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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: S5W-32031

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 2 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to extend the NHS COVID-19 testing capacity ahead of the winter.

We have been deliberately seeking to build winter capacity as we know demand will increase as people come forward with COVID-like symptoms over the winter months, in addition to the temporary demand increases such as those we’ve seen from local outbreaks and schools and universities returning.

We have continued to build our own NHS capacity throughout this pandemic and additional hubs will rapidly increase our lab capacity, allowing us to migrate testing to the NHS system and away from the UK Lighthouse network.

We have also been taking forward plans to expand existing capacity by:

• Deploying additional mobile testing units

•Increasing the number of tests that can be carried out at regional testing centres

•Utilising additional NHS testing capacity, for example by activating additional drive-through facilities

Furthermore, on 28 August the First Minister announced plans to create 22 walk through test centres across the country, with 11 being operational by the end of October and the rest over winter.

However, testing is only one effective intervention that we are using to manage the virus and it remains vital that people continue to follow physical distancing advice and practice good hand and cough hygiene not just for their own safety but in order to protect others.

Question reference: S5W-31826

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 1 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have accessed pulmonary rehab in the last six months.

Question reference: S5W-31273

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 August 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 1 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government when adult day care and respite services will fully reopen.

The Minister for Children and Young People and I wrote to Health and Social Care Partnerships, Chief Social Work Officers, care providers and others on 3 August 2020 advising that guidance on dedicated residential respite and day care services would be issued as soon as possible. The letter also advised that in the interim, such services can reopen subject to being adapted and risk assessed in line with existing guidance; and in agreement with local Health Protection teams and the Care Inspectorate. The letter is published on the Scottish Government website at:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-letter-to-health-and-social-care-partnerships/

Guidance to support the safe re-opening and delivery of building-based day services for adults was published on 31 August 2020 on the Scottish Government website at:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-adult-social-care-building-based-day-services/

The Minister for Children and Young People and I wrote again on 23 September 2020 to confirm the guidance to enable safe reopening of stand-alone residential respite for adults and children. The letter is published on the Scottish Government website at:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-residential-respite-services---letter-from-the-cabinet-secretary-for-health-and-sport-and-the-minister-for-children-and-young-people-2/ .

Question reference: S5F-04433

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 28 September 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 October 2020

To ask the First Minister what plans the Scottish Government has for NHS Louisa Jordan, in light of reports that it has awarded a contract for its decommissioning.

Question reference: S5W-31827

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 28 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether the InHealthCare digital service will allow people to access pulmonary rehab remotely.

The InHealthcare platform has been procured to deliver an interim remote monitoring solution aimed at Covid-19 patients and to aid response and recovery mobilisation plans within Scotland. Immediate additional focus areas have been identified in collaboration with local Board strategic and clinical leads and linked to Scottish Government key priorities including Covid-19 symptom monitoring, Heart Failure, Asthma, COPD and Pre-operative assessment.

We acknowledge there may be further targeted care pathways which could be supported by the platform, including pulmonary rehabilitation, and we are engaging with national and local clinicians and strategic leads to assess potential additional services on a case-by-case basis.

Question reference: S5W-31836

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Liam McArthur MSP (on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate on 25 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what information and assistance is available to Members and staff who are experiencing difficulties with alcohol or drugs.

The SPCB is committed to providing a safe and positive working environment for Members and staff. The SPCB recognises that this can be put at risk by individuals who misuse alcohol, drugs or substances to such an extent that that it affects their health, work performance, behaviour or relationships at work. The SPCB is committed to ensuring a working environment which is free from this risk.

Under its published policies, the SPCB makes a distinction between individuals with an alcohol, drugs or substance misuse problem and misconduct involving alcohol, drugs or substances. These policies apply to SPCB staff and Members’ staff. The SPCB considers dependency on alcohol, drugs and substances to be a health problem for which the individual requires specialist treatment and support.

As such the SPCB, through its occupational health partners, provides impartial information, advice and support to individuals experiencing difficulties. This includes arranging specialist counselling, assessment or referral to another agency. Individuals can also seek support through the Employee Assistance Programme. This Programme provides a network of counsellors who are available to offer continuing support to those who have more complex issues.

