman 16 September 2020
Latest Scottish cancer incidence projections for the period 2013-2027 were published by ISD Scotland on 18 August 2015. This data-set only includes projections for leukaemia and lymphoma, not myeloma.
The projected number of cases for the 2013-2027 period are 2,931 for leukaemia and 7,560 lymphoma (Hodgkin & Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma combined).
The next release of cancer incidence projections are due to be published this year (2020) by Public Health Scotland.
The Scottish Government is developing a Cancer Recovery Plan to be published this Autumn. Focusing specifically on service recovery across diagnosis and treatment over a two year period, the plan will tackle inequalities and re-design services to ensure a more resilient future across cancer services in Scotland for all patients.
Cancer incidence projections for Scotland
S5W-31567: Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife)
Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 7 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the meeting of the National Partnership for Culture on 24 June 2020 at which the group agreed to request information from it regarding “the financial landscape for culture, including budgets, gift aid and efficacy of spending”, whether this request was received and, if so, whether it will publish the information that it provided in response.
Answered by: Fiona Hyslop on 16 September 2020
Answered by: Fiona Hyslop 16 September 2020
Scottish Government culture officials received the request for information regarding the financial landscape for culture from the National Partnership for Culture on 24 June 2020.
On 30 June 2020, Scottish Government officials provided to the National Partnership weblinks to the following documents: Putting Artists In The Picture: A Sustainable Arts Funding System For Scotland (CTEEA 2019); the Programme for Government 2019-2020; Local government 2019-2020 provisional outturn; Creative Scotland's Annual Report 2018-2019, data published by the Charity Aid Foundation on charitable giving, and Scottish Government webpages giving an overview of support to culture and heritage. This information has therefore already been published.
Related to the original request, Scottish Government officials later provided a draft report commissioned by Creative Scotland on Local Government Support for Arts, Culture and Creative Industries in Scotland. The report - delayed due to COVID19 - is being finalised and will be published later in 2020.
S5W-30910: Richard Leonard (Central Scotland)
Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 24 July 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what the monthly running costs are of the NHS Louisa Jordan hospital, also broken down by cost category.
Answered by: Jeane Freeman on 16 September 2020
Answered by: Jeane Freeman 16 September 2020
I refer the member to the answer to question S5W- 31712 on 10 September 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/28877.aspx '
S5W-31654: Andy Wightman (Lothian)
Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: 8 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) applications, (b) offers and (c) loans have been made through the Private Rent Sector Landlord COVID-19 Loan Scheme.
Answered by: Kevin Stewart on 16 September 2020
Answered by: Kevin Stewart 16 September 2020
As of w/e 28 August there were
(a) 87 applications
(b) 37 offers
(c) 36 loans have been made
Of the applications not progressed to a loan offer, this is due to the applicant not being eligible for the loan or choosing not to continue the application process.
S5W-31656: Andy Wightman (Lothian)
Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: 8 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of how many applications to the Private Rent Sector Landlord COVID-19 Loan Scheme have cited (a) tenants facing difficulty in paying rent and (b) inability to find a new tenant as a reason for loss of rental income.
Answered by: Kevin Stewart on 16 September 2020
Answered by: Kevin Stewart 16 September 2020
As of 28 August there were 28 applications for properties that were occupied (tenants facing difficulty paying rent); 57 applications for void properties (inability to find a new tenant due to the impact of covid) and 2 applications where the rental property was occupied for part of the month (and subsequently void) .
S5W-31551: Liam Kerr (North East Scotland)
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 3 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what methods of delivery it will use to administer the seasonal flu vaccine in 2020.
Answered by: Joe FitzPatrick on 16 September 2020
Answered by: Joe FitzPatrick 16 September 2020
Responsibility for delivering the Seasonal Flu Vaccine in 2020/21 rests with Health Boards and Integration Authorities. This is a change from previous years, where GP practices, took the lead role in providing flu immunisations.
