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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-03932

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 22 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 19 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the reported survivability bias in the Cancer Patient Experience Survey to ensure that experiences of patients with a less survivable cancer are captured, and whether the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care plans to make a statement on the issue.

Question reference: S6W-03854

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 19 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to address the reported survivability bias in the Cancer Patient Experience Survey to ensure that the experiences of patients with a less survivable cancer are captured.

The care experience survey programme, of which the Cancer Patient Experience Survey is part of, is due to be under review shortly to allow for the context of COVID-19.

The Scottish Cancer Patient Experience Survey is run in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support and is designed to be comparable with Cancer Patient Experience Surveys run in England and Wales. A change in methodology, such as altering the sampling frame, surveying people at different stages of treatment or surveying the relatives of those who have passed away, would result in survey results that are not comparable to the English & Welsh survey results. Such a change would require extensive consultation with stakeholders.

In order to capture the experience of patients with a less survivable cancer we are using tools such as Care Opinion and working with our third sector partners to collate best available evidence.

Question reference: S6W-03807

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 18 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 19 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to extend the COVID-19 vaccine certification (COVID passport) scheme to other businesses such as hospitality settings and smaller indoor events.

We will keep the scope of our certification scheme under review to ensure it remains necessary, proportionate, and targeted in order to continue helping to drive vaccination rates up as high as possible; and providing an additional layer of protection over the winter months as we seek to achieve the difficult task of keeping COVID under control while keeping our economy fully open.

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 Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment .

Our certification scheme is limited to activities that are a 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.

Question reference: S6W-03783

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 15 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 19 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that customers at hospitality businesses such as cafés, bars and restaurants are using the Check in Scotland and Test and Protect systems, in order to tackle the spread of COVID-19.

The Scottish Government continues to encourage all businesses, including hospitality businesses, to encourage their customers to use the Check-In Scotland and Test and Protect systems. This activity includes engagement with businesses and sector organisations by officials and Ministers, the ongoing revision of supporting guidance and communications campaigns on the importance of the Test and Protect system in reducing transmission of Covid-19. The Scottish Government is thankful to the large majority of hospitality businesses who are using the Check-In Scotland scheme and to the very large numbers of people who are regularly ‘checking in.’

Question reference: S6W-04268

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 19 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what research it has undertaken to further its understanding of the (a) environmental benefits and (b) costs of aquaponics.

Question reference: S6W-04153

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 05 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 19 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-03890 by John Swinney on 2 November 2021, whether it will publish (a) any modelling of a potential spike in COVID-19 cases following COP26, including the number of cases anticipated and (b) the details of any contingency plans that are in place for the NHS to respond to any rise in COVID-19 cases following COP26.

We continue to monitor and assess the pandemic closely and carefully. The Scottish Government develops a range of epidemic scenarios to provide the best public health advice to Ministers. These are presented in the Modelling the Epidemic report published by Scottish Government. These models consider a range of influences on the epidemic, of which COP26 is one. The Scottish Government will continue to assess the impact of COVID-19 on the NHS in the next few weeks in terms of estimated number of infections, hospital bed demand, and ICU bed demand. The scenarios within the Modelling the Epidemic report account for the start of the COP26 conference beginning in Glasgow on 31 October.

Based on current results, we do not have any concerns about COVID rates among Blue Zone passholders. As of 13 November, the cumulative test positivity for Blue Zone passholders, based on lateral flow tests, was 0.08%.

The Scottish Government continues to explore all options for how it will respond to the evolving pandemic and we will not hesitate to strengthen the protective measures in place if it proves necessary to do so. Given the uncertainty and risk we face as winter progresses, it would not be responsible to rule anything out at this stage.

Our Health and Social Care Winter Overview published in October outlines a package of over £300 million of investment in NHS and care services this winter to help address these pressures. This is shaped by our four key principles: maximising capacity; supporting staff wellbeing; supporting effective system flow, and improving outcomes.

Question reference: S6W-03891

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 19 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many times the Scottish Government COVID-19 Advisory Group has met since the start of 2021, and on what dates.

Question reference: S6W-03931

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 19 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to join the National Pancreatic Cancer Audit.

Question reference: S6W-04325

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6O-00418

Asked by: James Dornan, MSP for Glasgow Cathcart, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Maggie Chapman MSP (on behalf of the SPCB) on 18 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what consultation was conducted with MSPs ahead of changing the allowances system.

I would like to begin by stating up front that we had to replace the travel and expenses system. The contract for that system was coming to an end, and it could not be extended further as it had reached its contract limit. We were required, as with all public bodies, to follow Public Procurement Scotland regulations and replace the system by putting the opportunity out to tender.

Given the system at the time was over 10 years old and travel and expenses systems had moved on significantly it was recognised that any new system would be a significant change for Members and their staff.

Therefore, as part of the survey carried out on the review of the Reimbursement of Members’ Expenses Scheme in March 2019, and with the understanding that the system would need replaced, questions were included in relation to the submitting of claims and invoices, how this could be improved as well as seeking feedback on submitting claims through a new on-line travel and expenses system.

66.67% - two thirds - of those who completed the survey thought it would be more efficient to submit claims on-line rather than in hard copy. This feedback, as well as other views on what they would like to see in a new system, was built into the specification for a new system. Some of these suggestions included:

make it all electronic
being able to see invoices online
being able to submit online
see reports at any time not just once a month
an app where picture or receipt could be included and then submitted
be able to see progress of invoices/claims

We recognise that Members have experienced some difficulties during the roll out of the new system and the Allowances Office has worked with Members, their staff and our providers to rectify any issues experienced and to provide ongoing support and guidance as and when required.