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-35219

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 15 February 2021
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 1 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether a security company has been contracted to work on the international quarantine policy, and, if so, (a) which company and (b) how much money it will receive from each person in hotel quarantine.

The UK Government has awarded a contract enabling the call-off of security services in respect of the managed isolation programme, including in Scotland. The company appointed through that contract to provide security services in Scotland is G4S. The costs of the security services provided are met by the UK Government, with no payment passing directly from guests in the managed isolation programme to G4S.

Question reference: S5W-35210

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 15 February 2021
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 1 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government at what intervals its policy on quarantining for international arrivals will be reviewed.

Question reference: S5W-35186

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 12 February 2021
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 26 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has made to the UK Government regarding the recent approval of the second phase, 2a, of HS2 and how this could benefit Scotland.

This Scottish Government has not made any specific representations to the UK Government regarding the recent announcement that HS2 Phase 2a between Birmingham and Crewe has gained Royal Assent.

We have consistently supported HS2 and welcome the increased benefit that Scotland will realise from the improved connectivity and additional reduction in journey times between Glasgow and London that the extension of HS2 will bring.

Question reference: S5W-34060

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 26 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its (a) weekly and (b) daily target number is for the issuing of COVID-19 vaccinations.

Question reference: S5W-34059

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 26 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish its COVID-19 vaccine roll-out plan.

Question reference: S5W-35185

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 12 February 2021
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 26 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) recent discussions it has had and (b) discussions it plans to have with the UK Government regarding HS2.

Question reference: S5W-34055

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 December 2020
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 26 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what modelling it has carried on the roll-out of each of the COVID-19 vaccines.

The Scottish Government has published its COVID-19 vaccination policy in its which gives background to the decisions made, and different models. It also sets out how we will work as fast as supplies allow to vaccinate everyone over the age of 18 and those aged 16 and 17 who are frontline health and social care workers, young carers or have underlying health conditions in Scotland – estimated to be around 4.5 million people.

Question reference: S5W-35300

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 February 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 25 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what steps will be required to automate the Scottish Child Payment in the next two years.

As set out in our and ; it would not be feasible to deliver an automated Scottish Child Payment until full roll-out of Universal Credit, which is currently scheduled to be 2024 at the earliest. To deliver an automated payment earlier, we would have had to build interfaces with all the legacy benefits, which would be complex, time-consuming and impossible to deliver within the timescales of the Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan (2022), especially given the already full programme of work to deliver the devolved benefits.

We remain committed to automation where possible, and we will review the feasibility again as part of the wider review of Scottish Child Payment after full roll out. However, an automated service would still be complex and require substantial work, as well as a significant level of support from the Department for Work and Pensions. We would be absolutely dependent on the UK Government to provide the necessary data we would need to automate the payment, which is not currently provided.

Question reference: S5W-34337

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 08 January 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 25 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment is being made of the quickest ways of rolling out the COVID-19 vaccination programme.

We are currently working through groups one to nine of the JCVI's prioritisation list and aim to have reached the whole of the JCVI priority list by early May. Vaccination of the rest of the adult population will follow thereafter. Prioritisation decisions for phase two of the vaccination programme will be influenced by any additional clinical considerations and further advice from JCVI. Before making any decisions the JCVI will review data on the impact that vaccines have on transmission and effectiveness, when considering how to prioritise vaccination amongst the rest of the population.

Additional information about vaccine delivery is available from and our .

Question reference: S5W-35040

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 08 February 2021
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 23 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has had any meetings with the wider aviation industry to discuss the impact of its policies to tackle COVID-19.