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-28115

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 3 April 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to enlist NHS volunteers to help the service during the COVID-19 outbreak, similar to that being rolled out by NHS England.

On 30 March 2020 the Scottish Government launched a campaign “Scotland Cares” to encourage people to sign up to make themselves available to volunteer as part of the response to the Coronavirus epidemic.

Members of the public offering support are directed to Ready Scotland www.readyscotland.org/coronavirus/volunteering Those wanting to volunteer to support their communities have three options which are signposted from the Ready Scotland website.

returning health and care workers are directed to a new Health and Social Care accelerated recruitment portal
people wishing to offer their support to our public services, including the NHS and local authorities, are directed to a site co-ordinated by the British Red Cross
those looking for opportunities with other charities or community groups in their area are directed to Volunteer Scotland

Question reference: S5W-27852

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 23 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of any impact on the 2020 exam diet arising from potential restrictions being introduced in response to COVID-19, what discussions it is having with the SQA regarding the development of contingencies for the exams, including to mitigate any associated impact on students studying for and sitting them.

In response to the current challenging set of circumstances, I have had extensive discussions with the Chief Examiner. This culminated in my announcement on 19 March that the exam diet will not go ahead this year. SQA are now working to deliver a credible certification model that can be put in place and can command confidence in the absence of the exam diet. This will ensure that young people in our schools and colleges who, through no fault of their own, are unable to sit exams, are not disadvantaged.

We will continue to work with the education sector and SQA to achieve this.

Question reference: S5O-04243

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 March 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that there are adequate climate change risk assessments in place in all policy areas.

Question reference: S5O-04189

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 February 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what discussions it has had regarding the increase in the MSP staffing budget.

Question reference: S5W-27460

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 17 February 2020
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 25 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the coronavirus outbreak, what advice (a) the NHS and (b) Education Scotland is providing to schools regarding pupils returning from visits to south east Asia.

General information on where to find up to date advice on COVID-19 has already been circulated to all Directors of Education for dissemination to schools in Scotland.

Health Protection Scotland’s guidance cell have provided input into Public Health England’s guidance for educational settings and are currently adapting this for use in Scotland. This guidance will cover what pupils, students or members of staff should do if they have returned from a higher risk country within the last 14 days. The guidance will be finalised shortly and distributed across the education sector.

Question reference: S5W-27234

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 03 February 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 19 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider establishing an independent inquiry into the organisation of NHS boards, in light of more than half of them currently being subject to special measures.

The NHS Board Performance Escalation Framework provides an effective and transparent process for identifying and addressing concerns which may arise in relation to a health board’s organisation or performance. It provides a proportionate response to specific performance issues, including those related to issues of organisational effectiveness and governance.

There are currently six of a total of 21 NHS Boards in Scotland which are receiving additional support and subject to additional scrutiny consistent with being escalated on the Escalation Framework.

We have no plans to review the organisation of territorial health boards in Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-27180

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 January 2020
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 17 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what the planning application status is for the Old Royal High School in Edinburgh.

The Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) are currently considering planning and listed building consent appeals in respect of the change of use, alteration and restoration of the former Royal High School Building at New Parliament House, Edinburgh.

The appointed reporters in these appeals have undertaken a number of hearings and inquiry sessions. Closing submissions have been received and a number of site inspections have also taken place. The reporters are currently in the process of finalising their report and recommendations to Ministers aiming to submit by the end of February 2020. It will then be for Scottish Ministers to consider the reporters recommendations and all other submissions made on the appeals before reaching their decision.

Question reference: S5O-04124

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 February 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has reviewed its transport procurement processes and criteria, in light of recent issues relating to ferry contracts.

Question reference: S5O-04113

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 January 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether Police Scotland has a policy of routinely fingerprinting dual nationals or British citizens born abroad.

Question reference: S5T-01973

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 27 January 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what preparations and provisions it is making in response to the coronavirus outbreak in China.