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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-01203

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 July 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 19 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to people in rural areas with poor mobile phone or internet signals who are experiencing difficulties uploading their COVID-19 lateral flow test results.

The ‘Information for Use’ leaflet that is provided with each lateral flow test kit states that those who are unable to upload their test results can instead register them by calling the Freephone number 119.

On the wider issue of poor internet and mobile signal, the Scottish Government’s £600 million Reaching 100% (R100) contracts will deliver universal superfast broadband access across Scotland, regardless of remoteness or rurality, and the R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme (SBVS) will ensure that everyone can access a superfast broadband connection by the end of 2021. This builds on the Scottish Government’s strong track record of delivery, demonstrated by the £463 million Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) programme.

Through the Scottish 4G Infill (S4GI) programme, we are also investing £28.75 million to deliver future-proofed, 4G mobile infrastructure at up to 55 mobile ‘notspots’ – providing connectivity in remote, rural and island areas.

Question reference: S6W-01209

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 July 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 16 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support procurement in the construction industry, in light of reports that there are shortages of bagged cement, given that some businesses are sourcing the product from England.

We have been working to address supply chain issues in the construction industry since the launch of our Construction Recovery Plan in October last year, working with industry and the UK Government to fully understand the current supply chain issues, which we recognise are due to a number of factors including the coronavirus pandemic and the impact of EU Exit.

I have also established a working group to consider immediate supply issues in more detail and I meet with the group on a weekly basis in order to work with Scottish manufacturers to increase output to meet the shortage challenges. I am meeting suppliers to discuss the opportunities available for increasing production, and sourcing more supplies from Scottish manufacturers.

The Scottish Government will continue to work hard to address the problems and blockages faced by companies, where it is in our power to do so.

Question reference: S6W-01036

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 13 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government which department holds responsibility for the definition of business classifications for the purpose of determining the receipt of COVID-related support funding; where a list of such classifications is published; for what reason the classifications are structured in the way that they are; what the purpose of such a structure is; what the impact of classification is in respect of the receipt of funding, and under what classification would kennels and catteries be found.

The financial support we have made available to businesses has, in the main, been predicated on the restrictions in place on specific businesses through legislation agreed by the Scottish Parliament rather than on sectoral classifications. Businesses were grouped by sectoral classification for the purposes of distributing the January Top up Grant and the Business Restart Grant but these grants were similarly awarded based on the impact of Regulations.

Eligibility for support can be found on the Scottish Government’s website including those businesses classified as Retail, Hospitality and Leisure businesses for the purposes of determining these top up payments. As Kennels and Catteries were not required to close or subject to any specific legislative restrictions on their operations, they were not eligible for support through the Strategic Framework Business Fund or associated schemes.

We did, however, set up the £120 million Local Authority Discretionary Fund specifically to support those businesses which were financially impacted due to COVID but did not qualify for other forms of financial support.

Question reference: S6W-00960

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 21 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 9 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what the timescale is for implementing a ban on domestic coal use.

Question reference: S6W-01045

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 5 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what protections there are for older people who have been mis-sold mobility scooters.

Consumer protection remains reserved to the UK Government but through advice and advocacy, we are doing all we can with them to support consumers.

Consumer Scotland will have a general function of providing consumers advocacy and advice with a view to reduce harm to consumers in Scotland. The board was formally appointed on 1 July 2021.

Any specific complaint should be directed to the consumeradvice.scot consumer helpline funded by the Scottish Government.

Question reference: S6W-00961

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 21 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 2 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on providing vouchers for one free NHS dental check-up for new mothers that can be redeemed after the baby’s first birthday if the mothers were unable to access this service before the birthday because of COVID-19 restrictions.

Question reference: S6W-01140

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6W-00901

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 18 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 1 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will clarify its plans to improve waiting times and tackle the backlog for driving tests, both practical and theory, and what its position is on the impact that this has on rural communities where there is limited access to public transport.

The UK government`s Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is responsible for the delivery of driving tests in Scotland, however the Scottish government works closely with the DVSA to ensure that waiting times to access a driving test are minimised as much as possible to the benefit of people in all parts of Scotland, including our rural communities. Working in collaboration with the DVSA we secured delegated authority earlier this year for some transport operators and the emergency services to undertake driving tests for their own staff, thereby reducing the numbers of people awaiting tests at DVSA test centres. In advance of driving tests resuming when Scotland moved to Protection Level 3 on 26 April 2021, we engaged with the DVSA on their remobilisation plans and the development of communications materials to ensure that candidates were “test ready” when they presented for a test. We continue to meet regularly with the DVSA to discuss ways in which we can expedite access to driving tests and are currently engaging with them on their plans to immediately increase the number of driving theory tests being offered when the rules on physical distancing within public indoor settings change.

Question reference: S6W-00902

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 18 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 1 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will extend driving theory tests expiration dates in recognition of cancellations and delays to practical driving tests during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Driver and vehicle licensing and testing is reserved to the UK government. The UK government have advised that despite the circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic and the consequent disruption to practical driving tests, the validity period of theory test pass certificates will not be extended. They have advised that their reasoning is that road safety knowledge and hazard perception skills need to be up to date (tested within the previous two years) when restarting driving lessons and driving tests. This is not an area that the Scottish Government has responsibility for. We are, however, in regular dialogue with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) who administer and deliver driving tests on behalf of the UK government to explore ways in which the number of practical driving tests being delivered in Scotland can be expedited. Our understanding is that the DVSA are recruiting additional driving test examiners to increase the number of practical tests that they can deliver including at weekends.

Question reference: S6W-00930

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 21 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 30 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will allow people who have yet to have the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccination to sign up for an appointment to do so, following reports that it had urged people in their 40s to get their second dose sooner.

From 21 June 2021, the Scottish Government brought forward the second COVID-19 vaccination dose to eight weeks.

This week sees the launch of the online self-registration portal, see Registering for a coronavirus vaccine | The coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine (nhsinform.scot) . Anyone aged 18 and over who has not received a first coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination appointment or has missed their first dose for any reason is being invited to self-register for an appointment.

The programme is under continuous review to optimise the vaccination delivery roll-out in partnership with the nation’s health boards, ensuring its more people-centred. Other recent innovations include the launching of Vaccine appointment checker | The coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine (nhsinform.scot) and drop-in centres.

Anyone aged 18 and over who has not received a first coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination appointment or has missed their first dose for any reason is being invited to self-register for an appointment.