- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 27 July 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 24 August 2020
To ask the Scottish Government how many farmers have been fined for removing hedgerows, and how such penalties are calculated.
Answer
Twenty five farmers have had penalties applied to their support scheme payments for removing hedgerows. The level of penalties are calculated in line with the Cross Compliance related regulations which form part of the Common Agricultural Policy.
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 July 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 19 August 2020
To ask the Scottish Government when gyms will be allowed to reopen, and what specific scientific advice it has taken regarding their continued closure.
Answer
We would like to see facilities like gyms, reopen as soon as possible. As it stands the indicative date for the reopening of indoor sport and leisure facilities including gyms is Monday 14 September with physical distancing and enhanced hygiene measures in place. The Scottish Government will continue to review the situation to see if earlier reopening is possible, with the intention to provide a further update on 20 August 2020.
To judge whether and when restrictions can be eased, we consider a range of evidence on the progress of the pandemic in Scotland including what we know about the reproduction rate of the virus and data on the number of infectious cases. As we have taken decisions about what sectors and activities to re-open on our route out of lockdown, we have been guided by the principles set out in our Framework for Decision Making . In particular we have sought to reduce broader health, economic and societal harm, but always with the necessity to suppress the virus. This has led to some difficult timing decisions about how best to balance the various harms. Such decisions are necessarily more complex than simply comparing the viral transmission risk of one sector or setting with another, as broader economic and social impacts and interdependencies are also taken into account.
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 July 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 19 August 2020
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason indoor equestrian events are not permitted to take place, and what plans it has to review this.
Answer
All sports and activities pose different challenges, which can impact on the timing of resumption of certain disciplines.
As it stands the indicative date for the reopening of indoor sport and leisure facilities including indoor equestrian centres is Monday 14 September with physical distancing and enhanced hygiene measures in place. The Scottish Government will continue to review the situation to see if earlier reopening is possible, with the intention to provide a further update on 20th August 2020.
In collaboration with the sector, the Scottish Government have been developing robust guidance and protocols that will allow necessary preparation for facilities to provide confidence for members and staff to return safely.
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 August 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 19 August 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what plans the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture has to meet representatives of the Lowland Common Ridings and the Riding of the Marches to discuss what additional support can be given to these events.
Answer
As I have explained in correspondence with the Member, I support the campaign to give the Lowland Common Ridings and the Riding of the Marches culturally significant status. Such a designation can be bestowed by UNESCO under the convention for the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage. This will not be possible, however, until the UK Government agrees to sign up to this convention.
On 26 July I announced the funding package of £10 million to help the events sector, including its supply chain, remain in business while restrictions are in place and then as it seeks to recover from the coronavirus pandemic. There is no outstanding request to meet these bodies and in the first instance I would encourage them to contact Event Scotland regarding the £10m support package for Events.
Further details on eligibility and how to apply for the first funding stream will be issued very soon by EventScotland, who publish details of their funding streams at https://www.visitscotland.org/events/funding
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 10 August 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 14 August 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to publicise the legal requirement to install interlinked fire alarms in all homes by February 2021.
Answer
An announcement was made on 28 March 2018 of our intention to strengthen the current standards we have in place for fire alarms. This announcement was widely reported in press, television and social media as well as housing and electrical related publications. An informative fact sheet was also made available on our website: https://www.gov.scot/publications/fire-and-smoke-alarms-in-scottish-homes/
A joint awareness raising campaign will be taken forward, coordinated across Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to ensure consistency in approach in all local authority areas prior to the standard coming into force on 1 February 2021.
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 August 2020
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 20 August 2020
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has disengaged from discussions with the UK Government regarding the forthcoming internal market legislation.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 20 August 2020
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 20 July 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 11 August 2020
To ask the Scottish Government for what reasons acupuncture cannot take place at present, and when such services can restart.
Answer
Following a clinical assessment, personal retail services, including Complementary and Alternative Medicine services (CAMs) and massage therapy, were advised that they could resume services as of 22 July 2020, where the service is carried out in a therapist’s own premises (i.e. not a mobile therapist, who provides treatment in a patient’s home), and the close contact retail guidance has been updated to reflect this.
The Scottish Government are undertaking further clinical assessment of the risk of transmission of COVID-19 for mobile massage and CAM services, and are considering whether further guidance is required for these.
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 27 July 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Kate Forbes on 10 August 2020
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-30120 by Aileen Campbell on 17 July 2020, what consideration was given to including church halls in the scheme, and whether the potential for discrimination was reviewed as part of any decision.
Answer
In addition to the £350m Communities Fund, including the Third Sector Resilience Fund, the Scottish Government has provided over £2.3 billion of support to businesses through grants and reliefs. The Small Business Support Grant was available for church halls which met the eligibility criteria.
The criteria for the Coronavirus Business Support Grant Scheme was linked to the non-domestic rates system. Church halls were listed as a qualifying purpose and to be eligible, the premises had to be in receipt of the Small Business Bonus Scheme, or eligible for Small Business Bonus Scheme but in receipt of a range of other reliefs, including Charitable Rate Relief.
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 20 July 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 6 August 2020
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish guidance on the reopening of adult day services.
Answer
I and the Minister for Children and Young People wrote to Health and Social Care Partnerships, Chief Social Work Officers providers and others on 3 August 2020 advising that this comprehensive guidance on adult day centre services will issue as soon as possible, expected late August. We also advised that in the interim, such services can reopen, subject to being adapted and risk assessed in line with certain existing guidance; and agreement to the approach by the local Health Protection teams and the Care Inspectorate.
The letter is published on the Scottish Government website at:
www.gov.scot/policies/social-care/latest
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 July 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 5 August 2020
To ask the Scottish Government whether funding will remain in place for childcare providers that are already providing 1,140 hours of childcare.
Answer
Local authorities continue to be funded in full to deliver the 1140 hours early learning and childcare expansion programme.
As co-chairs of the ELC Joint Delivery Board, Councillor Stephen McCabe and I wrote jointly to all local authorities on 8 July 2020 asking that authorities continue to work in partnership with funded providers to reach agreement on sustainable local funding models. Local authorities should continue to ensure that funding paid to providers for delivery of funded ELC entitlement remains sustainable and reflects the current costs of delivery.
We know work on the ELC expansion is already well advanced, and that many providers and local authorities will be able to deliver more than the minimum requirement of 600 hours funded ELC to families. Local authorities will work with providers to confirm local plans, ensuring quality of care and improving outcomes for children remains central to delivery of the funded entitlement.
