Question ref. S6W-06139
Asked by: Grahame, Christine, Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Date lodged: 3 February 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of changes in work patterns and increased hybrid working impacting on commuting, whether it will consider, as part of ScotRail moving into public ownership, liaising with VisitScotland to discuss increasing tourism on the rail network by combining rail tickets with discounted entrance charges to participating national attractions.
Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 3 March 2022
VisitScotland already works closely with ScotRail as a key national partner. The relationship includes liaising on matters relating to the visitor experience and running joint marketing campaigns, including a spring 2022 campaign to promote family days out in Scotland's cities.
ScotRail Trains Limited have been charged with producing a Market Growth Strategy, from April 2022, that develops and implements appropriate products and services to address post–Covid markets including, in particular, tourism. To assist with the development of that strategy and in furtherance of the relationship that exists between ScotRail and VisitScotIand. I have asked my officials to establish with them what more can be done to promote tourism and, in particular, actions to encourage visits to national attractions by rail.
Question ref. S6W-06138
Asked by: Grahame, Christine, Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Date lodged: 3 February 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what the advice is for choirs in relation to COVID-19; (a) whether and (b) when face coverings should be used during rehearsals and performances with social distancing, and (i) whether and (ii) when social distancing should be maintained during rehearsals and performances.
Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 8 February 2022
The approach to face coverings for choirs is grounded in evidence and draws on the expert advice which reflects the unique features of the activity and the environments. This is because the virus spreads when an infected person talks, sings or even breathes heavily, and droplets and aerosols from their mouth or nose are launched into the air. At this stage of the pandemic many of the more intrusive restrictions have been lifted, but the virus and the harms that it causes have not gone away. We still continue to see hospital admissions and deaths as a result of COVID and the impacts of long COVID can be significant. That is why it remains important to maximise the use of the remaining measures such as face coverings.
Performers can of course temporarily remove their face covering in some limited indoor situations if other steps are taken. For example, when they are performing or rehearsing they can remove their face covering if they are separated from others by a distance of at least one metre or by a screen or partition.
Question ref. S6W-05857
Asked by: Grahame, Christine, Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Date lodged: 21 January 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will take action to stop the culling, through NatureScot, of Greenland barnacle geese on Islay, in light of the reported strain already on the species population due to the effects of bird flu on the Svalbard population on the Solway, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 3 February 2022
There are currently no cases of Avian Influenza in any goose species recorded on Islay.
The barnacle geese present on Islay are from the Greenland population and mixing between these and the Svalbard population in the Solway is rare.
The Islay population are well monitored and are managed using an adaptive management approach, which can respond quickly to any changes in the situation.
Question ref. S6W-04379
Asked by: Grahame, Christine, Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Date lodged: 15 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of guidance published by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation on 1 September 2021, advising that patients with severe immunosuppression should receive a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, whether people with Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance will be included in the clinically high-risk cohort and therefore eligible to receive a third primary dose.
Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 7 December 2021
The Chief Medical Officer issued guidance in his letter of 21 September on the vaccination of severely immunosuppressed individuals. This letter is published here: COVID-19 vaccination programme: JCVI advice on the vaccination of severely immunosuppressed individual (scot.nhs.uk) . On 19 October a tailored Primary Care Update communication was cascaded direct to primary care networks to ensure GPs and others were aware of arrangements for this cohort.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advice on third primary doses is complex both in terms of eligibility and timing, as the ideal time for a third dose may differ from person to person. There has therefore been clear national communication to health boards to assist them in delivery to this cohort.
There are many rare conditions and guidance on specific conditions which may benefit from inclusion is not necessarily exhaustive. Where a condition is not on the list but a patient’s clinician believes they should be included, they can add people to the list and refer them for vaccination to their local health board, if in their judgement, they feel that their patient should be eligible for a third dose.
More information on this is available at: Coronavirus (COVID-19) third dose vaccination | The coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine (nhsinform.scot).
Question ref. S6W-03710
Asked by: Grahame, Christine, Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Date lodged: 13 October 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-27833 by James Wolffe QC on 13 March 2020, what progress has been made with regard to the possible introduction of diversionary driving courses, including a Speed Awareness Course, as an alternative to prosecution.
