- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 17 May 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Kate Forbes on 26 May 2021
To ask the Scottish Government on what date it awarded the contracts for the R100 broadband programme, and when the detailed programme will be announced for the (a) Highlands and (b) north east.
Answer
The contracts for the Central and South lots of the Reaching 100% (R100) programme were signed on 16 December 2019. Contract signature for the North lot was completed on 11 December 2020, following dismissal of a legal challenge which had delayed contract signature.
As outlined in the response to S6W-00008 on 24 May 2021, the Scottish Government provided Openreach with a finalised speed and coverage template (or SCT) for the R100 North lot contract at the end of March 2021, which covers both the Highlands and the north east of Scotland. The remodelling exercise to finalise their coverage footprint is ongoing and will be subject to rigorous review through Scottish Government governance and assurance structures, and those of Building Digital UK (BDUK). The full picture across the R100 North lot contract area is expected to be available by Summer 2021.
The roll-out of R100 build in the North lot – and the associated survey work – will be completed in phases, and build plans will be reflected in our online checker at scotlandsuperfast.com.
All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 May 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 26 May 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether offshore workers can be prioritised for rescheduling their COVID-19 vaccination appointments if they are working offshore at the time of their given appointment, and whether they can have the flexibility to schedule their vaccination further in advance.
Answer
The Scottish Government greatly values the work of Scotland’s offshore workers and have been in regular discussions with Oil and Gas UK throughout this pandemic. Scottish Government appreciates and values the work that offshore workers are doing in what can be difficult circumstances.
The order in which people will be offered the vaccine in Scotland is based on advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The Scottish Government is vaccinating in line JCVI priority as quickly as supply allows us to do so.
Decisions to prioritise one population group over another are not taken lightly, nor are they straightforward. That is why prioritisation decisions are guided by the independent expert advice from the JCVI. Currently there is a mass vaccination centre open at the P&J Live at TECA in Aberdeen. If any offshore worker cannot attend their appointment, they should contact the helpline to reschedule.
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 17 May 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 26 May 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has for administering COVID-19 vaccines suitable for (a) vulnerable and (b) disabled children who have been shielding.
Answer
Current JCVIadvice does not cover vaccination in those under 18 years old, so far only 16 and 17 years olds in groups 1-9 are covered.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advises that only those children at very high risk of exposure and serious outcomes, such as older children with severe neuro-disabilities that require residential care, should be offered vaccination with either the Pfizer-BioNTech or the AstraZeneca vaccine. We will continue to review our approach in line with JCVI advice.
Clinical trials are currently underway for vaccination of children and young people.
We will continue to engage with vaccine developers, and the JCVI so that if trials are successful we are ready to vaccinate younger age groups, if that is what the clinical and scientific evidence supports.
- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 17 May 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 26 May 2021
To ask the Scottish Government under which COVID-19 protection levels can face-to-face appointments for CAMHS autism assessments take place.
Answer
Face to face appointments for CAMHS autism assessments can take place under all levels of COVID-19 protection, subject to clinical need and adherence to Covid-safe practices.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 13 May 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 26 May 2021
To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will publish the Women’s Health Plan.
Answer
The Scottish Government is making good progress with the development of a Women’s Health Plan and aims to publish it within the first 100 days of this new government.
- Asked by: Beatrice Wishart, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 13 May 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 26 May 2021
To ask the Scottish Government on which dates (a) Ministers and (b) officials met with Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) (i) management or (ii) representatives to discuss the outcomes of the Island Communities Impact Assessment on air traffic control, and whether it will share the minutes and outcomes from those meetings.
Answer
Ministers have not discussed the outcomes of the Island Communities Impact Assessment on HIAL’s Air Traffic Management 2030 Strategy with HIAL. Officials attended the HIAL Board meeting on 25 February 2021 where the issue was discussed. The minutes of the meeting are available on the HIAL web site at https://www.hial.co.uk/downloads/file/295/hial-board-minutes-february-2021 .
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 14 May 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Kate Forbes on 25 May 2021
To ask the Scottish Government by what date the additional financial support for the taxi trade in response to the COVID-19 pandemic that the First Minister made a commitment to provide during the election campaign will be made available.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-00023 on 24 May 2021. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .
- Asked by: Paul O'Kane, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 14 May 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 25 May 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether funding that it would have previously spent on programmes for EU students will remain in the university sector from 2021-22.
Answer
The funding previously associated with providing home fee funded places for EU and associated students will remain in the college and university sectors for the next academic year 2021-22.
- Asked by: Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 13 May 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 25 May 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on university students arriving back in the country from studying abroad being asked to pay £1,750 for a 10-day period in a quarantine hotel, and whether it will consider reimbursing their full costs.
Answer
The Scottish Government has been working with the university sector to explore what measures can be put in place for students returning to Scotland after an education exchange programme, who may be subject to managed isolation arrangements.
These students can apply for financial hardship support from the £22 million Higher Education Coronavirus Discretionary Fund and £3m Further Education Coronavirus Discretionary Fund. These funds were allocated to the universities and colleges in February. Institutions' assessments and awards are based on the individual circumstances involved. However, the eligible scenarios can include costs associated with travel to and from Scotland if their travel is essential and in line with current travel restrictions / exemptions, and they are in financial hardship and can demonstrate this through the institution's hardship assessment process.
- Asked by: Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 13 May 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 25 May 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to allowing university students arriving back in the country from studying abroad to (a) be exempted from the requirement to enter a period of managed isolation at a quarantine hotel for 10 days or (b) complete the period of quarantine at their home address.
Answer
The Scottish Government has been exploring with the university sector how student accommodation could be used for the purposes of managed isolation for students returning to Scotland after a period of study abroad.
Restrictions around international travel are in place to limit the risk of importing new cases and variants to Scotland. Currently, only students arriving back in Scotland from studying abroad in a ‘red-list’ country need to go into managed isolation in a hotel. Students arriving from amber list countries can complete their period of self-isolation at their home address.