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-31044

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 there is justice for victims of historic child sex abuse in Scottish football.

Any allegations are for Police Scotland to investigate, and sentencing in individual cases is a matter for the court – with life imprisonment the maximum penalty for the most serious offences involving the sexual abuse of children.

The final version of the independent review of non-recent sexual abuse allegations commissioned by the Scottish FA will be published when current ongoing legal cases are concluded.

The Scottish Government will consider next steps when the final report and its findings are published.

Question reference: S5F-04319

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 24 August 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 August 2020

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to address concerns that the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill is an attack on free speech.

Question reference: S5O-04527

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 August 2020
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to respond to the health inequalities arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Question reference: S5W-30946

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 18 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to allow the safe reopening of gyms during Phase 3 of the easing of the COVID-19 lockdown, and by what date they will be allowed to reopen.

In collaboration with the sector we have been developing robust guidance and protocols that will allow necessary preparation for facilities to provide confidence for members and staff to return safely. We hope to publish that shortly.

As it stands the indicative date for the reopening of indoor sport and leisure facilities is 14 September with physical distancing and enhanced hygiene measures in place. The Scottish Government will continue to review the situation to see if earlier reopening is possible, with the intention to provide a further update on
‎ 20 August 2020.

Question reference: S5W-30993

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 17 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the updated COVID-19 guidance for makeup artists applies only to those working on their own premises, and when it expects to issue further guidance to those providing a mobile service.

Where close contact services are provided in a fixed premises it is possible for the service provider to maintain control of the environment, ensuring appropriate cleaning and other measures are in place to protect both workers and their customers. Work performed in customers’ homes carries additional risks that must be appropriately considered before mobile make up services can resume. Further guidance is being developed to ensure that these services can recommence as soon as it is safe to do so.

Question reference: S5W-30961

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 13 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to help schools to support pupils who have to self-isolate as a result of COVID-19.

The Scottish Government recognises that online learning is an important tool to support learning, especially where families may be required to shield as we all continue to work to suppress coronavirus and keep vulnerable people safe.

That is why the Scottish Government published its “Coronavirus: support for continuity in learning” guidance which includes links to relevant resources for practitioners and parents.

For pupils that are required to self-isolate, local authorities must ensure that pupils have continued access to education. We would expect this to be in line with previously tried and tested approaches to support pupils who cannot attend school due to illness. This may include the delivery of local resources for home learning and using national resources supported by Education Scotland such as Scotland Learns.

Officers of Education Scotland will be deployed to support local authorities as required. Education Scotland will also support and encourage partnership working between schools with other agencies such as allied health professionals and social work, to support those families who are shielding. This will involve signposting materials and resources which can support learning at home and address mental health needs resulting from shielding and the resultant isolation.

Additionally, Education Scotland, local authorities and a wide range of key partners are working with the digital learning platform, e-Sgoil, to ensure the availability of online lessons that will help support and augment the work of classroom teachers across the country in their local arrangements for schools reopening on 11 August. E- Sgoil will train a number of additional teachers from local authorities to provide online lessons which learners in the senior phase across Scotland can access via Glow. These lessons will be available to all local authorities in Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-30960

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 13 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how it will support teachers with the creation of online learning materials, and what role it considers digital learning will play when schools return in August.

Education Scotland have been supporting teachers to improve and support the delivery of online learning since before coronavirus came to Scotland. Since March 2020, Education Scotland provided 40 webinars in which over 3800 practitioners have engaged, focusing on the delivery and creation of online learning.

The Education Scotland website digilearn.scot hosts access to a range of support such as live and recorded webinars, practitioner learning pathways and practitioner blog posts which have had 120,000 views during lockdown.

The use of digital tools for learning and teaching has been extensive during lockdown and has provided continuity of learning experiences. The breadth of skills developed by practitioners across a range of digital platforms and applications over the past several months will continue to prove valuable in improving learning and teaching in the new academic year.

Teachers are more prepared than ever to deliver in a blended model if necessary thanks to the additional professional learning; Scottish Government investment in devices and connectivity; and updates to the national intranet, Glow. This work will continue to develop the digital literacy skills that learners will require for their learning, life and work in the future.

Question reference: S5O-04469

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 August 2020
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to tackle fly-tipping.

Question reference: S5W-30730

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 27 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to enforce the disclosure provisions under the Management of Offenders (Scotland) Act 2019.

The changes to basic disclosure under Part 2 of the Management of Offenders (Scotland) Act 2019 Act ("the 2019 Act") require operational changes to the system of disclosure certificates issued by Disclosure Scotland.

Disclosure Scotland activated their business continuity plan in light of Covid-19 and are focusing on their vital safeguarding role during these challenging times. This means commencement could not take place as had been planned for the summer of 2020. Disclosure Scotland and the Scottish Government have been working to set a new implementation date for the delivery of these important changes.

The Scottish Government is hopeful that Part 2 of the 2019 Act will be able to be commenced at some point in 2020, but that very much depends on the current situation. Once I am able to, I will announce when commencement of Part 2 of the 2019 Act will take place.

Question reference: S5W-30577

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 27 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what PPE and safety measures will be introduced to ensure the safety of prisoner transport staff as the COVID-19 lockdown measures are eased.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

GEOAmey is responsible for the delivery of the Scottish Court Custody and Prisoner Escort Service (SCCPES) contract.

All staff employed by GEOAmey are required to follow the Safe Systems of Work (SSoW) procedures in place when escorting people in custody and these protocols are fully informed by Health Protection Scotland guidance.

GEOAmey has also issued guidance on the use of PPE to their staff which is aligned with advice from Health Protection Scotland and Public Health England. This guidance encourages physical distancing where possible, as well as outlining the appropriate levels of PPE required by staff depending on the specific task being undertaken and the risks presented by those being transported.

This guidance has been agreed with the Community Trade Union, who are the recognised representatives of GEOAmey’s staff in Scotland. There are currently no requirements at this time to amend this practice however should changes be necessary in the future, these will be made in line with the latest public health guidance.