Parliamentary questions
Douglas Lumsden
1,891 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many vacancies there are at Food Standards Scotland in Aberdeen, broken down by position.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Vacancy TitleVacancy GradeBranchNo. of Posts (FTE)Agreed BasisEnforcement Delivery ManagerB2Enforcement Delivery1PermanentEnforcement Delivery OfficerB1Enforcement Delivery1PermanentHR Business PartnerB2HR1Fixed TermOperations Manager - Area 3B3Field Op…
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how Food Standards Scotland engages with food businesses to improve compliance with food labelling laws.
Answer · Jenni Minto: During the preparation, evaluation and revision of food law (including any changes to labelling requirements), Food Standards Scotland (FSS) carries out open and transparent public consultation, directly or through representative bodies. FSS does this by reac…
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many food safety incidents Food Standards Scotland has responded to in each year since 2018, broken down by type of incident.
Answer · Jenni Minto: FSS Incident Statistics 2018 - 2024 by Incident Category 2018201920202021202220232024Category TotalAllergens19162014291830…
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to increase staffing levels at Food Standards Scotland’s Aberdeen office and, if so, what additional roles are anticipated.
Answer · Jenni Minto: There are no plans to increase staff specifically at our Aberdeen office.
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of Food Standards Scotland staff in Aberdeen is employed on a (a) permanent and (b) temporary contract.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Head Office staff:Permanent: 151 (95.6%)Temporary: 7 (4.4%)Field staff:Permanent: 117 (89.9%)Temporary: 13 (10.1%)Total:Permanent: 268 (93.1%)Temporary: 20 (6.9%)
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what training Food Standards Scotland provides to local authorities to support effective enforcement of food safety regulations.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Food Standards Scotland (FSS) provides an annual training programme for Local Authority Food Enforcement Officers. This includes the following courses listed:REHIS Advanced HACCPEnforcement SanctionsTraining on the Scottish National database and Food Law Rati…
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of Food Standards Scotland’s public health campaigns on reducing foodborne illnesses.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Food Standards Scotland has undertaken two major public health campaigns on reducing foodborne illness in Scotland. Evaluations that were commissioned to assess the impact of these campaigns were positive in terms of visibility, reach and impacts on reported …
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how Food Standards Scotland is addressing concerns about ultra-processed foods.
Answer · Jenni Minto: In March 2024 Processed_and_Ultra-Processed_Foods_-_Board_Meeting_-_2024_March_20_-_240307.pdf the FSS Board agreed the organisational position on processed and ultra-processed foods, based on the SACN review published in July 2023 SACN statement on processed…
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what monitoring Food Standards Scotland carries out to make sure that food sold is free from contaminants and other harmful substances.
Answer · Jenni Minto: FSS collects and monitors Local Authority sampling data and commissions its own national food sampling programmes, which provide assurance on the safety and standards of food sold in Scotland. These include targeted sampling programmes informed by FSS horizon…
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what resources are currently allocated to the Food Crime and Incidents Unit in Food Standards Scotland, and how this compares to 2018.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Food Crime and Incidents Unit currently have 23 members of staff compared to 14 members of staff in 2018.
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what training and development opportunities are available to Food Standards Scotland staff based in Aberdeen.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Food Standards Scotland (FSS) manages talent strategically to build a high performing workplace and commitment within the People Strategy 2022 - 2026 to build a high performing workforce and foster a climate of learning. FSS has demonstrated a commitment to i…
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps Food Standards Scotland is taking to improve food safety compliance.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Food Business Operators are required to comply with food and feed law which sets the minimum legal requirements to ensure food and feed are safe. As the central competent authority FSS provide statutory guidance for other enforcement authorities and directly …
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of staff at Food Standards Scotland’s Aberdeen headquarters are engaged in enforcement-related activities.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Information is not held in the form requested. However, 53% of FSS staff are involved in compliance and enforcement activity.
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how Food Standards Scotland makes sure that food safety regulations are followed.
