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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-31364

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 24 August 2020
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 4 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions and/or correspondence it had with the SQA after it was informed about the outcome of the moderated exam results, and whether it will place details of this in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe).

Question reference: S5W-31359

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 24 August 2020
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 4 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government when the revised plans for the 2020-21 exam season will be (a) confirmed and (b) announced by the Education Recovery Group.

Question reference: S5W-31362

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 24 August 2020
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 4 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what information regarding moderated exam results was shared with (a) the Education Recovery Group and (b) other stakeholders ahead of the initial release of the results.

Question reference: S5O-04565

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 September 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what recent engagement it has had with the fishing industry in relation to wind farm developments.

Question reference: S5W-31078

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 August 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 1 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-30814 by Fergus Ewing on 27 July 2020, whether it will provide more information regarding the "robust yet proportionate measures" that have been taken "to maintain and enhance...marine compliance capabilities".

Despite the very significant uncertainty that Brexit creates, the Scottish Government has taken a range of measures to protect our marine assets. This has not only included the deployment of an additional inshore patrol craft, with plans for a second craft and increased aerial capabilities before the end of the year, but also the procurement of advanced detection and imaging assets. In addition, annual vessel refit and servicing programmes have been amended to ensure the availability of assets and the end of the transition period.

All of this will significantly enhance monitoring and surveillance of the Scottish zone and help to deter illegal activity.

Question reference: S5W-31291

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 August 2020
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 26 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-30515 by John Swinney on 20 July 2020, how many of the 25,000 laptops and tablets have been allocated to each local authority, and how the allocation was calculated.

A breakdown of the allocation of these devices by local authority is shown in the following table. All local authorities were asked whether they wished to use their funding allocation to obtain Chromebooks from this central pool of devices. 18 chose to do so, reflecting the fact that these local authorities have a preference for Chromebook devices as part of their digital learning programmes, and the devices were allocated proportionately based on the volume requested. Local authorities are free to make decisions about the equipment and connectivity required to meet local demand, and the remainder of local authorities are making local arrangements to use their funding allocations to purchase devices on other platforms.

Local Authority	Number of devices
Aberdeen City	1447
Aberdeenshire	2725
Angus	1111
Argyll & Bute	800
Clackmannanshire	674
East Ayrshire	1366
East Dunbartonshire	815
East Lothian	407
East Renfrewshire	590
Fife	4139
Glasgow City	300
Highland	3248
Midlothian	1235
North Ayrshire	750
South Ayrshire	1200
South Lanarkshire	1792
Stirling	1528
West Dunbartonshire	358

Question reference: S5W-31161

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 August 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 24 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will issue provisional guidance to the dance sector to help it prepare for its indicative reopening in September 2020.

On 17 August, the Scottish Government produced new guidance for the opening of indoor and outdoor sport and leisure facilities with physical distancing and hygiene measures. This new guidance, created in collaboration with the sport and leisure sector, is an important step in getting those facilities opened again, and will provide staff and customers with the confidence that it’s safe to return. To view the guidance please visit the Scottish Government website .

For further guidance and advice on staying safe whilst taking part in sport and information about getting facilities ready to reopen please visit the sport scotland website .

Guidance for the performing arts and venues, including dance, is also being prepared and will be published soon, in advance of theatres and performing arts venues reopening.

Question reference: S5T-02318

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 17 August 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the return of schools and the number of pupils and staff who have tested positive for COVID-19.

Question reference: S5W-30829

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 20 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 12 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to extending eligibility for Young Scot free ferry vouchers for island residents to people aged over 18 to help with the cost of travel to the mainland for study.

Question reference: S5W-30830

Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 20 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 5 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what financial support is available for islands' students studying on the mainland, in light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Scottish Government has provided a comprehensive package of support for students who are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including:

additional funding of £2.2 million for Higher Education (HE) students at college and university via the Discretionary Funds. This supplements £569,000 already issued.
£2 million made available by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) to support Further Education (FE) students at college.
£100,000 to support around 1,000 full-time SAAS funded students studying with private providers of HE in Scotland and within other areas of the UK.
an extension of the Care-Experienced Accommodation Grant allowing eligible HE students to access a non-repayable grant of up to £105 per week, benefiting around 200 students and worth an estimated £200,000.

On 11 June 2020 the First Minister announced that the Scottish Government has also brought forward early access to £11.4 million of HE discretionary funds to help support students over the summer months.

The Scottish Government also announced a £5 million digital inclusion support fund for Further Education, Higher Education and Community Education learners. This funding will help learners facing hardship offset the equipment costs associated with accessing community, college and university learning delivered online.

Islands’ students who finds themselves experiencing financial difficulties as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic are advised to contact the college or university at which they are studying, to enquire as to what forms of support may be available to them. This could, for example, include support for additional travel costs incurred as a result of the pandemic.