Parliamentary questions
Pauline McNeill
2,364 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
31 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consultation it has had with (a) the Home Office and (b) Scottish local authorities, regarding ships, barges or vessels being used in Scotland in 2023 to accommodate people seeking asylum, and whether it will publish any relevant correspondence.
Answer · Emma Roddick: Asylum and immigration are entirely reserved to the UK Parliament and are handled by the Home Office, including provision of asylum accommodation for people who would otherwise be destitute while waiting for an asylum decision from the Home Office. The Scott…
31 May 2023 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether there are any gaps in Scots law in relation to tackling image-based sexual abuse.
30 May 2023 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister whether any objections or concerns were raised by the Scottish Ministers during the deliberations about the guidelines for sentencing under-25s, which came into effect in January 2022.
24 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the estimated number of people without immigration permission who have arrived irregularly in Scotland from outside the UK since 7 March 2023, and whether it will publish any such estimated figures.
Answer · Emma Roddick: The Scottish Government and National Records of Scotland do not hold this information. The Home Office publish equivalent figures for the UK, but they are not broken down to individual countries. The latest published data for the UK , from the Home Office, …
24 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any health and housing multi-agency meetings to manage support for trafficking survivors under sections 9 and 10 of the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Act 2015, what assessment template or guidance document is used in such meetings; which organisations are membe…
Answer · Siobhian Brown: Since 1 April 2018, support for victims of offences under the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Act 2015 has been placed on a statutory footing. Statutory support is delivered through grant awards from the Victim Centred Approach Fund to the Tra…
24 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance or advice it has issued to Scottish public authorities and charities that it funds, that have contact with asylum seekers or presumed human trafficking survivors, regarding the UK Government’s Illegal Migration Bill and, in particular, any retrospective effect since its int…
Answer · Siobhian Brown: The UK Government’s Illegal Migration Bill does not currently have legal effect. The Scottish Government has made clear our position that this cruel and inhumane Illegal Migration Bill should be scrapped immediately and will cause significant harm to victims …
24 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the Scottish Police Federation’s reported request for future pay for police to be linked to an average pay index, as opposed to annual negotiations, as police officers do not have the right to strike.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Police Negotiating Board (PNB) ‘Staff Side' have submitted a pay claim for 2023/24 which contains a request for future pay to be linked to an average pay index. As the PNB process is currently ongoing in relation to the police officer pay claim and in lin…
23 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any plans to (a) implement the scheme for funding for alternative dispute resolution and (b) establish a pilot of mandatory meetings on alternatives to court under the Children (Scotland) Act 2020.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: Sections 23(7) and 24(4) of the Children (Scotland) Act 2020 place a duty on the Scottish Ministers to lay six-monthly reports before Parliament setting out why the duties to (a) implement the scheme for funding for alternative dispute resolution and (b) esta…
11 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether any of its partner agencies use handcuffs when transporting children between care placements or other settings.
Answer · Natalie Don: Duties relating to secure transport lie principally with the local authority responsible for the child’s placement. Information is not held centrally on these arrangements or the use of handcuffs. A sub-group of the National Secure Care Group is developing a…
11 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many schools are (a) eligible and (b) registered for the Equally Safe at School programme, as of May 2023.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: Our Equally Safe strategy for preventing and eradicating violence against women and girls (VAWG) emphasises the importance of challenging the underpinning attitudes which enable such violence to take place. The Equally Safe at School (ESAS) project, develope…
9 May 2023 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to help educate children and young people about any dangers of online pornography.
2 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with (a) the leader and (b) councillors of Glasgow City Council to discuss reported concerns raised by business leaders regarding the Low Emission Zone, which is soon to be introduced in the city.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: Transport Scotland officials have not met the leader of Glasgow City Council regarding the Low Emission Zone (LEZ), however officials continue to meet with councillors and officials on a regular basis. As part of the LEZ governance structure, Transport Scotla…
26 Apr 2023 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce financial incentives to encourage households to install low-carbon heating in their homes, to help reach net zero by 2045.