Answer · Jenni Minto: FSS have a primary responsibility to monitor the performance of, and promote best practice by, enforcement authorities enforcing food legislation in Scotland.The overarching aim is to provide assurance that the delivery of official controls for food and feed …
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress Food Standards Scotland has made in reducing salt, sugar and fat content in foods commonly sold.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Food Standards Scotland (FSS) advocate the UK wide reformulation programme, managed by the Office of Health Improvement and Disparities, which has voluntary targets for industry to reduce levels of sugar, salt and calories in commonly consumed foods. They reg…
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to recruit and retain civil servants in Aberdeen for roles in Food Standards Scotland.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Food Standards Scotland (FSS) approach to recruitment is consistent with Civil Service rules on open and fair recruitment. A staff Engagement Survey is undertaken every year to understand staff views on working for FSS and that informs their approach to r…
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what role Food Standards Scotland plays in public health campaigns related to diet and nutrition.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Whilst the organisational focus of Food Standards Scotland (FSS) is to support positive changes to the food environment, they remain committed to providing consumers with consistent messaging around a healthy balanced diet. As detailed within the Public Healt…
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many food businesses have been closed following Food Standards Scotland inspections in each year since 2018, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The following table provides the detail of Local Authority enforcement actions that have resulted in business closure. The data relates to the use of Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notices, Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Orders and Voluntary Closures. 2018…
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how Food Standards Scotland monitors and enforces food safety standards in rural and remote areas.
Answer · Jenni Minto: As part of its competent authority role Food Standards Scotland (FSS) monitors and enforces regulations in marine waters, slaughterhouses, standalone cutting plants, game handling establishments, feed, and wine business, throughout the length and breadth of S…
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what role Food Standards Scotland plays in investigating counterfeit alcohol products.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Food Standards Scotland (FSS) performs a national lead role in the investigation of counterfeit alcohol products. This is particularly the case when there are concerns over food safety and the contents present a danger to public health. FSS work in partnershi…
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been allocated to Food Standards Scotland in each year since its establishment in 2015.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The following table represents the total budget allocated to FSS for each financial year since 2015.Financial yearFSS baseline resource budget £m2015-1615.32016-1715.32017-1815.32018-1915.32019-2015.92020-2115.62021-2219.02022-2322.62023-2422.62024-2522…
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what role Food Standards Scotland has played in advising on government policy related to obesity.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Food Standards Scotland was established in April 2015 as the public sector food body for Scotland, to protect the health and wellbeing of consumers through three objectives set under the Food (Scotland) Act 2015. FSS has a uniquerole in government, working in…
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many civil servants are employed by Food Standards Scotland at its headquarters in Aberdeen, broken down by grade and role.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Total number288Head Office158Field130GradeHead Office Job titleNo. in postField Job TitleNo. in postA32 1 IT modern apprentice1Feed Administrator1 Admin assistant1 A45 5 Admin Officer2Trainee MHI5 Fin…
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how Food Standards Scotland monitors compliance with allergen labelling requirements, and how many breaches have been identified in each year since 2018.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Local Authorities check for compliance with allergen law during food law interventions at food businesses. It is not possible for Food Standards Scotland (FSS) to determine the number of breaches. However, 127 allergen incidents have been reported to FSS Inci…
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the effectiveness of Food Standards Scotland in improving food safety and public health outcomes.
Answer · Jenni Minto: FSS is a non ministerial office and is therefore directly accountable to Parliament and not to Ministers. FSS oversight - and any assessment of effectiveness -is provided by a non executive board. FSS published an Annual Report and Accounts to Parliament and …
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what contingency plans Food Standards Scotland has in place to address food supply chain disruptions.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Operational Delivery Division in Food Standards Scotland has a contingency plan for all meat plants in Scotland. This ensures a continuous service of Meat Hygiene Inspectors (MHIs) and Official Veterinarians (OVs) and to minimise disruption to supply chai…
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps Food Standards Scotland is taking to improve the nutritional quality of ready meals.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Food Standards Scotland (FSS) advocate the UK wide reformulation programme, managed by the Office of Health Improvement and Disparities, which has voluntary targets for industry to reduce levels of sugar, salt and calories in commonly consumed foods. They reg…
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many cases of food fraud Food Standards Scotland has referred for prosecution in each year since 2018.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Cases of alleged food fraud reported to Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) by FSS:2019: 12020: 12021: 1
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered expanding mobile audiology services to improve access in (a) rural and (b) underserved areas.
Answer · Jenni Minto: While the Scottish Government remains committed to its vision for an integrated and community-based hearing service in Scotland, re-phasing of funding has meant that not all the challenges we are facing will be addressed in a single budget and therefore there…
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the average waiting time is for community audiology services in (a) NHS Grampian and (b) Aberdeen, and how this compares with the national average.
Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-34203 on 27 February 2025. 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-committ…