Parliamentary questions
Monica Lennon
3,484 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
11 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that unpaid carers can access (a) regular health checks and (b) flexible healthcare appointments, as outlined in the carers strategy.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government’s National Carers Strategy published in December 2022 sets out a cross-government approach to tackling issues that affect carers, including through health and social care policies. The Strategy sets out our intentions regarding c…
11 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the revised national outcome on care will be published.
Answer · Kate Forbes: The next iteration of the National Performance Framework (NPF) and National Outcomes will be published following conclusion of the work I announced in the Chamber, on 8 January 2025. The NPF is being substantially overhauled because we want it to work better …
7 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the eight Marmot principles set out by Professor Michael Marmot and the Institute of Health Equity, and whether it will consider signing Scotland up to be a "Marmot Nation".
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government is absolutely committed to improving healthy life expectancy and addressing the underlying inequalities that contribute to health disparities across Scotland – and as part of that recognises the importance of addressing the wider…
7 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce child poverty in South Lanarkshire.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Eradicating child poverty in Scotland is a national mission and the top priority for this Government.The Scottish Budget for 2025-26 outlines wide-ranging investment to deliver progress on our national mission to eradicate child poverty. This includes investm…
7 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many official visits by a First Minister have been made to each Scottish Parliament constituency since the start of the current parliamentary session.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Information on Ministerial engagements is routinely published on the Scottish Government website and can be found at: www.gov.scot/collections/ministerial-engagements-travel-and-gifts/.Visits are not recorded by parliamentary constituency.
7 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support business improvement districts.
Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government support the Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) model which can help leverage local investment, encourage innovation, unlock opportunities, and deliver sustainable change and improvement for local places.We fund Scotland’s Impr…
7 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what funding is available to support third sector organisations in the (a) Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, (b) East Kilbride and (c) Uddingston and Bellshill constituency in 2025-26.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Scottish Government grant making is allocated across portfolios to various parts of the third sector to improve a wide range of outcomes. Some Scottish Government funding will be issued through third sector intermediary organisations. Spending is not specific…
7 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to ensure that Hamilton Mausoleum (a) is kept in good condition and (b) will remain open to public visitors in the future.
Answer · Angus Robertson: The Scottish Government understands that Hamilton Mausoleum is a category A listed building owned by South Lanarkshire Council, and is managed and maintained by South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture SCIO which is a recognised Scottish Charity. It is important…
7 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to support unpaid carers to stay in work, in light of a recent report by Carers Scotland, which states that 71% of female unpaid carers who are looking after the home, family or dependants full time said that they had given up work to provide care.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government recognises the significant barriers faced by unpaid carers, many of whom are women, in accessing employment and fair work in the labour market. This is why unpaid carers have been identified as one of our key cohorts for support.We hav…
7 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support and improve the mental health and emotional wellbeing of female unpaid carers, in light of a recent report by Carers Scotland, which states that 35% of such carers reported having bad or very bad mental health, and that 58% said that they felt overwhel…
Answer · Maree Todd: We know that many carers experience mental, physical, employment and financial impacts as a result of their caring role. We recognise that a highly effective mental health system must address all levels of need. It means recognising and responding to the many…
4 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the use of the woody residue from filters used to clean emissions from wood drying and board pressing processes, known as crumb waste, as a fuel for electricity generation.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government supports the use of crumb waste as a fuel for electricity generation, where it adheres to the guiding principles for bioenergy as set out in our draft Bioenergy Policy Statement (BPS).These include prioritising the use of available was…
26 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the speech by the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health as part of the debate on motion S6M-16353 on 6 February 2025, whether the work to roll out baby loss suites in all territorial NHS boards will be completed by the end of 2025.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government committed through the Programme for Government 2023 – 24, published on 5 September 2023, to improving miscarriage care, including the provision of separate private spaces in hospitals with maternity wards for women experiencing p…
25 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what dates since 1 January 2025 the Cabinet Secretary for Transport has met representatives of (a) ScotRail and (b) the Caledonian Sleeper to discuss plans to procure new trains.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Progress with investment plans is included in my regular discussions with the Scottish Rail Holdings Group of companies and I met with ScotRail representatives on 27 February 2025. Transport Scotland officials meet regularly with ScotRail, Caledonian Sleeper …
25 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to (a) monitor and (b) tackle the illegal availability online of injections of the type 2 diabetes treatment, Ozempic.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government encourages anyone to contact their GP or diabetes clinical team to discuss the use of Ozempic or any other medication as part of their treatment for type 2 diabetes. They will be best placed to recommend any medicines or treatments bas…
25 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an assessment of trends in the level of demand on the NHS for the type 2 diabetes treatment, Ozempic.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The data for the number of people being prescribed Ozempic by year in Scotland can be found in the following table.To note: the table contains prescribing data for Ozempic only and does not include data for those being prescribed other branded semaglutide med…
25 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) North Lanarkshire, (b) South Lanarkshire and (c) Falkirk Council regarding underage vaping, including the sale of vapes to these young people.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government has not had specific discussions with North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire or Falkirk Council about underage vaping, including the sale of vapes to young people.We work closely with the Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in…
25 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-34303 by Jenni Minto on 18 February 2025, whether it will provide an update on its discussions with the UK Government (a) ministers and (b) officials regarding the provisions of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill that might impact on Scotland.
