- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 August 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 28 August 2020
To ask the Scottish Government when driving tests will be allowed to (a) be booked and (b) resume.
Answer
The First Minister announced that driving lessons would resume on 24 August. Driving tests are the responsibility of the Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency. We understand that car driving tests will resume in mid-September, with priority given to those who have had tests cancelled.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 21 August 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 28 August 2020
To ask the Scottish Government whether its current COVID-19 guidelines preclude all professional football teams below the SPFL Premiership-level, including full-time clubs such as Heart of Midlothian, from participating in training and playing and, if so, (a) for what reason, (b) what discussions it has had with the (i) SPFL, (ii) SFA and (iii) other football governing bodies regarding this, (c) by what date these activities will be allowed to resume and (d) what its response is to reports of Scottish training facilities being used by teams from outwith the country while these restrictions are in place.
Answer
From 24 August 2020, organised full contact outdoor sport for all ages was permitted in Scotland.
We have discussed the resumption of this activity with the Scottish FA and the SPFL on a number of occasions.
This will – subject to Scottish FA guidance – allow teams at all levels to train and play. However, SPFL Premiership clubs – and some English clubs – have already been undertaking activity as they were subject to additional public health measures. We have no role in where any of these clubs choose to train.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 17 August 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 28 August 2020
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider permitting extended household bubbles as part of local lockdown measures in situations where cities and towns experience an outbreak of COVID-19.
Answer
If local restrictions are required in response to an outbreak of COVID-19 these will be implemented with regard to the nature and extent of the public health risk. The circumstances for each outbreak will be different and the response will be tailored accordingly.
Scottish Government recognises the impact these measures can have on communities and every decision is taken carefully with due consideration of the four harms set out in our COVID-19: Framework for Decision Making.
The recent local restrictions in Aberdeen allowed extended household arrangements to continue, individuals were also allowed to meet friends and family outdoors providing guidance on travel and physical distancing was followed.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 03 August 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 27 August 2020
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason travellers from Estonia must submit to two weeks quarantine on entry to Scotland, in light of COVID-19 infection rates in that country reportedly being lower than in Scotland.
Answer
From the outset, we have adopted a public health focused approach to these border health measures. The data and evidence we receive to inform our decisions on these measures comes from the Public Health England and the Joint Biomedical Centre (JBC) via the UK Government. As this data is owned by the UK Government, we are not able to publish the analysis on specific countries and why countries are or are not the exemptions list. I have written to the UK Government asking them to make the data publicly available.
Whilst we formally review these measures on a 21 day basis in Scotland, and our next review point is Monday 31 August, we are continuously keeping countries under review and where there is clear evidence that it is safe to do so, we will add further countries to the exemption list. You will be aware that this happened in the case of Estonia, who were added to our list of exempt countries on Tuesday 28 July. Likewise, if the evidence suggests an exempt country may provide an increased risk, we will not hesitate to reinstate quarantine arrangements.
There is further guidance on the border health measures here; https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-public-health-checks-at-borders/pages/overview/ .
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 14 August 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 27 August 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what financial assistance is in place for the coach industry, and whether it plans to (a) review and (b) increase this.
Answer
Coach operators have been able to apply for financial assistance from a range of schemes including the 100% Retail Hospitality and Leisure rates relief & RHL grant support, and the small Business Grant Fund. Non-domestic rates relief also applies to eligible properties and a small number of coach companies have accessed funds from the Pivotal Enterprise Resilience Fund. We are aware of the challenges facing the coach sector and continue to engage with them to address their needs (most recently on 20 August). We are working closely with colleagues in the UK Government to secure additional support.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 August 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 27 August 2020
To ask the Scottish Government whether, under current COVID-19 guidance, indoor facilities such as changing rooms and toilets are accessible to people undertaking outdoor activities.
Answer
The use of changing rooms and showering facilities should be avoided where possible, although from the 31 August 2020 they may be made available for participants with disabilities or special needs or where required after an activity such as swimming.
Sports facility operators may open toilets for public use if they follow the guidelines outlined on the Scottish Government website Opening Public Toilets Guidelines .
For detailed facility guidance including a checklist that covers use of changing rooms, showers and toilets visit Scottish Government Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance on the opening of indoor and outdoor sport and leisure facilities .
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 August 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 26 August 2020
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the COVID-19 restrictions, what plans it has to review the guidance regarding how long into pregnancy a woman can keep working in a health care setting.
Answer
The Scottish Government has created the risk assessment guidance and a supporting tool for staff across all industries. This remains under constant review and should be used by employers to support staff and by line managers to understand and carry out effective risk assessments for pregnant staff.
Existing legislation protecting pregnant women must be followed and there should be a risk assessment of each individual pregnant worker’s role and working environment. The Scottish Government endorses the guidance published by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
The Scottish Government advice remains that people should continue to work from home if they can.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 August 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 26 August 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to people who have been harmed by sodium valproate.
Answer
The Scottish Government remain committed to patient safety, and this remains key to delivering healthcare in Scotland.
We are grateful to Baroness Cumberlege for producing the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review report and, while the Review relates to NHS England and processes in England more generally, it is important that lessons are learned in Scotland. The Scottish Government are carefully considering the outcomes and recommendations of the Review.
The Scottish Government Sodium Valproate Advisory Group met last month to discuss the review and next steps to be applied at a Scottish level. Scottish Government officials have also met with representatives from patient groups to listen to their concerns and inform future action.
In the meantime, patients can find details of support close to them through ALISS (A Local Information System for Scotland), which can be accessed at https://www.aliss.org/ .
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 14 August 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Ash Denham on 26 August 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review legislation around dog behaviour in public places.
Answer
Between September 2019 and January 2020, the Scottish Government held a consultation on steps to improve the operational effectiveness of the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010. This consultation asked for views on a range of measures designed to help local authorities and Police Scotland with their enforcement responsibilities in respect of out of control dogs. An analysis of the consultation responses was published in June 2020. Details can be found at: https://consult.gov.scot/criminal-law/effectiveness-control-of-dogs-scotland-act-2010/
Later this year the Scottish Government will publish a further review of dog control legislation with a particular focus on the operation of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. This will include discussion of the offence of a dog being dangerously out of control contained with the 1991 Act.
The Scottish Government will consider the responses received to both consultation exercises in determining next steps.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 August 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 26 August 2020
To ask the Scottish Government when guidance on safe practice in relation to home economics lessons in schools will be published.
Answer
The guidelines are in production and will be presented to members of the Education Recovery Group within the next few weeks, subject to stakeholder consultation. As with all guidelines at the moment, there is a need to look at the overall scientific advice which is current and relevant. We are working closely with representatives of teachers and headteachers to ensure that any guidance is therefore, as up to date and helpful as possible.