Stephanie Callaghan

11 Mar 2026 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its discussions with the UK Government regarding Scotland’s contribution to renewable energy generation.

4 Feb 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any potential impact of HMRC’s proposed changes to the tax-free Wear and Tear allowance for childminders on the childminding sector.

Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: Self-assessment for income tax is reserved to the UK Government, however given the devolved nature of childminding legislation and regulation, it is disappointing childminders in Scotland were not consulted regarding changes to the administration of the wear …

5 Dec 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding pupils with additional support needs and disabilities, what data is available to compare requests for, and provision of, additional assessment arrangements in and across local authorities.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: This is a matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority. The information requested is not held by the Scottish Government.The Scottish Qualifications Authority publish data on assessment arrangements: https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/105160.html. In the 2025 pub…

5 Dec 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) support and provisions are in place to enable pupils with additional support needs and disabilities, and their parents, to advocate for additional assessment arrangements, including extra time during exams, (b) mechanisms exist to escalate decisions when young people's needs are…

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), whose functions will be replaced by Qualifications Scotland early next year, rightly offers a wide range of assessment arrangements to enable learners with additional support needs to demonstrate their knowledge an…

20 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what immediate action it is taking to restrict youth access to (a) nicotine pouches and (b) other nicotine-related products, in light of the reported rise in the use of these among children and young people, and what further measures it plans to introduce to prevent these products b…

Answer · Jenni Minto: The UK-wide Tobacco and Vapes Bill (the Bill), if passed, will introduce new restrictions on age of sale for all nicotine products and the advertising, sponsorship, free distribution and nominal pricing of vaping products and nicotine products across the 4 na…

17 Sep 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that Scotland is ready to recycle and repurpose textile waste when the landfill ban comes into force at the end of this year.

5 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to support and accelerate economic growth across Scotland’s circular fashion and sustainable textiles sector; what consideration it has given to establishing a national industrial cluster for circular fashion and sustainable textiles, and what steps it will take to eng…

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government recognises the value of a thriving circular fashion and sustainable textiles sector in Scotland and is committed to pursuing opportunities to strengthen support across the sector.We have been working with stakeholders across the supply…

27 Aug 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to support, and accelerate, economic growth across Scotland's circular fashion and sustainable textiles sector.

17 Jun 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its provision of funding for humanitarian aid, when it last engaged with the UK Government in relation to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

7 May 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the provision of vocational skills training, whether it will provide an update on its response to the 2025 ClimateXChange report, Training provision in Scotland’s onshore wind and solar industries.

30 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Lanarkshire regarding the administration of duvyzat for patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, in light of reports that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is now administering the drug through the Early Access Programme, and what steps it has taken to …

Answer · Jenni Minto: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (GGC) is the regional hub responsible for providing services to children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) on behalf of the West region which includes NHS Lanarkshire. In response to concerns raised regarding access to givin…

30 Apr 2025 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last engaged with the UK Government, transmission operators and the National Energy System Operator, to explore the possibility of reviewing the Transmission Impact Assessment, in light of reports that this limits Scotland's solar energy development.

23 Apr 2025 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide further detail on the approach it is taking to consider the recommendations set out in the independent report, Review of Data, Statistics and Research on Sex and Gender, also known as the Sullivan Review.

14 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to mesh survivors in Scotland, when it last discussed the findings of The Hughes Report with the UK Government, and what information it has on when it anticipates that the UK Government will publish its response to the report, in light of it being a year since its publicatio…

Answer · Jenni Minto: The UK Government has stated its commitment to providing an update as soon as possible, and my officials continue to engage regularly with their UK Government counterparts regarding their plans. Additionally, I recently wrote to the UK Government to request a…

16 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Embrace Autism report, An Evaluation of Autistic-Led and Designed Pre- and Post-Diagnostic Support for Autistic Adults, including what action it is taking in response to the recommendation that (a) pre- and post-diagnostic support programmes are designed and d…

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government welcomes the Embrace Autism report and work of the Embrace Autism programme, funded through the Scottish Government’s Autistic Adult Support Fund (AASF).Through our AASF, the Scottish Government will continue to support organisat…

15 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) action it has taken and (b) steps it is considering to support the urgent provision of humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza, in light of reports of aid entering the region reaching a historic low and a persistent risk of famine, and Israel's parliament voting to ban the…

Answer · Angus Robertson: Over the past year, the Scottish Government has committed £1m for Gaza and the wider Middle East, including £750k for UNRWA and a further £250k to the Disasters Emergency Committee, Mercy Corps and SCIAF. This money will provide food, water,…

