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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: S6W-03209

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 15 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many nurses have (a) joined and (b) left the NHS in each year since 2007.

The information requested on how many nurses have (a) joined and (b) left the NHS in each year since 2007 is not centrally available.

Information on how many Nursing & Midwifery staff have (a) joined and (b) left the NHS since 2011-12 can be found in the following table:

Nursing & Midwifery Staff Group - Joiners and Leavers by Financial year in Whole Time Equivalent (WTE)

Financial Year	Joiners	Leavers
2011-12	2,536.8	3,108.9
2012-13	3,677.7	3,173.7
2013-14	4,507.4	3,382.2
2014-15	4,870.5	3,774.5
2015-16	4,460.1	4,074.1
2016-17	4,913.2	4,293.0
2017-18	4,684.4	4,324.4
2018-19	4,611.5	4,133.3
2019-20	5,204.1	4,132.2
2020-21	6,862.1	3,647.2

Source: Scottish Workforce Information Standard System (SWISS)

Question reference: S6W-03956

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 25 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 15 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how people who do not have access to online services can obtain their vaccine passport when the COVID status helpline is busy, meaning they are unable to speak to someone who can provide assistance.

People can show their COVID-19 vaccine status either via:

1. NHS Scotland COVID Status App via Google Play or the App Store;

2. Download a PDF of the vaccination status record via NHS Inform website; or

3. Request a paper copy of the vaccination status record by calling the Freephone COVID Status Helpline on 0800 196 8565.

People should allow plenty of time to access their certificate; and if using paper certificate allow at least 14 days for any letter to arrive.

If the helpline is busy then they may wish to call back at later.

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-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-03957

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 25 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 15 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will allow people to obtain a paper copy of their vaccine status from their GP if they do not have access to online services or a smartphone.

Question reference: S6W-03722

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 15 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the funding allocated to the East Kilbride line electrification and upgrade project will be reallocated, in light of its reported decision not to proceed with double-tracking between Busby and East Kilbride railway stations.

I am pleased to confirm that, notwithstanding the severe financial pressures caused by the Covid Pandemic, sufficient funding can be made available to complete fully the preferred option for the electrification and significant enhancement of both the East Kilbride and Barrhead routes.

This preferred option was recommended by and agreed with rail industry partners Network Rail and ScotRail following detailed consideration of a wide range of options, the business case appraisal of which has followed appropriate Scottish Government processes

Question reference: S6W-04019

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 15 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish its employment action plan for disabled people 2021-22.

Question reference: S6W-03839

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 15 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-33434 by Kate Forbes on 7 December 2020, whether it will provide figures for (a) 2020-21 and (b) 2021-22 to date.

The following table details how many vehicles have been in the Government Car Service (GCS) fleet since 2020/21 to date, broken down by Ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEV’s

Year	Number of ULEV’s on fleet	Total number of vehicles on fleet (1)
20-21	31	41
21-22	28	28

Notes

1. During each year there are a number of purchases and disposals. While we generally keep an operational fleet of between 25 – 30 vehicles at any given point, this number grew 20/21 whilst surplus vehicles were awaiting disposal.

Question reference: S6W-03802

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 18 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 15 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what the timetable is for publishing a revised work schedule on the implementation of the provisions in the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019.

Question reference: S6W-03991

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 15 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any progress that has been made towards retaining skilled rail infrastructure workers in Scotland.

Network Rail is responsible for maintaining and renewing the rail network across the UK including Scotland. While the Scottish Government fund Network Rail north of border, its operations are a reserved matter therefore any questions on employment issues would be for UK Ministers.

Our view remains that a fully devolved, public sector controlled and better integrated railway would deliver more for Scotland’s economy and communities. The UK government is more than aware of our position and, yet, the Williams-Shapps proposals not only ignore these requests, they add further complexity in terms of how GB/devolved operations will interface.

Despite these complexities, we are future proofing Scotland’s rail network through our Strategic Transport Projects Review 2 and our Rail Services Decarbonisation Action Plan. Our work to remove diesel services by 2035, through a mix of electrification and alternative powered trains, will create more skilled and sustainable jobs which can provide a significant contribution to our economy.

Further information on the decarbonisation action plan can be accessed via:- rail-services-decarbonisation-action-plan.pdf (transport.gov.scot)