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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-28017

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 27 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that children with additional support needs continue to receive the support for learning that they need to enable them to continue to study while schools are closed.

One of our key priorities is to ensure that vulnerable children and young people continue to benefit from the learning, care and support that schools and nurseries provide for them.

We have been working with local authorities to ensure they have plans in place to support continuity of education and support for children and young people who are learning at home, taking into account the needs of children and young people in their area.

Local authority plans indicate that they have identified a variety of imaginative, creative and simulating ways to support continuity in learning for all pupils . This includes creating opportunities for distance and online learning and the use of a range of learning resources which can be adapted to meet the learning needs of children and young people.

We will continue to work with local authorities and other partners as this support develops to ensure that children and young people continue to be supported with their learning.

Question reference: S5W-27970

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 16 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 26 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what criteria will be used to determine whether schools should close due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

All schools were required to close on 20 March 2020, with the exception of any critical provision required to protect a number of key groups and interests. This decision was based on, firstly, scientific advice indicating that closing schools would help to suppress the spread of Coronavirus, and, secondly, that the public health guidance on limiting social contact made it increasingly difficult to sustain education provision.

Question reference: S5W-27973

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 16 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 25 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) business organisations, (b) local authorities and (c) the voluntary sector regarding measures to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak.

I am, along with other Ministers and officials, holding regular and continuing discussions with business organisations, local authorities and the voluntary sector. This is ensuring that we have a comprehensive view of business concerns and where we can best support them.

The findbusinesssupport.gov.scot website is the best way for business to find the information they need in relation to Covid-19 (24/7). There is also a separate HMRC helpline on tax issues at 0800 015 9559.

This is a fast-moving situation and we are working hard to expand the information available on the website so that businesses can get the answers they need.

Question reference: S5W-27930

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 13 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 23 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it supports the UK Government’s budget decision to not increase Corporation Tax.

The Scottish Government believes in fair taxation that supports economic growth and protects Scotland’s position as an attractive proposition for businesses. However, Corporation Tax remains reserved to the UK Government. It is important that any developments in this area are balanced and evidence-based.

In terms of headline corporate tax rates, we would not support a race to the bottom. Ultimately, the Scottish Government believes that all tax powers should be devolved to the Scottish Parliament so that fiscal decisions that affect the people of Scotland can be made here.

Question reference: S5W-27931

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 13 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 23 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it supports the UK Government’s budget decision to not increase the top rate of income tax.

The Scottish Government is proud of our fair and progressive approach to income tax, and would encourage the UK Government to do the same. Whilst we have continued to prioritise this for a number of years, the UK Government has previously prioritised tax cuts for the well off. The Scottish Government welcomes the fact that, at Budget 2020, the UK Government stuck to their previous commitments, didn’t deliver another tax cut only for the rich, and didn’t increase the tax gap for higher earning Scots relative to the rest of the UK.

Question reference: S5W-27978

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 16 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 23 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with foodbanks regarding providing additional assistance to people affected by the current pandemic.

In addition to introducing a £350m package of funding and coordinated support for individuals and communities affected by COVID-19, we are in frequent contact with key national stakeholders such as the Trussell Trust, the Independent Food Aid Network and FareShare who are monitoring the availability of food supplies to community based organisations.

We will be connecting these groups to Local Resilience Partnerships who are undertaking vital frontline work allowing better support for people who may be worried about accessing food and other essentials whether due to an income drop or self-isolation, including older adults.

Question reference: S5W-27933

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 13 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 20 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact is on the economy of the recent fall in the price of oil.

The recent falls and volatility in the global oil price reflect the ongoing developments regarding the COVID-19 pandemic impacting on global demand accompanied by supply increases following the breakdown of the OPEC+Russia agreement.

Oil and gas production is worth 9.3% of Scotland’s GDP and supports an estimated 101,400 jobs through direct, indirect and induced effects. While the industry has become more efficient following the recent industry downturn, a prolonged period of low prices would present significant challenges.

The Scottish Government’s Oil and Gas, Energy Transition Strategic Leadership Group plays a key role for engagement between the sector, Government and the wider public sector, and is a strategic forum engaging on the key issues and challenges affecting the sector. The SLG membership is cross industry (including operators, contractors and SMEs), academia, trade unions and industry trade bodies.

Question reference: S5W-27932

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 13 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 20 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it supports the UK Government’s budget decision to not increase taxes on alcohol.

Alcohol duty is reserved to the UK Government. The Scottish Government would expect any changes, or otherwise, in the rates of alcohol duty to be balanced and robustly evidence-based.

The Scottish Government believes tax policy should be fair and progressive and should support both businesses and individuals. Ultimately, the Scottish Government believes that all tax powers should be devolved to the Scottish Parliament so that fiscal decisions that affect the people of Scotland can be made here.

Question reference: S5F-04009

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 02 March 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 March 2020

To ask the First Minister for what reason Scottish Enterprise has suspended new grant funding for business.

Question reference: S5W-27110

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 January 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 2 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will advise NHS boards to integrate Parkinson’s medication management into ward staff education.

The safe and effective management of medicines is overseen through the Health Boards' Medicines Governance Strategies and implemented locally under Safe Use of Medicines protocols and Clinical Governance frameworks.

The Chief Pharmaceutical Officer has met with Parkinson's UK since the publication of their report, and has agreed to help communicate the patient safety issues in relation to medicines as much as possible. In addition, I expect Boards to share, through the structures established for such purposes, examples of best practice with the potential to benefit patients more widely across NHS Scotland. This would of course include any such learning from NHS Grampian's pilot in partnership with Parkinson's UK Scotland.