Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S5W-33536

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 10 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-32993 by John Swinney on 19 November 2020, which local authorities have still to submit returns and what the reason is for this, and whether it will place a copy of the responses that it has received from all local authorities in SPICe.

Question reference: S5W-33227

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 9 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-26338 by Paul Wheelhouse on 27 November 2019, whether it will provide an update on progress to provide funding to replace the ferry, Good Shepherd IV, and associated infrastructure upgrades, which connects Fair Isle to mainland Shetland.

We remain committed to supporting the sustainability of our island communities, which depend on a range of factors alongside transport connectivity. I am acutely aware of the impacts that Covid-19 and the tragic loss of the Bird Observatory in March 2019 have had on the Fair Isle community. Scottish Government officials have been engaging with the ambitious plans of rebuilding the Bird Observatory, which plays a key role in the island’s sustainability.

Further to answer S5W-26338, I was also pleased to be able to secure further additional revenue funding of over £5.2m in the 2020-21 budget for Shetland Islands Council (SIC) to support the Council's internal ferries, including the Fair Isle service. This brings the total additional support provided to SIC, on top of funds for ferry services subsumed within the annual local government settlement, to over £15.4m over the last three years, in a very challenging financial climate.

Internal ferries are a matter for local authorities to consider and allocate appropriate capital funding towards to ensure they can be delivered. However we are aware of the requests for additional financial assistance from SIC, and other local authorities, and Scottish Ministers are open to continue engagement through the 2021-22 budget process.

Question reference: S5O-04846

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 December 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how it has supported Shetland's internal ferry services.

Question reference: S5W-33331

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 2 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-26737 by John Swinney on 10 January 2020, whether it will provide an update on the review of the home education guidance.

As set out in my letter to the Public Petitions Committee on 18 September 2020, my officials have been actively engaging with a range of stakeholders with a view to consulting on new draft guidance. This is a continuation of the work started in 2019, now taking into account any updates we need to consider regarding the impact of COVID-19 and the increased interest in Home Education.

These revisions will update the guidance to reflect changes to the education policy and legislation over the last decade. Final timescales are still to be set. However, I will ensure that the consultation on new draft Home Education Guidance is shared with the Committee and yourself as soon as it is published.

Question reference: S5W-33296

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 2 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration has been given to permitting faith groups to sing indoors while wearing face coverings, particularly those based in areas living under level 1 of the COVID-19 restrictions.

I recognise how difficult it has been for Scotland’s faith communities to be unable to come together and sing within their places of worship and understand the important role that singing has in congregational worship and supporting spiritual wellbeing. We do not want restrictions to last any longer than is necessary but must ensure that people who enter places of worship to undertake congregational activities will be safe.

Unfortunately we are currently advising that indoor congregational singing is avoided in all places of worship at all of the levels (0 – 4) specified in the Strategic Framework and irrespective of whether face masks are worn. This is because scientific studies indicate that singing is likely to generate a particular transmission risk, and there is an absence of evidence for the efficacy of face masks in suppressing this additional risk. The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) report recommends that further research of the risk of transmission from singing and playing wind instruments is needed.

In certain circumstances, it may be possible for professional singers to sing indoors, in places of worship located in local authorities with protection levels 0 & 1, provided additional mitigations and safeguards are in place in accordance with performing arts guidance.

Where it is essential to an act of worship for an individual to sing or chant indoors, one individual (non-professional) may sing or chant behind a plexiglass screen without the need for a face covering to be worn. Any screen used should be cleaned regularly and extended physical distancing should be considered.

Officials in Scottish Government’s Connected Communities Division work closely with faith group representatives from across Scotland on the provision of appropriate guidance on restrictions necessary for safe worship and the scope for removing or alleviating such restrictions as soon as possible.

In the meantime, we appreciate your understanding and compliance with ongoing restrictions, which are vital to stay safe, protect others and save lives.

Question reference: S5W-33038

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 19 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how many contracts to enable cashless payments in schools (a) have been and (b) will be procured.

The information you have requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. Procurement of contracts to introduce cashless payments systems in schools is a matter for local authorities, however the Scottish Government does provide a range of tools and guidance to help public bodies through our Public Sector Procurement support pages. This information is available on the Scottish Government’s website through the following link: https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement/support-for-public-sector/

Question reference: S5W-33039

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 19 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what work is being done to enable cashless payments in schools; which local authorities are involved with this, and what the timetable is.

The introduction of cashless payment systems in schools is a matter for local authorities, and the schools under their management, to decide upon.

The Scottish Government does not promote any particular approaches to making payments for services in schools as we believe that local authorities and schools themselves are best placed to take those decisions at the local level, since they best understand the local needs and circumstances of the children and young people in attendance and their families.

Question reference: S5W-32975

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 19 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how much it expects to receive in Barnett consequentials arising from the plan by the UK Government to match the EU milk subsidy for school pupils in England in 2020-21, and what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding this plan.

Following confirmation that the UK government intended to provide domestic funding to allow English school milk schemes to continue following the loss of access to the EU school milk scheme due to Brexit, the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, Europe and External Affairs and I wrote to the UK Government in September 2020 requesting that the UK Government provide the same support for Scottish school milk schemes. No response has been received to date.

HM Treasury have provided the Scottish Government with an overall guaranteed level of consequentials. However, we have not seen detail as to how individual announcements have generated this, so the level of consequentials associated with the UK Government decision to match the EU milk subsidy for school pupils in England in 2020-21 is not known.

Question reference: S5W-32974

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 19 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the comment by Children in Scotland that "given the health benefits associated with school milk, we view this as an example of where the Scottish Government should commit to continued financial support after the [EU] transition period ends"; whether it plans to match the EU subsidy and, if so, what the annual cost of this would be.

The Scottish Government remains committed to supporting the health and wellbeing of children and young people and milk continues to be an integral part of the school food and drink regulations given its benefits as part of a balanced and nutritious diet.

The loss of funding for Scottish local authorities under the EU school milk scheme is a direct result of Brexit. As such, Scottish Ministers wrote to the UK government requesting that they provide funding to ensure the continuation of local school milk schemes which previously benefitted from subsidy under the EU scheme. No response has been received to date. The Scottish Government has therefore committed to provide the funding necessary to allow Scottish local authorities to continue claiming for subsidy towards their local school milk schemes for the remainder of the 20/21 academic year.

The Rural Payments Agency administer the EU school milk scheme and have provided data to indicate that, while claim levels fluctuate year on year and not all 32 local authorities choose to claim under the scheme, the average annual value for the five years 2015/16 to 2019/20 is around £652k based on claims from the Scottish local authorities who chose to claim during that time period.

Question reference: S5W-33126

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 09 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 19 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it met its commitment for every secondary school to have counselling services by the end of October 2020.