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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-35120

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 February 2021
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 25 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance and support is in place for teachers of physical education who, due to COVID-19 restrictions, are having to run outdoor activities in poor or challenging weather conditions.

Guidelines on physical education and dance have been prepared by Education Scotland to assist with decision-making and the safe implementation of timetabled physical education. The guidelines are continually updated to reflect any changes in the scientific advice. Currently, two metre physical distancing must be maintained in secondary, minimal sharing of equipment, and being outside all contribute to further lowering of any risk of transmission.

On 9 February 2021, Education Scotland ran a webinar attended by 227 teachers to share online pedagogy and how to create a supportive learning environment. Through online learning, teachers have set physical activity challenges, both indoors and outdoors, so that learners can choose depending on their home setting. These practices were shared at the webinar and welcomed by the attendees. The webinar Teams space is now ‘live’ for teachers to continue to collaborate, share practice, and seek solutions in these challenging times. A recorded version of the webinar will be shared on DigiLearn in due course and similar events will be considered for the future.

Question reference: S5W-35286

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 February 2021
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 25 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-33980 by Jeanne Freeman on 14 January 2021, whether it will confirm by what date all people entitled to the £500 bonus for health and social care staff will have received their payment.

The majority of NHS Scotland staff will receive the thank you payment in February. For those staff who had previously left and have since returned to NHS Scotland, the payment will be made in March. For ex-NHS Scotland staff, the payment will be made from March onwards with timing being dependent on those people returning the necessary forms.

Independent contractors will be paid a lump sum on March which will be their responsibility to disburse to staff. Payments to sessional staff may be later in the new Financial Year.

The Scottish Government are working with Social Care stakeholders to make the payment to staff from March onwards.

Question reference: S5O-05088

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 February 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to increase funding to local authorities.

Question reference: S5W-33566

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 24 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the outline business case for its proposed publicly-owned energy company.

The Scottish Government made a commitment to discuss the outcomes of the outline business case and agree next steps with local authorities before publishing the report. We have not been able to do this as we and local authorities have had to prioritise efforts to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic. We are now reviewing the report in light of significant changes such as the declaration of a climate emergency and our ambitious net zero targets, and we are working with local authorities to determine our next steps. We will publish the outline business case once we have done this.

Question reference: S5W-35236

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 February 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 22 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the (a) laying of regulations for minimum energy efficiency standards and (b) compliance dates which will be set out in the regulations.

The draft Heat in Buildings Strategy (HBS) published on 5 February 2021, brings together the Scottish Government’s ambitions on energy efficiency and heat decarbonisation into a single framework, and provides an update to the 2018 Energy Efficient Scotland Routemap and the 2015 Heat Policy statement.

The draft HBS provides a framework to introduce regulations in a way that is proportionate and which considers the health and wellbeing of Scotland’s people, including continuing to target the eradication of poor energy efficiency as a driver of fuel poverty and ensuring our actions have no detrimental impact on fuel poverty, unless additional mitigating measures can also be put in place.

In summary the framework for energy efficiency standards, including proposed compliance dates is as follows:

	The Proposed Standard	Dates to lay regulations	Dates to meet the standards	Backstop dates for compliance
Private Rented Sector	To reach a level equivalent to EPC C for new tenancies	By 2025	2025-2027	2028 for all tenancies
Owner Occupier Sector	To reach a level equivalent to EPC C	By 2025	Triggers proposed between 2025-2034	2035
Social Housing	To reach EPC B	Standards reviewed in 2023	2024-2031	2032
Multi tenure/Mixed use	To reach a level equivalent to EPC C	By 2025	2025-2044	2045
Non-Domestic Buildings	More challenging energy improvement targets to reduce ‎ demand for heat and ensure zero emissions heat supply to apply ‎ at trigger points	By 2025	Triggers proposed between 2025-2044	2045

The HBS sets out our intention to consult on the detail of these proposed standards over the next few years, including on reforms to the assessment process and EPC metrics which will underpin the regulations.

Progress on initial standards within the PRS to reach a standard of EPC D have been paused as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and will be revisited as we emerge from the pandemic.

Question reference: S5O-05060

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 February 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that older patients in hospital are receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.

Question reference: S5W-34858

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 29 January 2021
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 11 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether self-catering accommodation businesses in island communities will have access to the same financial support as self-catering properties in areas subject to Level 4 restrictions.

Islands businesses in Level 3 are also eligible for support to the equivalent of Level 4 Strategic Framework Business Fund. Eligible businesses, including self-catering accommodation businesses will be able to access closure funds as well as, where applicable, the Large Self-Catering Grant. This is for larger self-catering properties which have been uniquely impacted by the single household rule introduced on the 23 rd of September. Self-catering businesses are eligible to apply for this support comprising one off payments of £2,000 if they have a property which accommodates 7 or more people for which they pay Non Domestic Rates.

Question reference: S5W-34850

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 January 2021
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 11 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the current guidance which states that children under 12 can meet outside for organised activities, whether it will change this to instead refer to children attending primary school and younger, in order to prevent the potential isolation of some primary school children who will turn 12 from March onwards.

The Organised activities for children guidance was updated on 5 January 2021 to bring it into line with the Stay at home guidance . The guidance is for organised unregulated activities and services provided outdoors for children, including babies and toddlers, that are voluntary, third sector, parent or peer led or unregulated private providers delivering a service or activity directly to children and young people at Level 4 temporary lock down only. Areas that are not in Level 4 can continue to deliver organised activities for all children under 18.

In line with the broader socialisation rules, and based on expert advice, this guidance is now for under 12s only, and there is no intention to change it at this time.

The guidance will be kept under review and updated as necessary taking account of any further scientific or medical advice.

Question reference: S5W-34854

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 January 2021
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 11 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of some people experiencing long-term symptoms of COVID-19, such as fatigue, that prevent them undertaking everyday tasks, when patients will be able to access treatment for the condition, long COVID, in a similar way to the services provided by NHS England.

There are already a range of services in place, to support people experiencing symptoms of Long COVID, including local primary care teams, community based rehabilitation services and specialised secondary care where needed.

As we continue to learn and respond to the pandemic, it is crucial that the decisions we take are based on the latest available evidence and are aligned to clinical guidance. This includes decisions on whether to commission services dedicated to Long COVID.

At present this is using the knowledge and expertise already within our NHS to deliver care tailored to individual need across a wide range of specialisms.

We are engaging with people living with Long COVID, NHS Boards and the wider clinical community in Scotland to deepen our understanding of the symptoms and impact of Long COVID to help us continue to tailor the holistic diagnosis and the treatment, which patients need. This includes examining how to enhance and better co-ordinate existing pathways from primary and community care services to provide the multidisciplinary and person-centred support that people may require.

The recently published SIGN guideline should be used by clinical teams to initiate the treatment and support needed by those suffering from longer-term symptoms of Covid and to identify where they need urgent medical or psychiatric support. We are engaging further with clinical groups to develop more joined-up pathways, to provide a streamlined approach and minimise patients being passed from speciality to speciality unnecessarily.

We are also working closely with Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland to explore how third sector services, working alongside our NHS, can deliver holistic support for people experiencing Long COVID.

Question reference: S5O-05030

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 February 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what plans there are to increase the number of divisional police officers in the north east.