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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: S5W-33720

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 14 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the urgent question on support for the retail sector by Jamie Hepburn on 2 December 2020 (Official Report, c. 22), whether it will provide further details of its retail strategy in connection with the administration of Debenhams and the Arcadia Group; what progress it has made on its development of a strategy; what timeframe it is working to on its development, and when it last met with each of the partners referred to in the answer.

Development of a longer term strategy for Scotland’s retail sector was discussed on 5 November at the most recent meeting of the Retail Sub-Group, focused on the development of safe trading guidance during the pandemic. Representatives from the Scottish Retail Consortium, The Scottish Grocers Federation and the Federation of Small Businesses, as well as representatives from USDAW and GMB, were in attendance. The Sub-Group discussed convening a steering group comprising representatives from retailers, retail trade organisations, public sector bodies and trade unions to guide development of the retail strategy.

Plans are being made for a first meeting of the new Strategy Steering Group in January. However, prior to the first formal meeting, we will continue to discuss key strategic issues with stakeholders on this crucial issue.

We aim to take forward a root and branch examination of the retail sector and how government can work with the sector in future to anticipate and prevent job losses such as these experienced by Arcadia employees. The strategy will aim to address the particular opportunities and challenges faced by the sector and to provide a more resilient future for retailers and employees in Scotland.

The loss of an historic high street presence like Debenhams, and potential closure of other shops forming part of the Arcadia Group, highlights the enormous challenges facing high-street businesses and workers alike, as a result of COVID-19 and pre-existing trends affecting the retail sector.

We are due to meet with the administrators Deloitte this week to identify any further measures the Scottish Government can take to support the affected staff and businesses.

PACE have engaged with Debenhams and Arcadia Group and appointed administrators to establish what impact this announcement will have on its Scottish operations and staff and stand ready to provide PACE support to those affected. Support for employees facing redundancy is being offered through the Scottish Government’s Partnership Action for Continuing Employment, PACE initiative. Through providing skills development and employability support, PACE aims to minimise the time individuals are out of work. We are keen that employees affected in Scotland have the opportunity to take full advantage of this support as soon as possible.

Question reference: S5W-33506

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 9 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to investigate the introduction of a retail or high street voucher scheme to aid shoppers and shops, in light of such a scheme being introduced in Jersey and considered in Northern Ireland.

We are aware of the schemes. Many towns, and Business Improvement Districts have already introduced loyalty cards with support from Government via Scotland’s Towns Partnership and ‘Scotland Improvement Districts’.

We are now investigating the potential for a national platform, in line with all of the business support schemes that have been introduced to mitigate the economic effects of COVID.

We will continue to weigh up the impacts that each scheme can have and ensure that the most effective support is targeted to support different sectors.

Question reference: S5O-04757

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 November 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will examine the viability of having a south Edinburgh metro and light rail service.

Question reference: S5W-32883

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 October 2020
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 6 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether its practice of pre-release access to statistics is in full compliance with the UK Office for Statistics Regulation’s Code of Practice for Statistics.

The Scottish Government fully complies with the Code of Practice for Statistics which states that;

‘The circulation of statistics in their final form ahead of their publication should be restricted to eligible recipients, in line with the rules and principles on pre-release access set out in legislation for the UK and devolved administrations.’

Eligible recipients are defined as ‘Persons within government granted pre-release access to statistical releases in their final form ahead of their publication in line with Pre-Release Access to Official Statistics legislation’.

The relevant legislation in Scotland is the Pre-release Access to Official Statistics (Scotland) Order 2008, which permits carefully controlled pre-release access. The Office for Statistics Regulation treats this Order as an integral part of the Code of Practice for Statistics during their compliance checks.

The Code of Practice acknowledges that it is the role of the Chief Statistician to determine the appropriate arrangements for pre-release access in Scotland. Scottish Government analysts carefully consider on a case by case basis where the public benefit likely to result from pre-release access outweighs the potential detriment to public trust in official statistics by providing access. The lists of recipients for pre-release access are kept to an absolute minimum to fulfil the functions as set out in the order and reviewed prior to each publication, with anyone failing to provide a legitimate reason for still requiring access being removed. Full and detailed records are kept of any pre-release access granted and all recipients are made aware of the strict conditions on access.

Question reference: S5O-04748

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 November 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that all bed and breakfasts and guest houses will be eligible for financial support in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Question reference: S5O-04722

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 October 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support older people, including those resident in care homes.

Question reference: S5W-32202

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 12 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what provisions it is making for local authority budgets in order to meet the cost of the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.

The Scottish Government have already taken exceptional measures in every area of government to deal with the challenges of COVID-19 and that is particularly clear in the support for local services.

In addition to the £382.2 million of direct funding already committed, £135 million, over the next two years, to help support the return to school and a total of up to £100 million to support the challenges in the social care sector which will be provided through Integration Authorities, the Scottish Government announced a package of financial flexibilities and extra funding on 8 October for local authorities to meet the ongoing challenges of COVID-19.

Scotland’s councils have been granted additional financial flexibilities to address the pressures caused by COVID-19 which could be worth around £600 million over the next two years. Working with COSLA and local authorities the Scottish Government will finalise a lost income scheme, including support for ALEOs, worth an estimated £90 million which when added to the recently committed £49 million consequentials will provide an extra £139 million of funding.

Taken together these measures will provide councils with an overall financial flexibility and funding package of around £750 million, this brings the value of the overall COVID-19 support package for councils to more than £1 billion.

Question reference: S5O-04679

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 September 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what the prison population is, and how this is projected to change over the next 12 months.

Question reference: S5O-04643

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S5W-31658

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 23 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, what work is being done to expedite provision for the flu vaccination (a) for the most vulnerable people and (b) beyond current entitlements.

Those most at risk from the seasonal flu are already eligible to receive the vaccine for free such as healthcare workers. The Scottish Government is expanding free eligibility for the Seasonal Flu Vaccine in 2020-21 to:

Social care workers who provide direct care,
Household members of individuals who are shielding, and
Those aged 55 and over.
50 to 54 year olds as vaccines supply allow

The Scottish Government aims to vaccinate more people within groups with existing eligibility than ever before and is actively engaged with public health partners in planning for the 2020-21 Flu Vaccination Programme that will begin on 1st October.