- Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 14 August 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Kate Forbes on 25 August 2020
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S5O-04462 and S5O-04463 by Kate Forbes on 13 August 2020 (Official Report, c. 5), whether it will provide a breakdown of all additional funding that it has received from the UK Government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and how it has allocated this.
Answer
The UK Government confirmed on 24 July that the Scottish Government will receive a minimum of £6.5 billion of Covid-19 Barnett consequentials in 2020-21. This represented an increase of £800m more than previous estimates which had been provided by Treasury based on spending commitments in England.
Even with this level of additional funding it is clear that Scottish Government is still facing considerable financial challenges in responding to the ongoing Heath and Economic impacts as result of the pandemic. Whilst the guarantee is welcome I remain frustrated that the proportionate and reasonable requests for additional fiscal flexibilities that I have been making and which Parliament has supported continue to be dismissed by the UK Government.
The allocation of the first £3.6 billion of consequentials were detailed in the Summer Budget Revision published by the Scottish Government in May. I will provide further details on additional allocations in the Autumn Budget Revision, which I aim to publish in September and in the Spring Budget Revision later in January.
- Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 20 July 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 17 August 2020
To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates outdoor holiday clubs for school-aged children will be able to resume activities.
Answer
There are two circumstances in which outdoor holiday clubs can be provided over the summer period. Firstly, if the provider is a service registered with the Care Inspectorate to provide childcare and is able to operate within the current guidance for fully outdoor settings or for school age childcare services . Secondly, if the provider is delivering organised outdoor sporting activity for children and can operate in accordance with guidance produced by their Scottish Governing Body of Sport.
- Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 July 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 12 August 2020
To ask the Scottish Government on what date it expects motor caravanner rallies to be able to resume meetings.
Answer
An organised event, such as a motor caravan rally, will be covered by the dates for reopening of the events sector. The First Minister published an update to the Routemap on 30 July, which proposed an indicative date of 24 August for live outdoor events and 14 September for live indoor events, subject to limited numbers, strict physical distancing measures and following the relevant guidance.
It is important to emphasise that these are not confirmed dates and may be changed if the epidemic deteriorates in Scotland.
- Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 20 July 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 11 August 2020
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects professional providers of complementary, natural and alternative medicines to be permitted to reopen their practices.
Answer
Following a clinical assessment, personal retail services, including Complementary and Alternative Medicine services (CAMs) and massage therapy, were advised that they could resume services as of 22 July 2020, where the service is carried out in a therapist’s own premises (i.e. not a mobile therapist, who provides treatment in a patient’s home), and the close contact retail guidance has been updated to reflect this.
The Scottish Government are undertaking further clinical assessment of the risk of transmission of COVID-19 for mobile massage and CAM services, and are considering whether further guidance is required for these.
- Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 20 July 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 11 August 2020
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason equestrian competitions have not been permitted to resume, in light of other outdoor-based sports being able to.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-30787 on 11 August 2020. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx
- Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 20 July 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 11 August 2020
To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates equestrian competitions will be permitted to resume.
Answer
The Scottish Government and sport scotland have been working with partners on a range of sports and activities on the way they can resume in a safe way. All sports and activities pose different challenges, which can impact on the timing of resumption of certain disciplines. In terms of Equestrian, we have engaged with HorseScotland to work towards a timely return of both grassroots activity and competition.
HorseScotland is a key member of the COVID-19 response group which has been set up by sport scotland to consider the conditions required for the return of outdoor sport. HorseScotland have recently published phase 3 guidance on their website. This guidance indicates that at present, to restrict the possible spread of the virus, competition should only be undertaken locally and informally. Ministers will review this regularly with a view to permitting competition as soon as possible.
- Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 20 July 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 11 August 2020
To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates providers of acupuncture treatment will be permitted to return to work.
Answer
Following a clinical assessment, personal retail services, including Complementary and Alternative Medicine services (CAMs) and massage therapy, were advised that they could resume services as of 22 July 2020, where the service is carried out in a therapist’s own premises (i.e. not a mobile therapist, who provides treatment in a patient’s home), and the close contact retail guidance has been updated to reflect this.
The Scottish Government are undertaking further clinical assessment of the risk of transmission of COVID-19 for mobile massage and CAM services, and are considering whether further guidance is required for these.
- Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 20 July 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 11 August 2020
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason acupuncturists and providers of other health services have not been permitted to return to work, in light of hairdressers being permitted to do so on 15 July 2020.
Answer
Following a clinical assessment, personal retail services, including Complementary and Alternative Medicine services (CAMs) and massage therapy, were advised that they could resume services as of 22 July 2020, where the service is carried out in a therapist’s own premises (i.e. not a mobile therapist, who provides treatment in a patient’s home), and the close contact retail guidance has been updated to reflect this.
The Scottish Government are undertaking further clinical assessment of the risk of transmission of COVID-19 for mobile massage and CAM services, and are considering whether further guidance is required for these.
- Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 August 2020
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 13 August 2020
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason source emissions rose by 1.5% from 2017 to 2018.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 13 August 2020
- Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 26 June 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by Aileen Campbell on 13 July 2020
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason hospitality venues will be permitted to open to the public in July 2020, but not places of worship.
Answer
We recognise how difficult it has been for Scotland’s faith communities to be unable to come together in places of worship at this challenging time. This was of course necessary due to the pandemic and I appreciate the understanding and patience our faith communities have shown in abiding by restrictions, which have been vital to ensure safety and stop the spread of the virus.
Working with our faith leaders and guided in particular by evolving scientific and health advice on transmission risks, we are confident that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to bring forward the reopening of places of worship to 15 July. This was announced by the First Minister on 9 July.
The Scottish Government has remained engaged with our faith communities and will continue to work closely with them as we develop guidance to support places of worship to re-open safely, with physical distancing and hygiene safeguards.
