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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-28737

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 27 April 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 2 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance has been issued to (a) local authorities and (b) care homes regarding the care of older people during the COVID-19 outbreak; when this was issued, and what each piece of guidance covered.

Health Protection Scotland (HPS) has published infection control guidance for care homes which is updated regularly, most recently on 20 May. The HPS guidance is based on the National Infection Prevention and Control Manual which includes advice on how to prevent and manage the spread of all respiratory infections including COVID-19.

To supplement HPS guidance, the Scottish Government also issued clinical and practice guidance for care homes. This was first published on 13 March and updated on 26 March and 15 May. This guidance draws on the HPS guidance but provides more detailed information on some of the practical steps that are required to protect staff and residents. Both the HPS and the Scottish Government guidance are continually reviewed to take account of the emerging picture around COVID-19.

Local authorities will determine on a local basis what additional information is required for care homes to support them in adopting national guidance

Question reference: S5W-29345

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 May 2020
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 2 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the growth in unemployment because of the COVID-19 outbreak has had on devolved benefits, and whether it will publish the modelling it is using to reach its position.

The number of applications received, decisions made, payments and expenditure for Best Start Grant and Funeral Support Payment since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak have remained fairly consistent.

However as the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the labour market is already evidenced in the increased Universal Credit claims, we expect that there will be a corresponding increase in applications, and subsequently expenditure for the low income benefits delivered by Social Security Scotland.

Modelling is continuously developing as the COVID-19 crisis unfolds and more information becomes available. The Scottish Fiscal Commission, as Scotland's official and independent forecaster, will provide updated forecasts.

Question reference: S5T-02218

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 01 June 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what the daily average number of COVID-19 tests carried out last week was.

Question reference: S5W-28145

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 30 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 1 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether the data regarding people who have (a) tested positive for and (b) died from COVID-19 is available, broken down by local authority.

The number of laboratory confirmed positive tests of COVID-19 by Local Authority area and the total number of deaths are published daily: https://www.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/658feae0ab1d432f9fdb53aa082e4130

The total number of people who have died where COVID-19 is a contributing factor can be accessed at https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/statistics-by-theme/vital-events/
general-publications/weekly-and-monthly-data-on-births-and-deaths/deaths-involving-coronavirus-covid-19-in-scotland

Question reference: S5W-29423

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 May 2020
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 29 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the granting of temporary vacant status to businesses in England affected by the COVID-19 lockdown is more immediately beneficial to the cash demands on those businesses than firms similarly affected by lockdown in Scotland, and what steps it will take to ensure that businesses in Scotland can have the same financial benefits on water charges as all those in England.

Question reference: S5W-29425

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 May 2020
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 29 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what consultation the Water Industry Commission had with business organisations prior to implementing temporary changes to water charges for businesses in response to the COVID-19 emergency.

Question reference: S5W-29429

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 May 2020
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 29 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether licensed providers are required by the Water Industry Commission as part of their license to abide by its ethical business principles and, if so, whether imposing such a requirement is of itself consistent with these principles in securing the confidence and trust of stakeholders.

Question reference: S5W-29421

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 May 2020
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 29 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £60 million in support for meeting business water bills that it announced on 23 March 2020 will be paid for by (a) businesses and (b) licensed providers.

Question reference: S5W-29430

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 May 2020
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 29 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what its response to the stakeholders that were consulted by the Water Industry Commission on a temporary relief scheme for business water charges in response to the COVID-19 emergency who claim that the actions were not consistent with the commission's own ethical business principles.

Question reference: S5W-29428

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 May 2020
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 29 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the Water Industry Commission's ethical business principles referred to in the paper, COVID-19 Response and Decision on Measures in Support of Non-household Customers and to protect Household Customers.