Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-32448

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 October 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Humza Yousaf on 9 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what the outcome is of its latest review into border health measures, and whether there will be any changes to the regulations.

Question reference: S5W-32223

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 October 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Maree Todd on 2 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what its plans are for publishing the British Sign Language Progress Report, which is due by 24 October 2020.

The COVID-19 crisis has prevented the engagement activity and evidence-gathering required to inform the BSL Progress Report. Engagement was planned with BSL users across Scotland, and through engagement by the BSL partner organisations. In addition, the Scottish Government has focused all activity on mitigating the impacts of COVID-19.

Therefore, for the reasons given, Scottish Ministers have taken the decision to postpone the publication of the Progress Report. It will be published as soon as reasonably practicable. It is anticipated that this will be by 24 October 2021 in order to allow for the necessary public engagement.

This does not mean that work around BSL is being paused – we remain fully committed to the actions set out in the BSL National Plan, and will continue work to make progress on our shared outcomes.

Question reference: S5O-04666

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 September 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the provision of superfast broadband in the Strathkelvin and Bearsden constituency.

Question reference: S5O-04651

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 September 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government when it last discussed with SEPA how to tackle the reportedly increasing problem of flooding in Scotland's communities.

Question reference: S5W-31965

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 September 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Humza Yousaf on 22 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what the outcome is of its latest review into border health measures, and whether there will be any changes to the regulations.

We have continued to review the health measures closely over the last three weeks and have assessed that there remains a requirement for them to remain in place to reduce the risk of transmission and safeguard health. There will be no changes to the regulations at this stage, but we will continue to review both the country and sector exemptions on an ongoing basis and make any future adjustments as necessary.

Question reference: S5T-02371

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 07 September 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the Scottish Affairs Committee report on safe drug consumption facilities.

Question reference: S5W-31487

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 31 August 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Humza Yousaf on 31 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what the outcome is of its latest review into border health measures, and whether there will be any changes to the regulations.

We have continued to review the health measures closely over the last three weeks and have assessed that there remains a requirement for them to remain in place to reduce the risk of transmission and safeguard health. There will be no changes to the regulations at this stage, but we will continue to review both the country and sector exemptions on an ongoing basis and make any future adjustments as necessary.

Question reference: S5O-04534

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 August 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what further support local authorities can provide to communities and community organisations to continue to protect the most vulnerable and older people during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Question reference: S5W-31109

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 10 August 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Humza Yousaf on 10 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what the outcome was of its latest review into border health measures, and whether there will be any changes to the regulations.

Question reference: S5W-30882

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 July 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by John Swinney on 22 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, given that critical childcare was put in place as an emergency measure to provide childcare for keyworkers and vulnerable children while schools and childcare settings were closed, for how long this will continue to be provided.

As I set out on 16 July, the provision of critical childcare was at the heart of keeping Scotland going during lockdown. Without it, Scotland could not have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic in the way we did. I am enormously grateful for the national effort to care for these children.

As formal and informal childcare options have opened up and schools prepare to re-open, we can now wind down this critical childcare provision.

On the assumption that schools re-open as currently planned, we have agreed with COSLA officials that local authorities will no longer be required to provide critical childcare from the week commencing 3 August. They can set their own end date from 3 August. I anticipate there will be period of time where local authorities will transition to accommodate the start of school.

I will write to the Education and Skills Committee to provide more detail.

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