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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: S5O-04444

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 June 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how its Food Fund will continue to support groups most in need over the summer, including families with children who are eligible for free school meals.

Question reference: S5W-29804

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 17 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government when the guidance issued to CalMac regarding permitted travel to and from the islands during the COVID-19 outbreak will be updated.

Question reference: S5W-29574

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 16 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Foreign Office regarding the repatriation of the oil rig workers from Scotland who are stranded in India due to the restrictions on inbound flights that have been imposed in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Repatriation of UK citizens overseas is the responsibility of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). In cases where the Scottish Government is made aware of people from Scotland struggling to return due to travel restrictions imposed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we have alerted the FCO and passed on FCO guidance to the individual concerned.

Scottish Ministers have engaged directly with Foreign Office Ministers to ensure that those individuals from Scotland who are stranded overseas (including India) are able to return to the UK as quickly as possible.

However, it is regrettable that regular calls with the U.K. Government, focused on this matter, have now come to an end following the U.K. Government’s decision to suspend the Ministerial Implementation Groups. We continue to have discussions at Ministerial or official level as necessary.

Question reference: S5F-04228

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 15 June 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 June 2020

To ask the First Minister whether she will provide an update for island residents who wish to book ferry tickets.

Question reference: S5W-29849

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 June 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Ivan McKee on 12 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government when the report from the recent consultation into the replacement of European structural and investment funds in Scotland post-EU exit will be published.

Question reference: S5W-28450

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 April 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 10 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government when the necessary components will be delivered to NHS Western Isles to ensure that tests for COVID-19 can be processed within the islands rather than sent to the mainland.

Question reference: S5O-04388

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 June 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been made of the likely impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on rural and island economies.

Question reference: S5O-04378

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 May 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the UK Government regarding the funding consequentials following from recent extensions to business grants and the charity support direct grant.

Question reference: S5W-28214

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 April 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 30 April 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what support it can offer to recreational boating companies impacted by COVID-19 that have no business premises.

The Scottish Government is working with the sector, and all parts of the tourism industry to support them as best we can. There are a range of schemes that can be accessed at present such as furloughing or access to the Self-employment Income Support Scheme.

On 15 April, I announced £220 million worth of further measures. This will make available grants for the recently self-employed, extend the Small Business Grant Scheme to include applications for additional properties and establish a fund to support viable micro and SME businesses in distress due to COVID.

Question reference: S5W-27991

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 15 April 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the COVID-19 outbreak, what arrangements it is putting in place for people from island communities who require the use of an air ambulance, and whether the service will be able to carry people who have been tested positive for the virus.

We’ve been working closely with the Scottish Ambulance Service to significantly increase capacity for airlifting patients off the islands and to ensure that any patients from our island communities with COVID-19 can be transported to receive the appropriate healthcare when they need it.

The first batch of Epishuttles are now operational, with plans well underway to increase the number of these single patient isolation pods in the coming weeks.

SAS also continue to work closely with key partners including the Coastguard, Military, Loganair and Highland and Island Health Boards to ensure they have the resources, policies and protocols in place to carry out the safe and effective transfer of patients off of our islands when required.