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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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S5W-33578

Asked by: Tom Arthur, MSP for Renfrewshire South, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 November 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Kate Forbes on 30 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to help small businesses access digital technology.

COVID-19 has highlighted the importance of digital technologies for businesses of all sizes, but in particular for small businesses. To support SMEs to take advantage of digital technologies we offer The Digital Development Loan which enables businesses to invest, interest-free, up to £100k to improve their digital capabilities. We also have DigitalBoost, delivered by Business Gateway which provides expert digital advice and guidance. In August we doubled the funding for DigitalBoost and today I am pleased to announce the Scottish Government is investing a further £11.8m in digital support for business.

Question reference: S5O-04807

Asked by: Tom Arthur, MSP for Renfrewshire South, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 November 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting social enterprises.

Question reference: S5O-04794

Asked by: Tom Arthur, MSP for Renfrewshire South, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 November 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with amateur football organisations regarding the current COVID-19 restrictions.

Question reference: S5O-04686

Asked by: Tom Arthur, MSP for Renfrewshire South, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 October 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the New Zealand Government.

Question reference: S5W-31994

Asked by: Tom Arthur, MSP for Renfrewshire South, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 September 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Kate Forbes on 24 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish information on multi-year capital budgets, and provide further clarity on future levels of public sector investment.

A Capital Spending Review Framework document will be published on the Scottish Government website today and is available here: https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781800040946

The Framework provides the basis for publishing a full Capital Spending Review later this year, which will set out multi-year capital budget allocations for the Scottish Government, and other public sector bodies. This Framework document supports transparency about the fiscal context and the financial assumptions which underpin the draft Infrastructure Investment Plan, while also setting out the parameters and priorities that will inform the budget allocations that will be made once the Capital budget outcomes of the UK Comprehensive Spending Review are known. It covers the 5 financial years of the next Parliamentary term, and sets out now how we have a full and realistic plan for around £33.5 billion of investment to deliver the ambitious National Infrastructure Mission.

Providing clarity on future capital spending plans will aid our response to the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, giving confidence to key sectors of the Scottish economy. Our capital spending will support employment and economic recovery through our large-scale infrastructure plans, while also moving us along the path to net-zero carbon emissions, and underpinning the provision of quality public services on into the future. We will support economic growth by investing directly in businesses to boost innovation and employment, funding research and development, and capitalising the Scottish National Investment Bank.

Question reference: S5W-30992

Asked by: Tom Arthur, MSP for Renfrewshire South, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 July 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Jeane Freeman on 30 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its understanding of the communicability of COVID-19.

The four Chief Medical Officers of the United Kingdom have reviewed evidence and analysis on the communicability of COVID-19. They have concluded there is a low risk in some cases that an individual confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 may be capable of transmitting the virus between seven and nine days after the onset of symptoms. The four Chief Medical Officers have therefore each made the decision for their countries that the period of self-isolation required of people confirmed through a test to be infected and who are not admitted to hospital or are not in a care home should be increased from 7 days to 10 days. This clinical decision by the Chief Medical Officers is being announced and implemented on a four nations basis, and will go into effect from today.

Anyone who receives a positive test result from today onwards should follow guidance to isolate for at least 10 days, and for at least 48 hours after any fever subsides. People currently isolating should continue to follow the guidance in place when they began isolation: to isolate for at least 7 days, and for at least 48 hours after any fever subsides. If symptoms other than cough or anosmia persist beyond the isolation period or worsen phone 111, or if it is an emergency phone 999.

This change does not affect the isolation period for people who have tested positive and are in a hospital or care home setting where Health Protection Scotland guidance should continue to be followed and will be updated where appropriate. It also does not change the isolation period for people who live in the same household as an index case, are the close contact of an index case identified through Test and Protect, or have arrived in Scotland after travelling from a non-exempt country, which all remain at 14 days.

Question reference: S5W-30723

Asked by: Tom Arthur, MSP for Renfrewshire South, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 July 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by John Swinney on 15 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what its approach is to monitoring and responding to future outbreaks of COVID-19.

The latest Public Health Scotland report shows that the number of COVID cases is currently very low in Scotland. However, the virus has not gone away. It could return at any time, and it is vitality important that we all remain vigilant and all continue to follow public health advice.

The approach in Scotland to Surveillance and Response builds on well-developed and effective structures and processes. Strong and efficient data and intelligence; an effective Test and Protect system; measures to trace those who may come in contact with the virus; and good communication. Together this all helps inform and compliment the experience and actions of our public health teams and resilience partnerships.

The Scottish Government will later today publish its Covid-19 Surveillance and Response position statement. This document sets out how existing planning arrangements, structures and national Health Protection guidance will be applied to address the challenges of any COVID 19 outbreak.

Question reference: S5W-30498

Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Withdrawn

Question reference: S5W-30137

Asked by: Tom Arthur, MSP for Renfrewshire South, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 June 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 22 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government when the report of the independent Advisory Group on Economic Recovery will be published.

Question reference: S5W-29361

Asked by: Tom Arthur, MSP for Renfrewshire South, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 May 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Kate Forbes on 27 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been allocated to each ministerial portfolio to support the policy response to the COVID-19 emergency.