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-30731

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 12 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-29956 by Jeane Freeman on 15 July 2020, whether it will answer the question that was asked in relation to whether it has allowed access to COVID-19-related health data, including patients' personal medical information, to any third party and, if so, (a) what data, (b) to whom and (c) for what reason.

The Scottish Government takes the privacy and security of health data, including patients personal medical information, very seriously and has ensured that the NHS has stringent processes in place governing access to all data, including Covid-19 related health data. The process for overseeing research access to data is overseen by the Public Benefits and Privacy Panel (PBPP).

Information about the PBPP and a full current list of approved applications as at August 2020, including those from third parties, can be accessed at https://www.informationgovernance.scot.nhs.uk/pbpphsc/. This list provides a lay summary of each individual application, including the purpose of the use of data.

For other uses of Covid-19 health data, it is possible for applicants to request access directly with individual data controllers, either via the regional safe havens or directly to the data controllers. All providers of health & care (for example individual health boards and individual GP practices) are registered data controllers who are legally responsible for the data they hold, and for how it is shared. The Scottish Government does not hold a central register of these data sharing activities.

Question reference: S5W-30821

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 6 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how many people were (a) added to and (b) removed from the shielding list in (a) April, (b) May and (c) June 2020, and, of these, how many have blood cancer.

Public Health Scotland adds or removes people from the shielding list on behalf of the NHS Boards.

It is not possible for Public Health Scotland to specifically identify people with blood cancer who have been added or removed from the list.

Number of individuals added or removed from the shielding list during April, May and June 2020 (as at 22nd July 2020)

Month	Addition	Removal

April	80,235	80
May	15,693	3,976
June	4,244	5,003

Source: Public Health Scotland

Question reference: S5W-30822

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 6 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that people diagnosed with blood cancer after 1 August 2020 will be added to the shielding list, and under what circumstances shielding would be re-introduced nationally or locally.

While we are moving towards a pause to the advice to shield for the people at the highest risk of severe illness should they contract COVID-19, we will continue to maintain the shielding list. Clinicians will continue to add people appropriately based on the current criteria.

In making any future assessments about re-introducing shielding nationally or locally, Scottish Ministers will continue to take an evidence-based approach. We continue to engage with the UK Government and other devolved administrations to ensure that we learn from emerging evidence and the measures taken in other parts of Europe and around the world.

As we have done for our approach to easing restrictions we will be transparent about any future decisions.

Question reference: S5W-30517

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 30 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it would commit to including more detailed guidance for blood cancers as shielding is lifted, so that people with blood cancer who are at lower risk of serious illness can be safely excluded from future shielding and that those at highest risk receive clear information and support to help guide their choices about how to avoid infection.

The development of condition specific guidance for each of the shielding categories is one of the tools which has been created to allow people to understand their individual risk and provide guidance which will support them to transition out of shielding.

On Thursday 9 July we published the first version of tailored guidance for each of the shielding groups. This tailored guidance follows a similar format to the guidance developed for the non-shielding at risk groups. The guidance provides information on:

•why their condition puts them at higher risk from Covid-19;

•where to find support, including sign posting to relevant third sector organisations; and

•the current shielding advice.

The guidance also has a number of FAQs which provides information on how to say safe in different situations. These cover the activities which users advised they were looking for most in the recent PHS survey:

•going out for exercise

•visiting friends and family

•attending healthcare appointments

•resuming treatment

•going to public spaces

Advice on returning to work and education is also being developed and will be published before the end of the month.

The guidance has been shared through our third sector and clinical networks.

The guidance will be regularly updated as our advice changes and user research gives us patient feedback and insights into usage. We will continue to work with our third sector and clinical networks to improve the usefulness of the guidance and ensure that it is accessible to those shielding.

Question reference: S5W-30518

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 30 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the infection rate at which people might be asked to shield again, and, if so, whether the information would be provided at a regional or local level.

In making any future decisions Scottish ministers will be informed by evidence and advice. Our clinical leads advisory group continue to review prevalence and other data with the Chief Medical Officer who will continue to discuss with his counterparts in the other nations of the UK.

As we have done for our approach to easing restrictions we will be transparent about any future decisions and the basis on which we have reached them.

Question reference: S5W-30519

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 30 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to ensuring that everyone who is newly diagnosed with blood cancer continues to be added to the shielding list after 31 July 2020.

Question reference: S5W-29956

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 15 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 15 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has sold, or allowed access to, COVID-19-related health data, including patients' personal medical information, to any third party and, if so, (a) what data, (b) to whom and (c) for what reason.

Question reference: S5W-30076

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 9 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to highlight the increased risks from stagnant water and Legionnaires' disease to businesses such as hotels and leisure centres that are currently closed due to COVID-19, and to inform the public of ways to minimise the risks of contracting the disease.

The Health and Safety Executive have published advice on the risk of Legionella in buildings which are closed or running with reduced occupancy during the COVID-19 crisis. This can be found on the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland (REHIS) website at https://rehis.com/story/legionella-risks-during-coronavirus-outbreak

Advice on mitigating the risks of legionella has not changed as a result of the COVID-19 lockdown period. The recent publication of advice is to serve as a reminder of the responsibilities of those in control of buildings which may have been out of use, to reduce the risk of a Legionnaire’s Disease outbreak.

Question reference: S5T-02267

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 15 June 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the review into the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

Question reference: S5W-28901

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 May 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 2 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government who the members are of its COVID-19-related scientific advisory group; when the minutes of the group's meetings will be published, and whether special advisers attend its meetings in an official or informal basis.