Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-29270

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 May 2020
Current Status: Answer expected on 8 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what programmes it has in place, and what further measures it plans, to provide free internet devices to low-income and digitally-excluded people.

Question reference: S5W-28827

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 04 May 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 20 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what work it has undertaken to employ contact tracers; how many it expects to employ, and when they will be ready to respond to cases of COVID-19.

The Scottish Government set out our approach to contact tracing on 4 May in the Test, Trace Isolate, Support Strategy . Existing health protection teams have high quality skills and experience in delivering contact tracing and some are already undertaking COVID-19 contact tracing work.

The increase to the number required is three fold: expansion of existing local teams drawing from NHS Scotland workforce, recruiting from the bank of NHS returners and via the ad campaign.

Question reference: S5W-28334

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 April 2020
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 15 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has issued to local authorities regarding waste uplift and recycling during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Scottish Government has been working closely with COSLA, Local Government and partners from across the waste industry through our Waste and Resources Sector Forum to identify pressures that have arisen as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak and to ensure resilience across the sector. We have recognised that for the duration of the impact of the pandemic some temporary reductions or suspensions of waste and recycling services may be necessary.

We have set out expectations for service prioritisation through this Forum, with a particular focus on measures to maintain public health and support and sustain statutory waste collection and disposal services. Local authorities have been actively prioritising services taking account of key principles discussed at the Forum and in light of well-established local business continuity plans.

We are continuing to work closely with COSLA and local authorities on key issues and are keeping under review the need for any further guidance in relation to waste and recycling services.

Question reference: S5W-28661

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 April 2020
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 7 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is considering removing or lowering the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) membership scheme fee, in light of the need for volunteers during the COVID-19 outbreak.

We announced on 2 April that Ministers had decided to suspend disclosure fees until at least 11 May where the application was from an individual or an organisation recruiting individuals as part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The fees are suspended regardless of whether the appointment is being made to a position or role that is voluntary work or paid employment. We are currently reviewing whether the suspension of the fees should continue.

Question reference: S5W-28530

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 April 2020
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 4 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment Police Scotland has made of the percentage of compliance with social distancing measures.

This is an operational matter for the Chief Constable of Police Scotland.

Police Scotland have advised that the vast majority of people are complying with the social distancing measures because they understand it is the best way to protect the NHS and to save lives.

Police Scotland welcomes this continued co-operation and support by the public in supporting the national effort by making the lifestyle changes needed to combat the spread of coronavirus. They have advised that between 28 March and 26 April there have been just over 6000 Compliant Dispersals.

Question reference: S5W-28529

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 April 2020
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 4 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been cautioned under provisions in the Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020 for contravening social distancing measures.

Information has been published by Police Scotland on the number of arrests made and Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) issued (as well as other enforcement actions) using the new coronavirus powers. This reports that between 27 March and 23 April police officers made 78 arrests and issued 1,637 FPNs. It is important to note that an individual may be arrested more than once or issued with more than one FPN during this period. As such this figure relates to the number of times coronavirus powers have been used rather than the number of people affected.

More information on these figures, including a breakdown by Police Division, is available at the following link:

https://www.scotland.police.uk/whats-happening/news/2020/april/continued-public-support-needed-to-save-lives

Question reference: S5W-28689

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 April 2020
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 1 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it is giving to the implications of holding Scottish parliamentary elections in May 2021 if full or partial social distancing restrictions are in place.

Question reference: S5W-28690

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 April 2020
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 1 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has examined the feasibility of conducting Scottish parliamentary elections exclusively by postal ballot should social distancing restrictions remain in place in whole or in part in May 2021.

I refer the Member to the answer to question S5W-28689 on 1 May 2020.

A feasibility study into conducting the Scottish Parliament Election exclusively by postal ballot has not been undertaken at this point.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

Question reference: S5W-28629

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 April 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 30 April 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what input (a) local authorities and (b) NHS boards have given to the funeral sector to help to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) and body bags during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Scottish Government has had, and will continue to have, regular weekly discussions with the funeral industry in order that we may support them as best we can, including on PPE supplies and type and usage of body bags. Organisations, including funeral directors, should continue to buy PPE using their normal procedures. However we are aware of concern within the industry over continued supply of PPE and are currently exploring options to ensure that those working in the death management sector can access the personal protective equipment (PPE) they need. The Scottish Government has been working to expand sources of supply of PPE and related items, such as sanitiser, and offers of help from business are actively encouraged.

More broadly, decisions on PPE should be led by the public health guidance, by existing local policies, and by local risk assessment if there is a risk of contamination. The Scottish Government has proactively published our own guidance for funeral directors and burial and cremation authorities , which includes the use of appropriate PPE for infection control and usage of body bags, to further help these organisations manage their services during the current pandemic.

The Scottish Government is working at pace with the private sector to secure long term supply for the funeral industry, as well as for other non-public sector organisations which need to access PPE to deliver essential public services. To support funeral directors who need PPE immediately, we are putting in place arrangements to allow them to access health care supplies of PPE until a longer term solution is in place.

The Scottish Government will continue to work with the sector to ensure that we have a full understanding of their requirements in relation to PPE.

Question reference: S5W-28628

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 April 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 30 April 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the funeral sector regarding safety procedures and the provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) and body bags during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Scottish Government understands the importance of protecting the funeral industry from the risk of infectious transmission of COVID-19 via contact with the deceased.

We have had, and continue to have, regular weekly discussions with the funeral industry in order that we may support them as best we can, including on PPE supplies and type and usage of body bags.

We have been working very closely with stakeholders from across the funeral industry to ensure they have access to the most up to date information relevant to them, including guidance from Health Protection Scotland, and information from the Royal College of Pathologists, which outlines the PPE required for care of the deceased during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We have proactively published our own guidance for funeral directors and burial and cremation authorities , which includes the use of appropriate PPE for infection control and usage of body bags, to further help these organisations manage their services during the current pandemic.

The Scottish Government is working at pace with the private sector to secure long term supply for the funeral industry, as well as for other non-public sector organisations which need to access PPE to deliver essential public services. To support funeral directors who need PPE immediately, we are putting in place arrangements to allow them to access health care supplies of PPE until a longer term solution is in place.

The Scottish Government will continue to work with the sector to ensure that we have a full understanding of their requirements in relation to PPE.

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