19 Apr 2023 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Scotrail regarding improving Sunday train services in west central Scotland.
12 Apr 2023 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to support the development and expansion of Glasgow's International Financial Services District in the past year.
4 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it (a) has had and (b) will have with the UK Government regarding the licencing of testosterone for women in perimenopause or menopause.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government has not had any discussions with the UK Government on the licensing of testosterone for women in perimenopause or menopause. The regulations for the licensing, safety and efficacy of medicines are currently reserved to the UK Governmen…
4 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether women in perimenopause or menopause are prescribed testosterone in cases where they are showing symptoms that research has shown to benefit from such treatment.
Answer · Jenni Minto: No testosterone products are currently licensed in the UK for use in women. We are aware that some NHS menopause specialists are following prescribing advice from the British Menopause Society (BMS) and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)…
31 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many train stations currently impose toilet charges.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: Currently, there are charges in place for the use of toilet facilities at Inverness, Fort William, Aberdeen, and Glasgow Queen Street stations.
31 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether there are any plans to abolish toilet charges at train stations.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: ScotRail currently has no plans to change its current policy on toilet charges at stations.
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to rolling out HPV self-sampling, and whether it would expedite any such process if the UK National Screening Committee were to make a recommendation to this end.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government remains committed to exploring the implementation of HPV self-sampling, acknowledging the potential that it has to increase uptake levels and reduce barriers to cervical screening. As introducing a new screening test into the National …
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what work it is undertaking to develop a national cervical cancer elimination strategy.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government is continuing to take steps towards achieving the World Health Organisation’s targets to eliminate cervical cancer. As part of this, we have recently provided funding to Strathclyde University to conduct research into modelling that wi…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support the mental health of women who are reportedly experiencing long waits for referrals for colposcopy.
Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-16518 on 27 April 2023. This answer set out action being taken to enhance capacity and facilitate increased activity within colposcopy services. We recognise that uncertainty while waiting can have an impact o…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to NHS boards to address colposcopy waiting times.
Answer · Michael Matheson: To support scope based diagnostics we have published an Endoscopy and Urology Diagnostic Recovery and Renewal Plan which is backed by a £70m investment. The plan focuses on key areas such as: Balancing Demand and Capacity; Workforce Training and Development…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding restrictions on gaming, including mechanisms to reduce time spent playing games online.
Answer · Maree Todd: There have been no discussions with the UK Government regarding restrictions on gaming, including mechanisms to reduce time spent playing games online.
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has a strategy for tackling gaming addiction in children.
Answer · Maree Todd: In Scotland gaming addiction in children and young people is treated as a compulsive disorder and not as a standalone condition. The Scottish Government understands that compulsive disorders such as gaming addiction can be both debilitating and distressing. W…
13 Mar 2023 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what mitigations the Scottish Qualifications Authority will have in place during this year's exam diet for any senior phase pupils who have been adversely affected by targeted strike action.
13 Mar 2023 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will provide police with access to all correspondence, transcripts, meeting notes and other communications with ministers, its officials and with the Scottish Prison Service, to assist with the investigation regarding the Allan Marshall case.
9 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government, as it relates to Scotland, regarding the appointment of an Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, in light of the post having been vacant since April 2022.
Answer · Elena Whitham: The Scottish Government has regular communication with the UK Government on a range of issues relating to human trafficking and exploitation, including the vacant role of Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner. Section 40 of the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015 set…
21 Feb 2023 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to support Glasgow students in student rental accommodation, in light of the reported proposed rent increases by the University of Glasgow.
17 Feb 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-08612 by Humza Yousaf on 1 June 2022, whether it can provide an update on any ongoing discussions with the UK Government regarding the seeking of a lasting solution to the reported hormone replacement therapy supply issues.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Scottish Government continues to work with the Department for Health and Social Care in relation to supply challenges with HRT medication. The UK Government appointed Madelaine McTernan as its HRT tsar and her taskforce put together a set of three core recom…