Paul McLennan

10 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the expert research that was commissioned to advise on the establishment of a Peace Institute.

Answer · Keith Brown: An independent report was commissioned by the Scottish Government earlier this year to advise on the establishment of a Peace Institute. Ministers are actively considering the contents of the report, which will be made available when a timetable of work has b…

8 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will outline its plans for the upcoming review of the National Outcomes; when the review process will start; how long it will last, and how it plans to ensure that the review includes as broad a consultation process as possible before presenting new draft National Outcomes to …

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-11086 on 30 September 2022 which is available on the Parliament’s website. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at…

2 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it anticipates the licensing of grouse moor management, as recommended in the Werritty review, will be monitored and enforced, and how management breaches will be identified and reported.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: As outlined in response to question S6W-11944 on 21 November 2022 , NatureScot, as the licensing body, will be responsible for the issuing and monitoring of licences. They will work closely with Police Scotland and other key stakeholders to address any susp…

2 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the recommendations in the Werritty review will be implemented, particularly the licensing of grouse moor management.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: As we set out in our 2022 Programme for Government we will introduce a Wildlife Management (Grouse) Bill which will: ‘ implement the recommendations of the “Werritty Review” and introduce licensing for grouse moor management to ensure that the management of d…

2 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the licensing of grouse moor management, as recommended in the Werritty review, will include a proactive monitoring regime to ensure that licences are revoked should breaches occur.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: NatureScot, as the licensing body, will be responsible for the issuing and monitoring of licences. They will work closely with Police Scotland and other key stakeholders to address any suspected breach of licensing conditions.  

1 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to ensure that all patients who present to their GP with symptoms of leukaemia receive a blood test as soon as possible, in light of this reportedly not being specifically covered in the Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: A clinical refresh of the Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer was completed in 2018 with revised clinical guidance published January 2019. The guidelines support primary care clinicians in ensuring those with symptoms suspicious of cancer are pu…

1 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to ensure that its new Cancer Strategy, due to be published in March 2023, addresses any unique difficulties in the early diagnosis of leukaemia.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Our new 10 year cancer strategy due to launch in Spring 2023 will take a comprehensive approach to improving patient pathways from prevention and diagnosis through to treatment and post-treatment care. An earlier diagnosis vision is being developed as part o…

1 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to monitor the number of patients diagnosed with leukaemia in an emergency hospital admission.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government does not hold data on emergency presentations. We are committed to reducing emergency diagnoses for cancer and have established three Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Services (RCDS) across NHS Scotland, with a further two sites announced by t…

1 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether there is available data regarding the rate of emergency diagnosis of leukaemia in each NHS board.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government does not hold this data. Requests for these data should be sent to Public Health Scotland or direct to Health Boards.

1 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what data it currently has regarding the rate of emergency diagnosis of leukaemia.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government does not hold data on emergency presentations of cancer. We are committed to diagnosing cancer as early and as quickly as possible which is why we continue to invest in our Detect Cancer Early (DCE) Programme and are rolling out Rapi…

24 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the restoration of tax-free shopping for overseas visitors as a means of supporting Scotland’s retail and tourism sectors.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government does not have policy control over VAT rates or VAT exemptions. This is a fully reserved policy. In a letter of 22 October 2021, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Kate Forbes, and the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Cultu…

19 Oct 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps have been taken to ensure that retailers are aware of and comply with the measures in the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022 that came into effect on 10 October.

17 Oct 2022 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the next paper in the Building a New Scotland series to inform the debate on Scotland’s future.

Answer · Angus Robertson: I am pleased to advise Parliament that the Scottish Government is continuing to deliver on its commitment to give people the information they need to make an informed choice about their future, and is today publishing A stronger economy through independence. …

29 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Short Life Food Security and Supply Taskforce report, whether the Food Security Unit has been set up and, if this is not the case, when it anticipates that this will take place, and what engagement it has had in this regard with (a) the UK Government, (b) the EU and (c) …

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Programme for Government 2022 to 2023 on 6 September 2022, outlined that a dedicated Food Security Unit would be established within the Scottish Government with a view to monitoring ongoing supply chain vulnerabilities and linking with future food securit…

27 Sep 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent engagement it has had with the UK Government regarding the impact of the cost of living crisis on poverty levels in Scotland.

20 Sep 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has undertaken of the cumulative impact on business of the pressures of a weak currency, high inflation, rising energy costs and Brexit.

30 Aug 2022 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Registrar General will publish the annual report for 2021.

