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: S6W-05484

Asked by: Gordon MacDonald, MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 December 2021
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by John Swinney on 23 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the COVID-19 legislation in place.

Two sets of regulations amending the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Requirements) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 were made today.

The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Requirements) (Scotland) Amendment (No.6) Regulations 2021 amend the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Requirements) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 (“the principal regulations”).

These Amendment Regulations introduce physical distancing requirements in hospitality and indoor leisure premises, requirements for table service and also introduce a capacity limit for live events. These regulations provide the following requirements;

Physical distancing – a requirement to take measures to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, that a distance of 1 metre is maintained between people in or waiting to enter hospitality and leisure premises and that only enough people are admitted to the premises to allow the 1 metre distance to be maintained.
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Table service - a requirement for table service in premises where alcohol is sold for consumption on the premises, and that the customer must remain seated whilst consuming food and drink on the premises.
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Capacity limit for live events - a requirement that live events held indoors and outdoors do not exceed capacity limits set in the regulations - 100 people at indoor standing events, 200 people at indoor seated events and 500 people at outdoor events (whether seated or standing).

The requirements in relation to capacity limits at live events will take effect at 5.00 a.m. on 26 December and the requirements in relation to physical distancing and table service will take effect at 5.00 a.m. on 27 December.

These regulations have been published at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ssi/2021/496

The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Requirements) (Scotland) Amendment (No.7) Regulations 2021 also amend the principal regulation and will take effect at 5.00 a.m. on 27 December 2021.

These Amendment Regulations have the effect of closing nightclubs, dance halls or discotheque premises from 5.00 a.m. on 27 December 2021. It would remain open to these businesses to operate the premises with distancing and table service, rather than as a nightclub, dance hall or discotheque.

These regulations have been published at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ssi/2021/497

Question reference: S6O-00589

Asked by: Gordon MacDonald, MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 23 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Warmer Homes Scotland scheme.

Warmer Homes Scotland helps those living in or at risk of fuel poverty through installing insulation and heating measures. Since launch in 2015, more than £160 million has been invested through the scheme, helping over 25,000 households throughout Scotland.

Customer satisfaction levels have remained consistently high, with 100% of customers reporting they were satisfied with the service they received this financial year from a response rate of 82% of customers contacted.

The Warmer Homes Scotland budget allocation has been increased to £50 million for 2021/22 and will be further increased to £55 million for 2022-23.

Question reference: S6O-00599

Asked by: Gordon MacDonald, MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 December 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what preparations it is making for the local government elections in 2022 in order that people can vote safely.

Question reference: S6W-05243

Asked by: Gordon MacDonald, MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 December 2021
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by John Swinney on 16 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the COVID-19 legislation in place.

Regulations amending the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Requirements) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 were made today.

The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Requirements) (Scotland) Amendment (No.5) Regulations 2021 amend the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Requirements) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 (“the principal regulations”) and will take effect on 17 December 2021.

The Amendment Regulations expand the existing requirement in regulation 4 to have regard to guidance issued by the Scottish Ministers about measures to minimise risk of exposure to coronavirus. The new provision also requires the taking of such of the measures as are reasonably practicable.

These Regulations also extend the distance from 1 metre to 2 metres where an exemption from wearing a face covering applies in certain indoor settings. This includes in the workplace; when leading an act of worship; rehearsing or performing or in certain parts of a marriage ceremony.

The Regulations have been published at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ssi/2021/475

Question reference: S6O-00522

Asked by: Gordon MacDonald, MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 9 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives from NHS Lothian to discuss their approach to the treatment of drug addiction.

The Scottish Government meets with representatives from NHS Boards, including NHS Lothian, on a regular basis to discuss a range of matters relating to drug and alcohol treatment. Most recently this has included a number of discussions about the additional funding being made available to support the widening of access to residential rehabilitation and the embedding of the Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Standards.

As part of these discussions Scottish Government officials met with the General Manager of the Royal Edinburgh Hospital & Associated Services on the 24 November 2021.

Question reference: S6W-05056

Asked by: Gordon MacDonald, MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 December 2021
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Humza Yousaf on 9 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of the British Academy of Audiology report on NHS Lothian's Paediatric Audiology Services, requested by NHS Lothian following a review by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman.

The independent review of NHS Lothian Paediatric Audiology Services has today been published on NHS Lothian’s website.

The report outlines an unacceptable level of failure in paediatric audiology treatment in NHS Lothian, which will have a lasting impact on the lives of some of our most vulnerable children.

Given the catalogue of failures and ongoing risks in Audiology health provision at NHS Lothian and in consultation with officials, I have decided to place the Board into Stage 3 of the ‘Board Performance Escalation Framework’ for Audiology performance and service delivery. This will ensure that a Formal Recovery Plan with tailored support, clear milestones and responsibilities is developed by NHS Lothian in partnership with the Scottish Government to bring about the necessary improvements.

I have already expressed my deep displeasure to NHS Lothian and my expectation that they must continue to enact the recommendations in this report as a matter of urgency.

I applaud the involvement of the National Deaf Children’s Society in providing support for those affected. I have accepted an invitation to meet and discuss how any key lessons can be applied Scotland wide.

I intend to keep Parliament fully informed on this matter.

Question reference: S6W-04089

Asked by: Gordon MacDonald, MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 29 October 2021
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by John Swinney on 29 October 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the COVID-19 legislation in place.

Regulations amending the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Requirements) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 were made today.

The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Requirements) (Scotland) Amendment (No.3) Regulations 2021 amend the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Requirements) (Scotland) Regulations 2021, and will come into force on 30 October 2021.

The Amendment Regulations provide that UNFCCC-accredited attendees to the COP26 Blue Zone will be deemed to be fully vaccinated, for the purposes of entering the COP26 Green Zone.

Question reference: S6O-00325

Asked by: Gordon MacDonald, MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 October 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what support it has offered Scotland’s cultural and heritage sectors in connection with COP26.

Question reference: S6O-00269

Asked by: Gordon MacDonald, MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 October 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 October 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how its policies and actions across government will ensure that those hit hardest by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic are prioritised during the recovery.

Question reference: S6W-03793

Asked by: Gordon MacDonald, MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 October 2021
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Ivan McKee on 15 October 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration has been given to the ability of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to adjust to the decision to end Scottish Government overseas trade support and promotion activities solely focused on fossil fuel goods and services.

The Scottish Government has been discussing with businesses and other stakeholders the detailed plans for implementing the previously-announced policy to end overseas trade support and promotion activities focused solely on fossil fuel goods and services by the time of COP26. Under this policy, trade support and promotion will be refocused to support the Scottish Government’s objective of a Just Transition.

In the light of those discussions, and in recognition of the need for SMEs to have sufficient time to adjust, when this policy enters into force on 1 November 2021 it will include an exemption for SMEs until 31 March 2022. This matches the timing of the equivalent policy of the UK government, bearing in mind that in many cases the companies affected work with and receive support from both governments. Detailed guidance on the implementation of the policy, including this and other exemptions, will be published on the Scottish Government website at 2pm Friday 15 October at this link - https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781802014662 .