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-30183

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 10 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason Scottish Water does not allow resomation (water cremation).

Scottish Water is not opposed to the introduction into Scotland of alternatives to burial and cremation, including the services offered by Resomation Ltd. However, it has significant concerns about the effluent by-product from this process being discharged into public sewers. Scottish Water has engaged directly with Resomation Ltd over many years to explain its key concerns and has also encouraged them to give consideration to other alternative more sustainable ways of disposing of the liquid residue element from their process, rather than relying on a discharge to the public sewer.

Question reference: S5W-30200

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 7 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to use its powers under the Burial and Cremation (Scotland) Act 2016 to permit the use of additional environmentally-sustainable end-of-life options.

Our legislative framework is flexible. Whilst the Burial and Cremation (Scotland) Act 2016 specifically provides for the regulation of burial and cremation, it also allows us to regulate alternative methods of body disposal.

We will consider what regulations are required for alternatives to burial and cremation, when those practices become established, and in line with our wider implementation timeframe.

Question reference: S5W-30248

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 6 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what the employment rate for disabled people has been in each of the last five years.

In Scotland, as in the wider UK, the employment rate of disabled people has consistently been much lower than that of non-disabled people. However, it has shown steady growth since 2014, increasing by 7.5 percentage points (p.p.) between 2014 and 2019 from 41.5% to 49.0%.

Table 1 shows the employment rate of disabled people in Scotland from 2014 – 2019. Data for January – December 2020 will be released in 2021.

Table 1: Employment Rate (%, 16-64) of Disabled People, Scotland, 2014-2019
2014	41.5
2015	41.9
2016	42.8
2017	45.3
2018	45.6
2019	49.0
Source: ONS, Annual Population Survey, Jan-Dec data

The long-term impacts of COVID-19 on the labour market are not yet known, but we will monitor any changes in disabled people’s employment rate, and ensure the economic response considers the needs of those already facing barriers in the labour market.

Question reference: S5W-29647

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 18 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has issued regarding the racing of pigeons during the COVID-19 outbreak, and whether it has granted the Royal Pigeon Racing Association approval to resume racing.

The Scottish Government has issued no specific guidance regarding the racing of pigeons during the Covid-19 outbreak. We have issued advice for animal owners to ensure that the basic welfare needs of kept animals can be met under the current restrictions. Correspondence with Scottish pigeon racing organisations have advised that, at the current time, it is best that racing pigeons are exercised from their home loft. In addition, permission was offered for birds belonging to a small number of racers to be transported, under physical distancing rules and in disinfected crates, to a distance of less than 5 miles and released for a slightly longer flight.

The Scottish Government has issued no specific approval to allow for the resumption of pigeon racing. The Public Health (Coronavirus) (Scotland) 2020 Regulations underpin physical distancing measures, supported by guidance from the Scottish Government and Public Health Scotland. It is critical that organisations and individuals consider application of both guidance and the regulations in respect of their own specific circumstances.

As we have entered phase one of the Scottish Government’s phased relaxation of lockdown measures, there is now no limit to the number of times people can go outside for recreation or exercise. Additionally, whilst outdoors, people are permitted to exercise or participate in recreation with members of one other household, provided physical distancing and good hygiene are carefully maintained. In doing so they should remain within their local area which is broadly defined as within five miles of their home. Although transmission of the virus has reduced, we must not undermine the progress that has been made, as the restrictions in place remain the primary method of slowing spread of the virus, protecting the capacity of our NHS and saving lives.

Question reference: S5W-29594

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 17 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason professional sports’ coaches who offer services that allow physical distancing to be maintained, including for equestrian activities, are restricted to coaching only one household per day under the measures to ease the COVID-19 lockdown and, in the light of the potential financial impact of this guidance on the coaches, what plans it has to review its position on this.

Coaches and personal trainers have been permitted to meet and train members of another household which is in line with the current health advice. The Scottish Government appreciates the financial pressures which this brings, but there are a wide range of measures for businesses and self-employed people that they can apply for during this time.

We continue to work with partners to look at how restrictions may be further relaxed as we move towards Phase 2.

Question reference: S5O-04415

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 June 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support vulnerable veterans during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Question reference: S5W-29438

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 May 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 9 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the resumption of one-to-one tennis playing on 29 May 2020, whether one-to-one tennis coaching is also permitted, and, if not, for what reason.

From Friday 29 May, one on one personal training or coaching is permitted if it is outdoors, physical distancing can be maintained, and is with members of your household and/or members of one other household. A coach or personal trainer may not deliver training to more than one household at any one time or provide training to more than one household per day. When participating in training or coaching, where possible, avoid touching surfaces and sharing equipment and touching your mouth and face.

Question reference: S5W-29152

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 May 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 9 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support homebirths during the COVID-19 outbreak.

We have encouraged Health Boards to maintain as many options for birth as possible whilst taking into account workforce capacity, patient safety and the potential need for ambulance transfer.

We are aware that some maternity services had to take the difficult decision to temporarily suspend home birth services to ensure that midwife led services remain available for all women. We expect Boards to keep this under continual review within their local mobilisation plans and are reassured that this is the case, with some now providing home birth. Additionally, we have asked Health Boards to consider the role of student midwives in their final 6 months to act as a second person to provide support at home birth.

Question reference: S5W-29154

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 May 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 8 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on contracting and training independent midwives, maternity assistants and doulas or volunteers to help alleviate pressures on maternity units during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Scottish Government is very grateful to everyone who has stepped forward to offer their services in support of the national response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

At the beginning of the pandemic, a Health and Social Care Covid 19 Accelerated Recruitment Portal was established by NHS Education Scotland to allow those who held a midwifery registration within the last three years, or were in their second or third year of study to become a midwife, to register their availability to support NHS Scotland. Independent midwives were also eligible to register with the portal.

This portal has been very successful with over 23,000 applicants offering their support. As 26 May 2020, 71 midwives have completed an expression of interest form on the portal. In addition, 343 student midwives have also completed an expression of interest form and of these, 321 have completed the process and are either in employment or soon to be employed by NHS Boards. Due to the success of the recruitment portal, at present new registrations have been temporarily paused.

There may be other opportunities for independent midwives, maternity assistants and doulas to support NHS Scotland during this pandemic. Those who qualify should monitor the Health and Social Care Covid 19 Accelerated Recruitment Portal at https://careers.nhs.scot/coronavirus-covid-19-recruitment/ . Or alternatively, healthcare workers can monitor the NHS Scotland Recruitment website for NHS Board positions which are available, or approach their local Health Board.

Question reference: S5W-29268

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 May 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 8 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether there is adequate provision of medical tubes, feeding tubes and oxygen being made available to people with muscular disabilities who are being cared for in their own homes during the COVID-19 outbreak.

NHS National Procurement Scotland manage the supply of these provisions on behalf of NHS Scotland and they have national framework agreements in place for the provision of medical tubes, feeding tubes and oxygen which covers the supply into both hospitals and community settings.

While NHS National Procurement do not have access to specific patient details, they have close working relationships with the four main suppliers of these products and they have been clear that there have been no recent supply issues with home deliveries.