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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-36012

Asked by: Sandra White, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 March 2021
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Kevin Stewart on 19 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made with the Ministerial Working Group on Mortgage Lending and Cladding on solutions for affected homeowners.

The Ministerial Working Group on Mortgage Lending and Cladding has concluded its work and recommendations have been published today on the Scottish Government website. I am grateful to the members spanning public, professional, commercial and personal interests for dedicating their time, during what has been an unprecedented year of challenge for everyone in dealing with COVID-19, to develop solutions.

I have announced today that I will accept the recommendations and have laid out our approach to tackling this complex issue which has caused anxiety for affected homeowners. We will take forward a Single Building Assessment approach to support homeowners as the first step to the Government's route to remediation. I have committed to invest all the funding received in consequentials from the UK Government so far. Future consequentials, which are yet to be clarified, will also be used to support this work.

I have written to the Convener of the Local Government and Communities Committee to confirm the detailed steps that will be taken by the Scottish Government in response.

Question reference: S5O-05139

Asked by: Sandra White, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 March 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Glasgow City Council regarding the provision of Gaelic medium education.

Question reference: S5T-02697

Asked by: Sandra White, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 March 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Police Scotland regarding the incidents at George Square and Glasgow city centre at the weekend, including what safeguards will be put in place to ensure that COVID-19 restrictions are followed and there is no repeat of such behaviour.

Question reference: S5F-04830

Asked by: Sandra White, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 15 February 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 February 2021

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to tackle child poverty.

Question reference: S5O-04994

Asked by: Sandra White, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 February 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what additional funding it will make available to local authorities in response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Question reference: S5O-04950

Asked by: Sandra White, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 January 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has made to the UK Government and the EU regarding the extension of visa-free travel to the EU to professions that are not currently exempt.

Question reference: S5O-04764

Asked by: Sandra White, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 November 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been charged with drug offences across Glasgow in the last year.

Question reference: S5O-04751

Asked by: Sandra White, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 November 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to tourist attractions in light of the ongoing restrictions due to COVID-19.

Question reference: S5O-04705

Asked by: Sandra White, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 October 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address suicide.

Question reference: S5W-32243

Asked by: Sandra White, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 02 October 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Jeane Freeman on 2 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the emerging evidence of the increased risks associated with contracting flu and COVID-19, how the seasonal flu programme will be delivered to ensure that the most vulnerable are protected as quickly as possible.

Because flu vaccination is more important than ever this year, in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, we have significantly extended the groups who are eligible to receive this free vaccination. Given that this extension for the 2020-21 programme now covers up to 2.4 million people, and therefore requires a system wide approach to effective delivery, we have transferred delivery responsibility to our NHS Boards and Integration Authorities. Coverage of this number and within the timeframe required necessitates a range of different routes for patients to receive their vaccine which is different from previous years.

This expansion of the programme aims to minimise the impact of seasonal flu on the most vulnerable and reduce the strain on the NHS. The extension now includes;

Social care workers who provide direct care,
Household members of individuals who are shielding, and
Those aged 55 and over.

We will also include 50 to 54 year olds as vaccines supply allows. The following table provides the likely uptake in the eligible cohorts.

Existing cohort	Likely uptake	Phase
Children aged 2-5 (not in school)	91,753	1
Primary school children	303,573	1
Over 65	798,056	1
Under 65, but at risk	584,000	1
Healthcare workers	90,931	1
Unpaid and young carers	35,597	1
Pregnant women (no additional risk factors)	26,153	1
Pregnant women additional risk factors	3,034	1
Frontline social care workers	79,890	1
Eligible shielding household members	65,922	1
55-64 year olds in Scotland who are not already eligible for the flu vaccine and not a member of a shielding household	363,879	2
Total	2,442,788

As per Scottish Government uptake planning assumptions, the Phase 1 groups represent 85% of the patients who will be vaccinated in 2020-21. Health Boards are aiming to have vaccinated a total of 1,072,237 people by the end of October, which represents 52% of the people in Phase 1 groups.

We are working closely with all NHS Boards to ensure they maximise the most appropriate route for each vaccine cohort and communicate clearly with all those who are now eligible.

We are aware of the unprecedented volume of calls that has been received by some Health Boards and NHS Inform and we are working with them to ensure that this issue is fully resolved. Scottish Government officials are supporting health boards with resources to ensure that all calls are being actioned and those eligible for the flu vaccine will receive an appointment appropriately.

We will write to all MSPs and Scottish MPs in the coming days to provide them with the particular arrangements in their relevant health board so that they can provide information and support to any constituent who raises a query with them.

Additionally, the NHS Inform website has a special flu section to provide further information and more locally tailored information will also be provided by health boards.