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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-29572

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 11 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that there is national coordination in place to set up COVID-19-free sites for cancer surgery, and what cancers these sites will be able to treat.

We are working hard to ensure vital and urgent care remains, including the use of the Golden Jubilee and the use of private hospital capacity to treat these NHS patients. By utilising the private sector capacity we are able to provide a COVID free environment for urgent cancer procedures.

On 31 May we published our framework for re-mobilising our health services, “Re-mobilise, Recover, Re-design.” The framework sets out how Health Boards will follow national and local clinical advice to safely and gradually prioritise the resumption of some paused services.

To complement this we published on 4 June the Framework for Recovery of Cancer Surgery. This includes consideration of establishing dedicated “green” specific areas to carry out cancer treatments.

Question reference: S5W-29305

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 May 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 4 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has recommended delaying the reopening of businesses in the (a) housebuilding and (b) clothing and textile sector until the second phase of its route map for exiting the COVID-19 lockdown.

Our assessment of which sectors and types of working could open at this time has taken into account which sectors incur a lower risk of transmission as well as the ease of implementing physical distancing. It has also taken into account the low level of interdependencies, with other sectors of the economy as well as against the binding constraints of transport and school capacity. At this point, those types of working which have met these criteria as well as the three pillars of safe working will reopen as part of the phased release. Scotland’s route map through and out of the crisis sets out the phased return for other sectors of the economy.

The health and safety of the people of Scotland is our top priority. Our manufacturing sector guidance (published 26 May), notes that due to the increased risk of the transmission of coronavirus, indoor non-essential manufacturing is not expected to resume until phase 2, with preparatory work for ensuring physical distancing and enhanced hygiene measures able to take place during phase 1.

We want to get the housing market moving as soon as it is safe to do so but we will only act in line with the medical and scientific evidence and advice specific to the pandemic in Scotland. As set out in the route map , in Phase 1 we are preparing for the safe reopening of the housing market and, in phase 2, we anticipate a relaxation of restrictions on home moves. The Scottish Government’s Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance on moving home (published 31 March) remains in force during phase 1. On 28 May, we issued a short supplementary guidance note on how phases 1 and 2 in the Scottish Government’s route map apply to the housing market and home moves.

We have also signalled that the construction sector could implement the first two phases in its restart plan in phase 1 of the route map, with a decision to move to 'phase 2-soft start' of the construction sector's plan only after consulting with government to ensure it is safe to do so and in line with public health advice.

Question reference: S5F-04162

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 May 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 May 2020

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to Police Scotland reporting that nearly 1,700 cases have been recorded under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018.

Question reference: S5T-02152

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 May 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what urgent action it will take in light of reports of COVID-19-related attacks on police officers.

Question reference: S5W-28300

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 April 2020
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 5 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that it will allocate to charities in Scotland as soon as possible the £30 million in Barnett consequentials arising from the UK Government’s £750 million support package for England in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, and by what date it expects the charities to begin receiving this.

The Scottish Government announced support for charities via the Community Wellbeing Fund and Third Sector Resilience Fund on 18 March, more than 3 weeks before the UK Government announcement. These Funds provide support in excess of the consequentials resulting from the UK Government's announcement. I am relieved that the UK Government has now also recognised the importance of the charitable sector.

Question reference: S5W-28669

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 April 2020
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 28 April 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the concerns regarding the potential impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the higher education sector, what action it is taking to reassure staff and students that it has a coherent plan to retain capacity across the sector following the end of lockdown period, which will aim to ensure stability and maintain the positive impact that higher education can bring to the country.

Work around the financial impact of COVID-19 on universities continues to be progressed as a priority and at pace by the Scottish Government and the Scottish Funding Council. We are working closely with our universities, other stakeholders and through the Further and Higher Education Covid-19 Ministerial Leadership Group, to build an understanding of immediate and longer term impacts across teaching, research, staff and student issues and how to support universities now and when current lockdown measures are lifted.

Through this work we are developing an action plan to deliver a direct response to the needs for the sector as a result of Covid-19. We are also discussing additional financial support needs with the UK Government and have committed to working with our universities to ensure they remain at the forefront of global education as we emerge from this crisis.

Question reference: S5T-02112

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 April 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 April 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to tackle fraudsters who are targeting vulnerable people during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Question reference: S5W-28076

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 15 April 2020

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason self-catering businesses in Scotland are reported to have been excluded from the application process in respect of the Coronavirus Business Support Fund, in light of being instructed to close along with other "non-essential" businesses.

Question reference: S5W-27723

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 18 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how many people in each Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) decile area were prescribed the nicotine addiction medication, Champix, by a (a) GP and (b) pharmacist in 2019.

Figures are available in the following tables:

a) Table 1: Number of patients prescribed the nicotine addiction medication, generic varenicline or branded Champix, in 2019 by a GP

Calendar Year	Prescriber Type	SIMD Scotland Decile	Number of Patients
2019	GP	1	877
2019	GP	2	945
2019	GP	3	768
2019	GP	4	972
2019	GP	5	793
2019	GP	6	702
2019	GP	7	655
2019	GP	8	501
2019	GP	9	327
2019	GP	10	240
2019	GP	Unknown	68

b) Table 2: Number of Patients prescribed the nicotine addiction medication, generic varenicline or branded Champix, in 2019 by a pharmacist

Calendar Year	Prescriber Type	SIMD Scotland Decile	Number of Patients
2019	Pharmacist	1	2,243
2019	Pharmacist	2	1,588
2019	Pharmacist	3	1,281
2019	Pharmacist	4	1,078
2019	Pharmacist	5	859
2019	Pharmacist	6	803
2019	Pharmacist	7	773
2019	Pharmacist	8	588
2019	Pharmacist	9	491
2019	Pharmacist	10	294
2019	Pharmacist	Unknown	106

Source: ISD Scotland, PIS (Prescribing data)
‎ Ref: IR2020-00308

Question reference: S5W-27722

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 18 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce smoking rates in Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) decile 1 areas.

The Scottish Government has recently been commended by Cancer Research UK for our action in setting annual smoking cessation targets for Health Boards which focusses efforts in deprived areas. In addition a targeted approach is taken by directing both local initiatives and national campaigns – such as Get Through 72 – at this specific group to ensure our quit smoking message reaches those in our less affluent areas.

Reducing the use of, and harm from, tobacco is one of Scottish Government public health priorities. Around £10 million has been invested annually in stop-smoking services over the last five years. Smoking rates have continued to fall and, since 2010, Scotland has recorded the largest decline in the proportion of smokers in any UK country by seven percentage points.