Kate Nevens

1 Jul 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, should the Equality Act 2010: Draft Code of Practice for services, public functions and associations 2026 be approved, whether it plans to provide guidance to public authorities on its implementation, including guidance aimed at ensuring that the dignity and privacy of trans people…

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The approval and commencement of the Code of Practice is a matter reserved to the UK Government. The Secretary of State holds powers under the Equality Act 2006 to commence the Code following Parliamentary scrutiny, and it is the responsibility of the EHRC, a…

1 Jul 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it (a) has had or (b) plans to have with trans people and any other groups that might be impacted by the Equality Act 2010: Draft Code of Practice for services, public functions and associations, 2026.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government engages regularly with LGBTQI+ stakeholders, including organisations representing trans people, and has discussed the draft Code of Practice as part of that ongoing engagement.The First Minister and I also hosted a roundtable with comm…

1 Jul 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it (a) has written or (b) plans to write to the Equality and Human Rights Commission regarding any concerns it has about any potential impact on trans people and those presenting in gender non-conforming ways of the Equality Act 2010: Draft Code of Practice for services…

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government responded formally to the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s public consultation on the draft Code of Practice on 25 July 2025 setting out our views. We also wrote to the UK Government on in November 2025, reiterating our vie…

24 Jun 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to improve the safety and security of mosques and other places of worship, in light of reported attacks targeting Muslims in Edinburgh and the reported wider rise in anti-Muslim hostility, and what support it will make available to communities concerned about the…

Answer · Kirsten Oswald: The Scottish Government is clear that everyone should be able to practise their faith safely and free from fear and condemns all forms of religiously motivated violence affecting Muslim communities and places of worship.We are continuing to work closely with …

24 Jun 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it will provide to communities affected by reported attacks targeting Muslims in Edinburgh, and how it will ensure that engagement with affected communities includes a diverse range of voices, including women, LGBTQ+ people, recent migrants and people of different ages.

Answer · Kirsten Oswald: The Scottish Government condemns all forms of religiously motivated violence and is clear that communities affected by reported attacks targeting Muslims should feel safe, supported and resilient.We have established strong working relationships with Muslim co…

24 Jun 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to tackle far-right extremism and radicalisation, including online, and what steps it is taking to ensure that communities are kept informed about threats to their safety.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government works in close partnership with stakeholders to tackle hatred and prejudice in all of its forms to ensure proportionate responses to a broad spectrum of threat, including through the ongoing delivery of Scotland’s Hate Crime Stra…

24 Jun 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of any instances of GP practices sending out communications to people that could be interpreted as misleading, in that they imply a requirement for them to register with another practice when the catchment area of their current one is revised and they no longer l…

Answer · Angela Constance: NHS Boards are responsible for general medical services and ensuring that their GP contractors act within the agreed terms of their contracts. If an NHS Board believes that a communication from GP contractors does not reflect those agreements, that is a matte…

24 Jun 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that existing guidance for people relating to GP practices catchment areas is sufficiently clear, including whether it clearly explains that people are not required to register with a new GP practice when their current practice's catchment area is revised and they no…

Answer · Angela Constance: The existing guidance does not set out to cover all the circumstances in which patients might be removed from their current GP practice.Patients who are concerned about being removed from a practice list when areas are revised should contact their practice or…

24 Jun 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to the findings of the report by Alzheimer Scotland, Better Care, Full Stop, including calls for (a) quicker diagnosis, (b) improvements to (i) post-diagnosis support, (ii) community-based support, such as specialist therapeutic and complex care …

Answer · Alison Thewliss: The Scottish Government is committed to improving outcomes for people living with dementia, their families and carers through Dementia in Scotland: Everyone's Story, Scotland’s Dementia Strategy.The initial two-year Delivery Plan(2024-2026) prioritised …

17 Jun 2026 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to provide sanitation facilities for the Traveller community living on land that it owns in Granton, Edinburgh.

26 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether Qualifications Scotland has a General Data Protection Regulation duty to provide exam candidates access to their marker comments. 

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Qualifications Scotland is a Non-Departmental Public Body and acts as a data controller in relation to the personal data it processes, including exam candidates’ access to their marker comments.The Scottish Government expects all public authorities to c…

26 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason candidates for exams conducted by Qualifications Scotland are not currently able to request access to their exam scripts. 

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Qualifications Scotland is responsible for its own operational decisions, including whether individuals can access their exam scripts.An exemption to the right of access via subject access requests under the Data Protection Act 2018 applies to exam scripts. T…

20 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to improve medical and support services for people with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) in Edinburgh and Lothians East.

Answer · Maree Todd: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00208 on 02 June 2026. 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-committees/…

20 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of its £4.5 million for myalgic encephalomyelitis and long COVID services has been allocated to NHS Lothian.

Answer · Maree Todd: We have allocated funding to all territorial NHS boards as part of the recurring £4.5 million investment to support the development of specialist support for people with long COVID, myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME)/chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and other…

20 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance is available for local authorities when managing noise complaints as a public health issue.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Guidance to Accompany the Statutory Nuisance Provisions of the Public Health etc (Scotland) Act 2008 is available on the Scottish Government website. This guidance was published to support local authorities investigate and manage issues relating to noise …

20 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance is available to public bodies when managing reports of noise complaints from residents where multiple agencies, such as Police Scotland and housing associations, are involved.

Answer · Gillian Martin: Multi-agency involvement is often required when noise complaints relate to wider antisocial behaviours. To manage reports of noise complaints which require a multi-agency approach, the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004: noise nuisance guidance iss…