Parliamentary questions
Pam Gosal
490 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
7 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address any undervaluation of women’s work in female-dominated sectors, such as childcare, social care and retail.
Answer · Tom Arthur: While employment law is reserved, our Fair Work approach seeks to improve workers’ rights and conditions and aims to address women’s workplace inequalities by encouraging employers to take action to tackle occupational segregation and reduce gende…
7 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recommendations of Shelter Scotland and Engender's recent joint report, Gender and the Housing Emergency, what its position is on whether there is an "urgent need for gendered [temporary accommodation] in Scotland, in particular for women with children", and what en…
Answer · Paul McLennan: The Scottish Government’s ambition is to prevent homelessness, where possible, to avoid the need for temporary accommodation. We understand, however, that there is a need for more suitable temporary accommodation, which would include accommodation suita…
7 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recommendations of Shelter Scotland and Engender's recent joint report, Gender and the Housing Emergency, what action it is taking to provide appropriate, safe housing and accommodation solutions for women who have no recourse to public funds.
Answer · Paul McLennan: The previous UK Government’s No Recourse to Public Funds policy prevents local and national government in Scotland from being able to provide appropriate, safe housing and accommodation solutions for women who have restricted immigration status. It is n…
7 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recommendations of Shelter Scotland and Engender's recent joint report, Gender and the Housing Emergency, what engagement has it had with (a) local authorities and (b) third sector organisations to develop print and online resources for women experiencing domestic a…
Answer · Paul McLennan: Through Equally Safe, we are working closely with local government and third sector partners to ensure victims and survivors of domestic abuse are aware of all sources of support. This year we are providing over £7.5m to Women’s Aid groups in Scot…
7 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recommendations of Shelter Scotland and Engender's recent joint report, Gender and the Housing Emergency, what action it is taking to ensure that housing officers and front-line services undertake mandatory training on domestic abuse and other forms of violence agai…
Answer · Paul McLennan: Our code of guidance on homelessness is designed to give the best possible support to frontline practitioners in their work to prevent homelessness. It sets out the importance of staff training for homelessness officers, particularly in the requirements of th…
7 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recommendations of Shelter Scotland and Engender's recent joint report, Gender and the Housing Emergency, what action it is taking to create targeted streams of the Scottish Welfare Fund to support (a) marginalised women and (b) women with no recourse to public fund…
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government published an Action Plan in June 2023 to deliver improvements to the Scottish Welfare Fund. The actions committed to are being progressed in conjunction with stakeholders through our Practitioners’ Forum and Statutory Guidance Re…
7 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recommendations of Shelter Scotland and Engender's recent joint report, Gender and the Housing Emergency, whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to "encourage the acquisition of larger properties specifically for households with children trapp…
Answer · Paul McLennan: The Scottish Government recognises the need to increase the supply of affordable homes, including larger properties suitable for households with children. The Scottish Government has allocated additional capital of £40 million in each of the next two fi…
3 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that entertainment venues provide (a) visual impairment awareness and (b) sighted guide training for all staff members.
Answer · Angus Robertson: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-28575 on 12 August 2024 . All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-co…
3 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action is it taking to ensure that entertainment venues meet mandatory accessibility standards and requirements.
Answer · Paul McLennan: Scottish building regulations already set requirements for new buildings and new building work, including entertainment venues, that are intended to provide safe, unassisted and convenient access to and within buildings. However, building regulations are not …
3 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to introduce a standardised booking system for accessible seats at entertainment venues.
Answer · Angus Robertson: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-28572 on 12 August 2024. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-com…
2 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support registered social landlords to maintain their wider remit investment in prevention services for people with wider care and support needs, such as welfare rights, tenancy sustainment and housing support.
Answer · Paul McLennan: The Scottish Government fully recognises the role of Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) in prevention and the importance of tenancy sustainment and housing support. That is why we are supporting this work in a variety of ways.The Scottish Government continues…
2 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to fund directly the cost of achieving net zero in social homes.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund (SHNZHF) launched in August 2020 and provides capital funding to social landlords to retrofit their existing housing stock by installing clean heat and improving their energy efficiency. Projects are eligible for up to 60…
2 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to expand the eligibility criteria for the Key Worker Fund to landlords in the private rented sector.
