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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: S5F-04657

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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-04637

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 07 December 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 December 2020

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S5F-04613

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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-04588

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 23 November 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 November 2020

Question to be taken in the Chamber.

Question reference: S5F-04567

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 16 November 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 November 2020

Question to be taken in the Chamber.

Question reference: S5F-04538

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 09 November 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 November 2020

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S5W-32269

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 05 October 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 9 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how many healthcare workers who have carried out testing for COVID-19 have tested positive for the virus.

Health Boards have been routinely testing healthcare workers in key areas (oncology, long stay elderly care and mental health wards where the length of stay is over three months) since 08 July.

The way in which the test is administered will be determined locally by occupational health, or public health. The test should be performed at the place of work and the preferred method of testing would be self or peer testing in the clinical area.

The preferred route of testing is a decision made by Health Boards and those receiving the test, and the method is not recorded at the time of the test taking place.

The Scottish Government has been working closely with Health Boards to develop key data on the testing of NHS staff to ensure robust and reliable information. We are working to ensure the data is robust and aim publish this data once this is confirmed .

Question reference: S5F-04509

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 02 November 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 November 2020

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S5W-32271

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 05 October 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 30 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what PPE is available to staff on mental health wards to protect them from COVID-19, (a) in light of concerns that some patients might not have a full understanding of social distancing and (b) to assist them if they have to carry out restraint procedures, and what risk assessment it has carried out of the effectiveness of this equipment.

1 .All staff on mental health wards should follow the UK IPC remobilisation guidance for all health and care settings, published on 21 August. This guidance is based on the latest scientific and epidemiological evidence. All staff engaged in direct patient care should wear a Fluid Resistant (Type IIR) Surgical Mask throughout their shift.

2. Fluid Resistant (Type IIR) Surgical Masks act as a two way barrier – protecting both the wearer and the patient or individual they are caring for. Where the person is suspected or positive for COVID-19 or any other infection, the staff are required to wear single-use gloves and aprons where they deem a risk of contact with blood or body fluids and a visor where there is a risk of splashing into the eyes.

3. Clinical Guidance for NHS Scotland: Using Physical Restraint for Patients with Confirmed or Suspected COVID- 19 was published on the Scottish Government website on 20 April. The guidance states that The Step Wise Management Plan for COVID-19 positive/symptomatic patients based on principles of least restrictive care should be implemented. It is vital that essential IPC precautions are reinforced including hand hygiene, social distancing where possible and wearing of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

Question reference: S5W-32263

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 05 October 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 30 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what level of protection surgical type two face masks provide nurses and other healthcare workers when treating diagnosed or suspected COVID-19 patients who are actively coughing into the environment.

1. Both the UK Government’s New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG) and Health Protection Scotland (HPS) have given careful consideration to the available evidence and, during the course of the pandemic, have reviewed what should be considered an AGP. Coughing is not considered an aerosol generating procedure (AGP) and therefore a Fluid Resistant (Type IIR) Surgical Mask (FRSM) is the appropriate face mask in the situation described.

2. FRSMs or Type IIR masks protect against droplet transmission and act as a two-way barrier, protecting both staff members and patients, with the FRSM or Type IIR mask conferriing 98% source control against droplet transmission.