- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 24 May 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 2 June 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to Glasgow City, on what date it was informed that the B.1.617 strain of COVID-19 was (a) a variant of interest or (b) under investigation, and on what date it was informed that it was a variant of concern.
Answer
The B.1.617.2 variant (subtype of the B.1.617 variant) of SARS-CoV-2, cases of which have been identified in Glasgow, was classified as a variant under investigation (VUI-21APR-02) on 28 April 2021. It was escalated to a variant of concern on 6 May 2021 (VOC-21APR-02).
Upon escalation, the Scottish Government worked with public health officials and have monitored the progress of this variant and have deployed appropriate measures where cases have been identified.
Coronavirus variants are classified a variant under investigation or variant of concern for the whole UK by Public Health England working with the other Public Health Agencies.
- Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 24 May 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 2 June 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether the milestone payment scheduled for March 2021 was delivered by the GRG Alliance to the Scottish Government-controlled project account, as reported to the Finance and Constitution Committee by the Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy in a letter of 11 February 2021; how much the payment was scheduled to be worth, and whether this was met in full.
Answer
Milestone payments are inter-company payments related to planned investment at the Lochaber smelter and are not payments due to the Scottish Government. No payments due from GFG Alliance companies to the Scottish Government are outstanding. For reasons of commercial confidentiality, we do not publish details of compliance with commercial contractual terms although such information may be shared in confidence with the Finance and Constitution Committee where appropriate.
- Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 June 2021
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 3 June 2021
To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will consider issuing a formal apology to the historic victims of forced adoption.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 3 June 2021
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 June 2021
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 3 June 2021
To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to a recent survey stating that 29% of police officers are experiencing moderate burnout, and a further 16% are enduring high levels.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 3 June 2021
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 June 2021
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 3 June 2021
To ask the First Minister what steps the Scottish Government is taking to ensure there are sufficient resources in place to prevent schools exceeding its maximum class size limits during the next academic year, in light of reports that a number of schools are currently exceeding these limits.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 3 June 2021
- Asked by: Lorna Slater, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 June 2021
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 3 June 2021
Question to be taken in Chamber.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 3 June 2021
- Asked by: Siobhian Brown, MSP for Ayr, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 June 2021
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 3 June 2021
To ask the First Minister what engagement the Scottish Government has had with the UK Government regarding the extension of the deadline for application to the EU Settlement Scheme.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 3 June 2021
- Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 June 2021
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 3 June 2021
Question to be taken in Chamber.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 3 June 2021
- Asked by: Douglas Ross, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 June 2021
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 3 June 2021
Question to be taken in Chamber.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 3 June 2021
- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 21 May 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 1 June 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to ensure the long-term sustainability of community facilities such as swimming pools and libraries.
Answer
The Scottish Government places great importance on public libraries and leisure facilities and believes everyone should have access to these services. The Scottish Government has produced safer workplace guidance for public libraries and sport and leisure facilities to allow these services to be restored safely, however as independent corporate bodies it is for local authorities to decide when and what will be offered, and it is for the locally elected representatives to make these decisions.
Scotland’s councils have been allocated an additional £1.5 billion in direct support through the local government finance settlement and councils have also been granted additional financial flexibilities to address the financial pressures caused by COVID-19.
Furthermore, the 2021-22 Local Government Settlement of almost £11.7 billion provides a cash increase in local government day to day spending for local revenue services of £375.6 million or 3.5 per cent.