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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: S6W-03500

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 04 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 17 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will confirm that children will never at any point be required to be included in any COVID-19 vaccine certification scheme.

Question reference: S6W-04222

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 08 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 16 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether Roman Catholic priests may deliver the last rites to an individual at a location that has been designated as a crime scene.

Question reference: S6W-03674

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 15 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that designers and planners are aware of Cycling By Design, published on 17 September 2021, so that the new guidance is followed in the future.

The publication of Cycling by Design was announced to the media and publicised on social media along with targeted distribution of the document via Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in Scotland (SCOTS) and Transport Scotland networks. In addition, the Steering Group, comprising SCOTS, Sustrans and Transport Scotland, who have overseen delivery of the document are currently progressing plans for awareness raising sessions for industry, including training sessions and presentations through professional institutions.

Question reference: S6W-03676

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 15 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, in view of the high level of service requirements of Cycling By Design, published on 17 September 2021, which Overseeing Organisations are responsible for reviewing and approving designs, and how it will ensure that these organisations assess designs equally and fairly.

Question reference: S6W-03675

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 15 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that designers and planners, who should be using and following the new guidance Cycling By Design, published on 17 September 2021, receive any professional training needed to implement it.

The Steering Group, comprising Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in Scotland (SCOTS), Sustrans and Transport Scotland, who have overseen delivery of the document are currently progressing plans for the development and delivery of training material. Transport Scotland has committed to provide training for staff and designers working on trunk road schemes, and it is a matter for local authorities to consider what training they will require.

Question reference: S6W-04031

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 11 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ensure that older buildings, which may be subject to stricter planning regulations, can become energy neutral, and what support it can offer to the owners of these buildings to help make their properties energy neutral.

Scottish Government is committed to decarbonising all of Scotland's building stock, including transitioning Scotland’s many valuable heritage assets to low and zero emissions heating in a way that respects and protects the special characteristics of these buildings and places. Our Heat in Buildings Strategy recognises that for traditional and heritage buildings, bespoke approaches, including skilled design and construction, may be required. We are working with stakeholders, including Historic Environment Scotland, to develop more solutions to transition Scotland’s historic buildings to zero emissions heating while respecting and preserving the special characteristics of our buildings and places, and where needed continue to build our evidence base and the guidance available for the heat transition in these buildings and areas, including in our approach to regulation.

To ensure property owners have access to suitably qualified installers, we have developed, with industry, installer skill requirements for our Heat in Buildings Strategy which includes skill requirements for any work carried out on pre-1919 buildings where installers will be required to have a 'SQA Level 3 award in Energy Efficiency Measures for Older and Traditional Buildings'.

A range of guidance is available from Historic Environment Scotland to help with potential options for the installation of micro-renewables technologies, energy efficiency measures and climate change adaptations in listed buildings, traditional homes and buildings in conservation areas. This support can be accessed through the Historic Environment Scotland website at: www.historicenvironment.scot . Of particular interest may be:

Owning a Traditional Property: https://www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support/your-property/owning-a-traditional-property/

Making changes to your Property: https://www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support/your-property/making-changes-to-your-property/

Saving Energy in Traditional Buildings: https://www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support/your-property/saving-energy-in-traditional-buildings/

Domestic loans and grants are available through the Home Energy Scotland service which acts as the gateway to all Scottish Government-funded domestic energy efficiency schemes. Home Energy Scotland advisors can offer free and impartial energy efficiency advice, and advice on how to keep homes warmer and more affordable to heat, and are contactable Freephone on 0808 808 2282. Their website containing details of all Scottish Government energy efficiency schemes available for home owners can be found at: https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/scotland/home-energy-Scotland .

Additionally, property owners may be eligible for support through heritage-related grant schemes or relevant funds which can be found : https://www.heritagefundingdirectoryuk.org/ .

Question reference: S6W-04017

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 October 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 11 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many people included in the latest recorded drug-related deaths statistics were care leavers or care experienced.

The annual drug-related death statistics published by National Records of Scotland ( Drug Related Deaths in Scotland | National Records of Scotland (nrscotland.gov.uk) ) does not contain information about the life circumstances of people who have unfortunately died from a drug-related death.

The National Drug-Related Deaths Database (NDRDD) published by Public Health Scotland was established to collect wider and more detailed information regarding the nature and circumstances of people who had a drug-related death. This report does not currently include detail on whether individuals were care leavers or care experienced. However, Public Health Scotland are working with Research Data Scotland to explore the feasibility of widening out data linkage to non-health datasets and care-experience has been identified as an important area to explore.

( https://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Drugs-and-Alcohol-Misuse/Publications/2018-06-12/2018-06-12-NDRDD-Report.pdf ).

Question reference: S6W-03501

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 04 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 10 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that any COVID-19 vaccine certification scheme does not exert pressure on a child to take a vaccination that they might not want to be given, in order to be able to participate fully in society.

All under 18 year olds are exempt from our COVID-19 status certification scheme. We will, however, keep this under review as the vaccine is rolled out to younger age groups, which takes into account important factors such as disruption to education.

Our decisions are taken, and reviewed on the latest data and clinical evidence. Our review process includes consideration of the impact assessments, such as the Children’s Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment.

The scheme is a necessary and proportionate measure limited to activities that are higher risk and is an alternative to the potential closure of higher risk venues. We have made clear that certification will never be a requirement for access to public services including education.

Question reference: S6W-03518

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 9 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government by what means people who cannot receive the COVID-19 vaccine for medical reasons can demonstrate their exemption from vaccine certification.

Vaccination is the best way to keep you, your friends, family, and community safe and we encourage everyone to consider getting the vaccine. In the vast majority of cases a successful route to safe vaccination can be found.

If vaccination is not straightforward, support is available to help people achieve the benefits of protection from the Covid-19 vaccines. Local vaccination centre can help answer questions about the vaccine and can advise what arrangements may be put in place to enable safe vaccination. In the rare cases where that support does not lead to vaccination, the offer of an exemption will be a part of the process.

A person who is identified as clinically unable to safely receive the vaccine will receive a secure paper exemption certificate in the post.

Question reference: S6F-00427

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 08 November 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 November 2021

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