- Asked by: Gillian Mackay, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 29 April 2022
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 4 May 2022
To ask the First Minister whether she will provide an update on what the Scottish Government is doing to support households through the cost of living crisis.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 4 May 2022
- Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 29 April 2022
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 4 May 2022
Question to be taken in Chamber.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 4 May 2022
- Asked by: Douglas Ross, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 29 April 2022
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 4 May 2022
Question to be taken in Chamber.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 4 May 2022
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 April 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Lorna Slater on 29 April 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-07108 by Lorna Slater on 22 March 2022, whether, at the time that the answer was provided, it had been advised by Circularity Scotland that the estimated number of reverse vending machines (RVMs) to be used for its Deposit Return Scheme would be around 5,000 rather 3,021, and, if so, for what reason this information was not disclosed in that answer.
Answer
As set out in the answer to S6W-07830 on 29 April 2022, we have had no further discussions with Circularity Scotland Ltd regarding any estimated numbers of reverse vending machines since the publication of the amended final Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment for our Deposit Return Scheme, and do not recognise the figure of around 5,000.
. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 April 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Lorna Slater on 29 April 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-07108 by Lorna Slater on 22 March 2022, which states that the number of reverse vending machines (RVMs) that will be used in Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) was estimated at 3,021, whether it now estimates that number to be around 5,000, in light of this reportedly being stated in a DRS workshop held by Circularity Scotland in March 2022, and, if so, what action it will take to further amend the final BRIA to reflect the additional costs associated with this increased estimate.
Answer
Our best and final estimate of the number of reverse vending machines (RVMs) that will be required to operate Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) is 3,021, as set out in Table 2 of the amended final Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA) published on 15 December 2021. At the time of drafting the amended final BRIA, Circularity Scotland Ltd (CSL) confirmed that this matched their estimate.
We have had no further discussions with CSL regarding any estimated numbers of RVMs since that time and do not recognise the figure of around 5,000. Although it is entirely appropriate for CSL to continue to update its own assumptions regarding key parameters for DRS, our best and final estimate prior to implementation remains unchanged and we have no intention to further revisit the amended final BRIA.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 08 April 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 29 April 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to change the guidance regarding infection control measures that aim to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in hospitals.
Answer
A directors letter (DL) was issued by Chief Nursing Officer on 31 March regarding the de-escalation of enhanced IPC measures as we now observe that harms associated with reduced elective services within NHS Scotland are now outweighing COVID-19 harms. The DL outlined the removal of guidance on physical distancing and car sharing as well as changes to the types of COVID-19 tests that are available for patient use.
NSS ARHAI Scotland are also undertaking a gap analysis across the current Scottish Winter (21/22), Respiratory Infections in Health and Care Settings Addendum and the National Infection, Prevention and Control Manual (NIPCM). This analysis will highlight which COVID-19 specific aspects of the winter respiratory guidance, require to be retained and carried over into the NIPCM. This work is envisaged to be completed in early May.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 08 April 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 29 April 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the (a) availability, (b) quality and (c) use of NHS workforce data.
Answer
On 11 March we published the National Health and Social Care Workforce Strategy.
As part of the strategy, we have committed to taking forward specific actions to improve how we gather, use and assess NHS Workforce data. This includes taking steps to improve the demographic data we collect and the analysis we undertake of data obtained at different geographic levels within our health and social care system.
The strategy further commits us to taking forward complementary actions to improve workforce planning capacity and capability within our health boards and health and social care partnerships (HSCPs).
New guidance has already been communicated to health boards and HSCPs to support the production of demand-led 3-year workforce plans, supported by local systems’ workforce data. Later this year we will also publish new staffing projections for health and social care.
Complementary data systems and data improvement work is taking place, as part of the Implementation Programme being established to support delivery of the Workforce Strategy. We have undertaken to publish annual updates outlining progress with the strategy’s implementation, in support of our tri-partite ambition to achieve long-term workforce sustainability through recovery, growth and service transformation.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 08 April 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 29 April 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to monitor the wider physical and mental health impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answer
The Scottish Government continues to monitor the wider physical and mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic through the following initiatives:
? Scottish Health Survey - This survey monitors physical and mental health in the Scottish population. The latest published results are based on the telephone survey conducted in 2020. The results of the 2021 survey will be published in November 2022.
? Scottish COVID-19 Mental Health Tracker Study - This study measured the mental health and wellbeing impacts of the pandemic on Scottish adults. The latest phase, covering Summer 2021, was published on 24 February 2022.
? COVID-19 wider impacts on the healthcare system - This dashboard, published by Public Health Scotland, shows activity trends across areas of the healthcare system including Cardiovascular, Cancer and Mental Health services.
? YouGov online polling - Opinion polling continues on Scottish adults around once a month. Throughout the pandemic questions have been asked regarding concerns about mental health and loneliness.
? COVID-19 burden of disease - The Scottish burden of disease study looks to estimate the overall impact, and inequalities in the impact, of COVID-19 on public health measures.
Public Health Scotland also continue to publish on their website a wide range of research and statistics which will help to monitor areas of physical and mental health as time progresses.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 08 April 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 29 April 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-07409 by Michael Matheson on 31 March 2022, whether it will provide the information requested, regarding when it expects projects from the ScotWind offshore wind leasing round to start generating electricity, and what generating capacity, in GW, it anticipates in (a) the first year of operation and (b) each of the following years; for what reason it did not provide this information in its previous response, and what its position is on whether sufficiently detailed planning has been carried out regarding when Scotwind projects are expected to start generating electricity, and what the anticipated generating capacity will be in the first, and each of the following, years.
Answer
Over the next few years each project will go through project development and consenting processes, respond to geographical and technological requirements, and find a route to market. There are several variables to be considered across these processes, including aspects such as grid connection and the impact of offshore wind developments on various environmental receptors.
To add to my response of 31 March 2022, it is not possible at this stage to predict how long each of the 17 ScotWind projects awarded lease options will take to pass through the project development and consenting process, achieve connections to the onshore grid network and subsequently to undergo construction. For each project this is a complex and multi-faceted process involving a number of variables, including the iterative review of offshore wind planning assumptions, impacts arising from environmental assessments, consultative processes, investment decisions with regard to supporting supply chain activity, success in securing power supply agreements though the Contracts for Difference regime, and potential challenges to be addressed in design and construction with regard to physical conditions and the application of innovative floating wind technologies being pioneered at GW scale in a number of projects. These variables are dynamic and are capable of affecting the size and nature of projects as well as the speed at which they will progress. Their impact cannot be predicted with accuracy at this stage.
Forward planning with regard to potential generating capacity, which may be expected from ScotWind and other offshore renewables developments, informs our thinking and is continually reviewed. This type of forward planning will next be reflected in the Government’s Draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan due to be published for consultation this autumn.
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 April 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 29 April 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) Social Security Scotland and (b) the Department for Work and Pensions regarding the relocation of staff affected by the reported planned office cuts at (i) Whitburn Road, Bathgate, (ii) Lindsay House, Dundee, (iii) Callendar Gate, Falkirk, (iv) Radnor House, Clydebank, (v) Springburn, Glasgow and (vi) St Ninians Road, Stirling.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-07984 on 29 April 2022.. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
