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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: S6W-03696

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 October 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 29 October 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to allow new applications for the Scottish Carer's Assistance payment.

Question reference: S6W-03487

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 27 October 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to adding the free flu vaccination distribution list to the COVID-19 booster vaccination list.

Flu and COVID-19 are completely different diseases caused by different viruses and is why there are different recommendations for those who are eligible for flu vaccination and those who should be offered both COVID-19 and flu vaccination.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination & Immunisation (JCVI) is a scientific committee and they give advice based on scientific evidence, with a number of in-depth considerations and recommendations made on COVID-19 published recently.

The evidence is clear that people with asthma are at a higher risk of flu related complications but this is not true for COVID-19 unless they are on repeated courses of oral steroid medication. This means that the vast majority of asthmatics are not at a higher risk of COVID-19 disease or its complications.

Question reference: S6W-03728

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 26 October 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will undertake a consultation on restricting the advertising and promotion of alcohol.

The advertising and promotion of alcohol entails a range of activity which is seen by children and young people across Scotland. This influences attitudes towards drinking alcohol and can encourage children and young people to start drinking alcohol or to drink more alcohol. This is why the Scottish Government will consult on potential alcohol advertising restrictions during 2022, to protect children and young people, as announced in A Fairer, Greener Scotland: Programme for Government 2021-22 , published on 7 September 2021.

Question reference: S6W-03163

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 29 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that football clubs enforce the wearing of face coverings inside their grounds, and what action will be taken if clubs fail to enforce the regulations.

Face coverings are required in indoor spaces. As stadiums are a mixture of both inside and outside, face coverings are required in internal areas such as entering and exiting as well as accessing kiosks or toilet facilities. Local Authorities engage with the Football Clubs through the event capacity limit exemption and Sports Advisory Group process to ensure Covid baseline measures are in in place in football stadiums.

We expect football clubs to use stewards and messaging to fans to encourage supporters to wear facemasks while inside at grounds. While police officers may be present at matches, their primary role is public safety, and while they have the powers to enforce the wearing of face coverings, as in any other setting, Officers would engage, explain and encourage before enforcing.

Question reference: S6W-03164

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 29 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether proof of vaccination will be required at sporting venues with crowds over 10,000 for all (a) officials and (b) players in attendance.

Question reference: S6O-00187

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 September 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what steps will be taken over the current parliamentary session to deliver crofting reform.

Question reference: S6O-00095

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 2 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported increase in the attainment gap between pupils from the most and least deprived backgrounds, following the most recent SQA results.

Closing the poverty-related attainment gap, and ensuring every young person has the chance to fulfil their potential, remains central to this Government’s work.

While the 2021 results show a slight change from 2020, the results saw a narrower poverty-related attainment gap compared with 2019, and the number of university acceptances from the 20% most deprived areas in Scotland reached a record high for SQA Results Day.

However, our ambition is a long-term one and we know that the challenges presented by the pandemic mean our efforts to deliver equity in education are more vital than ever. That’s why we’re investing a further £1 billion over the course of this Parliament to help to close the poverty related attainment gap and support education recovery.

Question reference: S6W-02520

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 31 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government by what date the COVID-19 digital vaccine certificate will be (a) be fully developed and (b) made available to the general public, and whether it will be recognised by IATA Travel Pass.

The NHS Scotland COVID Status app is being developed for release to the public by the end of September with vaccination information initially. We are developing our app to meet the EU requirements so we expect this to be compatible with the IATA Travel Pass. We are engaging with international stakeholders and UK Government to ensure the app is compatible with the other countries requirements of entry.

We are making PDF downloads of vaccination status and 2D barcodes (known as QR codes) available for international travel from early September to facilitate international travel.

Question reference: S6W-02144

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 August 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 25 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will review the fees paid to optometrists and, in light of these last increasing 12 years ago, what its position is on introducing a regular review mechanism.

Question reference: S6W-01923

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 July 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 20 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what pay increase junior doctors will receive in 2021-22.