NHS Scotland Boards will therefore use the delivery model which is most suitable for their local circumstances, whilst maintaining a Covid-safe environment and maximising efficiency.
The seasonal flu vaccination will be administered by injection to adults, with nasal sprays being administered to children aged 2-5 (not yet at school) and primary school children.
S5W-31568: Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife)
Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 7 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government when the National Partnership for Culture will next meet, and what subsequent meetings are scheduled.
Answered by: Fiona Hyslop on 16 September 2020
Answered by: Fiona Hyslop 16 September 2020
The National Partnership for Culture agreed at its first meeting on 24th June 2020 to meet, initially, on a monthly basis. Following subsequent meetings on 23 July and 4 September, the Partnership's meetings will now take place every two months. The next meeting will take place in early November, with subsequent meetings to be scheduled in due course.
S5W-31655: Andy Wightman (Lothian)
Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: 8 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government how much has been paid out in loans to date through the Private Rent Sector Landlord COVID-19 Loan Scheme, also broken down by local authority.
Answered by: Kevin Stewart on 16 September 2020
Answered by: Kevin Stewart 16 September 2020
A total of £133,235.96 has been paid out as of w/e 28 August. A breakdown of pay-outs to individual local authorities is not currently held although figures breaking down applications by local authority area are available and are as follows:
Applications per Local Authority | |
Row Labels | Count of LA |
Aberdeen City | 10 |
Edinburgh, City of | 20 |
Fife | 4 |
Glasgow City | 21 |
South Ayrshire | 3 |
Stirling | 3 |
Highland | 1 |
South Lanarkshire | 2 |
Renfrewshire | 3 |
North Lanarkshire | 2 |
East Ayrshire | 3 |
Dumfries & Galloway | 3 |
Dundee City | 4 |
East Lothian | 1 |
North Ayrshire | 1 |
West Lothian | 1 |
Aberdeenshire | 2 |
Clackmannanshire | 1 |
Inverclyde | 1 |
Perth & Kinross | 1 |
Grand Total | 87 |
S5W-31753: Colin Smyth (South Scotland)
Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 10 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government when the recommendations of the Farming and Food Production Future Policy Group will be published, and whether it has seen a draft copy.
Answered by: Fergus Ewing on 16 September 2020
Answered by: Fergus Ewing 16 September 2020
The Farming and Food Production Future Policy group has been brought together to advise and recommend on future policy. The group will be meeting in late September and early October this year with a view to finalising the report soon thereafter. Ministers have had sight of a draft and look forward to receiving the finished report from the group in due course.
Summaries of the Group's discussions are available at:
S5W-31593: Jackson Carlaw (Eastwood)
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 4 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what recent work has taken place on establishing a Places of Worship fund, and whether this will be available at some point in 2020, as was planned prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answered by: Humza Yousaf on 16 September 2020
Answered by: Humza Yousaf 16 September 2020
Prior to the COVID 19 pandemic, good progress was made in developing the Scottish Places of Worship Security Funding Scheme. This work has recently resumed including the rescheduling of key elements of the scheme. We aim to open the scheme for applications later in 2020.
S5W-31832: Oliver Mundell (Dumfriesshire)
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 15 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported concerns raised by Fisheries Management Scotland regarding tree-planting grants.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31826: Monica Lennon (Central Scotland)
Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 15 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government how many people have accessed pulmonary rehab in the last six months.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31828: Alexander Burnett (Aberdeenshire West)
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 15 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government whether it measures the impact on children’s psychological and developmental wellbeing of its current measures to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31827: Monica Lennon (Central Scotland)
Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 15 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government whether the InHealthCare digital service will allow people to access pulmonary rehab remotely.
Awaiting answer
S5W-31831: Oliver Mundell (Dumfriesshire)
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 15 September 2020
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has the power to disband the Nith Navigation Commission.
Awaiting answer