- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 November 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 5 December 2022
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it considers just over a third of health and social care staff have taken up their COVID-19 winter booster and flu vaccinations to date, and what its position is on whether uptake should be higher.
Answer
Our aspiration is for uptake to be as high as possible across all groups, this includes health and social care workers.
Vaccination uptake for Frontline Health & Social Care workers is currently at 40% for Covid-19 vaccines. The uptake for Flu vaccines for all healthcare workers is currently at 49%.
We have been working closely with Health Boards to increase uptake in this group. Specific interventions include drop in clinics for workers, outreach vaccination teams visiting workplaces, tailored local and national communications to encourage uptake. We are also conducting surveys to gather insight on why some people are choosing not to get vaccinated this winter.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 November 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 5 December 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how many people have received their winter (a) COVID-19 booster and (b) flu vaccination, broken down by age band.
Answer
COVID-19 and Flu vaccine uptake data is available from the Public Health Scotland dashboard . As of 23 November 2022 there has been a total of 1,625,091 Adult (18+) flu vaccinations and 1,653,929 COVID-19 vaccinations administered under the 2022 Winter Vaccination Programme. The data on the dashboard is updated every Wednesday and includes the latest headline figures by week and JCVI priority group.
- Asked by: Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 November 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 5 December 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how many doses of the Zostavax shingles vaccine have been ordered for this winter, and how many doses will be made available to each NHS board.
Answer
Vaccine supply for the shingles vaccination programme is procured on a four nations basis by UK Health and Security Agency. NHS Health Boards order the volume of vaccine required, which is then delivered to vaccine holding centres, where Health Boards can access the vaccine to deliver their vaccination clinics at any time of the year.
- Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 18 November 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 5 December 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a full list of active groups and sub-groups within the Finance and Economy portfolio.
Answer
The list of active groups and sub-groups within the Finance and Economy portfolio includes:
- Apprenticeship Approval Group (AAG)
- Business Support Partnership
- Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan - Implementation Steering Group
- Clyde Mission Strategy Group
- Community Wealth Building (CWB) Bill steering Group
- Creative Industries Leadership Group
- Developing the Young Workforce Employers Forum
- Digital Collaborative Governance Group
- Economic Leadership Group
- European Structural and Investment Funds Programme Board
- European Structural and Investment Programme Monitoring Committee
- European Structural and Investment Programme Monitoring Committee Working Group
- European Structural and Information Technology Board
- Financial Services Growth and Development Board
- Flexible Workforce Development Fund Senior Strategic Group
- Foundation Apprenticeship Enhancement Group
- Green Freeports Programme Board
- Industry Leadership Chairs Group
- Innovation Strategy Steering Group
- Input-Output Expert Users Group (IOEUG)
- Lifetime Skills Offer Steering Group
- Life Sciences Scotland Group
- Ministerial Trade Board
- National Strategy for Economic Transformation Delivery Board
- National Strategy for Economic Transformation Portfolio Board
- National Strategy for Economic Transformation Skilled Workforce Programme Board
- Public Sector Network Steering Group
- Regional Economic Policy Advisory Group
- Retail Industry Leadership Group
- Scottish Apprenticeship Advisory Board (SAAB) Group Board
- Scottish Apprenticeship Advisory Board (SAAB) Standards And Frameworks Group
- Scottish Apprenticeship Advisory Board (SAAB) Employer Engagement Group
- Scottish Apprenticeship Advisory Board (SAAB) Employer Equalities Group
- Scottish Apprenticeship Advisory Board (SAAB) Apprentice Engagement Group
- Scottish Business Growth Group
- Scottish Cities Alliance Chief Executive Officers Group
- Scottish Cities Alliance Delivery Group
- Scottish Cities Alliance Leadership Group
- Scottish City Region and Growth Deal Delivery Board
- Scottish Economic Statistics Consultation Group
- Scottish Government and Business Organisations Meeting
- Scottish Government Labour Market Evidence Programme
- Scottish Taskforce for Green and Sustainable Financial Services
- Skills Ministerial Group
- Strategic Leadership Group for Advanced Manufacturing
- Sub-Scotland Economic Statistics Group
- Tourism and Hospitality Industry Leadership Group
- Wellbeing Economy Governments (WEGo)
- Young Persons Guarantee Equalities Subgroup
- Young Persons Guarantee Employer Advisory Group
- Young Persons Guarantee Implementation Planning Group
Please note these groups will be kept under review.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 18 November 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 5 December 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of the affordability of replacing a direct emissions heating system, including installation and retrofit costs, for older and hard-to-treat off-gas-grid properties.
