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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-34232

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Ash Denham on 19 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its reasons are for children under 12 being included in the numbers allowed to attend wedding ceremonies but not included in any other setting.

The restrictions on gatherings are a consequence of the current pandemic and are designed to reduce the transmission of the virus. Marriage ceremonies are an exception to the general rules on social gatherings and the number of people who can attend a marriage is higher than the number of people who are generally allowed to meet in one place. This reflects the importance of marriage to society.

All of Scotland is currently at either level 3 or 4 of the Strategic Framework.

At level 4, under the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Regulations 2020, only 5 people may attend a marriage ceremony (the couple, the celebrant or registrar, and two witnesses) or, where an interpreter is required, 6 people may attend.

At level 3, no more than 20 people should attend a marriage ceremony. However, children are at present included in the limit of 20 people. If we were to exclude children from this limit, children from several different households could attend, significantly increasing the number of people attending. This could increase the risk of transmission of the virus at a time when it is more important than ever before to limit transmission as much as possible.

Question reference: S5T-02619

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 18 January 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when the opening of the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People will be completed.

Question reference: S5W-34200

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 21 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 15 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether respite foster care is still able to take place under Level 4 COVID-19 restrictions.

Respite foster care can go ahead under Level 4 COVID-19 restrictions subject to the appropriate professional assessments being carried out. Care planning and issues surrounding care planning are a matter for local authorities to decide and we would expect local authorities to consider the risks of respite foster care before making any decision on a case by case base, whilst adhering to public health measures.

Decision makers must ensure that the safety and wellbeing of children, young people, families, carers and staff members is at the heart of decision making. They must balance these safety considerations with a child’s rights and the detriment to the child if a respite placement does not go ahead.

The Scottish Government will shortly be publishing updated Coronavirus guidance about family contact for Looked After Children. This guidance will support decision makers in ensuring that the risk of exposure is minimised, whilst children are supported and enabled to meaningfully maintain relationships which are essential to their wellbeing.

Question reference: S5W-34136

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 18 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Ash Denham on 15 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what COVID-19 guidance is in place regarding naming ceremonies.

The Scottish Government has not published specific guidance for ceremonies such as baby naming ceremonies, Christenings or baptisms. We have issued specific guidance for marriage ceremonies and civil partnership registrations .

Our guidance for the safe use of places of worship outlines that where ceremonies such as Christenings, baptisms and coming-of-age ceremonies form part of a wider religious service in a place of worship, the gathering should consist of no more than 50 people in total in areas at Levels 0-3 as set out in the strategic framework . Outdoor acts of worship conducted in accordance with Coronavirus (COVID-19): events sector guidance in areas at levels 0 and 1 areas may have up to 200 people in attendance.

Under the current Level 4 restrictions affecting most of Scotland set out in the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 as amended, places of worship must be closed to the public except for limited specified purposes. These specified purposes do not include a baby naming ceremony, Christening or baptism.

If a naming ceremony, Christening or baptism is not happening in a place of worship or as part of a permitted act of worship outdoors, the gathering should comply with the restrictions on social gatherings in the relevant protection level set out in the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 as amended.

Any celebrants conducting naming ceremonies permitted under the present restrictions should work with families on whether aspects of the ceremony need to be adapted in line with physical distancing and hygiene requirements in order to help ensure the safety of all present.

Question reference: S5W-34133

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 14 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider offering the COVID-19 vaccine on a 24-hours-a-day basis once stocks permit.

Question reference: S5W-34143

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 14 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason public pools are open for private individual swimming lessons in areas subject to Level 3 restrictions, but club swimming training is prohibited.

The Scottish Government fully recognise the importance of being physically active during the Covid-19 pandemic, both for physical and mental health. While we appreciate the social interaction that club activity provides, limiting group activity, where there may be an increased risk of transmission, is vital to suppress the virus.

Our approach and principles remain those we set out in our Framework for Decision-Making, based on clinical evidence, expert advice, and a balanced assessment of the risks.

Given that the situation with the virus remains fragile – with many cases and continuing pressure on the NHS – we are taking a cautious approach. We will continue to keep restrictions around sport and physical activity under review.

Question reference: S5W-34014

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 11 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 14 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether adult personal assistants who are employed by local authorities are eligible for the £500 "thank you" bonus for health and social care workers.

Question reference: S5W-33998

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 14 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether NHS and social care staff who do not wish to receive the £500 "thank you" bonus are able to nominate a charity to receive the money instead.

Scottish Government Ministers want to recognise the extraordinary effort that front line NHS and social care staff have made to our national effort during this pandemic. There is no mechanism for opting out of receiving the payment or nominating a charity to receive it. All recipients are however free to do with they wish with the payment, including donating to charitable causes if they should choose. Full details have been published at the following link:

Coronavirus (COVID-19): £500 payment for health and social care staff - questions and answers - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Question reference: S5W-33980

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 14 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government (a) when and (b) how it expects the £500 "thank you" bonus for NHS and social care staff to be issued.

On 23 December 2020, the Scottish Government published full details of eligibility for the pro-rata £500 payment, including expected payment dates. Payments to health and care workers will commence in February 2021, with the majority of social care staff receiving payment in March 2021. To reduce the potential impact a single payment may have on any benefits staff may be receiving, we will ask employers to offer the option of spreading this payment over three months. Full details have been published at the following link:

Coronavirus (COVID-19): £500 payment for health and social care staff - questions and answers - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) . .

Question reference: S5W-33918

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 14 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what paperwork will be provided to people who are given a COVID-19 vaccine to confirm that they have received it.

People who are given a COVID-19 vaccine are provided with a nationally produced leaflet, that tells them what to expect after the vaccine and includes a reminder about their second dose. They are not given any paperwork as a ‘record’ of the vaccine. As with other vaccines, their vaccination is recorded electronically by NHS Scotland. For COVID-19 vaccination, a Vaccination Management Tool is used by local NHS Boards to record vaccinations.