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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-31814

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 14 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 1 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding the number of false positives that have been included in the COVID-19 statistics, and what impact their inclusion has on the accuracy of the data.

In the case of weakly detected positive results (i.e. not true current infection), the sample is reprocessed and if, when more detailed virology analysis has been undertaken, it is assessed that there is no current infection or infectivity present, then the original test will be taken as a false positive, de-notified, and removed from the confirmed case tally. However, where it is not possible to reprocess the test or carry out more detailed analysis, then the original test cannot be de-notified and the weak positive will remain recorded in the case tally.

This process is undertaken in relation to statistics published for daily and weekly tests carried out through both the NHS and the UK Government Extended Testing Programme in Scotland (here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-daily-data-for-scotland/ .

Question reference: S5W-31777

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 30 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will announce the roll-out order and delivery timescale for each of the remaining communities that are yet to be connected to Lot 1 of the superfast broadband programme.

We are focused on finalising the R100 North Lot (Lot 1) contract award with BT as soon as possible to enable us to progress delivery of access to superfast broadband to people, businesses and communities in some of the most remote parts of Scotland.

We anticipate that the contract will be signed by the end of this calendar year. Once contract signature is achieved, work will then be undertaken, as in Lots 2 and 3 previously, to update the speed coverage template for Lot 1, to finalise the intervention area, and to enable survey work at a local level to be undertaken. Parliament will, of course, be kept informed.

Our Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme (SBVS), which has now launched, will ensure that everyone who requires a superfast broadband connection by the end of 2021 can have one - including those in the R100 North Lot. I am pleased to be able to report strong supplier participation in the SBVS.

Question reference: S5W-31828

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 30 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it measures the impact on children’s psychological and developmental wellbeing of its current measures to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.

We recognise the impact that the COVID-19 measures will be having on children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing. We are taking a number of steps to understand those impacts, and take action to address them.

We established a Covid-19 Children and Families Collective Leadership Group to review regular intelligence on children, young people and families with vulnerabilities, identify issues requiring action, and to provide local and national leadership in delivering a response.

A weekly data collection has been established to provide intelligence to the Leadership Group, bringing together intelligence from the 32 Chief Officer Groups, national agencies and delivery partners, including the third sector, Police Scotland and the NHS. Three evidence and intelligence reports were published in April, May and July which provided an overview of the research evidence about the impact of COVID-19 on children and families available at the time and reported on service responses based on intelligence gathered from local partnerships and third sector organisations. The July report can be found here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/children-young-people-families-covid-19-evidence-intelligence-report/ .

We have also established the Mental Health Research Advisory Group which is following research developments to understand the medium and long term impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on mental health and will help us to put evidence-based services and support in place to meet the mental health needs of the population.

In addition, in response to the mental health impacts of Covid-19 we will publish a Transition and Recovery Plan in Autumn 2020. The plan has been developed in partnership with mental health stakeholders and informed by emerging evidence, including a variety of sources that explore the impact on children, young people and families. It will lay out a set of actions to support population mental health, respond to distress and renew mental health services.

Schools have a key role to play in supporting children’s and young people’s mental health. During this pandemic, the Scottish Government has engaged with every education authority in Scotland to ensure that mental health support is currently in place as well as appropriate support in place for the return to school.

The Scottish Government continues to prioritise the support for children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing through support for school staff in responding to children’s needs; and also the counselling through schools programme. It is expected that the access to school counselling service commitment will be in place by the end of October 2020.

As part of Programme for Government 2018 we committed to have an additional 250 school nurses in place by the end of 2022, the first cohort of students commenced in 2019-20 and we expect a further 50 students to commence in the 20-21 academic year. Local authorities also confirmed that where required, significant family support was also in place.

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: 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: 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-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.