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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: S5W-35558

Asked by: Willie Coffey, MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 February 2021
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 11 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to see a significant impact on the COVID-19 pandemic-induced backlog of elective surgery activity and a return to pre-COVID-19 levels of hospital waiting times, in light of the recent announcement of a further £60 million investment in waiting times recovery.

In line with our framework for re-mobilising our health services, Re-mobilise, Recover, Re-design, Health Boards are following national and local clinical advice to safely and gradually prioritise the resumption of paused services, while also retaining sufficient capacity to respond to COVID-19.

To support elective care during the pandemic we published a Clinical Prioritisation Framework for Supporting Elective Care on 16 November 2020 which ensures patients have a clear and realistic expectation of when they will receive treatment that is clinically appropriate to their individual circumstances.

At present we are in the process of assessing Health Boards’ Local Mobilisation Plans which include Boards’ plans for addressing current waiting times levels. We will continue to support Health Boards to ensure they can restart services in a safe and sustainable way. In that regard, we need to also be mindful of the impact on our health and social care staff of over 12 months of significant physical and emotional pressure and ensure we pay full attention to the need to provide time for respite and decompression for them.

Question reference: S5O-05034

Asked by: Willie Coffey, MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 February 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how it will develop its international relations in the post-Brexit era.

Question reference: S5W-34559

Asked by: Willie Coffey, MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 January 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 22 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will regularly report the COVID-19 test positivity rate among supermarket and retail staff compared with the general population, and, if it does not collect this information, whether it will consider doing so.

The Public Health Scotland (PHS) dashboard ( Dashboard - Data & intelligence from PHS (isdscotland.org) ) contains a range of management information including some information on likely exposure settings based on interviews conducted with people who have tested positive for Covid-19. This includes those who work in a retail environment and those who have been shopping.

In addition, the Scottish Government participates in the Defra Food Resilience Forum where there has been regular reporting of the absence across the whole of the food and drink sector, including supermarkets. Information is also collected on outbreaks so we are able to identify whether there are issues at particular retail outlets. Scottish Government also engages in regular dialogue with retailers to ensure there is an overview of the impact of Covid-19 on the sector.

Question reference: S5W-34134

Asked by: Willie Coffey, MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 December 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 18 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish this year’s Annual Energy Statement.

Question reference: S5O-04809

Asked by: Willie Coffey, MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 November 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what arrangements are in place to allow older people in areas subject to Level 4 restrictions to be visited by their family.

Question reference: S5O-04781

Asked by: Willie Coffey, MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 November 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on preparations for Scotland hosting the UEFA Euro championships in June 2021.

Question reference: S5O-04766

Asked by: Willie Coffey, MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Ash Denham on 18 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress at the Office of the Public Guardian with respect to the processing of power of attorney applications.

SCTS have increased the Office of the Public Guardian’s operational budget, allowing recruitment of 15 additional permanent staff, and development of a new IT system and an online public register.

It is anticipated that over time these improvements will mean that power of attorney documents can again be processed within the target time of 30 working days following their submission for registration.

Power of attorneys are made as part of sensible future life planning. Where there is an urgent need, the Office of the Public Guardian are continuing to register power of attorney deeds within 5 working days.

Question reference: S5O-04657

Asked by: Willie Coffey, MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 September 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how it will take forward a tourism recovery plan for Ayrshire, and what role it believes digital technology can play in assisting with this.

Question reference: S5W-31693

Asked by: Willie Coffey, MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 18 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent announcement that the culture and heritage sectors are to receive a £59 million funding package to protect jobs and help the industry weather the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, when access to this funding package will be available; how this is being communicated to local cultural organisations; whether individuals can apply to the fund; how the fund will be disbursed; who will consider the bids, and how it will ensure the equanimity of awards so that all cultural communities will benefit.

The £59 million funding package for the culture and heritage sectors comprises a number of different funds which have been designed to support parts of the culture and creative sectors which we know have been badly impacted by COVID-19.

The funding is being delivered through Creative Scotland and key updates are being published regularly on its website: https://www.creativescotland.com/funding . Funds are open to individuals, groups or organisations to apply for and will support a wide range of activity in the arts, screen and creative industries.

The funds include: the £15 million Culture Organisations and Venues Recovery Fund which is open to applications from 17 September; £3.5 million Independent Cinemas Recovery and Resilience Fund which opened to applications on 14 September; £5 million Creative Freelancer Hardship Fund for which Creative Scotland issued an open call for partner organisations to help with distribution on 11 September; £3.5 million Sustaining Creative Practice funding which has been added to Creative Scotland’s existing Open Fund and is open for applications from individuals now; and a £3 million Youth Arts Fund for which details are being finalised and are due to be announced this week.

The eligibility and assessment criteria will be designed to meet the aims of each fund and Creative Scotland will be responsible for assessing the applications and ensuring that awards are distributed fairly.

Question reference: S5O-04598

Asked by: Willie Coffey, MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress with Scottish Enterprise’s strategic approach to regional economic development in Ayrshire.