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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: S6O-00135

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 September 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how it will develop the National Community Justice Strategy that was announced in the Programme for Government.

Question reference: S6O-00068

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 August 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to encourage people to engage with and respond to the COVID-19 recovery consultation.

Question reference: S6W-01043

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 1 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on plans to bring forward a bursary scheme for student paramedics.

Question reference: S6W-00136

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 May 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 7 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide further funding and support for nightclubs and softplay facilities, given that they have remained closed since March 2020.

We have no current plans to provide further support to Nightclubs and Soft Play centres. In October 2020, the first phase of the Business Contingency Fund provided grants of up to £50,000 to eligible Nightclubs and Soft Play centres, depending on the rateable value of the business property. From November they were also eligible for Strategic Framework Business Fund grants every four weeks of either £2000 or £3000, again depending on the rateable value of the business property, and a linked top-up award for retail, hospitality and leisure sectors. Further support was provided through one-off Restart Grant payments in April of up to £19,500.

Question reference: S6O-00020

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 June 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its treatment plans for people with long COVID.

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.