23 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the declaration by Children First of a "childhood emergency", particularly regarding the impact of smartphones, social media and harmful online content on children's mental health and, in light of this, what (a) discussions it has had with (i) the UK Government a…

Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: We want Scotland to be the best place in the world to grow up. As part of our approach, we recognise that online platforms, including social media, can have both a positive and negative impact on children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing a…

17 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what actions are being taken to promote a culture of responsible textile consumption and reuse to ensure that (a) clothes are designed for recycling and (b) recycling facilities have the necessary technologies to process them, and what impact the Circular Economy (Scotland) Act 2024…

Answer · Gillian Martin: The environmental impacts of current textile consumption can be damaging, and we recognise the need for a strategic approach to textiles, from production and consumption, through to recycling and end-of-life management, as set out in our draft Circular Econom…

14 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the ScotRail peak fares removal pilot ending, what measures it is taking to ensure that ScotRail remains an affordable transport option for students, and what consideration has been given to implementing a student discount on rail fares to support accessible and sustainable …

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Young Scot National Entitlement Card (NEC), funded by the Scottish Government, offers young people concessionary travel on ScotRail services. This includes a third off most rail fares and 50% off weekly and monthly season tickets. There are no time restri…

3 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to address the issues faced by patients affected by transvaginal mesh when two NHS boards are involved in their care and they (a) cannot agree on a course of treatment and (b) are not communicating with each other on the matter.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Decisions about patient care should be taken by the clinicians and the patient involved following meaningful discussion and the sharing of all necessary information, including benefits, risks and alternative treatments.In a circumstance where two NHS boards a…

23 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide an update on the (a) progress of the safer drug consumption facility pilot, (b) establishment of drug-checking facilities and (c) expansion of access to life-saving naloxone and residential rehabilitation services, and what additional measures are being implemented…

Answer · Neil Gray: The creation of a Safer Drug Consumption Facility in Glasgow is progressing well - construction work is nearing completion to convert the existing facilities and make them fit for purpose and necessary staff recruitment and training is well underway. A provis…

23 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-28925 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 14 August 2024, what steps it has taken to urge pensioners to check their eligibility for pension credit and thereby be eligible for Winter Fuel Payment in the Uddingston and Bellshill constituency, in light of In…

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that everyone receives the benefits to which they are entitled. In 2024-25 we have invested over £12 million in free income maximisation, welfare and debt advice services – including £4.6 mill…

2 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the UK Government's reported decision to means test Winter Fuel Payment on Social Security Scotland's Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, and any subsequent effects on pensioner poverty levels in Scotland.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Chancellor has set out plans to end universal Winter Fuel Payments in England and Wales by restricting it to those receiving Pension Credit and other means tested benefits from this year onwards. This decision was taken without any consultation or discuss…

31 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available for mothers with bottle-fed newborns who have tongue-tie, and what steps are being taken to raise awareness of this condition in newborns.

Answer · Jenni Minto: All new parents are entitled to infant feeding support regardless of how they feed their babies. Appropriate assessments will be carried out by qualified staff where there are feeding issues that could impact growth and development. Information on feeding is…

29 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to (a) prevent severe topical steroid withdrawal (TSW) reactions that can result from long-term use of topical steroid treatments, (b) monitor and review the prescribing of topical corticosteroids on the NHS and (c) consider a four-nation approach to include TSW i…

Answer · Jenni Minto: Following the recent MHRA review into topical steroid withdrawal, regulatory action means topical steroids will soon be labelled with their potencies. This will aid correct selection and simplify the advice for patients. The Scottish Government will cascade t…

24 Apr 2024 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of reports that HC-One plans to terminate the contract for the Hospital Based Complex Clinical Care service at Hatton Lea Care Home.

9 Apr 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Child Poverty Action Group’s recent analysis of official data showing that 4.3 million children were in relative poverty across the UK, up from 3.6 million in 2010-11.

13 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recently published inquiry into public financial support for tree planting and forestry, launched by the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The report makes a number of useful contributions, which Scottish Forestry is considering. A number of the recommendations made are already in place, including changes to sustainability standards increasing the required proportion of tree species diversity, t…

8 Mar 2024 · First Minister's Question

Withdrawn.

14 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to mesh survivors in Scotland, what consideration it has given to The Hughes Report, by thePatient Safety Commissioner for England, which sets out options for redress for those harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh.

Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to question S6O-03094 on 21 February 2024. Answers to Oral parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at Meeting of the Parliament: 21/02/2024 | Scottish Parl…