Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-33358

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 25 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has implemented the necessary changes to legislation to delay the introduction of new fire safety standards to 2022.

Question reference: S5F-04597

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 23 November 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 November 2020

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to address concerns that COVID-19 rates are higher in areas with greater poverty and deprivation.

Question reference: S5W-33078

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 10 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government to what extent special advisers are involved in its decision making regarding COVID-19 restrictions.

Question reference: S5W-32890

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 October 2020
Current Status: Answered by Ash Denham on 9 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will update the COVID-19 Strategic Framework to make it explicit that children are allowed to move between the homes of separated parents.

The revised version of the Strategic Framework now lists one of the exemptions for travel as where this is for shared parenting. The revised Strategic Framework is available at the link below: https://www.gov.scot/publications/covid-19-scotlands-strategic-framework/pages/9/

The Scottish Government believes that both parents should be fully involved in their child’s upbringing as long as it is in the best interests of the child.

In the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 one of the exemptions regarding the number of households who can meet in public places or in a private dwelling is where this is to facilitate shared parenting.

The Scottish Government has also included a range of information on the ParentClub website. This includes a page on shared parenting during coronavirus .

Question reference: S5W-32460

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 12 October 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 6 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it introduced COVID-19 restrictions on group exercise, and what evidence it considered when making this decision.

Decisions on what sectors and activities to re-open on our route out of lockdown are guided by the principles set out in our Framework for Decision Making. Proposals are technically assessed using the best available evidence and analysis of their potential benefits and harms to health, the economy, and broader society to minimise overall harm and ensure transmission of the virus continues to be suppressed.

This assessment process includes oversight of the assessed health risks in different settings by the Chief Medical Officer and input from the other Chief Clinicians as appropriate. We have used scientific evidence on transmission coupled with the social and economic benefits which Ministers have used to make decisions. There are a number of relevant factors that would have been considered:

Duration of contact.
Ability to maintain distancing.
Challenge of cleaning surfaces, spaces between and around users.
Aerosol transmission risk since such activities could give rise to heavier breathing, panting, shouting etc which would all increase the chance of transmission particularly as masks cannot be worn.

The Scottish Government is currently preparing to publish this information in due course.

Question reference: S5W-32518

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 October 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 6 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, it light of the potential benefits of outdoor team sports on mental and physical health and the positive impact that sports clubs can bring to communities, whether it will reconsider the COVID-19 restrictions on such activities.

We recognise the benefits that all sport and physical activity brings to physical and mental health as well as the key role sports clubs play in local communities.

From 2 November 2020, a strategic approach to outbreak management based on five levels of protection is due to be introduced as set out in the strategic framework document. There will be the opportunity for further consideration of the strategic framework by parliament at the debate on 27 October 2020.

Decisions on what sectors and activities to re-open on our route out of lockdown are guided by the principles set out in our Framework for Decision Making. Proposals are technically assessed using the best available evidence and analysis of their potential benefits and harms to health, the economy, and broader society to minimise overall harm and ensure transmission of the virus continues to be suppressed.

This assessment process includes oversight of the assessed health risks in different settings by the Chief Medical Officer and input from the other Chief Clinicians as appropriate. We have used scientific evidence on transmission coupled with the social and economic benefits which Ministers have used to make decisions. There are a number of relevant factors that would have been considered:

Duration of contact.
Ability to maintain distancing.
Challenge of cleaning surfaces, spaces between and around users.
Aerosol transmission risk since such activities could give rise to heavier breathing, panting, shouting etc which would all increase the chance of transmission particularly as masks cannot be worn.

The Scottish Government is currently preparing to publish this information in due course.

We will keep the detail of the levels under ongoing review as the pandemic develops.

Question reference: S5W-32458

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 12 October 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 30 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how it will continue to communicate with the hospitality industry in relation to Test and Protect while businesses are closed.

Question reference: S5O-04710

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 October 2020
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will revisit its decision to suspend outdoor amateur sports such as football across the Central Belt, in light of the benefits that sport offers for participants' physical and mental wellbeing.

Question reference: S5W-32457

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 09 October 2020
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 26 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what alternatives it considered prior to the announcement of the revised COVID-19 restrictions on 7 October 2020, and for what reason each of these options was rejected.

The Scottish Government considered a range of options around social gathering, hospitality, wider areas of economy and transport in relation to restrictions required to suppress the virus. In doing so the Scottish Government took into account a range of considerations and evidence. All decisions were based on the four harms methodology as set out in the Framework for Decision Making . The revised COVID-19 restrictions announced on 7 October 2020 were those judged necessary to suppress the virus. A related evidence paper was also published on the Scottish Government website on 7 October.

Question reference: S5W-31889

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 30 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.

Chamber and committees