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-30583

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 30 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how many treatment courses of Remdesivir are in stock and, in light of reports that the United States has bought all remaining stock for the next three months, what its position is on where there is a sufficient supply for the treatment of COVID-19 across all NHS board areas in the short- to medium-term.

The supply of medicines is reserved to the UK Government, and is the responsibility of the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).

The DHSC has advised Scottish Government officials that is confident there is sufficient supply of remdesivir in the NHS to support current demand.

The Scottish Government will continue to take every available option to ensure that patients in Scotland can access the medicines they need.

Question reference: S5W-30461

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 06 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 30 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether people who are unable to wear face coverings for health reasons will require proof of these reasons when (a) using public transport and (b) shopping or working in a shop.

Question reference: S5W-30516

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 06 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 30 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of research studies that suggest an upsurge in post-viral fatigue syndrome and, potentially, myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), following the COVID-19 pandemic, and what its response is to this.

Question reference: S5W-30705

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 30 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-29854 by John Swinney on 24 June 2020, what efforts it has made to (a) monitor and (b) disseminate best practice from local areas in delivering specialist practical support during the COVID-19 pandemic for children with the highest, most complex needs.

The Scottish Government has been working with partners to publish expert advice and good practice in supporting children and young peoples’ learning throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. My answer of 24 June outlined the ways in which this information has been made available.

Schools and local authorities are best placed to identify how to meet the individual needs of their pupils and have been working hard to develop plans to do so for the reopening of schools.

Question reference: S5W-30704

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 30 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-29856 by John Swinney on 24 June 2020, what monitoring (a) is and (b) will be taking place of efforts to reintegrate children with complex additional support needs into the school environment.

I recognise that children and young people with additional support needs, including those with complex needs, will require support to return to school. Schools and local authorities are best placed to identify how to meet the individual needs of their pupils and have been working hard to develop plans to do so for the reopening of schools.

In June, we published continuity in learning guidance, which sets out what education authorities and schools should consider for pupils with additional support needs, including those with complex support needs. This focuses on reviewing individualised plans in discussion with parents, carers, children and young people, with support from partner services. It also recognises that some children and young people will have new needs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the guidance outlines, individual provisions and interventions will require constant review to ensure they continue to meet children and young peoples’ learning and wellbeing needs as schools reopen.

Question reference: S5W-30589

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 30 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-29884 by Michael Matheson on 22 June 2020, whether it can provide any further clarity as to when driving tests can resume.

Question reference: S5W-30755

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 29 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects trains to begin running to normal, pre-COVID-19, timetables.

Question reference: S5W-30311

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 29 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government at what point on its COVID-19 route map measures regarding who can be present during maternity care appointments will be relaxed.

On the 30 th of June 2020, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport announced during the daily media briefing that visiting restrictions were being relaxed in hospitals, in line with Scotland’s Covid-19 Route Map.

Additional guidance has published specifically for visiting in maternity and neonatal units. From 13 July, in addition to a birth partner (who has always been deemed as an essential visitor throughout the pandemic), women throughout their labour can have an additional birth partner provided they are not unwell or have any symptoms of Coronavirus. Birth partners and one other nominated person are also now allowed to visit the postnatal ward. In addition, the updated guidance allows for one person to able to accompany a pregnant woman to an antenatal clinic or scan appointment. In some areas there may be some local restrictions, for example in relation to available space in waiting areas and women are advised to speak with their midwives to see how these changes affect their local areas.

Question reference: S5W-30596

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 28 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ringfence all of the money that is received from the Zoo Support Fund to support zoos and aquariums, in the same way that it has protected funding in a similar scheme for the arts and culture sectors.

Question reference: S5W-30499

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 06 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 27 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-29883 by Michael Matheson on 22 June 2020, whether it yet has a date for when guidance on how driving instructors can resume providing driving lessons safely will be published.