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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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S5W-31774

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 14 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 25 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what information it can provide regarding the settlement of its recent dispute with Gigaclear regarding Lot 1 of the superfast broadband programme; how much it paid to Gigaclear to settle the dispute, and whether it will provide a breakdown of its legal costs.

Question reference: S5W-31778

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 14 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 25 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government by what date R100 superfast broadband programme will be completed, and what percentage of communities will not be connected after this.

As previously advised, we expect the majority of the contract build in the Central and South lots to complete by the end of 2023. Until there is an agreed contract in place it is not possible to confirm exactly when physical contract build in the North lot will end.

In the meantime, we remain committed to providing support to ensure that everyone can access superfast broadband services by the end of 2021 - delivered through the Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme (SBVS), which we launched on 12 September 2020. Anyone who will not have access to superfast broadband speed of more than 30 Megabits per second (Mbps) by the end of 2021, regardless of whether or not the R100 contracts will ultimately reach them, will be eligible for a voucher.

Question reference: S5O-04642

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 September 2020
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with local authorities regarding the proposal in its Programme for Government for a revaluation of non-domestic rates in 2023.

Question reference: S5W-31790

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 14 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 23 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what plans there are to expand the learning disability wards at the State Hospital, and whether it is aware of plans to close any other such facilities elsewhere in the NHS that would necessitate such an expansion.

There has been a review of the Clinical Service Delivery Model in The State Hospital (TSH) which included review of the Intellectual Disability ward. The findings of that review were made available publically as part of TSH Board papers on their website in October 2019. The new proposed model will move from one to two Learning Disability wards.

TSH aimed to launch the new Clinical Service Delivery Model on 1 April 2020 but work was paused in March 2020 due to Covid-19. Work is due to recommence in December 2020. Any reconfiguration of the model will be dependent on a risk assessment of Covid-19 infection due to the movement of patients required for the new Clinical Model.

The Scottish Government has not formally been made aware of any plans to close any learning disability facilities.

Question reference: S5W-31697

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 18 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what research is being undertaking to understand autism diagnosis waiting times across Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-31691

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 18 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-31328 by Fiona Hyslop on 28 August 2020, where COVID-related guidance can be found specifically for indoor one-to-one, face-to-face voice tuition.

As referenced in the reply to the member’s question S5W-31515 on 15 September 2020, there is a range of guidance currently available depending on the circumstances of the voice tuition. Further guidance on music education in schools is currently being considered by Education Scotland. The Covid-19 guidance for the performing arts and venues sector includes guidance for professionals working in the performing arts and those in formal training for associated professional careers. The advice on mitigating the risks of virus transmission in indoor musical activities is to avoid playing or singing face to face. 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-31696

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 17 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis has been undertaken to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on autism diagnosis waiting times and the resulting restrictions on face-to-face appointments with health professionals.

The National Autism Implementation Team (NAIT) Team, commissioned by the Scottish Government, aims to support the delivery of the Scottish Strategy for Autism: Outcomes and Priorities 2018-2021, through facilitating evidence based actions in assessment and Diagnosis for children, young people and adults. In June 2020 NAIT scoped child and adult autism diagnostic services to understand the impact of Covid-19 on autism diagnostic waiting times. The diagnostic services who responded were concerned around an increase in waiting times due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Most NHS health boards continued to receive referrals for autism diagnostic assessment. In response to autism diagnostic practitioners requests the NAIT team have developed Digital Guidance for completion of autism diagnostic assessment, which can be found at https://www.thirdspace.scot/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/NAIT-Guidance-on-Digital-Consultation-for-
Neurodevelopmental-Assessment-and-Diagnosis-August-2020.pdf .

This digital autism assessment guidance has been endorsed by the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, Royal College of Occupational Therapists, Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and Scottish Government Digital Health and Care Scotland.

The NAIT team are now supporting national autism diagnostic services with their recovery of services.

Question reference: S5W-31698

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 17 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to publish autism diagnosis waiting times.

Question reference: S5O-04631

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 September 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the support it is providing to local authorities in their response to COVID-19.

Question reference: S5W-31515

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 15 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has published regarding (a) private piano tuition and (b) music tuition in schools during the COVID-pandemic.

All of the Scottish Government safer workplaces guidance can be found on our returning to work safely webpage:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-returning-to-work/pages/employers/ .

In particular, people offering private piano tuition are encouraged to follow:

the Coronavirus (COVID-19): general guidance for safer workplaces: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-general-guidance-for-safer-workplaces/ ;
the Coronavirus (COVID-19): small and micro businesses guidance: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-small-and-micro-businesses-guidance/ ;
the Coronavirus (COVID-19: guidance for the performing arts and venues sector: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-the-performing-arts-and-venues-sector/
and, where children are being taught, the Coronavirus (COVID-19): organised activities for children provisional guidance: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-organised-activities-for-children/ .

Further guidance on music education in schools is currently being considered by Education Scotland and members of the Education Recovery Group, based on the scientific advice published on 10 September: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-advisory-sub-group-on-education-and-childrens-issues-advice-on-physical-education-music-and-drama-in-schools/ .

Until further guidance is published, we would encourage practitioners to follow the guidance on preparing for the start of the new school term in August 2020: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-preparing-start-new-school-term-august-2020-version-2/ .