Answer
The Heat in Building Strategy shows that including fabric upgrades the estimated average building-level cost of installing a zero emission system, such as an air source heat pump, is just over £12,000. The cost for an individual dwelling can vary depending on the building type, materials, existing levels of energy efficiency and type of heating systems being replaced; and we recognise that retrofit costs for hard-to-treat properties are likely to be higher than the average.
Further analysis of the estimated capital and running costs of zero emissions heating systems has been undertaken as part of the Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment for the Heat in Buildings Strategy, which can be accessed at: Heat in buildings strategy: business and regulatory impact assessment - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .
We continue to develop the evidence base on the costs of different low and zero emissions heat options suitable to different properties across the Scottish building stock. For example, we are undertaking research to better inform our understanding of the cost of installing energy efficiency measures and replacing direct emissions heating systems in homes. While there is no fixed definition of a HTT home, this research includes traditional tenements and homes off the gas grid. This research is due to complete early next year.
As set out in the answer to S6W-12343 on 5 December there is a range of support available to all properties including for older and hard-to-treat off-gas-grid properties.
All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 18 November 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 5 December 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the cost of living crisis, whether it will give consideration to delaying the introduction of the New Build Heat Standard proposals regarding conversions for off-gas-grid homes and businesses, in order to protect consumers from the costs associated with installing a new zero direct emissions heating system.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-11865 on 17 November 2022. Our New Build Heat Standard will apply to all new buildings seeking building warrant approval from 1 April 2024, as well as conversions of existing buildings – however, only where certain criteria are met. Installing new zero direct emissions heating systems will reduce the exposure of consumers to the costs associated with volatile fossil fuel prices.
All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .
- Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 18 November 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 5 December 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the Caledonian Sleeper service is a commercial asset.
Answer
Caledonian Sleeper is a subsidised Franchise. The Caledonian Sleeper Franchise is of significant social, economic and environmental value to the people of Scotland.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 November 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 5 December 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Includem’s open letter titled "Simply Scran", how it will work with local authorities to eradicate school meal debt.
Answer
We recognise that rises in the cost of living are putting a huge strain on some families and they are facing unforeseen challenges. We are working with our partners in local authorities to fully understand the issue of school meal debt.
Councils have the power to make discretionary offers of free school meals to families, where they are experiencing financial hardship due to exceptional circumstances, who do not meet the regular eligibility criteria. We would urge local authorities to continue to do all they can to resolve any payment issues without withdrawing meals from pupils.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 November 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 5 December 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Includem’s open letter titled "Simply Scran" and its call for three nutritious meals a day, how it will work with local authorities to ensure that, in light of rising costs of living, school meals will continue to be of good nutritional value to children and young people regardless of where they live.
Answer
All food and drink served in all education authority and grant aided schools must meet the standards set out in the 'Nutritional Requirements for Food and Drink in Schools (Scotland) Regulations 2020'. The Regulations are based on scientific evidence and dietary advice and are designed to ensure children and young people are provided with an appropriate amount of energy and key nutrients to support their healthy growth and development.
- Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 24 November 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 5 December 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration has been given to (a) launching an inquiry to assess the potential value of retrofit over demolition and (b) the introduction of a demolition levy, in light of the Chartered Institute of Building’s report, Levelling the playing field, not Scotland’s built environment: a case for retrofit over demolition, which states that introducing a demolition levy could catalyse a shift in priority to favour retrofit projects and fund green initiatives.
Answer
The Scottish Government recognises the importance of retrofitting existing buildings, as noted in our Town Centre Action Plan review and Housing to 2040 Strategy. We are aware that current VAT rules may incentivise demolition over retrofitting. However, VAT policy is currently reserved to the UK Government. As such, we have called on the UK Government to address this issue, but to no avail. We called on the UK Government to issue changes in a letter of 19 March 2021, but this request was declined in a response received in May 2021.
The Scottish Government will, of course, continue to consider what it can do to address the current imbalance, including through the promotion and facilitation of retrofitting within our policies. However, it is clear that the key powers lie with the UK Government.
The Scottish Government welcomes the report from the Chartered Institute of Building. We too have been clear that coordinated action is needed to tackle the challenge of building decarbonisation. We will carefully consider the report, including the recommendation of introducing a demolition levy in Scotland. However, a change to the VAT structure remains the preferred solution. As the imbalance is caused by the design of the VAT system, this would be most efficiently and effectively resolved through VAT reform.
The Scottish Government will continue to call on the UK Government to address the current imbalance.
