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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-34170

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 18 December 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Jeane Freeman on 21 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its response to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Independent Review, and when the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Oversight Board will be reporting.

The Scottish Government’s response to the Independent Review of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH), co-chaired by Dr Andrew Fraser and Dr Brian Montgomery, has been published today (see: https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781800045101 ).

The Scottish Government welcomes the report and accepts its recommendations. The recommendations are wide-ranging, covering what future improvements can be made to the processes of planning and delivering new healthcare facilities. While they will require further detailed consideration by the Scottish Government and NHS Scotland before we can fully implement them, a number of policy developments and initiatives have already been taken or are underway which will assist in meeting the Review’s recommendations. The most important of these is the development of the National Centre for Reducing Risk in the Healthcare Built Environment. NHS National Services Scotland has been commissioned by the Scottish Government to support the creation of this new National Centre.

The QEUH Oversight Board (QEUH OB) is also publishing its Interim Report today (see https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781800045026). The QEUH OB was set up on‎ 22 November 2019 as a result of continuing problems arising from infection incidents on the QEUH campus and the decision to escalate NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to "Stage 4" of the NHS Scotland performance ladder. Under the leadership of the Chief Nursing Officer, Professor Fiona McQueen, the OB was set up to address the specific issues of: infection prevention and control, associated governance with respect to the QEUH, and communications and engagement with the affected patients and families.

The QEUH OB Interim Report contains findings and recommendations on the communications and engagement issues arising from the infection outbreaks, and a review of key infection prevention and control processes within the Health Board. It also provides an update on the continuing work on the other issues, which will be set out in the Final Report. The QEUH OB Final Report will also carry findings from the independent Case Note Review. The Final Report is expected to be published in early 2021.

Question reference: S5W-34112

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 December 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Jeane Freeman on 18 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the car parking arrangements at Ninewells Hospital, Glasgow Royal Infirmary and Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh during the COVID-19 pandemic response.

On 30 March 2020, the Scottish Government began funding the suspension by the PFI hospital car park providers of car parking charges for staff, visitors and patients at Ninewells Hospital, Glasgow Royal Infirmary and Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. These agreements were subsequently extended until January 2021.

The Scottish Government has now agreed to fund the suspension of car parking charges at these hospitals until the end of March 2021 to help support staff, patients and visitors during the pandemic.

We continue to work on a long term solution to the issue and we will provide an update when the position is clearer.

Question reference: S5O-04756

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 November 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how successful the roll-out of the wearing of face coverings on public transport has been, and how it is monitoring this.

Question reference: S5O-04713

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 October 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on its target to build 50,000 affordable houses during the current parliamentary session.

Question reference: S5W-32514

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 October 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Michael Matheson on 14 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether COVID-19 funding for bus operators will be extended beyond 8 November 2020.

Today I am announcing up to £52.6 million in further funding to support bus operators with maintaining bus services between 9 November and 17 January. This is in addition to the £109.7 million in funding that the Scottish Government has been providing since 22 June to support bus services. This funding will cover the expected loss of fare revenue due to physical distancing requirements and reduced carrying capacity.

Bus travel typically accounts for almost three quarters of public transport journeys, so this funding is vital in keeping Scotland moving and keeping passengers safe by enabling physical distancing to be maintained on buses.

Question reference: S5W-32056

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 September 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Jeane Freeman on 25 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the car parking arrangements at Ninewells Hospital, Glasgow Royal Infirmary and Edinburgh Royal Infirmary during the COVID-19 pandemic response.

On 30 March 2020, the three PFI hospital car park providers at Ninewells Hospital, Glasgow Royal Infirmary and Edinburgh Royal Infirmary agreed to remove car parking charges for staff, visitors and patients initially for the three months and extended further by additional three months until 30 September 2020.

The Scottish Government have now reached agreement with the three PFI hospital car park providers to extend the free car parking arrangements by a further four months until January 2021.

This extension of free parking continues to support staff and remove the barriers to our staff working with the NHS during these unprecedented times.

Question reference: S5W-31968

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 September 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Jeane Freeman on 22 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the works at Wards 2A/2B at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and Royal Hospital for Children.

Work on site has been progressing, although this has necessarily had to accommodate the fact that the hospital has remained operational during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there have been significant delays as a result of COVID-19. This has included significant challenges with supply chains and the continued effects of social distancing during construction works.

We are still awaiting the finalised programme of works but NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde are expecting work to be complete in May 2021.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde are treating this with the upmost priority and I expect them only to open wards 2A/2B when the Board and the Scottish Government are assured the new systems have been commissioned and validated in line with guidance and Infection Control are supportive of service commencement.

Question reference: S5O-04612

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 September 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what the procedure and timescale is for probationary teachers to secure posts in schools.

Question reference: S5O-04606

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 September 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what consideration it has given to re-establishing Members' ability to vire an element of office cost provision to staff cost provision so that they can make their own spending decisions using these allowances.

Question reference: S5O-04555

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 August 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what financial support it has allocated to help protect and lift families out of food poverty and extreme poverty.