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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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S5O-04929

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 January 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to redirect investment from unsustainable modes of transport and into modes that are considered more sustainable, including rail infrastructure.

Question reference: S5F-04703

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 January 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 January 2021

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S5W-34070

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 24 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to people who are not eligible for the Self-Isolation Support Grant but who are required to self-isolate and who are being paid by their employer a lower amount of money than they would have otherwise earned.

The Scottish Government introduced the £500 Self-Isolation Support Grant on 12 th October 2020, to enable low income workers to self-isolate, when required to do so by Test and Protect. This helps to ensure they can self-isolate without suffering a financial loss.

The eligibility criteria were further extended on 7 December to include to people who are eligible for benefits but not currently in receipt of them, and to parents and carers of children who have been told to self-isolate at school

Those who are ineligible for the isolation grant, may however be eligible for an emergency Crisis Grant from their local authority. Crisis Grants are specifically designed to provide a safety net for individuals when an emergency situation occurs. In addition, support can provided via the self-isolation support Service which is a proactive outbound call service operated by local authorities. The service calls people who are self-isolating, and who have given their permission for their details to be passed to their local authority. This service helps with support to access food, medication, and other essentials, whilst also signposting to further advice services.

Help can also be provided by contacting The National Assistance Helpline on 0800 111 4000 which anyone can contact, and operates between 09.00 to 17.00 every weekday.

Question reference: S5F-04681

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 21 December 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 December 2020

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S5F-04658

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 14 December 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 December 2020

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S5F-04638

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 07 December 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 December 2020

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S5O-04832

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 December 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that recycling and food waste collection services suspended by local authorities due to the pandemic are resumed.

Question reference: S5W-32733

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 October 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 2 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports by trade union representatives and hospital staff in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area that (a) surgical Type 2 face masks and (b) Type 11R masks have been issued, despite evidence having been published, which is understood to indicate that these do not offer protection to the wearer.

In Scotland, we use Fluid Resistant Surgical Masks (FRSM), also known as Type IIR masks, which are different from Type II masks in that they are fluid resistant and therefore provide protection for the staff member as well as 98% source control. Their use is endorsed by the Health and Safety Executive.

Staff are protected should they be caring for someone who is infectious but not wearing a mask and they are also protecting the person they are caring for if they themselves are infected either pre or asymptomatically.

Scottish Government face mask guidance is consistent with WHO advice and we are not aware of credible published evidence which indicates that FRSMs do not offer protection to the wearer.

We are the only nation in the UK who have taken the approach in using FRSMs as part of the extended facemask use guidance for health and social care staff.

The Scottish Government holds a regular forum with a range of stakeholders, including staff side representation, which provides an opportunity for any issues with regard to PPE to be raised. In addition we also respond directly to correspondence received from both individuals and organisations.

Question reference: S5F-04635

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 November 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 December 2020

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S5F-04589

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 November 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 November 2020

Question to be taken in the Chamber.