Answer · Paul McLennan: The Rural Affordable Homes for Key Workers Fund is a five year demand led fund of up to £25 million from the Affordable Housing Supply Programme budget and is available to local authorities and registered social landlords to purchase existing suitable p…
26 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce waiting lists for people seeking audiology appointments.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government accepted, in principle, the recommendations set out by the Independent Review of Audiology Services in Scotland and are fully committed to seeing improvement in Audiology services.Audiology is now being considered as a clinical priorit…
25 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it has provided in compensation to land owners whose land was designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in each financial year since 2020-21.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: Through the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004, NatureScot can enter into Management Agreements to compensate land owners for stopping or not adopting management practices which would damage nature on Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Positive…
25 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many complaints have been received in each yearsince 2019-20 from landowners following a decision to designate their land as aSite of Special Scientific Interest, also broken down by how many were upheld.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: Through the provisions of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004, the scientific justification for a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) can be challenged by owners or managers of a site:At notification of the siteOnce every 10 years following not…
25 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of its Sites of Special Scientific Interest is privately owned.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: There are 1423 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in Scotland, the majority of which have one or more private owners. 88.2% of all SSSIs cover the properties of one or more private owners.
25 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to undertake or commission further research to fill any remaining data and knowledge gaps in relation to student housing.
Answer · Paul McLennan: The Scottish Government has no plans at this time to commission further research in relation to student housing.
25 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to encourage private landlords to participate in the student rental market.
Answer · Paul McLennan: While the Scottish Government Review of Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) related solely to this specific type of student housing, we know that student accommodation in Scotland is a complex and interdependent system interacting with local housing sy…
25 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with investors to pilot affordable, mid-range, purpose-built student accommodation housing developments to address the current student housing need.
Answer · Paul McLennan: The Scottish Government Review of Purpose Built Student Accommodation recommended convening a national roundtable discussion which included representation from all those involved with the provision of purpose-built student accommodation, including developers …
25 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with (a) local authorities, (b) higher education institutions and (c) private providers in order to establish local housing market intelligence hubs.
Answer · Paul McLennan: The Scottish Government has had no engagement with local authorities, higher education institutions, and private providers in order to establish local housing market intelligence hubs. It is the statutory responsibility of local authorities through their Loca…
24 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to establish an accessible, affordable, safe and integrated public transport system, which would improve women’s transport options.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: As set out in our recent Programme for Government, we will provide nearly £2.5 billion in 2024-25, to support public transport, making our transport system available, affordable and accessible for all. We also committed, in the PfG, to work with local a…
24 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase the number of local authority care homes to ensure that the proper care is available to women.
Answer · Maree Todd: Although the Scottish Government has overall responsibility for health and social care policy in Scotland, the statutory responsibility for delivering and commissioning services at a local level lies with local authorities, NHS boards and integrated health an…
24 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what training it has provided to justice system staff regarding eradicating male violence against women and girls.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government are committed to the eradication of violence against women and girls (VAWG), and this is why we are implementing the Equally Safe Strategy.However, the Scottish Government are not responsible for the training of justice system staff. A…
24 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it provides to the relevant authorities to tackle any misogynistic and racist attitudes within the justice system.
Answer · Angela Constance: Justice agencies are operationally independent of the Scottish Ministers.However, misogyny and racism should play no part in the operation of the justice system. We will continue to support all justice agencies and bodies who operate within the justice system…
24 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to build more social housing to meet the needs of women and families.
Answer · Paul McLennan: Our ambition is for everyone to have a safe, good quality and affordable home that meets their needs in the place where they want to be, including women and families. Since 2007, we have supported the delivery of more than 133,000 affordable homes, over 94,00…
24 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will carry out a comprehensive review of maternity experiences throughout Scotland to understand the occurrence of pregnancy-related trauma.
Answer · Jenni Minto: We are committed to gathering evidence on maternity care experiences across Scotland and are currently developing the next iteration of the Maternity Care Survey, which was previously run in 2013, 2015 and 2018. Our intention is for the next survey to take pl…
24 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to improve healthcare provision, with a specific focus on (a) dental care, (b) mental healthcare and (c) the reintegration of face-to-face GP appointments.
Answer · Neil Gray: Our intention to reform health and social care is now well established, outlined in our Programme for Government, the Policy Prospectus and in my statement in Parliament in June on my vision for health and social care.Primary care and community health is a co…
24 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what plans it has to create a system of universal free childcare that is flexible and Scotland-wide.
Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: Scotland is the only part of the UK that already offers 1140 hours (equivalent to 30 hours per week in term time) of funded ELC to all 3 and 4-year-olds regardless of whether their parents are working or not because we are committed to promoting equality for …
24 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to increase the number of (a) teachers and (b) teaching assistants.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Local authorities have statutory obligations in respect of the delivery of education, which includes ensuring they have a complement of staff to meet local needs.In Scotland we have the most teachers per pupil and highest paid teachers in the UK. We are once …