Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-12304

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 29 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its response to its consultation on community equipment and housing adaptations draft guidance.

Question reference: S6W-12207

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 29 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether there are any barriers that may prevent those outwith the COVID-19 vaccine priority groups from receiving a booster dose this winter, should they wish to get one, or if the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommends they do so.

Decisions to prioritise one population group over another for vaccination are not taken lightly, nor are they straightforward. That is why our prioritisation decisions have been, and will continue to be, guided by the independent expert advice provided by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) and senior Clinicians.

As with previous campaigns, vaccinations will be offered first to frontline health and social care workers and those most vulnerable to the effects of the virus. Information on the Winter Vaccines programme including eligible groups can he found here .

Full information on the considerations made by the JCVI with regards to which groups have been offered a COVID-19 booster vaccine can be found here .

Question reference: S6W-12190

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 28 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether people outwith the COVID-19 vaccine priority groups will be able to access a booster dose at a cost this winter should they not be covered by Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommendations and guidance.

Decisions to prioritise one population group over another for vaccination are not taken lightly, nor are they straightforward. That is why our prioritisation decisions have been, and will continue to be, guided by the independent expert advice provided by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) and senior Clinicians.

NHS Scotland will never ask someone to pay for the flu or COVID-19 vaccines if they are eligible. If they are not eligible for a free flu vaccine then they may be able to get vaccinated for a small fee at their local pharmacy. Please note it is not possible for anyone to pay for the COVID-19 vaccination, and there are currently no plans to implement this as an option.

Question reference: S6W-11974

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that winter vaccination appointments are allocated to patients according to the centre's proximity to their home address.

This year’s winter vaccination programme seeks to protect those at the highest risk of severe illness and hospitalisation from COVID-19 and flu, and reduce pressure on the NHS and social care services.

Ensuring accessibility for the most vulnerable has, therefore, been central to our approach throughout the vaccination programme.

In line with this, instead of the large-scale vaccination centres used in previous programmes, this winter we are offering smaller, more local clinics to facilitate access and minimise travel times to appointments.

Housebound patients have been vaccinated in their homes, with some health boards utilising the Scottish Ambulance Service to support this. Health boards may also offer support to patients with limited mobility in travelling to their vaccination appointment. Details of this can be found on the NHS Inform website.

Question reference: S6W-11999

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how many cases of sepsis have been diagnosed in each year since 2017, broken down by NHS board.

Question reference: S6W-12036

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 22 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to public petition PE1979 on establishing an independent inquiry and an independent national whistleblowing officer to investigate concerns about the alleged mishandling of child safeguarding enquiries by public bodies.

Question reference: S6W-12005

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 21 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many facial recognition cameras are currently being used by Police Scotland.

The decision to use any technology with facial recognition capability is an operational matter for Police Scotland, whilst having regard to the relevant laws.

The Scottish Government understands from Police Scotland that they are not and have no plans to use live facial recognition technology/cameras at this time.

In line with the Scottish Government's commitment to the legal, ethical and proportionate use of technologies in policing, an Independent Advisory Group on Emerging Technologies, whose membership includes policing, human rights and data protection stakeholders, is currently developing recommendations and is due to report to Ministers later this year.

Question reference: S6W-12004

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 18 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether the timeline to remove unsafe cladding from buildings has changed, in light of the reported funding reduction as part of the recent government review.

Question reference: S6W-12035

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 17 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to take action regarding the automatic response to people who refer safeguarding matters, in light of it reportedly being an automatic response from the General Teaching Council for Scotland to state the matter is "frivolous".

The General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) is the independent regulatory body for teachers and, as such, Scottish Ministers have no locus to intervene in their procedures. The GTCS fitness to teach policy sets out key principles and acts as a mechanism for dealing with a teacher who presents a risk of harm. The fitness to teach process also aims to ensure that we have a teaching profession in Scotland that is and remains fit to teach so that public trust and confidence in teachers is maintained and the learning of our children and young people is protected.

The Scottish Government Child Protection Unit engages with GTCS on a regular basis on child and public protection and safeguarding issues, and to clarify the role of the bodies that are responsible for dealing with teachers who present a risk of harm to children.

The Scottish Government has also recently established an internal forum on the implementation of the child protection guidance in schools, and will continue to facilitate discussions on reporting and investigation processes of child protection issues within schools.

Question reference: S6F-01528

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 14 November 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 November 2022

To ask the First Minister when the Cabinet will next meet.

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