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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-35297

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 February 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 24 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review its advice on vitamin D intake for (a) the general population and (b) specific groups, in light of reports of recent international studies that indicate that it might have a potential role as a mitigation measure against COVID-19.

Current advice on vitamin D specifically relates to protecting musculoskeletal (bone and muscle) health and is based on the consensus of scientific evidence as presented to all UK nations by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN).

In June 2020, SACN and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published the outcome of their reviews on vitamin D and COVID-19. Both found no evidence at that time to support that vitamin D can improve COVID-19 outcomes.

The SACN rapid review is available at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads
/attachment_data/file/944108/SACN_June2020_VitaminD_AcuteRespiratoryTractInfections.pdf

The NICE evidence summary was available at https://www.nice.org.uk/advice/es28

In December 2020, NICE, SACN, and Public Health England published updated guidance on vitamin D in relation to COVID-19 following a rapid review of recent evidence. The guidance states that there is still currently not enough evidence to support taking vitamin D solely for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19. It reiterates that people should continue to follow advice on vitamin D supplementation to maintain bone and muscle health during the COVID-19 pandemic. The NICE guideline is available at https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/NG187 . The guideline replaced the NICE evidence summary.

NICE continues to monitor new evidence published on vitamin D in relation to COVID-19 and will review and update the guidance if necessary.

We will continue to be guided by NICE and SACN as the evidence base develops. We will review our advice on vitamin D as necessary based on their recommendations.

Question reference: S5W-35368

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 19 February 2021
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Clare Haughey on 22 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to raise awareness of the importance of infant mental health and what parents and carers can do to support the mental health of their babies and young children.

We are launching a campaign on 23 February 2021 to promote awareness of infant mental health and encourage parents and carers to learn more about the ways that their interactions with their child can support babies and infants’ brain development. The campaign which will link to resources and information for parents and carers on the Parent Club website’s Wellbeing for Wee Ones hub. The hub contains explanations of the science behind the campaign which have been developed in conjunction with experts across Scotland.

This web content also provides new ideas and tips on simple things parents can do to help baby’s brains grow and give parents greater confidence to further support their child. As well as raising awareness of the emotional wellbeing of babies and infants, the aim of the campaign is to reassure families that they really are doing more than they think by communicating and being responsive to the cues of the infant.

This campaign sits alongside the work of the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Programme Board which are overseeing the expansion of mental health service provision for women, infants and families. This includes an investment to establish Infant Mental Health services across Scotland which is moving into its third year of development and supports infants and their families where specialist support is needed.

The infant mental health campaign will launch in the morning of the 23 rd of February online and across social media. Once the campaign is launched, parents and carers can explore more at ParentClub.Scot/Wellbeing.

Question reference: S5T-02658

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 15 February 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to The Report of the Independent Review of Sexual Abuse in Scottish Football.

Question reference: S5O-04977

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 January 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what measures in its draft Budget will help build the resilience and wellbeing of Scotland’s communities.

Question reference: S5O-04875

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 December 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support schools in safely facilitating instrumental music tuition during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Question reference: S5O-04867

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 December 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what financial support is available for newly self-employed people who have not been able to access other forms of support during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Question reference: S5O-04816

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 2 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what extra support it will be providing to families with disabled children to heat their homes this winter.

I’m pleased we have started paying the Child Winter Heating Assistance to provide £200 of additional financial support to the families of the most severely disabled children this winter.

This brand new benefit will help improve the lives of the 14,000 children and young people entitled to the highest rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance.

This represents a £2.9 million investment in their health and wellbeing, by easing the additional pressures caused on household finances by winter heating bills.

No application is necessary and Social Security Scotland will automatically pay each eligible child or young person by 11 December.

In addition our £100 million winter package announced earlier this week provides a range of support for low income families including help to people struggling with fuel bills.

Question reference: S5O-04741

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 November 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce harmful emissions in densely populated urban areas.

Question reference: S5O-04714

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, 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 has taken to tackle food poverty during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Question reference: S5F-04473

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 October 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 October 2020

To ask the First Minister whether she will provide an update on discussions with the UK Government regarding support for sporting organisations most affected by a delay to the return of spectators.