- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 14 May 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 26 May 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its aim to keep its policies broadly aligned with those of the EU, and further to the inclusion in the European Commission’s Strategic Guidelines on Sustainable Aquaculture of a dedicated animal welfare chapter and extensive welfare provisions, whether it plans to introduce similar measures for the regulation of aquaculture in Scotland.
Answer
We recognise the importance to sustainable aquaculture of high fish health and welfare standards. We will therefore consider the EU’s Strategic Guidelines on Sustainable Aquaculture alongside other sources of advice such as the UK Animal Welfare Committee, the British Veterinary Association and the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission.
- 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: 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: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 14 May 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 26 May 2021
To ask the Scottish Government when it will consult on the licensing of grouse moors.
Answer
The Scottish Government remains committed to implementing the licensing of driven grouse shooting and is currently developing proposals for a full public and stakeholder consultation with the aim of bringing forward legislation during this parliamentary term.
The timing of the consultation will depend on the legislative programme for the Parliament, which will be set out in due course.
- 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 which NHS boards are currently offering (a) online and (b) in-person CAMHS autism assessments.
Answer
The information requested is not held centrally. All Boards are currently offering a mix of online and face to face appointments in CAMHS. It is a matter for individual Health Boards and clinicians to determine how autism assessments are administered.
- 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: 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.
- 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: 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 Kate Forbes on 25 May 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with McVitie's regarding preventing the proposed closure of its Glasgow factory, and what action it is taking to support workers at the site.
Answer
The Scottish Government was deeply concerned to learn that Pladis (McVitie’s) is entering into a consultation with its workforce over the potential closure of its Tollcross site. The Scottish Government has engaged with Pladis, as well as unions (GMB and Unite the Union), Glasgow City Council and local partners with a firm commitment to exploring all possible options.
An Action Group has now been convened and will be co-chaired by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy alongside Councillor Susan Aitken, Glasgow City Council. Other members of the Action group will include Trade Unions and Scottish Enterprise. The Action Group will work with the company during the consultation period to assess options for the site and support the workforce. We will pursue every opportunity to secure a viable future for the site, and we are seeking commitment from Pladis that it will be engaged in this process.