- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 August 2021
-
Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 30 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to local authorities to enable them to target people who are (a) homeless, (b) at risk of homelessness and (c) otherwise considered vulnerable regarding the provision of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Answer
The Scottish Government works closely with stakeholders to amplify key campaign messages and ensure we are continuously aspiring to communicate effectively to the population of Scotland, delivering messaging in an inclusive way to reach all geographies and seldom heard communities, which includes those experiencing homelessness.
The Scottish Government also works very closely with Local Authorities, and provides regular updates on marketing activity and coronavirus-related information. The feedback we receive from Local Authorities helps shape our communications offering, and their distribution channels allow us to reach grassroots organisations and target communities with relevant messaging.
An appointment is no longer required to receive a COVID-19 vaccine as all health boards now offer drop in vaccinations to those who have not had a first dose and to those for whom it has been more than 8 weeks since receiving their first dose.
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 August 2021
-
Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 30 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many and (b) what proportion of people who are (i) homeless and (ii) at risk of homelessness have received at least their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Answer
The homelessness status of those being vaccinated is not recorded at the time of vaccination. By the nature of homelessness short or long term, this data would be difficult to track. As of 31 August 2021, 91% of people in Scotland have had a 1st dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. An appointment is no longer required as all health boards now offer drop in vaccinations to those who have not had a first dose and to those from whom it has been more than 8 weeks since receiving their first dose. We continue to work with our partners and stakeholders to communicate to the entire population, including seldom heard communities on the importance and availability of vaccination for COVID-19.
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 September 2021
-
Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 30 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on municipal ownership of ports.
Answer
There are a large number of ports and harbours around the Scottish coast ranging in size from large commercial ports to local piers, slipways and marinas. Ownership models include harbour trusts, privately owned harbours, local authority ownership and harbours owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd. We value the diverse range of port ownership in Scotland and the benefits this brings for communities and other stakeholders. Any public sector expenditure on port infrastructure should be carried out with the aim of achieving the best value for money.
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 September 2021
-
Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 30 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government when it last corresponded with Peel Ports regarding commercial and grant terms for the Ardrossan Harbour redevelopment.
Answer
Transport Scotland have ongoing engagement with Peel Ports regarding Ardrossan Harbour re-development and on 12 July 2021 wrote to Peel Ports Group regarding the potential commercial terms of the project. Officials are currently considering the response received from Peel.
I can confirm that we remain committed to a solution at Ardrossan that can be delivered in a cost effective way reflecting the needs of all of the partners involved.
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 September 2021
-
Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 30 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what contingency plans are in place in the event that commercial and grant terms for the Ardrossan Harbour redevelopment are not agreed with Peel Ports before September 2022.
Answer
We continue to engage with Peel Ports; and remain committed to finding a solution at Ardrossan that delivers value for money and provides facilities that best meets the needs of ferry users and vessel operations.
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 September 2021
-
Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 30 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government under what circumstances it would consider exploring municipal ownership of Ardrossan Harbour with North Ayrshire Council.
Answer
This would be a matter for North Ayrshire Council to consider. However we continue to work closely with North Ayrshire Council to secure an appropriate outcome for Ardrossan.
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Monday, 20 September 2021
-
Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 28 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, between 1 April 2016 and 30 June 2021, how many Vietnamese nationals have been (a) held on remand, (b) released on bail, (c) prosecuted, (d) convicted and sentenced, broken down by offence and (e) identified as presumed or confirmed trafficking survivors by the National Referral Mechanism, each broken down by how many were (i) adults and (ii) children.
Answer
The information requested is not held centrally. The Scottish Government does not hold information on offenders' or victims' nationality.
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 September 2021
-
Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 28 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to establish the independent review to advise on the replacement for the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), and by what date the review will (a) commence, (b) conclude and (c) publish its findings.
Answer
Professor Ken Muir has been appointed as an independent advisor on education reform and formally started work on 2 August 2021, and is expected to take around 6 months to conclude.
Professor Muir’s work will include designing the implementation of the OECD’s recommendations for structural change of the SQA and Education Scotland, including delivery of the national curriculum, assessment, qualification and inspection functions. This will include consideration of the role, remit and purpose of both the SQA and Education Scotland, their functions and governance arrangements.
Professor Muir is expected to conclude work and report recommendations to Scottish Government early 2022 and we will seek to publish Professor Muir’s findings as soon as practically possible.
Updates on Professor Muir's work will be provided via https://www.gov.scot/policies/schools/education-reform/
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Monday, 28 June 2021
-
Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 24 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken since March 2021 to ensure that (a) seafarers and (b) offshore workers returning directly to Scotland for a period of leave, after working outside the UK, receive assistance from employers to meet the costs of complying with COVID-19 restrictions and requirements.
Answer
International travel restrictions are important in limiting the importation of further cases of the virus, in particular new variants, which could undermine the rollout of our vaccine programme. Exemptions to self-isolation requirements have been granted for seafarers returning directly to Scotland from red or amber list countries outside of the UK. Seafarers who are repatriating in Scotland are also exempt from isolation and the financial pressure that isolation incurs. This exemption does not apply to seafarers returning to Scotland for a period of leave or any other non-work-related circumstance. Offshore workers arriving from amber list countries to work on the UK continental shelf are also exempt from isolation requirements. Where workers are required to travel internationally for business reasons, employers are encouraged to consider how they support their employees to comply with restrictions on their return to Scotland.
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 September 2021
-
Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 23 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its position stated in the procurement notice issued to local government in 2014 that it "strongly discourages trade with illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories", whether this remains its position.
Answer
Yes, this remains Scottish Government position. We strongly discourage trade with all illegal settlements, including those in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.