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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-03807

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 18 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 19 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to extend the COVID-19 vaccine certification (COVID passport) scheme to other businesses such as hospitality settings and smaller indoor events.

We will keep the scope of our certification scheme under review to ensure it remains necessary, proportionate, and targeted in order to continue helping to drive vaccination rates up as high as possible; and providing an additional layer of protection over the winter months as we seek to achieve the difficult task of keeping COVID under control while keeping our economy fully open.

Our decisions are taken, and reviewed on the latest data and clinical evidence. Our review process includes consideration of the impact assessments, such as the Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment .

Our certification scheme is limited to activities that are a higher risk and is an alternative to the potential closure of higher risk venues. We have made clear that certification will never be a requirement for access to public services.

Question reference: S6W-03891

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 19 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many times the Scottish Government COVID-19 Advisory Group has met since the start of 2021, and on what dates.

Question reference: S6W-04153

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 05 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 19 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-03890 by John Swinney on 2 November 2021, whether it will publish (a) any modelling of a potential spike in COVID-19 cases following COP26, including the number of cases anticipated and (b) the details of any contingency plans that are in place for the NHS to respond to any rise in COVID-19 cases following COP26.

We continue to monitor and assess the pandemic closely and carefully. The Scottish Government develops a range of epidemic scenarios to provide the best public health advice to Ministers. These are presented in the Modelling the Epidemic report published by Scottish Government. These models consider a range of influences on the epidemic, of which COP26 is one. The Scottish Government will continue to assess the impact of COVID-19 on the NHS in the next few weeks in terms of estimated number of infections, hospital bed demand, and ICU bed demand. The scenarios within the Modelling the Epidemic report account for the start of the COP26 conference beginning in Glasgow on 31 October.

Based on current results, we do not have any concerns about COVID rates among Blue Zone passholders. As of 13 November, the cumulative test positivity for Blue Zone passholders, based on lateral flow tests, was 0.08%.

The Scottish Government continues to explore all options for how it will respond to the evolving pandemic and we will not hesitate to strengthen the protective measures in place if it proves necessary to do so. Given the uncertainty and risk we face as winter progresses, it would not be responsible to rule anything out at this stage.

Our Health and Social Care Winter Overview published in October outlines a package of over £300 million of investment in NHS and care services this winter to help address these pressures. This is shaped by our four key principles: maximising capacity; supporting staff wellbeing; supporting effective system flow, and improving outcomes.

Question reference: S6W-04325

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6O-00453

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 November 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will allocate funding in its 2022-23 budget to enable social care workers to be paid at least £15 per hour.

Question reference: S6W-03976

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 25 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 17 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will complete all flu vaccinations by the start of the flu season and by what date it expects to complete the vaccination programme for each of the eligible groups.

The seasonal flu vaccination programme started on 6 September and will run until March 2022. This year it is the biggest ever flu vaccination programme in Scotland reaching over 4 million people. So far, to the end of week 44, Public Health Scotland has reported that a total of 1,451,857 individuals, among different eligible cohorts, have received the influenza vaccine.

Flu vaccinations have started for those over the age of 70 years, and those at the highest clinical risk from flu. Flu vaccinations have also started for pregnant women, preschool children as well as primary and secondary pupils. Adults aged 60 years to 69 years and those aged 16 years plus with underlying health conditions have started receiving vaccination appointment letters. A portal has been launched for adults aged 50 years to 59 years, unpaid carers 16 years plus and adult (16 years plus) household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals allowing those groups to book flu appointments online ahead of flu season.

Question reference: S6W-03899

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 17 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to applications to study medicine, how many (a) were received and (b) were successful, broken down by each year since 2007.

Data on the number applications and accepted applicants is collected and published by the University and College Admissions Service (UCAS).

To note:

Applicants ’ are able to make up to 5 applications to study at Universities across the UK when applying through UCAS.
An ‘ Accepted Applicant ’ has been made an offer, met the conditions of the offer and accepted a place to study from one of their applications.
Tables include ‘Pre-clinical medicine’ and ‘Others in Medicine & Dentistry’ due to changes in UCAS subject coding in 2017.

The latest End of Cycle data can be found below.

Main Scheme Applications through UCAS to study Medicine at Scottish Providers

Subject Classification	Year of Application Cycle
Subject Classification	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013
A1 - Pre-clinical Medicine	8,090	7,695	6,855	9,695	9,710	9,640	9,485
A9 - Others in Medicine and Dentistry	0	0	85	10	240	300	355

Subject Classification
Subject Classification	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
A1 - Pre-clinical Medicine	10,800	9,520	9,305	6,980	9,670	9,200	9,530
A9 - Others in Medicine and Dentistry	510	520	550	2,515	695	800	900

Source: UCAS End of Cycle 2020 Report

UCAS Undergraduate sector-level end of cycle data resources 2020 | Undergraduate | UCAS

Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5.

Accepted Applicants through UCAS to study Medicine at Scottish Providers

Subject Classification	Year of Application Cycle
Subject Classification	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013
A1 - Pre-clinical Medicine	960	1,010	990	1,025	1,095	940	960
A9 - Others in Medicine and Dentistry	0	0	10	0	35	35	30

Subject Classification
Subject Classification	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
A1 - Pre-clinical Medicine	975	980	1,015	840	1,065	1,155	1,290
A9 - Others in Medicine and Dentistry	45	60	70	280	135	145	135

Source: UCAS End of Cycle 2020 Report

UCAS Undergraduate sector-level end of cycle data resources 2020 | Undergraduate | UCAS

Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5.

Question reference: S6W-03620

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 08 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 17 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what the total cost is of the NHS Scotland Covid Status App.

The initial contract to develop the NHS Scotland Covid Status App was awarded to Netcompany through fair and open procurement at a cost of £600,000. Netcompany is a Danish firm who have developed the Coronapas App for Denmark and the NHS Covid Pass for England and Wales.

The NHS Scotland Covid Status App continues to be developed, with further features and functions added, we will therefore set out the total cost in due course.

Question reference: S6W-03616

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 08 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 17 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects the 1,000 additional health and care support staff, announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care in his statement to the Parliament on 5 October 2021, Health and Social Care (Winter Planning), to be in place.

Health Boards have already commenced recruitment activity to meet the commitment to recruit an additional 1,000 Health and Care Support staff at AfC Bands 2, 3 & 4 to provide additional capacity across a variety of services both in the community and in hospital settings. Funding of up to £15 million is being provided in-year to fully fund all costs associate with recruitment to these posts. We are directly supporting boards to fill these posts as quickly as possible within that time frame, through securing an accelerated pre-employment process and supporting the delivery of employability initiatives such as the ‘Skills Boost for Health Care’ training for staff new to health and care.

Question reference: S6W-03937

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 29 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 17 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with care home providers regarding the dismissal of care home staff who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19.

The Scottish Government have been clear and consistent that whilst we strongly encourage those eligible to receive the coronavirus vaccination to do so, the decision is one of personal choice, and we have no current plans to introduce mandatory vaccination, or to impose any penalties relating to this. It is for each employer to consider their own specific circumstances and make sure their approach is consistent with their own existing obligations and relevant legislation.

We will continue to work together and engage with care home providers, staff and health boards across Scotland, to further encourage acceptance of the coronavirus vaccine to protect staff and residents.