Seòmar agus comataidhean

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

Criathragan Hide all filters

Displaying 560 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S5O-04933

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 January 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what additional support is being provided to protect frontline public transport staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Question reference: S5O-04917

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 January 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on preparations for COP26, scheduled to take place in Glasgow in November.

Question reference: S5O-04882

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 December 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government when cancer services will be fully restored.

Question reference: S5W-32681

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 October 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 19 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide local authorities with any additional resources required to ensure that all teachers requesting a flu vaccination for 2020-21 are able to receive this.

The Seasonal Flu Immunisation Programme helps to protect the most vulnerable and alleviate pressure on the NHS. This will be more important than ever this year, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Those most at risk from the seasonal flu, who are already eligible to receive the vaccine are:

Those aged 65 and over,
Those who have an underlying health condition,
Pregnant women,
Health care workers,
Young and unpaid carers,
Children aged 2-5 (not yet at school), and
Primary school pupils.

This year the Scottish Government is expanding free eligibility for the seasonal flu vaccine to:

Social care workers who provide direct personal care,
Household members of individuals who are shielding,
Those aged 55 and over and
50-54 if vaccine supplies allow.

With the expansion some occupations, such as health and social care workers are entitled to the free seasonal flu vaccine, this is because they come into contact with a higher proportion of people who are vulnerable to the seasonal flu. Given the COVID-19 pandemic, there is pressure on the global supply of seasonal flu vaccine, the vaccination of those considered ‘high-risk’ must continue to be prioritised. Teachers will be able access flu vaccine if they fall into one of the categories above. In addition Local Authorities may offer Seasonal Flu vaccinations as part of occupational health arrangements.

Question reference: S5O-04785

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 November 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to provide weekly COVID-19 tests for teachers.

Question reference: S5O-04681

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 October 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the UK Government to discuss constitutional matters.

Question reference: S5W-32052

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 15 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether NHS patients who are required to self-isolate for 14 days prior to surgery are eligible for the self-isolation support payment if they meet the other eligibility criteria.

The Self-Isolation Support Payment is available to people who are told to self-isolate through our Test and Protect programme, because they have tested positive or are identified as a contact of someone who has.

Patients required to self-isolate prior to a procedure are included under the Statutory Sick Pay Corona Virus amendment made on 26 August 2020.

Below is a link to the amended regulation:

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2020/892

Question reference: S5W-31987

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 1 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that every child can safely access the HPV vaccination and ensure that uptake remains high.

Planning is underway within NHS Boards to deliver teenage immunisations, including HPV vaccination, in academic year 2020-21. This includes ensuring that strict infection prevention and control measures are in place.

To ensure uptake of the HPV vaccination programme remains high, Public Health Scotland produce a variety of information materials/resources to raise awareness of the HPV school immunisation programme. These include a user-tested leaflet, parent letter and consent form, posters for schools and community settings, an education pack for schools, and a toolkit of resources for stakeholders including social media assets.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some teenage immunisations offered during academic year 2019-20 were delayed, however, with the support of Public Health Scotland, NHS Boards are working on plans to ensure that any missed vaccination sessions within schools are rescheduled as soon as practicable. Young people and their parents can therefore be reassured that if they have missed their HPV, Meningitis ACWY or Tetanus/Diphtheria/Polio booster vaccines, these will be rescheduled. Further information is available on the HPV campaign website ( https://www.nhsinform.scot/campaigns/hpv ) and Immunisation pages on NHS Inform ( https://www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/immunisation/vaccines/hpv-vaccine#overview ).

Question reference: S5O-04616

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S5W-31420

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 August 2020
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 14 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the COVID-19 scientific advice on faith-related education settings, and when it expects such settings, including Sunday schools and Quranic classes, to reopen.

We know that these indoor activities are of huge value to children, young people and families across Scotland. On 20 August the First Minister announced that indoor activities for children and young people (unregulated), including faith related education, such as those Sunday Schools and Madrassas, could resume from Monday 31 August. On 01 September 2020, the Scottish Government published the ‘organised activities for children’ guidance.

In certain circumstances, educational activities may also fall under the places of worship guidance. This would be the case where, at some point during the main act of congregational worship, there is separate, age-appropriate activity for the children that takes place in a separate location. This would therefore still be subject to the maximum capacity of 50 – including the children – and the 2m physical distancing and hygiene safeguards as set out in the safe use of places of worship guidance . It is up to the individual place of worship to decide what is, and what is not, education or childcare that is separate to the act of worship.

Decisions on what sectors and activities to re-open on our route out of lockdown are guided by the principles set out in our Framework for Decision Making. Proposals are technically assessed using the best available evidence and analysis of their potential benefits and harms to health, the economy, and broader society to minimise overall harm and ensure transmission of the virus continues to be suppressed.

My officials continue to work closely with our faith and belief stakeholders to ensure that community concerns and needs inform our ongoing decision making.