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-29750

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 15 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that older people who are resident on islands, and who are isolated from their friends and family because of the COVID-19 pandemic, can access any necessary support that they require.

We know that island families are acutely feeling the pain of being separated during the pandemic. The National Islands Plan, which was published on 27 December 2019, recognises that every member of society has a right to live with dignity and to enjoy high quality public services, wherever they live.

The Plan fully aims to meet the needs of all islanders - including older people who make a hugely valuable contribution to their communities. The Plan, which will now be delivered through a COVID lens, recognises the need for on-island support for older people and we will work hard with partners to ensure that we support them as they move out of the current crises.

More generally we have put measures in place to protect those at highest risk, which includes some older people, through shielding, and letters were sent with information on what support is available, including deliveries of essential items, through a text service.

A national helpline has also been set up to help people not shielding, but who are at risk, to access help. As of 10 June over 37,000 calls had been received, but we know this number is just a proportion of the calls Local Authorities are handling to support their communities every day. The helpline is operating during core working hours, and all Local Authorities also offer an out of hours service.

To date we have provided around £1.7 million to organisations who are directly supporting the needs of older people during the pandemic. Around £700,000 of that funding has been awarded to Age Scotland’s Helpline as an established and trusted voice for advice to older people and their families on wide ranging issues, but also to offer friendship.

Most recently, the £5 million ‘Connecting Scotland’ project will enable 9,000 people, including some older people clinically at risk or on low incomes, get online with dedicated training and support. This will have a positive impact for older people who are currently digitally excluded.

Question reference: S5W-29556

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 01 June 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 10 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to support companies that are facing (a) financial and (b) other difficulties because of the COVID-19 pandemic to help them maintain a presence in the country when the crisis ends.

We continue to support Scotland’s businesses by passing on every penny we receive from the UK Government for this purpose, and more directly to businesses, as well as continuing to press the UK Government to ensure that key sectors, where it is clear that difficulties will be longer-lasting (such as Tourism and Hospitality), are supported; and that Scottish businesses are not disadvantaged where phased approaches to lockdown differ across the UK.

Our package of business support now totals over £2.3bn, and comprises four elements;

1. Our £972 million package of rates relief and other Non Domestic Rates Income measures;

2. Our Small Business and Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Schemes, which are worth over £1 billion (£1,172m);

3. Our package of seafood/fisheries measures worth over £18 million; and

4. Our package of £100m of grant funding for business – later topped up to £185m. This funding is divided across 3 business support funds;

a) £34m for the Newly Self Employed Hardship Scheme – of which £3m will be re-purposed from 15 June to support Bed and Breakfasts who were ineligible for other support due to the lack of a business bank account;

b) £30m for the Creative, Tourism and Hospitality Enterprises Hardship Fund;

c) £120m for the Pivotal Enterprise Resilience Fund.

As of 2 June, awards from the above three funds totalled £104m to over 2500 businesses and 4160 self-employed people.
Additionally, the Scottish Government is also providing £1 million to top up Creative Scotland’s Bridging Bursaries scheme in the not-for-profit sector.

Government officials and account managers across our enterprise agencies are in regular contact with companies across the country. Through this engagement we hope to better understand their needs and pressures, and direct them towards appropriate advice and support that will help them through the crisis and contribute to our economic recovery when it ends. We are also publishing guidance to help companies restart their businesses safely.

Question reference: S5F-04202

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 June 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 June 2020

To ask the First Minister what analysis the Scottish Government has undertaken of the under-representation of BAME people in teaching, and how it plans to address this.

Question reference: S5W-29130

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 May 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 3 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to help ensure that merchant navy staff from Scotland who are currently unable to return home because of the COVID-19 outbreak will be able to do so.

The Scottish Government recognises the hugely important work of the shipping sector, and the skilled workforce who ensure vital goods and essential travel can continue throughout this critical situation. We are aware of the difficulties caused by global restrictions in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, with some shipping companies unable to carry out crew changeovers.

We understand the distress that those currently unable to return home to Scotland must feel, particularly if they are unable to disembark their vessels. I raised the matter with the FCO minister responsible for consular affairs on 21 May and pressed for support to be provided to enable their safe return.

Question reference: S5W-29165

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 May 2020
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 2 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how its alternative grading arrangements will ensure fairness for every pupil.

The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) is responsible for awarding qualifications. The SQA has set out that their approach is based on three core principles of fairness to all learners; safe and secure certification of their qualifications; and maintaining the integrity and credibility of the system, ensuring standards are maintained over time.

The SQA is committed to ensuring it meets its obligations to the Equality Act 2010 and the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) (Scotland) Regulations 2012. This includes conducting an Equality Impact Assessment of SQA’s approach to certification.

Question reference: S5W-29183

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 May 2020
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 2 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how many teachers are continuing to work in schools or nurseries during the lockdown, also broken down by local authority.

On average, over the past week (Mon 18 – Fri 22 May), 4,948 teachers, ELC practitioners, ELC lead practitioners, ELC managers and support staff attended local authority educational hubs. Not all local authorities provided a breakdown of teaching and non-teaching staff. Based on those who did we estimate that on average 1,741 teachers attended local authority educational hubs.

Local Authority	Average number of teaching staff, ELC Practitioner, ELC lead practitioners, ELC managers and support staff (headcount) physically working in local authority schools/hubs or ELC settings over the past week (Mon 18 - Fri 22 May)	Average number of teaching staff physically working in local authority schools/hubs or LA ELC settings over the past week (Mon 18 – Fri 22 May) - where the breakdown was provided by the local authority
Aberdeen City	229	63
Aberdeenshire	292	70
Angus	114	62
Argyll & Bute	95	38
Clackmannanshire	59	29
Dumfries & Galloway	215	82
Dundee City	349	166
East Ayrshire	106	38
East Dunbartonshire	121	56
East Lothian	132	54
East Renfrewshire	125	70
Edinburgh City	171	98
Falkirk	195	92
Fife	332	146
Glasgow City	312	N/A
Highland	162	37
Inverclyde	115	48
Midlothian	139	65
Moray	68	35
Na h-Eileanan Siar	98	26
North Ayrshire	66	34
North Lanarkshire	276	103
Orkney Islands	36	15
Perth & Kinross	145	11
Renfrewshire	175	53
Scottish Borders	132	51
Shetland Islands	14	N/A
South Ayrshire	82	27
South Lanarkshire	142	N/A
Stirling	143	60
West Dunbartonshire	146	31
West Lothian	164	81
Scotland Estimate	4948	1741

Question reference: S5W-29162

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 May 2020
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 2 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government for what reasons it is expanding the predicted grade bands for teachers.

Question reference: S5W-29160

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 May 2020
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 2 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that qualifications obtained during the current academic year hold the same weight and status as those obtained in previous years, in light of changes in grading structures due to the cancellation of exams.

The Scottish Qualifications Authority has set out that the approach being taken is based on three core principles of fairness to all learners; safe and secure certification of their qualifications; and maintaining the integrity and credibility of the system, ensuring standards are maintained over time.

We are clear that the awarding process should deliver fairness for all learners and this includes having moderation processes in place to ensure the integrity of awards in terms of quality and consistency across schools and previous years.

Question reference: S5W-29163

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 May 2020
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 2 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government for what reasons it is asking teachers to rank their pupils in order of attainment.

Question reference: S5W-29161

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 May 2020
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 2 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to issue further guidance to teachers on issuing grade bands.