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-34520

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 January 2021
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 19 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in delivering its commitment to expand computerised cognitive behavioural therapy and deploy this at scale by the end of October 2020, as set out in its Mental Health Transition and Recovery Plan.

The new computerised Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (cCBT) platform to increase treatment choice was successfully introduced in October 2020. To support this expansion, the Scottish Government provided £1.2 million in 2020-21 to NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) to rapidly increase the deployment of cCBT services and to increase access to therapist led internet-enabled Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (ieCBT) services across all territorial Health Boards. The expansion of self-managed cCBT and ieCBT has the potential to support around 30,000 people each year.

Question reference: S5W-34377

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 08 January 2021
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 19 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether professional dog walkers will be able to carry out their business under the most recent COVID-19 restrictions.

Professional dog walkers may continue to carry out their business under the current Covid-19 restrictions.

The Scottish Government issued Guidance for Animal Owners on 11 January 2021 which permits this to take place within the requirements of the guidance on physical distancing and good hygiene. This guidance is available at https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-animal-owners/ .

Question reference: S5W-34529

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 January 2021
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 19 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether children whose parents are both key workers, but where one parent works entirely at home, are able to access childcare at key worker hubs and, if not, for what reason.

The purpose of the current, exceptional key worker arrangements is to ensure that those who are critical to essential and lifeline services in Scotland can request places for their children in schools or with childcare providers, where that is necessary to the delivery of those functions. Where a key worker parent working from home cannot fulfil critical functions because of childcare needs, and no alternative childcare or working options are available, we would expect local authorities and providers to take this into account when making decisions on the availability and prioritisation of key worker childcare places in their area/s.

In order to achieve the primary objective of reducing interactions and helping to drive down community transmission of Covid-19, the number of key worker children presenting to schools during the current strict lockdown must however be kept to an absolute minimum. Employers are therefore asked to strictly prioritise and only request key worker places for staff who are critical to the provision of essential services and have no alternative childcare or working options. Employees should therefore discuss their intention to request a place with their employer, before contacting their council.

Question reference: S5T-02619

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 18 January 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when the opening of the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People will be completed.

Question reference: S5W-34200

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 21 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 15 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether respite foster care is still able to take place under Level 4 COVID-19 restrictions.

Respite foster care can go ahead under Level 4 COVID-19 restrictions subject to the appropriate professional assessments being carried out. Care planning and issues surrounding care planning are a matter for local authorities to decide and we would expect local authorities to consider the risks of respite foster care before making any decision on a case by case base, whilst adhering to public health measures.

Decision makers must ensure that the safety and wellbeing of children, young people, families, carers and staff members is at the heart of decision making. They must balance these safety considerations with a child’s rights and the detriment to the child if a respite placement does not go ahead.

The Scottish Government will shortly be publishing updated Coronavirus guidance about family contact for Looked After Children. This guidance will support decision makers in ensuring that the risk of exposure is minimised, whilst children are supported and enabled to meaningfully maintain relationships which are essential to their wellbeing.

Question reference: S5W-34136

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 18 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Ash Denham on 15 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what COVID-19 guidance is in place regarding naming ceremonies.

The Scottish Government has not published specific guidance for ceremonies such as baby naming ceremonies, Christenings or baptisms. We have issued specific guidance for marriage ceremonies and civil partnership registrations .

Our guidance for the safe use of places of worship outlines that where ceremonies such as Christenings, baptisms and coming-of-age ceremonies form part of a wider religious service in a place of worship, the gathering should consist of no more than 50 people in total in areas at Levels 0-3 as set out in the strategic framework . Outdoor acts of worship conducted in accordance with Coronavirus (COVID-19): events sector guidance in areas at levels 0 and 1 areas may have up to 200 people in attendance.

Under the current Level 4 restrictions affecting most of Scotland set out in the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 as amended, places of worship must be closed to the public except for limited specified purposes. These specified purposes do not include a baby naming ceremony, Christening or baptism.

If a naming ceremony, Christening or baptism is not happening in a place of worship or as part of a permitted act of worship outdoors, the gathering should comply with the restrictions on social gatherings in the relevant protection level set out in the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 as amended.

Any celebrants conducting naming ceremonies permitted under the present restrictions should work with families on whether aspects of the ceremony need to be adapted in line with physical distancing and hygiene requirements in order to help ensure the safety of all present.

Question reference: S5W-34227

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 14 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what financial support is being made available to the private leisure industry, including (a) fitness clubs and (b) leisure centres.

Since the start of the Covid-19 outbreak the Scottish Government has worked closely with the UK Government and private and public sector partners to develop a range of support mechanisms for businesses. To varying degrees, the leisure industry have utilised the job retention scheme, non-domestic rates relief, business hardship fund, and the Strategic Framework Business Support.

a) The Finance Secretary recently announced an additional £41 million to top up support for non-essential retail and gyms, which are required to close in level 4.

b) The Scottish Government is working with COSLA to finalise a lost income scheme, including support for ALEOs, worth an estimated £90 million which when added to the committed £49 million consequentials will provide an extra £139 million of funding.

Question reference: S5W-33980

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 14 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government (a) when and (b) how it expects the £500 "thank you" bonus for NHS and social care staff to be issued.

On 23 December 2020, the Scottish Government published full details of eligibility for the pro-rata £500 payment, including expected payment dates. Payments to health and care workers will commence in February 2021, with the majority of social care staff receiving payment in March 2021. To reduce the potential impact a single payment may have on any benefits staff may be receiving, we will ask employers to offer the option of spreading this payment over three months. Full details have been published at the following link:

Coronavirus (COVID-19): £500 payment for health and social care staff - questions and answers - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) . .

Question reference: S5W-33764

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 14 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether occupational therapists who work in local authority health and social care departments will be eligible for the £500 "thank you" bonus.

Question reference: S5W-33998

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 14 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether NHS and social care staff who do not wish to receive the £500 "thank you" bonus are able to nominate a charity to receive the money instead.

Scottish Government Ministers want to recognise the extraordinary effort that front line NHS and social care staff have made to our national effort during this pandemic. There is no mechanism for opting out of receiving the payment or nominating a charity to receive it. All recipients are however free to do with they wish with the payment, including donating to charitable causes if they should choose. Full details have been published at the following link:

Coronavirus (COVID-19): £500 payment for health and social care staff - questions and answers - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)