Questions and answers

Chamber and committees

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 ��˿�� 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: S5W-29042

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 May 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 26 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how many care home staff in the (a) public, (b) voluntary and (c) private sector have been tested for COVID-19, and what percentage of the total workforce in each category this represents.

Question reference: S5O-04349

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 May 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide testing facilities in the areas with the highest incidence of COVID-19.

Question reference: S5W-28349

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 April 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 20 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether NHS staff can use in-house laundry facilities to wash uniforms to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Question reference: S5W-28352

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 April 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 20 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how many staff are employed in the (a) NHS and (b) social care sector.

The latest published data on the NHS workforce shows that as at 31 December 2019, 142,471.4 Whole Time Equivalent people were employed in the NHS workforce in Scotland. Full details can be found at:

The latest published data on the social services workforce shows that as at 31 December 2018, 204,610 people were employed in the social services workforce in Scotland. Full details can be found at:

Question reference: S5W-28350

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 April 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 20 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether the guidance issued to NHS boards allows for laundry to be done on site where in-house laundry facilities exist.

Question reference: S5W-28914

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 May 2020
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 20 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of a delay in the delivery of the Moray East Offshore Wind Farm, in light of the crane collapse of the Deme Offshore vessel, Orion, as it was due to install jacket foundations at the windfarm.

I am aware of the serious accident that took place onboard the Orion 1 installation vessel during testing in the port of Rostock, Germany on 2 May 2020.

I understand that Deme NV, as contractor, have launched an investigation to determine what went wrong during the testing and will now be looking for a replacement vessel for the work due to begin in coming months.

EDPR have stated they are considering what, if any, impact this may have on the project delivery for Moray East Offshore Wind Farm.

Question reference: S5W-28537

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 April 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 20 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will encourage the public to use face masks to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Question reference: S5W-28098

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 20 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what its exit strategy is from the current state of lockdown that is in place in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Coronavirus (Covid-19): framework for decision making was published on 23 April 2020 and outlines the approach and principles that will guide decision making about transitioning out of the current lockdown arrangements. The framework can be accessed here:

Further information was published in the Coronavirus (COVID-19): framework for decision making - further information document on 5th May 2020 and can be accessed here:

Question reference: S5W-27965

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 16 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 20 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what arrangements are in place to support people who might require home care in the event that the COVID-19 outbreak results in staff absence.

We have taken steps both nationally and locally to rapidly increase our health and social care workforce capacity to enable those who receive care at home to continue to do so. We are increasing recruitment / hiring across the social care workforce. For example, NHS Education Scotland has developed a national web-based recruitment portal to support local efforts to enable those with relevant skills and experience to come forward and support health and social care services at this time of national emergency. People returning to, and entering, the social care workforce are being deployed quickly to where they are most needed.

There is already flexibility in the registration system for social services staff to move to another service or start to work in another type of registered service, but more has been done to clarify and implement minimum training requirements and enable redeployment of staff as necessary. The SSSC has developed a minimum training package for social care for redeployment and volunteers, who will play an essential role in the delivery of day-to-day services. Further information can be accessed via the SSSC website:

We have also asked NHS National Services Scotland to provide PPE stock to personal assistants and unpaid carers as well as the regulated social care sector during this emergency period, this will go towards supporting those who may be required to provide home care during this time.

We have also put in place shielding measures to protect people at the highest risk because of existing health conditions and also set up a national helpline for Covid support which is aimed at “group two” vulnerable people, for those who have not been classed within the shielding group. This national helpline will provide a number of links to council services who will help access support such as essential food and medication, social work services and emotional support during this unprecedented time.

Question reference: S5W-28366

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 April 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 19 May 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how many intensive care beds there will be per million people to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak at full capacity; how this compares with the number of such beds (a) on 1 January 2020, (b) when the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed and (c) on 13 April 2020, and what information it has regarding the figures for (i) England, (ii) Wales and (iii) Northern Ireland.