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-34519

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 January 2021
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 26 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has for John Sturrock QC to review NHS Highland’s Healing Process, in light of reported complaints from victims of bullying and harassment regarding conflicts of interest and the compensation payments system.

The Scottish Government has no plans at this time to ask John Sturrock QC to review NHS Highland’s Healing Process.

The Scottish Government continues to take an active interest in NHS Highland’s engagement with all relevant parties as it takes forward its response to the Sturrock Review. We are clear that NHS Highland must be given appropriate time and opportunity to effect meaningful change.

The Healing Process is a confidential and independent process developed to support those members of staff affected by the issues identified in John Sturrock QCs Report. The Healing Process was co-produced by, amongst others, the whistleblowers who first raised concerns with me and the trade unions, who continue to be supportive of this process.

Question reference: S5W-34075

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 11 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when the £20 million loan funding for Scottish Premiership football clubs will be made available, and what the process will be for eligible clubs to apply.

Question reference: S5W-34076

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 December 2020
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 11 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when the £10 million in grants for football clubs in leagues outwith the Scottish Premiership will be made available; how this will be split between leagues, and what the process will be for eligible clubs to apply.

Question reference: S5W-34228

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 7 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will provide a substantive answer to question S5W-33791, which received a holding response on 18 December 2020.

Question reference: S5W-33872

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 07 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 22 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of The Healing Process, the initiative set up in response to bullying and harassment at NHS Highland, in light of reported complaints regarding compensation payments being taxed at source.

We are in regular contact with the NHS Highland and have had received positive feedback about the process itself. We are aware of the concerns about tax deductions and the board are addressing the concerns raised by actively pursuing these directly with HMRC to reaffirm the position and to explore if there is any dispensation available in respect of the compensation payments. Without this they cannot legally waive tax or NI contributions.

Question reference: S5W-33873

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 07 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 22 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) NHS Highland and (b) HMRC regarding compensation payments for people who have been bullied being tax free.

Question reference: S5W-33791

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 04 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 22 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-32623 by Jeane Freeman on 9 November 2020, when the Short Life Working Group set up by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) to consider the evidence surrounding the efficacy of “air cleaning” devices will next meet.

The work of the Short Life Working Group has been completed and the final paper 'Potential application of air cleaning devices and personal decontamination to manage transmission of COVID-19 - 4 November 2020' was presented to the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) last month, It is available on the UK Government's website:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/emg-potential-application-of-air-cleaning-devices-and-personal-decontamination-to-manage-transmission-of-covid-19-4-november-2020

NHS Scotland were represented on this group and though there are no plans for the SLWG to meeting again, we will continue to monitor this situation, but we note that the Executive Summary reports:

Application of air cleaning devices may be a useful strategy to reduce airborne transmission risks in poorly ventilated spaces (medium confidence). Air cleaning devices have limited benefit in spaces that are already adequately ventilated, and are not necessary for adequately ventilated buildings unless there are identified specific risks (medium confidence).

Air cleaning devices are not a substitute for ventilation, and should never be used as a reason to reduce ventilation; all occupied spaces must have some background ventilation to be suitable for human habitation and to comply with building and workplace regulations. Ventilation should be assessed, and if possible improved, first before considering whether there is a need to use an air cleaner (high confidence).

Question reference: S5W-32547

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 October 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 16 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has decided not to advise people who were on the shielding list to start to shield again, in light of a number having to attend their workplaces at a time when the rate of COVID-19 infection is rising.

Much more is known about the virus than at the beginning of the pandemic and our advice about how to protect ourselves has continued to adapt and evolve accordingly. We also now know that shielding had a detrimental impact on people’s lives, families and physical and mental wellbeing.

Clinical evidence indicates asking people to return to shielding would not offer the best protection. The best way to do so is to reduce the spread of the virus in our communities.

The new Strategic Framework published on 23 October introduced enhanced advice at each of the protection levels to protect people with the highest clinical risk covering areas like work, schools, shopping and contact with others.

We are encouraging people to adapt this advice to make it right for them. It is a personal decision how to balance the benefits of protection with quality of life. To support this and to assist those with specific health conditions, we are sending everyone on the shielding list a booklet called Balancing the risks of daily activities during coronavirus ’ which should arrive the week commencing 7 December.

We have also promoted the PHS dashboard data on local prevalence at neighbourhood levels through a letter from CMO, the text messaging service, social media, the FM’s briefing and online at mygov.scot.

Workplaces

Our guidance in relation to work is that those who are on the shielding list should follow the general advice for everyone and work from home where possible. Employers should make sure their staff can work from home if possible.

However, where it is not possible to work from home, the majority of workplaces can be made safe and at all protection levels across 0 – 4, people who are on the shielding list can continue to go into work following any necessary adjustments to make the work place safe.

It is the employer’s responsibility to make the workplace safe. In addition, we encourage the use of the individual workplace risk assessment tool (COVIDage calculator) to highlight personal risk and inform employer/ employee discussions about any further adjustments or arrangements needed. Where employees or employers still have concerns there are wider routes to seek further information and support including Occupational Health, Health and Safety Executive, HR, Trade Unions and professional bodies.

For those in protection level 4, the Chief Medical Officer issued a letter with advice on going to work and which also served a similar purpose to a fit note. The letter does not automatically mean people need to stay off work. If the employer has done all they can and still can’t make the workplace and duties covid-safe, or, if people are unable to travel to work in a covid-safe way, they can use the letter as evidence that they can’t go to work while the area is at level 4.

We don’t believe a return to full shielding in necessary. We want to provide those on the shielding list with information, advice and tools so that they can make decisions about their own day to day interactions and activities including work.

Question reference: S5O-04859

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 December 2020
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its preparations for the end of the Brexit transition period.

Question reference: S5W-32862

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 October 2020
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 3 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-25788 by Paul Wheelhouse on 8 November 2019, when it plans to start working with trade unions organising Scotland’s ferry workers to build the legal case for making a direct award of the next Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract to an in-house operator.

Humza Yousaf’s Statement to Parliament of 24 May 2018 confirmed that the Scottish Ministers would continue to build a case for making a direct award to an in-house operator that satisfies both the application of the Teckal exemption and the State aid rules, well in advance of the existing Clyde and Hebrides contract ending in 2024.

We have discussed this with the Unions and we will engage with them proactively on this issue, in advance of this work being taken forward in earnest.