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: S6W-00114

Asked by: Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 May 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 3 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its assessment is of the role played by private agency workers in supporting health and social care systems during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Scottish Government is deeply grateful for the role that all health and social care workers have played during the Covid-19 pandemic, whether employed directly or through agency contracts.

Our health and social care systems have experienced extraordinary levels of service demand during the Covid-19 pandemic. Although permanent recruitment is always the primary solution to NHS staffing needs, we have encouraged NHS Boards to make full use of NHS bank, agency and locum staff where necessary, to address immediate staffing needs during the emergency stages of the pandemic.

Question reference: S6W-00116

Asked by: Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 May 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 3 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will give further consideration to extending the £500 bonus for health and social care staff to all private agency workers who have supported the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are hugely grateful to the efforts of health and social care staff across Scotland who have risen to the challenge of responding to the pandemic. This thank you payment recognised the particular debt we all owe to NHS and social care staff who have been on the front line of this crisis, helping to save lives and to protect us all.

For people working for private employers such as an Agency, it would be for their employer to determine their remuneration and any additions to existing pay which may be appropriate for these staff.

Agency staff are free to apply for and take up a post in the NHS or Social Care if they wish to enjoy the same benefits as the NHS or Social Care workforce. There are many flexible options available including working via the NHS Staff Bank, part-time and term-time working, all of which allow individuals to balance work and other commitments.

Question reference: S6W-00138

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 May 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 3 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it has put in place to enable timely alternative appointments for people who, for health or work reasons, have been unable to attend their second COVID-19 vaccination appointment, in order to ensure maximum efficacy and given the rising number of cases being attributed to the so-called Indian variant.

Given the risk that the 02 variant may spread quicker around Scotland, having people fully vaccinated is important in reducing risks of morbidity and mortality.

In line with the latest JCVI advice, where vaccine supply allows we will bring forward the second dose of vaccine from 12 to 8 weeks. This will be prioritised in areas which are affected by the 02 variant.

Constituents that have received an appointment that is unsuitable are able to rebook via the portal detailed in their blue letter. Alternatively they can call the covid-19 helpline on 0800 030 8013. Vaccination centre availability and opening hours are co-ordinated by the individual NHS trusts.

Question reference: S6W-00112

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 May 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 3 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work regarding COVID-19 vaccine certification for international travel; what consideration it has given to the use of vaccine certification in the domestic economy; in what formats it expects to provide vaccine certification, and what engagement it has had with (a) the UK Government and (b) other devolved administrations regarding the development of vaccine certification.

Question reference: S6W-00115

Asked by: Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 May 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 3 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many professional private agency staff have supported the health and social care response to the COVID-19 pandemic, broken down by NHS board.

The Scottish Government does not hold data on the number of private agency staff employed by NHS Boards. Data is published annually, in June, by NHS Education for Scotland on the total medical agency spend by NHS Scotland Boards; and the total WTE hours and cost for Nursing and Midwifery bank and agency staff. This data is not broken down by the number of individual staff members involved.

This information can be found in the ‘Medical and Dental’ and ‘Nursing and Midwifery’ dashboards, available through the following link:

Question reference: S6W-00097

Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 May 2021
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 3 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress it has made in preparation for the launch of its bottle deposit return scheme by 1 July 2022.

Industry has made good progress towards implementing Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), including the establishment of Circularity Scotland Ltd and its approval by Ministers as a scheme administrator.

Nevertheless, we recognise the unique and significant pressures that COVID-19 has placed on relevant sectors over the past year. That is why we have commissioned an independent Gateway Review into the go-live date for DRS.

Question reference: S6W-00101

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 May 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 3 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what evidence is available to support the continued need for pupils to wear face coverings in schools.

The Covid-19 Advisory Sub-Group on Education and Children’s Issues discussed the issue of face coverings in secondary schools at its meeting on 1 June. While vaccination is being rolled out, non-pharmaceutical interventions such as face coverings are the main public health tool against COVID-19. There is a wealth of evidence supporting the efficacy of face coverings, and their use is supported by the WHO in its checklist to support school re-opening . Given the current uncertainty around the transmissibility and impact of the new variant of concern (B.1.617.2) the sub-group felt it was best to take a precautionary approach and has advised, therefore, that the current guidance on face coverings in school settings should remain in place. The sub-group will continue to keep the issue under review. You will find all the minutes of sub-group meetings, as well as the sub-group's advice and associated evidence at

Question reference: S6W-00098

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 May 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 3 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review maximum class numbers for composite classes where there are more than three class age groups, particularly for small rural schools.

Teachers’ terms and conditions stipulate that composite classes cannot exceed 25 pupils. Local authorities have flexibility over how year groups should be balanced within a composite class.

The Scottish Government’s view is that the quality of the teacher and the organisation of the class to meet the range of children’s learning needs are more important factors in the success of children in composite classes, than the composition of the classes themselves. There are no plans to review the arrangements for composite classes.

Question reference: S6W-00099

Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 May 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 3 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Dumfries and Galloway Council in response to the reported parental and staff concerns regarding its policy on staff thresholds in small rural schools.

Question reference: S6O-00009

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 June 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the rural affairs secretary has had with the land reform minister regarding measures to be put in place to introduce regional land use partnerships.