The SPCB recognises that it is also the responsibility of the individual to accept this help and assistance to improve their condition.

Question reference: S5F-04387

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 14 September 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 September 2020

To ask the First Minister what urgent action the Scottish Government is taking to restore and support contact between family carers and older and disabled people living in care homes, which is considered essential to their mental, emotional and physical wellbeing.

Question reference: S5W-31432

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 August 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 10 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has reportedly reduced its funding to the Scottish Personal Assistant Employers Network (SPAEN), which supports the employers of social care personal assistants, and what equality impact assessment it carried out before reaching this decision.

The financial settlement in the 2020-21 budget was very tight and tough decisions were made across all parts of the health and social care portfolio. The majority of projects in the self-directed support and social care portfolio experienced reduced levels of funding.

Despite this, the total amount of funding from Scottish Government to SPAEN in 2020-21, is in line with previous years, it is made up of social care funding and specific support related to COVID-19.

It is good practice to regularly review grant funding arrangements to ensure alignment with policy aims and sustainability. As an organisation SPAEN has received Scottish Government funding for over a decade and some of its work is self-sustaining. Funding arrangements for 2020-21 followed the completion of a business review and receipt of SPAEN’s own funding application for 2020-21.

We are fully committed to the provision of independent advice and advocacy including advice on employment of personal assistants and as well as funding SPAEN we fund other organisations through the Support in the Right Direction programme (SiRD).

We did not complete an EQIA for this specific funding decision, however we did work with Self-directed Support Scotland (SDSS), a membership body representing disabled people’s organisations, in order to understand the impact of our funding to independent support organisations as part of the consultation and fund development of SiRD. A planned EQIA on reform of adult social care has been delayed due to COVID.

Question reference: S5W-30903

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 24 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 10 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the holding answer to question S5W-29031 by Jeane Freeman on 29 May 2020, when it will provide a substantive answer, and for what reason it has not provided this to date.

Question reference: S5W-31433

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 August 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 8 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what funding it has provided to organisations that provide support to the employers of social care personal assistants in each of the last five years.

The funding provided to organisations supporting the employers of social care personal assistants in each of the last five years is as follows:

2015 – 2016

The Support in the Right Direction Fund 2015-18

A portfolio of 36 independent support services across Scotland who provide to people who require social care, many of whom employ personal assistants

Self-directed Support Scotland

Infrastructure support to the independent support services sector to ensure they offer appropriate advice. This includes training on a range of legislation and best practice relevant to PA employers.

£2,937,491

Scottish Personal Assistant Employers Network

Support people to employ and manage their own staff

£142,643 (includes funding from the Provider and Workforce Innovation fund of £27,643 )

2016 -2017

The Support in the Right Direction Fund 2015-18 and Self – Directed Support Scotland

£2,909,845

Scottish Personal Assistant Employers Network

£143,335 (includes funding from the Provider and Workforce Innovation fund of £28,335)

2017- 2018

The Support in the Right Direction Fund 2015-18 and Self – Directed Support Scotland

£2,890,498

Scottish Personal Assistant Employers Network

£142,653

includes funding from the Provider and Workforce Innovation fund of £27,653

2018 – 2019

The Support in the Right Direction Fund 2015-18 Extension	£1,648, 809
The Support in the Right Direction Fund 2018-21 A portfolio of 30 independent support services across Scotland who provide advice and practical guidance to people who require social care, many of whom employ personal assistants.	£1,464,520
Self-directed Support Scotland	£185,396
Scottish Personal Assistant Employers Network	£120,000

2019- 2020

The Support in the Right Direction Fund 2018-21

£2,751,866

Self-directed Support Scotland

£225,067

Scottish Personal Assistant Employers Network

£200,080

(This included exceptional funding for a specific need)

In addition to this, Scottish Government has funded the Workers’ Educational Association PA Network project which, while primarily supporting Personal Assistants, also supports the resolution of issues where relationships between social care personal assistants and their employers are at risk of breaking down. They have been funded as follows:

2015-2016	£56,307 via the Provider and Workforce Innovation fund
2016-2017	£60,907 via the Provider and Workforce Innovation fund
2017-2018	£61,466 via the Provider and Workforce Innovation fund
2018-2019	£66,460
2019-2020	£68,598