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-28678

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 April 2020
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 1 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what support is being provided to autistic children who are unable to attend the COVID-19 hubs because (a) their parents or guardians are not considered to be key workers, (b) they are not considered a child protection risk or (c) they are unable to social distance.

We recognise that children and young people with autism may be finding things particularly challenging during this difficult time.

Local authorities have developed a range of creative ways to support children and young people with a wide range of needs during this challenging time. This includes creating opportunities for distance and online learning and the use of a range of learning resources which can be adapted to meet the learning needs of children and young people.

The Scottish Government has developed a range of information and guidance, including specific advice within Coronavirus (COVID-19): supporting pupils, parents and teachers - learning during term 4 and on Parent Club for parents and carers to help them to support children and young people with a range of needs, including autism when learning at home; comprehensive guidance to help support continuity for children and young people’s learning for the term ahead; updating the Autism Toolbox to include a section on coronavirus, which provides information and signposting on supporting autistic learners at home.

Question reference: S5W-28021

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 30 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to regulate the time limit for redeterminations of all devolved benefits to make them the same.

Question reference: S5W-28018

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 30 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its plans for the delivery of Employment Injury Assistance, what steps it is taking to set up a Scottish equivalent of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council.

Question reference: S5W-28019

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 27 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether the rate for Winter Heating Assistance is £200 per child, or a one-off payment of £200 per household.

Question reference: S5W-28020

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 27 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the report on its consultation on Short Term Assistance.

Question reference: S5O-04335

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 26 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress of court cases in light of the COVID-19 outbreak.

It is critical that we maintain public trust and confidence by maintaining the essential services that support justice.

The courts have already ceased all jury trials, adjourned all but essential summary criminal trials, adjourned all civil hearings involving witnesses and Tribunals will only proceed with essential hearings by audio conference.

Yesterday (25 March 2020), the courts moved to the next phase of their contingency plans. I will set out these plans here and details are also available on the SCTS website ( https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/ ).

The Court of Session will continue to sit in Parliament House dealing with essential civil business. All other business will be continued as required. Urgent business includes: child abduction petitions, interim interdicts and other urgent matters on cause shown.

The High Court will continue to sit in Lawnmarket, Edinburgh and Saltmarket, Glasgow. The court will continue to deal with preliminary hearings and adjourn trials.

For Sheriff and JP Courts, all business, other than undertakings, will be consolidated within Sheriffdoms, into ten sheriff courts. Further details are available on the SCTS website.

Appearance from undertakings will continue to call in the court specified on the undertaking where possible.

The courts are also advising that anyone with urgent civil business should contact the appropriate court, listed on the SCTS website, to arrange for cases or applications to be dealt with.

Urgent business includes: new applications for child protection orders, interim interdicts, child referral appeals, urgent adoptions or urgent interim residence or contact applications and urgent applications in relation to Adults with Incapacity.

In another measure to reduce risk, all accused persons with symptoms of COVID-19 appearing from custody will have their case conducted via video link. The courts are working hard to extend this to all custodies – and are developing an approach that will allow agents to represent clients by telephone.

Question reference: S5W-27929

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 13 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 23 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-27753 by Mairi Gougeon on 13 March 2020, and in light of the commitment to initiate legislation within the same parliamentary session, whether it will confirm on what date new regulations will be laid to give full effect to the proposed Pet Shop (Licensing) (Scotland) Bill.

The Scottish Government remains fully committed to bringing forward new regulations covering dog, cat and rabbit breeders, pet sellers, animal sanctuaries and rehoming activities in this Parliamentary session.

Delivery of the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Bill has however taken priority and this has impacted on the timetable for delivery. The work to deliver the new licensing regulations continues to progress and we will lay draft legislation before the Scottish Parliament for its approval as soon as possible, subject to parliamentary business.

Question reference: S5W-27754

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 13 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what the proposed timeline is for the introduction of a modern licensing system for dog, cat and rabbit breeders and pet sellers, as outlined in its Programme for Government 2019-20.

Question reference: S5W-27753

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 13 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform's indication under Rule 9.14.13(a) on 23 November 2018, when it will initiate legislation that will give full effect to the proposed Pet Shop (Licensing) (Scotland) Bill.

The work to update and strengthen existing licensing legislation covering dog, cat and rabbit breeders, pet sellers, animal sanctuaries and rehoming activities is proceeding and our intention is to lay the new regulations before the Scottish Parliament at the earliest opportunity.

As the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform indicated in her correspondence of 23 November 2018 to Mr Balfour, this legislation will give full effect to his proposed Pet Shop (Licensing) (Scotland) Bill.

Question reference: S5O-04295

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 March 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what action NHS Lothian is taking to recruit additional clinical staff, in light of recent ISD figures suggesting that one in three young people in the area are waiting over a year for mental health support.