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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: S6W-00137

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 May 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 1 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the final report of the Site Recovery Group for St Ambrose and Buchanan High Schools in Coatbridge, and what discussions it has had with North Lanarkshire Council regarding the four key conclusions made by the Chair, including that "they require ongoing attention or because the Site Recovery Group is yet to be convinced that a solution has been found."

The establishment of the Site Recovery Group was one of the recommendations from the report of the Buchanan and St Ambrose Independent Review, and we welcome the Group's report.

North Lanarkshire Council has assured us that it is taking action as quickly as possible to resolve the issues raised by the Chair within the Group’s report.

As it is the statutory responsibility of local authorities to manage their school estate, any further questions on this matter should be put to the Council directly.

Question reference: S5W-35722

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 March 2021
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 19 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how the £500 social care payment will be made to those employed as personal care assistants.

Question reference: S5W-35969

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 March 2021
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 18 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on the implementation of alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) legislation, and, in light of the Scotland’s AAC services: 2020 report, what its plans are for AAC service development activity at national level.

In February 2020, The Scottish Government published the Provision of Communication Equipment and Support Progress Report which set out the activities, actions and progress of the Scottish Government, health boards (who hold the legislative duty), and stakeholders since commencement of the Provision of Communication Equipment and Support legislation in 2018.

We welcome the ‘AAC Services: 2020 report’ and are and will continue to work closely with the group and other stakeholders, including the National AAC Advisory Group to agree priority areas for future work.

Question reference: S5W-35770

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 05 March 2021
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 18 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to help tackle (a) littering, (b) flytipping and (c) dog fouling in communities.

Our National Litter Strategy, which also encompasses aspects of flytipping, has come to the end of its five year lifespan. Ministers have been considering next steps and have decided to proceed with a new National Litter and Flytipping Strategy, which will be published early next year subject to the outcome of the election. At the earliest opportunity, we will also publish a report from a review process we have undertaken to assess progress against the commitments in the current National Litter Strategy.

In January, I met with stakeholders to discuss current challenges in relation to flytipping and proposals for future action. One important action that we expect to be taken forward, subject to outcome of the election, is the establishment of a regular flytipping forum that will have its first meeting later in the year.

A litter summit hosted by Keep Scotland Beautiful in partnership with Scottish Government and Zero Waste Scotland took place on 17 March. This event provided an opportunity to reflect on progress to date and look at future priorities for tackling litter.

The Scottish Government supports local authorities to take action to effectively tackle dog fouling and the inconsiderate behaviour of dog owners. Local authorities have a range of powers available to them through the Dog Fouling (Scotland) Act 2003 including applying fixed penalty notices. In March 2020 we shared examples of best practice in tackling dog fouling across all local authorities in Scotland to encourage constructive responses to this issue.

Question reference: S5W-35296

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 February 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 15 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce routine COVID-19 testing using lateral flow devices for staff and volunteers at COVID-19 testing centres and stations.

Twice weekly lateral flow testing has been rolled out to the Scottish Ambulance Service, including staff working at MTUs (Mobile Testing Units) and staff working in COVID Assessment Centres.

ATS (Asymptomatic Test Sites) that form part of our community testing approach are run by health boards and local authority partnerships and includes a workforce model blending partnership staff, volunteers and military personnel as locally required. Testing is available for ATS staff and it is recommended best practise within the published guidance for ATS sites to test staff at the start of the day using a lateral flow tests.

We are currently in discussion with the UK Government about testing staff at regional and local test sites in Scotland.

Anyone who tests positive with a lateral flow test is advised to undertake a confirmatory PCR test.

Question reference: S5W-35723

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 March 2021
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 12 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on plans to offer COVID-19 vaccines to those working at testing centres.

Staff at symptomatic test sites are now included as part of Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s (JCVI) cohort 2. Scottish Government officials will provide health boards of a list of workers in their area, and once received boards should contact these workers to invite them to be vaccinated. Boards should ensure that appointments for these workers are scheduled immediately and given priority over later priority.

Question reference: S5O-05126

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 March 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government to what extent it expects the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020 to impact on the powers of the Scottish Parliament.

Question reference: S5O-05096

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 March 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that Scotland has a green recovery as it moves out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Question reference: S5W-35297

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 February 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 24 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review its advice on vitamin D intake for (a) the general population and (b) specific groups, in light of reports of recent international studies that indicate that it might have a potential role as a mitigation measure against COVID-19.

Current advice on vitamin D specifically relates to protecting musculoskeletal (bone and muscle) health and is based on the consensus of scientific evidence as presented to all UK nations by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN).

In June 2020, SACN and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published the outcome of their reviews on vitamin D and COVID-19. Both found no evidence at that time to support that vitamin D can improve COVID-19 outcomes.

The SACN rapid review is available at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads
/attachment_data/file/944108/SACN_June2020_VitaminD_AcuteRespiratoryTractInfections.pdf

The NICE evidence summary was available at https://www.nice.org.uk/advice/es28

In December 2020, NICE, SACN, and Public Health England published updated guidance on vitamin D in relation to COVID-19 following a rapid review of recent evidence. The guidance states that there is still currently not enough evidence to support taking vitamin D solely for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19. It reiterates that people should continue to follow advice on vitamin D supplementation to maintain bone and muscle health during the COVID-19 pandemic. The NICE guideline is available at https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/NG187 . The guideline replaced the NICE evidence summary.

NICE continues to monitor new evidence published on vitamin D in relation to COVID-19 and will review and update the guidance if necessary.

We will continue to be guided by NICE and SACN as the evidence base develops. We will review our advice on vitamin D as necessary based on their recommendations.

Question reference: S5W-35368

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 19 February 2021
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Clare Haughey on 22 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to raise awareness of the importance of infant mental health and what parents and carers can do to support the mental health of their babies and young children.

We are launching a campaign on 23 February 2021 to promote awareness of infant mental health and encourage parents and carers to learn more about the ways that their interactions with their child can support babies and infants’ brain development. The campaign which will link to resources and information for parents and carers on the Parent Club website’s Wellbeing for Wee Ones hub. The hub contains explanations of the science behind the campaign which have been developed in conjunction with experts across Scotland.

This web content also provides new ideas and tips on simple things parents can do to help baby’s brains grow and give parents greater confidence to further support their child. As well as raising awareness of the emotional wellbeing of babies and infants, the aim of the campaign is to reassure families that they really are doing more than they think by communicating and being responsive to the cues of the infant.

This campaign sits alongside the work of the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Programme Board which are overseeing the expansion of mental health service provision for women, infants and families. This includes an investment to establish Infant Mental Health services across Scotland which is moving into its third year of development and supports infants and their families where specialist support is needed.

The infant mental health campaign will launch in the morning of the 23 rd of February online and across social media. Once the campaign is launched, parents and carers can explore more at ParentClub.Scot/Wellbeing.