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-30800

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 4 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether ministers were aware of the release of papers under FOI that were given to the Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints, and if so, which ministers were consulted and who approved the release.

Question reference: S5W-30801

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 4 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason papers published on its website under FOI, which were given to the Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints, had to be removed; whether this was because further information required to be redacted, and what confidence people can have in the internal checking process in light of this.

The Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government has corresponded with the Convener of the Harassment Committee on this matter on 17 and 24 July 2020. That correspondence has been published by the Committee and is available at:

https://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/CurrentCommittees/111212.aspx

We have reviewed and will strengthen our processes around the scrutiny of further document releases for the Committee.

Question reference: S5W-30746

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 4 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on the recommendation in its 2018 report, Coming Home: A Report on Out-of-Area Placements and Delayed Discharge for People with Learning Disabilities and Complex Needs, with respect to supporting people to move out of institutional settings and into the community of their choice.

The Scottish Government is committed to improving the lives of people with learning disabilities, their families and carers and continues to work closely with Dr Anne MacDonald on taking forward the recommendations of her Report Coming Home: A Report on Out-of-Area Placements and Delayed Discharge for People with Learning Disabilities and Complex Needs.

In June 2019 the Minister for Mental Health wrote to Health and Social Care Partnerships seeking progress reports on what actions they had taken on the recommendations of the Coming Home report. The responses indicated that a number of the HSCPs have made some progress in commissioning new services in order to meet the support needs of people with learning disabilities and complex needs. There have also been improvements in crisis and risk management.

In December 2019 a workshop for Commissioners and Providers from 13 Health and Social Care Partnerships was held in Edinburgh, to look for solutions for those with complex needs. Plans to roll out regional workshops have been postponed due to the Coronavirus.

In June 2020 the Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) Community of Practice was launched which was one of the recommendations of the Coming Home report. It was the first of a of a series of webinars happening throughout the year. Over 400 people attended the launch.

A Postgraduate Certificate in PBS is currently being delivered to a cohort of 20 students. These are Learning Disability nurses, Speech & Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, and Social Workers. In addition to the Postgraduate Certificate, work is also ongoing in developing a Masters-level qualification.

Question reference: S5W-30185

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 4 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-29657 by Clare Haughey on 18 June 2020, for what reason it continues to offer asymptomatic testing to other sectors, but not to offshore workers.

Testing is available for everyone in Scotland who has symptoms consistent with COVID-19.

The Scottish Government have been working with Oil and Gas UK to understand their concerns and support their safe operation. In addition, Public Health Scotland have been working closely with Oil and Gas UK to provide expert public health advice in relation to offshore installations, and they have produced specific guidance on preventing and managing cases of COVID-19 on offshore installations.

At the current time, Public Health Scotland do not recommend that the Scottish Government supports testing of asymptotic workers prior to travel offshore. There are limitations of testing in the context of a disease with a 14 day incubation period, because it would not remove the risk of people incubating the disease becoming symptomatic while offshore.

Question reference: S5W-29778

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 3 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has not provided guidance and resources to local authorities to ensure that all care home staff are tested for COVID-19.

On 17 May, new arrangements to significantly strengthen oversight of Scotland’s care homes were published ( https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-care-home-oversight/ ), with clinical and care professionals at NHS boards and local authorities having a lead role in the oversight for care homes in their area. This highlighted the important role that Health and Social Care Partnerships within Local Authorities play in this response. This is alongside the introduction of new powers that ensure swift intervention if care home residents are being put at risk due to service failings. This work provides support to every single care home across the country and takes a responsive, as well as preventative approach. It builds on work already in place, including the formal direction for NHS Directors of Public Health to take enhanced and urgent clinical leadership for care homes.

Question reference: S5W-30703

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 31 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-29442 by Jeane Freeman on 10 July 2020, when it expects the SPIM and SAGE groups' findings to be published in relation to the R number.

The R number is calculated for Scotland as a whole, and it is not possible to calculate this number for specific settings such as care homes. The SPI-M best estimate for the R number in Scotland is released in their consensus statements, which are available here when published:

https://www.gov.uk/search/all?organisations%5B%5D=
scientific-advisory-group-for-emergencies&order=updated-
newest&parent=scientific-advisory-group-for-emergencies .

In the consensus statement published on 24 July, SPI-M indicated that the R number for Scotland was between 0.6 and 1.0 on 8 July:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system
/uploads/attachment_data/file/903071/S0597_SAGE46_200708_SPI-M-O_Consensus_Statement_sent_to_SAGE_reissued.pdf .

Question reference: S5W-30666

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 30 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to replicate the Green Homes Grant scheme.

The Scottish Government already has a long-standing and comprehensive programme of support for the heat and energy efficiency of buildings.

Since 2009, the Scottish Government has provided over £1bn in funding for a comprehensive programme to improve the energy efficiency of buildings and to tackle fuel poverty.

Our energy efficiency programmes provide a range of interest free loan schemes, including the offer of renewable measures. These provide a package of financial support, free and impartial energy efficiency advice and information and quality assurance to ensure high standards of installation. They cover all tenures and sectors - domestic owner occupiers, social housing, private rented and non-domestic buildings including the public sector.

The UK Government's recently announced Green Homes Grant is not new funding and therefore there will be no consequential funding for Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-30551

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 30 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how many nurses working in the NHS are employed by agencies; how many of these have been tested for COVID-19, and how regularly these tests are carried out.

The Scottish Government does not hold information centrally on the number of nurses working in the NHS who are employed by agencies.

I announced on 23 June that health care workers will now be routinely tested where the evidence tells us that it is appropriate to do so. All health care workers connected to a nosocomial outbreak (ie, outbreaks originating in a hospital) will be tested regardless of whether or not they have symptoms. We will also test, on a weekly basis, all staff working in specialist cancer units, in long-term care of the elderly, and in long-stay mental health wards. Boards were asked to start this additional testing by 8 July.

Question reference: S5W-30579

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 30 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether non-nursing care home staff, including cooks, cleaners and receptionists, are included in the regular COVID-19 testing of social care workers.

Question reference: S5W-30578

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 30 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether non-medical hospital staff, including porters, cleaners and receptionists, are included in the regular COVID-19 testing of NHS workers.

On 23 June, the Health Secretary announced that we are broadening testing of health care workers and now, all staff connected to a nosocomial outbreak will be tested regardless of if they have symptoms.

In addition, from 08 July, we will also test, on a weekly basis, staff working in specialist cancer units, in long term care of the elderly and in long stay mental health wards who are patient facing.