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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.

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Question reference: S5F-04532

Asked by: James Dornan, MSP for Glasgow Cathcart, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 November 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 November 2020

To ask the First Minister what additional support the Scottish Government has made available for mental health services to help cope with the long-term effects that lockdown and ongoing restrictions have had on people’s mental wellbeing.

Question reference: S5O-04717

Asked by: James Dornan, MSP for Glasgow Cathcart, 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 progress has been made in enabling the transfer of community assets under the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015.

Question reference: S5W-32364

Asked by: James Dornan, MSP for Glasgow Cathcart, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 October 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Kevin Stewart on 8 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its Programme for Government commitment to publish jointly with COSLA an updated Ending Homelessness Together action plan.

There has been an extraordinary response to ensure people experiencing homelessness, particularly those sleeping rough, were safe and supported during the pandemic.

In June I reconvened the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Group (HARSAG) - chaired by Jon Sparkes, CEO of Crisis - to provided us with a comprehensive set of recommendations on tackling homelessness during the pandemic and longer term.

These new recommendations, alongside our existing plans for tackling homelessness, has led to an updated Ending Homelessness Together Action Plan - published 8 October.

In this updated plan, we also set out proposals to modify the night shelter provision this winter and our ambition to end their use altogether.

To support this transition, we are establishing rapid rehousing welcome centres to provide an under-one-roof service to people experiencing the most acute forms of homelessness, focused on supporting people into settled homes with the support they need.

The updated Action Plan commits to strengthening the voices of those who have experienced homelessness in the policy-making process, advancing legislative protections for people experiencing domestic abuse and exploring alternative routes to reduce migrant homelessness.

The Homelessness Prevention and Strategy Group (HPSG), which I co-chair alongside Cllr Whitham, COSLA community wellbeing spokesperson, will continue to oversee the delivery of the updated action plan.

The updated Ending Homelessness Together Action Plan can be accessed here .

Question reference: S5O-04564

Asked by: James Dornan, MSP for Glasgow Cathcart, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 September 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how its Programme for Government aims to tackle climate change through support for the green economy.

Question reference: S5O-04545

Asked by: James Dornan, MSP for Glasgow Cathcart, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 August 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting young people in the Glasgow Cathcart constituency with the costs of starting a new job.

Question reference: S5W-30722

Asked by: James Dornan, MSP for Glasgow Cathcart, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 July 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 16 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made toward extending Fair Start Scotland provision following the end of the current contract period, given the importance of employability support in responding to the COVID-19 crisis.

Fair Start Scotland (FSS), Scotland’s devolved employment support service is helping people, including those who are further removed from the labour market, to find work and stay in work. Following an open and competitive procurement process, contracts were awarded in October 2017 to a mixed economy of suppliers from public, third and private sectors to deliver the service across Scotland. Fair Start Scotland was launched in April 2018 for initial contract period to 31 March 2021.

Today I have announced the extension of the current Fair Start Scotland service for a further two years, in accordance with the commercial options available to me in the original contracts, allowing more people to join the service up to 31 March 2023.

This two year FSS extension period is an opportunity to provide stability and continuity as we respond to the current Covid-19 crisis and move into our economic restart and recovery phases.

We know that the vulnerable, and those furthest from the labour market suffer most in times of recession, and we must do all we can to continue delivering the support they need to progress towards and into work.

The extension of the current Provider contracts and delivery model provides a strong foundation from which to respond to a rapidly changing labour market, as well as delivering on our ‘test and learn’ approach to employability support, and allows us to work with our partners in local government and the third sector towards longer term local integration within No One Left Behind.

Question reference: S5O-04402

Asked by: James Dornan, MSP for Glasgow Cathcart, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 June 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports people in making sustainable travel choices.

Question reference: S5W-29186

Asked by: James Dornan, MSP for Glasgow Cathcart, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 May 2020
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 1 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government at what stage it is in its planning for delivering education in the event of a second wave of COVID-19 later in 2020.

The Scottish Government will do its best to avoid a second wave of COVID-19. However, if the scientific evidence tells us that we are unable to contain the virus, it is possible that we may need to re-impose lockdown restrictions for schools and other education settings. Our primary concern is the safety and wellbeing of staff and we will ensure that pupils, education staff and families are fully supported in the event of a re-occurrence. Regardless of a second wave, children and young people will continue to be supported in their teaching and learning.

Question reference: S5T-02201

Asked by: James Dornan, MSP for Glasgow Cathcart, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 May 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance is available to help and support the wellbeing of people affected by COVID-19.

Question reference: S5O-04347

Asked by: James Dornan, MSP for Glasgow Cathcart, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 May 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what stage it has reached in its contingency planning for delivering education in the event of a second wave of COVID-19 later in the year.