Answer · Angus Robertson: Scotland’s Population 2021: the Registrar General’s Annual Review of Demographic Trends will be published at 09:30 on 31 August 2022. The Report contains information about births, deaths and marriages during the year, together with other demographic informati…

17 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the terms of reference are for its Women in Enterprise Review, and when the review is scheduled to be published.

Answer · John Swinney: Responding to a recognised gender gap in business participation, Kate Forbes, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy commissioned Ana Stewart, entrepreneur and investor, to deliver an independent Review on widening access to entrepreneurship for women.…

4 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to prepare a national framework for social prescribing, to facilitate a consistent, effective and high-quality approach.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government is giving consideration to how best to ensure a consistent, effective and high quality approach to social prescribing and meets the Scottish Social Prescribing Network regularly to inform its plans.

29 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the roll-out of free digital devices for all school children will take place in East Lothian.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: 1,806 devices have been distributed by the Council in East Lothian using the £25m digital inclusion funding made available by Scottish Government in 2020/21. In addition, information we have from councils indicates that almost 280,000 devices have been, or a…

29 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the timeline for the roll-out of the national allowance for foster and kinship carers, as per its committed actions to deliver The Promise by 2030.

Answer · Clare Haughey: The Scottish Government continues to work closely with COSLA to find a way forward on the introduction of a Scottish Recommended Allowance for foster and kinship carers.

10 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent data from the Scottish Stroke Care Audit showing that in NHS Lothian the number of stroke admissions rose by 9.5% and the proportion of stroke patients that received thrombolysis fell by 4.3%.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government expects NHS Boards to provide the best possible care for those who have experienced a stroke, including thrombolysis where considered clinically appropriate. The Scottish Stroke Improvement Programme (SSIP) report, published on 28 Jun…

29 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is, regarding the potential impact on Scotland, to the Ofgem consultation on RIIO-ED2 Draft Determinations, which sets out a five-year vision to "transform local energy grids to support the transition to a cleaner, affordable, home-grown low-carbon energy system, as par…

Answer · Michael Matheson: The generation, transportation and supply of electricity is reserved to the UK Government with regulatory functions carried out by the independent energy regulator for GB, Ofgem. My officials are engaging closely with network companies and Ofgem to gather fu…

19 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to support the construction industry, including through upskilling and a transition to Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), to help ensure the provision of safe, high-quality, affordable housing.

Answer · Shona Robison: The potential of increased use of offsite construction (also referred to as modern methods of construction or MMC) is viewed as an opportunity for new build housing development with the potential to support industry and Government to deliver more homes, and t…

19 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to develop a national retrofit strategy that will ensure that current and future accessibility needs are met, in addition to meeting net zero targets.

Answer · Shona Robison: Housing to 2040 sets out the Scottish Government’s strategy to ensure that housing in 2040 will support people to live in affordable homes that meet their accessibility needs as well as net zero targets. This is a long term strategy for new and existing homes…

19 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that the innovation component of the Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas (INTOG) leasing process for floating offshore wind is able to deliver supply chain opportunities and jobs in advance of ScotWind.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The INTOG Initial Plan Framework has set out a series of geographic areas where no projects will be considered. This primarily affects the Innovation category of projects as Targeted Oil and Gas projects would naturally be located further offshore. These excl…

19 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to decoupling the IN and TOG components of the Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas (INTOG) leasing process for floating offshore wind, and what its position is on whether this would allow innovation projects to proceed without delay.

Answer · Michael Matheson: INTOG is aligned to the Scottish Government’s commitment to delivering plan-led opportunities for offshore wind and marine renewables in Scottish waters. INTOG has been designed to facilitate both targeted oil and gas decarbonisation opportunities and provide…

19 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Scottish Seabird Conservation Strategy will be finalised, in light of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) reportedly impacting globally-significant populations of seabirds, such as the northern gannet colony on the Bass Rock.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The developing Scottish Seabird Conservation Strategy will play an important role in identifying effective actions to help optimise the conservation prospects of seabirds in Scotland from existing and emerging threats, including disease threats, such as avian…

19 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that the impact of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) on Scotland's seabird colonies is appropriately assessed, and any actions coordinated, with input from bodies such as the Scottish Seabird Centre.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The UK is currently experiencing the largest outbreak of avian influenza to date, which has affected commercial and backyard flocks of poultry and other captive birds, as well as wild birds, including our internationally important seabird colonies. While mai…

16 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many and (b) what percentage of (i) children and (ii) adults with cystic fibrosis saw a social worker within the past 12 months at their annual review, for every year since 2015.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally. The particular circumstances and needs in terms of social work input of each Cystic Fibrosis patient and their family can be highly variable. The Scottish Government therefore expects NHS Board…