Current Status:
Answered by Dorothy Bain on 29 October 2021
The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) are currently engaged with criminal justice partners, including the Police Service of Scotland, Transport Scotland and the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service to develop relevant infrastructure and guidance for the possible introduction of Speed Awareness Courses in Scotland.
The possible introduction of Speed Awareness Courses in Scotland requires enabling legislation. The United Kingdom Government has introduced the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill which is currently being considered by the House of Lords. The Bill includes provision for police forces in England and Wales to recover costs from drivers who are the subject of a road traffic diversionary courses.
Whilst the Bill does not include substantive provision to allow Police Scotland to recover costs from drivers, the Bill makes provision for the Secretary of State to make such provision for Scotland, similar to that provided for in England and Wales, by statutory instrument. Any such provision by statutory instrument would require to be made following passage of the Bill.
Question ref. S6W-02721
Asked by: Grahame, Christine, Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Date lodged: 3 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what data it has on the number of people eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine but who are unable to have one due to needle phobia; what support is provided to such people, and, for the purposes of COVID-19 vaccination certification, whether such a phobia is considered a valid exemption, and, if so, what evidence would be required to secure an exemption.
Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 21 September 2021
The Scottish Government and Public Health Scotland do not currently hold data on the number of people eligible for a Covid-19 vaccine who are unable to receive one due to needle phobia.
As every individual case is different, all those who suffer from needle phobia should initially seek support from their GP, clinician or local health board so that adjustments can be made to accommodate their specific needs. Their local medical team will be more aware of their specific requirements. The staff delivering the vaccines are skilled and experienced, and will be used to dealing with more nervous patients, some of whom have phobias.
Phobias are not covered under the current version of the vaccination certification policy, and are therefore not considered a valid exemption.
Question ref. S6W-02022
Asked by: Grahame, Christine, Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Date lodged: 29 July 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-26335 by Kevin Stewart on 25 November 2019, whether it will consider amending the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 to curtail peat extraction permissible under current licences.
Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 24 August 2021
The Scottish Government has no plans at this time to amend the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 in order to limit peat extraction for those with valid planning permission. The Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 does however include a requirement for the Scottish Ministers to have regard to the desirability of preserving peatland when preparing the fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4). The Scottish Government’s NPF4 Position Statement (Published November 2020) outlines an intention to rebalance the planning system so that climate change is a guiding principle for all plans and decisions, and states that the Scottish Government will aim to restrict commercial peat extraction for horticulture purposes.
Question ref. S5W-32877
Asked by: Grahame, Christine, Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Date lodged: 28 October 2020
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will reconsider the policy of permitting Members' offices four mobile devices only, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic leading to an increase in the number of staff who are working from home and who require their own office device to be in contact with constituents who might not have internet access.
Current Status:
Answered by David Stewart MSP (on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate B on 11 November 2020
The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body recognises that, in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, MSP staff working from home will be required to contact constituents in a variety of different ways. As such, the SPCB has agreed to provide basic mobile phones to MSP staff should they be required. These basic mobile phones will be supplied in addition to the current policy limits for mobile devices such as smartphones and are provided to help facilitate telephone contact with constituents who might not have internet access.
Question ref. S5W-32795
Asked by: Grahame, Christine, Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Date lodged: 26 October 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to prevent training days organised by dog trainers that involve the use of electric shock collars from taking place.
Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 3 November 2020
The Scottish Government has no locus to prevent trainers from holding training days involving electronic collars. The Scottish Government takes the welfare of animals extremely seriously and we expect organisers and participants of any training events to comply with all relevant legislation and to ensure that welfare of any animals present is not compromised.
Question ref. S5W-32794
Asked by: Grahame, Christine, Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Date lodged: 26 October 2020
To ask the Scottish Government which animal welfare organisations it has had meetings with in the last two years regarding electric shock collars.
Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 30 October 2020
The Scottish Government has not held any meetings specifically about electronic collars since before the Guidance on Dog Training Aids was published in October 2018.
