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-31909

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 21 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 25 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what penalties can be issued against home owners who do not comply with the new fire safety standards due to be introduced in February 2021.

Question reference: S5W-31910

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 21 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 25 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to promote new fire safety standards among home owners ahead of them being introduced in February 2021.

An announcement was made on 28 March 2018 of our intention to strengthen the current standards we have in place for fire alarms. This announcement was widely reported in press, television and social media as well as housing and electrical related publications. An informative fact sheet was also made available on our website: https://www.gov.scot/publications/fire-and-smoke-alarms-in-scottish-homes/

A joint awareness raising campaign will be taken forward, coordinated across Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to ensure consistency in approach in all local authority areas prior to the standard coming into force on 1 February 2021.

Question reference: S5W-31821

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 24 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how it defines "regulated venue" as set out in its COVID-19 restrictions regarding weddings.

A regulated venue is a venue that complies with the following guidance and restrictions:

The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions) (Scotland) Regulations

2020Coronavirus (COVID-19): tourism and hospitality sector guidance
COVID-19: Guidance for small marriages and civil partnerships (if the venue where the reception is taking place is also hosting the ceremony)
Coronavirus (COVID-19): Industry Guidance for Weddings Receptions and funeral wakes in Scotland.

A regulated venue would therefore not be a private dwelling which would need to comply both with any regional guidance (in which some instances visits to others’ houses are not permissible) and the current guidance on meeting other households (which is currently limited to no more than 6 people from 2 households).

Question reference: S5W-31583

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 23 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide guidance for the reopening of venues that are not explicitly sport or leisure facilities but previously accommodated dance classes, such as church or community halls, in order that teaching can resume as soon and as safely as possible.

The route map sets out when specific services and activities can be delivered with accompanying guidance for the safe operating of those services available on the Scottish Government’s website at: https://www.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/ . The route map has allowed some specific services/activities to be delivered within community spaces from 3 August 2020. We recommend that providers of these services wishing to use community spaces should contact the owner/landlord in the first instance before resuming services. The guidance for opening community centres will be published in due course.

Where undertaking activities at these venues, those running the activity should refer to the relevant guidance for that activity. For sport and physical activity this includes sportscotland phase 3 guidance and any sport specific guidance: https://sportscotland.org.uk/covid-19/latest-sport-and-physical-activity-guidance/

Question reference: S5W-31650

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 07 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 15 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason COVID-19 restrictions in Glasgow do not extend to the hospitality sector.

There is no one clear driver to the outbreak in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area. Instead there are some significant factors that were found to be common to many of the cases.

It is important that local interventions are targeted to the nature and extent of the public health risk with due regard to the four harms set out in our COVID-19 framework for decision making. Any restrictions need to be proportionate, necessary and driven by the evidence. Restrictions are kept under constant review to ensure than they are not in place any longer than is absolutely necessary

At present, meeting people indoors in hospitality settings is still allowed, but should only be carried out in line with existing guidance for customers of the hospitality sector - https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-consumers/pages/tourism-and-hospitality/ . This includes the requirement, from 10 September, for customers within hospitality settings to wear a face covering in the queue and inside premises, except when eating and drinking.

The number of households who can come together in any social setting – indoors or outdoors – has been reduced from 3 to 2 with the maximum number of people in any gathering reduced to 6.

We all need to abide by public health guidance and FACTS helps us remember the key measures we need to comply with.

Question reference: S5O-04608

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 September 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body when it will publish the terms of reference and timeline of its review into the staff cost provision.

Question reference: S5W-31512

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 10 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government when it will review the current ban on music in the hospitality industry.

Question reference: S5W-31400

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 24 August 2020
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 8 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what financial support it plans to offer to mobile makeup artists, in light of its current guidance not permitting them to return to work.

We recognise that this is a difficult time for mobile therapists, and that there are currently significant challenges facing self-employed professionals in this trade. However, our primary driver is safeguarding public health and wellbeing and preventing transmission of the virus. We are currently developing guidance in partnership with sectoral trade bodies and health specialists to support mobile close contact services to return to work as soon as it is safe to do so.

Self-employed professionals whose businesses have been adversely affected by COVID-19 may be able to obtain support through the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS) or through Universal Credit.

Question reference: S5W-31272

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 17 August 2020
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 26 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance is available for home schooling groups regarding social distancing and restrictions on the number of households able to meet up.

As announced on 20 August, indoor activities for children and young people (unregulated) can begin from 31 August, subject to adhering to the guidance for these activities. This guidance, for activities that are voluntary, third sector, parent or peer led, is currently being developed and its principles will apply to home educators.

Also applicable for home educators is the guidance on re-opening school age childcare services and small and micro businesses guidance .

Question reference: S5W-31045

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 03 August 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 25 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to ensure that it supports victims of historic child sex abuse in Scottish football and their families.

The Scottish Government unreservedly condemns the abhorrent crime of sexual abuse, and we are working closely with a range of organisations to ensure all children can enjoy playing football in a safe and secure environment.

Through our Survivors of Childhood Abuse Support Fund, the Scottish Government currently funds 29 organisations across Scotland which support adult survivors of all forms of childhood abuse. It is a £10 million Fund over four years with an estimated spend of £2.5 million each year and has been increased by approximately £1.6 million from the previous Innovation and Development Fund in recognition of the significant increase in referrals and disclosures relating to childhood sexual abuse in recent years.

Further details on the funded organisations can be found at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/survivors-of-childhood-abuse-support-fund-2020-2021/