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: S6T-00644

Asked by: Russell Findlay, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 April 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take in response to sanctions announced by US authorities against members of the Kinahan organised crime group, in light of the group's reported connections to Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-08114

Asked by: Gordon MacDonald, MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 April 2022
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by John Swinney on 19 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its plans are for future voluntary use of domestic COVID-19 certification in light of the change in guidance on asymptomatic testing and ending of the universal testing offer.

Given the change in guidance on 18 April on asymptomatic testing and the ceasing of the universal testing offer as set out in the Test and Protect Transition Plan , it would no longer be appropriate for Covid Status Certification to be used domestically. We have therefore removed the guidance for customers and businesses on domestic certification from the Scottish Government website and the domestic function of the Covid Status app will be switched off shortly at a date to be agreed in line with the rest of the UK.

The NHS Scotland Covid Status app will continue to be used to facilitate international travel for the foreseeable future until it is no longer required.

Question reference: S6W-07880

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 19 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to ensure that former Hong Kong residents who resettle in Scotland are successfully integrated into local communities.

Question reference: S6W-07883

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 19 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to meet with former Hong Kong residents who have resettled in Scotland in order to collect feedback on their experiences.

Question reference: S6W-07685

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 19 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what specific actions it is taking to help disabled children to catch up on schooling that they missed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are committed to ensuring that all children and young people get the support that they need to reach their full learning potential.

Under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 local authorities have duties to identify, provide for and review the additional support needs of their pupils, including those with disabilities. Local authorities and schools should continue to prioritise personalised support to meet the individual, physical and emotional needs of all children and young people, and particularly in light of the impact of Covid-19. This approach is set out in our continuity in learning guidance. As work to enable recovery progresses across Scotland, those working directly with children and young people remain best placed to identify needs and offer support within a model of inclusive learning policy and practice and in line with their statutory duties under the 2004 Act.

The report of the independently chaired review of additional support for learning implementation set a clear direction in how we can continue to build on progress in improving educational experiences of children and young people with additional support needs. The joint action plan, published in October 2020 and updated in November 2021, set out the measures we will take to implement the report’s recommendations. Despite challenging circumstances we have made significant progress against a number of key actions. However, we recognise that there is more to do. We continue to work closely with the Additional Support for Learning Implementation Group (ASLIG) to review the action plan, take stock of our achievements and agree future priorities to deliver meaningful change.

During the COVID-19 pandemic children and young people with additional support needs were prioritised. In the initial phase of school closures educational hubs were made available for those children and young people who were the most vulnerable. During the 2 nd phase of school closures in January 2021 schools were asked to open and prioritise the attendance in person of those learners with additional support needs. In addition, our education recovery work has improving educational outcomes at its heart and the Scottish Government has put in place a number of measures including;

Funding of 3,500 additional teachers and 500 support staff over this Parliamentary term – over and above the 1,400 teachers recruited during the pandemic – and ensuring more time for teachers to plan high quality learning and teaching by reducing their class contact by 1.5 hrs per week.
500m provided to support education recovery in 2020-21 and 2021-22.
?Investing £260m in 2021-22 to support local authorities to recruit additional teachers and other staff, including £20m to provide extra support such as tutoring and mentoring or other local interventions to support children and families.
Delivery of £25m in 2020-21 for over 72,000 devices, and more than 14,000 internet connectivity packages distributed to learners across Scotland.
Delivery of £3m for targeted youth work to support children and young people.

On the 30th March we also launched the refreshed Scottish Attainment Challenge programme, with up to £200m funding for 2022-23, part of our increased £1bn investment over this Parliament, representing a substantial increase on last term’s £750m funding, to support our most disadvantaged children and young people.

Question reference: S6W-07686

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 19 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to reduce waiting lists for child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS).

The Scottish Government has provided record-breaking levels of investment, including our £120 million Mental Health Recovery & Renewal Fund. As part of that work, we have made an additional £40 million available to improve Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), with £4.25 million of that specifically dedicated to clearing waiting list backlogs by March 2023.

NHS Boards have submitted local improvement plans, setting out how they will meet the standard and eliminate long waits by end March 2023. In February 2020, the Scottish Government published a National CAMHS Service Specification, which included nationally agreed referral criteria and we are closely monitoring the implementation over the coming months, including, reviewing the numbers of referrals received by Boards, the numbers accepted for treatment on a regular basis and the numbers receiving personalised and meaningful signposting to other services.

Question reference: S6W-07639

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 19 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether increasing pay may have a positive effect on reducing the reported high level of vacancies in NHS Scotland.

The National Workforce Strategy for Health and Social Care in Scotland, published on 11 March 2022, sets out a new framework to shape Scotland’s health and social care workforce over the next decade. It places training, wellbeing, job satisfaction and the principles of Fair Work at its heart. The Strategy, which was co-produced with COSLA, identifies the five key areas which will support the creation of a sustainable, skilled workforce as the sector rebuilds from the pandemic. Creating the right conditions for vacancies to be filled encompasses a much broader range of issues than pay, although ensuring that pay remains fair and competitive will always be an important part of any recruitment and retention strategy.

Question reference: S6W-07635

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 19 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is participating in the Pay Review Process for 2022-23 or whether it has initiated direct negotiations with health trade unions through the Scottish Terms and Conditions Committee (STAC).

Question reference: S6W-07448

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 19 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is the case that work on the Housing to 2040 Improving the quality of all homes milestones for 2021-22 has not begun and, if this is the case, (a) what the reasons are for this and (b) when work will (i) begin and (ii) be completed on the actions to (A) consult on new housing standards, (B) review the housing for varying needs design guide, (C) review the adaptations system and (D) develop joint accountability and outcomes framework.

Work to progress early milestones set out within Housing to 2040 for improving the quality of all homes is currently underway. We intend to consult on proposals for a new Housing Standard later this year, and plan to launch a formal consultation on proposals for updating the Housing for Varying Needs design guide later this spring. Work on the review of the adaptations system is also underway and is expected to conclude later in the current financial year, with work to develop a joint housing, health and social care accountability and outcomes framework scheduled to start later this year.

Question reference: S6W-07533

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 19 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on when the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approved Evusheld for use in Scotland.