Answer · Jenni Minto: I met with the former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention on 04 November 2024 to discuss the Tobacco and Vapes Bill where I reaffirmed my support for this historic piece of legislation and highlighted how it could positivel…
24 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-34459 by Jim Fairlie on 19 February 2025, whether the guidance that is in development regarding the welfare of farmed fish at the time of slaughter will be placed on a statutory footing, and by what date it will be published.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: We are carefully considering the recommendations in the UK Farm Animal Welfare Committee report from 2014 and its updated opinion of February 2023, in conjunction with the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs and Islands Committee’s follow-up inqui…
24 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an updated assessment of whether Scotland is on track to reach net zero by 2045.
Answer · Gillian Martin: This Government’s commitment to net zero by 2045 is absolutely unwavering. We await the advice of the Climate Change Committee on new Carbon Budget levels, expected on 21 May 2025. Once we have received this advice, we will bring forward the Scottish Ca…
24 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much public funding has been given to fossil fuel companies in each year since 2021 for the development of carbon capture and storage technology.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government and its enterprise agencies have provided £1,354,000 for the development of carbon capture and storage technology in 2025.The Scottish Government has committed £2m of grant funding support to the National Gas Transmission S…
24 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the development of its plan to issue bonds.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government published a further update to the work on Scottish Government bonds alongside the 2025-26 Scottish Budget https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781836910558.This explains the outcome of the initial phase of due diligence and the work required in …
19 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-28796 by Mairi Gougeon on 19 August 2024, whether it can provide an update on what discussions it has had with the forestry sector regarding the spread of outbreaks of the larger eight-toothed European spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus) in Sc…
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Scottish Government considers industry involvement and engagement an important component in preventing the spread of Ips typographus into or within Scotland. Regular discussions are held with industry representatives from the nursery sector, growers and proce…
19 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Forestry and Land Scotland regarding its biodiversity strategy.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) has supported the Scottish Government in the development of the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy (SBS) and Delivery Plan, through participation in official working groups ran by the Environment and Forestry Directorate.FLS provi…
18 Feb 2025 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will consider seeking Period Positive Workplace certification, to build on its existing Period and Menopause Policy.
Answer · Jackson Carlaw (on behalf of the SPCB): The SPCB’s approach to partnerships and accreditations is governed by our Diversity and Inclusion commitments and aims. The SPCB assesses accreditations having regard to issues such as budget and resource implications (including staff time to achieve th…
17 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it will bring forward legislation to prohibit the use of peat in horticultural products.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government remains committed to restricting the sale of horticultural peat as part of its commitment to environmental protection and climate change mitigation. We continue to work with gardeners, growers, environmental organisations and the UK an…
14 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to develop an industry around the decommissioning of oil and gas sites.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Whilst regulation for decommissioning of offshore oil and gas infrastructure is a reserved matter, the Scottish Government supports this vital activity happening in a way that facilitates an orderly, managed and just transition to net-zero and maximises the b…
13 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Conflict Avoidance Process will be included in the construction contract for the replacement prison for HMP Barlinnie.
Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:The contract for HMP Glasgow was awarded under a two-stage design and build contract using the “Scottish Building Contracts Commit…
13 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work to produce official guidance on the welfare of farmed fish.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government is carefully considering the report of the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee’s ‘Follow-up inquiry into salmon farming in Scotland’ which was published on 17 January 2025, and which included a recommendation for welf…
12 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with Equinor since December 2023.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Scottish Government Ministers and Officials engage with major energy companies and employers on a regular basis as part of their duties.As part of this engagement, Energy and Climate Change Directorate officials most recently met with Equinor in February 2025…
12 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recommendations of the STUC report, Employment and Corporate Practice in Scotland's wind sector, including those regarding trade union membership of the Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The expansion of offshore wind presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create thousands of high-quality jobs. While employment law is reserved, we will continue to use the levers at our disposal to promote fair work practices across the labour market i…