Meghan Gallacher

5 Nov 2024 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions its ministers have had with their UK Government counterparts regarding the changes made to agricultural property relief on inheritance tax.

4 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the School Premises (General Requirements and Standards) (Scotland) Regulations 1967 will be updated.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government intends to update the School Premises (General Requirements and Standards) (Scotland) Regulations 1967.Given the previous consultation exercise took place in 2017-18, we must now consider the updated context that the regulations will e…

18 Sep 2024 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review its relationship with LGBT Youth Scotland, in light of reported allegations regarding safeguarding failings.

4 Sep 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact reductions to mental health budgets will have on child and adult mental health services.

20 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any potential impact on its funding of the service, what discussions it has had with the Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre in relation to its compliance with employment laws.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: Rape crisis centres are independent and the governance and day-to-day operation of services sits with their Boards. As such, it would not be appropriate for the Scottish Government to discuss employment law matters with Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre. We contin…

16 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has reimbursed the legal expenses sought by the UK Government regarding its legal challenge of the decision by the UK Government to issue a section 35 order in relation to the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: On 28 May, the Advocate General for Scotland asked the Court of Session to extend the time limit to lodge their account of expenses with the court from 31 May to 31 July 2024. The court has now granted the Advocate General’s request, which the Scottish Govern…

22 Apr 2024 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the LGBT Youth Scotland pilot programme to introduce youth clubs in schools.

10 Apr 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review the current model of care for children with gender dysphoria.

9 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with faith leaders regarding its proposed legislation banning conversion practices.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government has undertaken extensive engagement with a range of faith and belief stakeholders throughout the development of proposals on ending conversion practices in Scotland and following the launch of our public consultation document on 9 Janu…

9 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a clear definition of the term "conversion therapy practices", which outlines the difference between "quackery" and advice provision.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The public consultation on “Ending Conversion Practices in Scotland” which ran from 9 January 2024 until 2 April set out the Scottish Government’s proposals on defining prohibited conduct in legislation. Consultation responses will be analysed and considered…

9 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many instances of the use of conversion therapy have been recorded since 2010, and under which bodies.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government does not hold this data. At present, Scots law does not provide for a specific criminal offence relating to conversion practices, nor is there another basis for any bodies to collect such data. Both the independent Expert Advisory Gro…

18 Mar 2024 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will engage with NHS Scotland on ending the prescription of puberty suppressing hormones to children, following the recent announcement by NHS England.

12 Mar 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the roll-out of free digital devices to school pupils.

6 Mar 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce social housing waiting lists for disabled people.

27 Feb 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what spending it has allocated from its Budget to date for its plans for a National Care Service.

23 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) deliberately hid documents related to its transgender prisoner policy, particularly in light of reports that officials discussed how to avoid having to publish operational guidance through Freedom of Information.

Answer · Angela Constance: SPS has always been clear it is taking an open and transparent approach to the introduction of this policy which is evident in all they have put in the public domain. The SPS policy for the management of transgender people in custody was published on 5 Decemb…

21 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been paid in constraint payments to wind farm operators in Scotland to switch off in each year from 2014 to 2024 to date.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The responsibility for the balancing of grid lies with the National Grid Electricity System Operator. More information including data on balancing costs can be found here: Balancing costs | ESO (nationalgrideso.com)

7 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many households have (a) installed interlinked fire alarms since 1 February 2022 and (b) interlinked fire alarms installed in total; how much it has spent on financial support for the installation of interlinked fire alarms since1 February 2022, and when th…

Answer · Paul McLennan: The Scottish House Condition Survey (SHCS) was published on 29 February 2024. In 2022 the Scottish House Condition Survey asked the following new question on fire alarms: Has the dwelling satisfactory equipment for detecting fire and giving warning in the eve…

7 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has provided to NHS boards in relation to recording a patient’s biological sex on medical records.

Answer · Neil Gray: The existing "Scottish Government Records Management Health and Social Care Code of Practice (Scotland) 2020 has short section on dealing with health records of those who identify as transgender. This links to guidance from the Medical and Dental Defence Unio…

6 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with local authorities regarding reviewing the Health and Wellbeing Census.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The health and wellbeing of children and young people is an absolute priority for the Scottish Government. The Scottish Government will work with local authorities to learn from their experiences of having undertaken their own Census.

6 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made with South Lanarkshire Council towards building a new social, emotional and behavioural needs secondary school for young people in Stonehouse.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Although South Lanarkshire Council’s Phase 3 Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP) submission - regarding a new social, emotional and behavioural needs secondary school - was unsuccessful, we have awarded the Council with funding support for its Newton …

6 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the most recent round of the Learning Estate Investment Programme funding.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: On 30 October 2023, the Scottish Government announced the following 10 successful Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP) Phase 3 projects: 1. Hazlehead Academy (Aberdeen City) 2. Mull Campus (Argyll and Bute) 3. Lochies ASN School (Clackmannanshire) …

6 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many battery energy storage system sites are (a) currently operational, (b) under construction and (c) scheduled for construction, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The information can be extracted from the publicly available Renewable Energy Planning Database ( Renewable Energy Planning Database: quarterly extract - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) ). The following table draws out the number of battery projects planned across Scot…

6 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the current Scottish Fire and Rescue Service guidance is for fire outbreaks at battery energy storage system sites.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) continue to undertake operational intelligence gathering on such premises and work alongside key partners to ensure that an effective operational response is provided. While clearly this is an operational matter, SF…

6 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the current fire safety regulations are for the development of battery energy storage system (BESS) sites.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: To ask the Scottish Government what the current fire safety regulations are for the development of battery energy storage system (BESS) sites. A range of legislation makes up the regulatory framework for the safety of grid scale battery energy storage systems…

23 Jan 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures are in place to support the music industry, in relation to sustaining small grassroots venues.

17 Jan 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is offering to local authorities to help people stuck in temporary accommodation.

19 Dec 2023 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work it is undertaking to reduce the rates of male suicide in Scotland, in light of the issues raised in the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s Equality and Human Rights Monitor report for 2023.

19 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has provided regarding gender questioning children in single-sex schools.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Guidance on this issue is contained within the Supporting Transgender Pupils In Schools Guidance. This is available from Supporting transgender young people in schools: guidance for Scottish schools - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

19 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to make it a requirement for pupils to be segregated by sex when participating in physical education and sporting activities.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government has no plans to segregate pupils by sex when participating in physical education and sporting activities. Decisions on the teaching of PE rest with education authorities and schools in line with curriculum for excellence.