Parliamentary questions

Monica Lennon

3,484 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

17 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-10912 by Mark McDonald on 22 September 2017 and, in light of reported increased awareness of period poverty, whether it will include sanitary products in the baby box.

Answer · Maree Todd: This highlighted that mothers were satisfied with inclusion of maternity towels in the box. However, we did not receive any requests from mothers for the inclusion of further sanitary products in Scotland’s Baby Box. As such, there are no plans at this stage …

17 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-09274 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 1 June 2017, how much it has spent on the services of John Sturrock, and whether he is still engaged in providing advice or services.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: John Sturrock has been instrumental in helping both sides in the College Lecturers dispute reach agreement. The Scottish Government is always mindful of the public purse when engaging any contractor on a commercial basis.

17 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the key findings of the Citizens Advice Scotland annual report on burial and cremation charges, and what discussions it is having with COSLA and local authorities regarding the widening costs.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government welcomes the report from Citizen’s Advice Scotland (CAS), which highlights that funeral costs have increased significantly in recent years. We are working closely with a range of stakeholders including CAS, funeral directors and the Th…

13 Dec 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the implementation of integrated smart ticketing on public transport.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Smart tickets can now be used to make journeys on rail, bus, subway, tram and air – with work progressing with ferries. This means Scotland has one of the most advanced smart integrated multi-modal public transport networks in the UK, outside of London. Inte…

6 Dec 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to calls for an independent audit of the child and adolescent mental health services in NHS Forth Valley.

Answer · Maureen Watt: NHS Forth Valley have engaged with the Mental Health Access Improvement Service Team based within Health Improvement Scotland. which was funded as part of the package of support offered to Boards to improve access to services. The support offered by the imp…

29 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-12576 by Aileen Campbell on 22 November 2017, whether it will provide an update on how the £20 million of funding for alcohol and drugs treatment will be allocated.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The award of funding will be within the draft budget to be considered by The Scottish Parliament. While we await 2018-19 draft budget outcomes, we continue to actively explore all options of how this funding will be allocated.

29 Nov 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what consideration it is giving to the provision of universal free access to sanitary products.

Answer · Angela Constance: Our immediate priority is to focus on delivery of our Programme for Government commitment to provide access to free sanitary products in schools, colleges and universities, and we will consider further action in light of the findings of our Aberdeen pilot whi…

23 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce contactless payments across all ScotRail services.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Passengers can currently purchase tickets using contactless bank cards (EMV) from ticket offices and on the train on all ScotRail services. We are working with ScotRail to enable contactless payments to be accepted at ticket vending machines.

23 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-03905 by Humza Yousaf on 28 October 2016, how many smartcards a person would need to travel by bus, rail, ferry, subway and tram.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: We continue to work towards our vision that all journeys on Scotland’s bus, rail, ferry, subway and tram can be made using some form of smart ticket or payment. For some time now this has focused on creating an infrastructure across all of Scotland that can s…

23 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the take-up rate has been of the ScotRail Smartcard; when it will be rolled out across all routes; what it considers the advantages of the card are, and how the services that it offers compare with the Oyster Card in London and other similar cards across the UK.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: ScotRail's Smartcard has been introduced on all routes and is available for most ticket types. There a number of advantages for passengers using a ScotRail smartcard (saltirecard). Some special promotional fares are only available on Smart. Super Off Peak D…

13 Nov 2017 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister, in light of it being Alcohol Awareness Week, whether she will provide an update on what action the Scottish Government is taking to reduce alcohol harm.

1 Nov 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve air quality in Central Scotland.

31 Oct 2017 · SPCB Oral Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, in light of recent reports regarding sexual harassment, whether it will initiate an independent review of reporting procedures and parliamentary culture.

26 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scottish Health Survey 2016 finding that 4% more women than men exhibit mental ill-health.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Health Survey 2016 reports that 15% of adults exhibited signs of a possible psychiatric disorder (GHQ-12 score of four or more). The reported rate is 17% for women and 13% for men. It is important to note that the rate for women has consistently …

26 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to communicate the new guidelines on alcohol consumption, which were published in 2016 by UK Chief Medical Officers.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The new drinking guidelines were revised by the UK Chief Medical Officers in February 2016, and advise that both men and women consume no more than 14 units per week, spread evenly over 3 or more days, and that alcohol should be avoided if you are pregnant or…

26 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scottish Health Survey 2016 finding that alcohol-related morbidity and mortality disproportionately affects people living in the most deprived areas.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: We have shaped our policies to tackle health inequalities in key areas, such as minimum unit pricing, which would have the greatest impact in our most deprived communities.

26 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce the reported increasing rates of alcohol-related mortality.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government’s alcohol strategy, Changing Scotland's Relationship with Alcohol: A Framework for Action, is well regarded internationally and contains over 40 measures to tackle alcohol misuse. The Framework has been shown to have a positive impact …

26 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent Scottish Health Survey finding that up to 51,000 children live with a parent or guardian whose alcohol use is problematic.

Answer · Maree Todd: Government recognises that children who live with substance–misusing parents are among the most vulnerable in society and require particular care and support. We have an Alcohol Framework in place which contains a package of measures to tackle alcohol misuse.…

19 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the BMJ recommendation that there is an urgent need to develop and implement effective interventions for girls in their early to mid-teens who self-harm.

Answer · Maureen Watt: As stated in our Mental Health Strategy, we want evidence-based interventions to address behavioural and emotional issues in children and young people to be available across Scotland. To this end: we are investing £150 million over five years to improve ment…

19 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take in light of the reported increase in the number of girls in their early to mid-teens who self-harm.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government funds NHS Boards to provide safe and effective care to meet the needs of all population groups, including girls in their early to mid-teens who self-harm. Guidance on the safe and effective care and management of those aged 8 and over …