Monica Lennon

14 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to help homeless women manage menstruation

Answer · Angela Constance: Local authorities have the duty to provide appropriate services to address homelessness in their area. However, we recognise that some homeless people, including those who be sleeping rough, may not approach statutory services. The Scottish Government has the…

14 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many women have presented as homeless in each of the last five years.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The number homeless applications where the main applicant is female is published in Table 6A of the annual publication ‘Homelessness in Scotland’. http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0050/00502077.xlsx

14 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the findings of the YWCA Scotland Report, Status of Young Women in Scotland 2016, and what actions it will take as a result.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government welcomes the publication of YWCA Scotland's second Status of Young Women in Scotland report, and in particular the focus it gives to reaching diverse young women in Scotland and those who might have more limited opportunities to talk a…

13 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many women were prescribed contraception on the NHS in each of the last 10 years, broken down by (a) method of contraception, (b) age group and (c) NHS board.

Answer · Shona Robison: The information requested is not readily available. The recording of patients’ unique Community Health Index (CHI) number on prescriptions for the dispensing of contraceptives is not sufficiently comprehensive to allow accurate patient-based analysis. Howeve…

9 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the comment in the Bliss Scotland baby report 2017, that "three quarters of [neonatal] units...do not have enough nurses in post to meet minimum standards for providing safe, high quality care".

Answer · Aileen Campbell: I refer the member to the answer to question S5F-00793 on 26 January 2017. The answer to the oral parliamentary question is available on the Parliaments website, the Official Report can be viewed at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.asp…

9 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the comment in the Bliss Scotland baby report 2017, that "four out of ten [neonatal] units reported that lack of funding for training and development was a barrier, with a number of units noting that were funding for QIS [qualification in speciality] and Advanced …

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government has provided funding to support the establishment and delivery of Qualified in Speciality and Advance Neonatal Nurse Practitioner training in Scotland for the last four years. We expect all NHS Boards to ensure that their neonatal staf…

6 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the findings of the survey by Volunteer Scotland, Young People and Volunteering in Scotland, 2016, and what action it is taking to make volunteering more inclusive.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government welcomes the recent survey findings showing that 52% of young people volunteer, that participation is inclusive across most and least deprived areas, when volunteering in school time, and higher amongst those with physical and mental h…

6 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to raise awareness among young people regarding the benefits of volunteering.

Answer · Angela Constance: Our annual funding of £800,000 enables Volunteer Scotland to encourage, promote and support volunteers and volunteering to individuals, including all young people, across Scotland. In addition, Young Scot are funded by the Scottish Government to work collabo…

6 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recommendation in the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health report, State of Child Health, that it should develop a “child health in all policies” approach to decision-making to ensure that all public and economic policy is scrutinised in relation to i…

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government works across policy areas to raise the profile of child health and to ensure proper account of the needs of children and young people is represented in relevant developing policies. Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) is a natio…

6 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-05422 by Mark McDonald on 15 December 2016, what its response is to the findings and recommendations on breastfeeding in the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health report, State of Child Health.

Answer · Mark McDonald: Following the findings in the Royal College of Paediatric Child Health “ State of Child Health” report, I can confirm that the Scottish Government is committed to supporting breastfeeding. Since 2011 we have invested more than £11.2m to enable Health Boards t…

6 Feb 2017 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to recent NSPCC figures, which show that thousands of children with serious mental health problems turned to Childline last year.

1 Feb 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Constitution last spoke with the Scottish Fiscal Commission.

31 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much each NHS board has spent in each year since 2011-12 on travel costs for people to receive treatment in a different board area from where they live, broken down by (a) personal mileage, (b) taxi, (c) rail, (d) flight and (e) other costs.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government does not hold this information.

30 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much each NHS board has spent in each year since 2011-12 on accommodation costs for people to receive treatment in a different board area from where they live.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government does not hold this information.

17 Jan 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the maintenance of the 2016-17 funding reduction to alcohol and drug partnerships in its Draft Budget 2017-18.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The draft Scottish Government budget for 2017-18 provides for the allocation of £53.8 million to support Alcohol and Drug services. The agreed funding allocation will be directed through NHS territorial boards for delegation to Integration Authorities. Suppor…

9 Jan 2017 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to reports that hundreds of children with mental health problems have waited more than a year for treatment.

4 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scottish Children’s Services Coalition's call for clearer guidance on how the number of pupils with additional support needs is collected, in light of the 2016 pupil census data that suggests that there is significant variation across local authorities in the …

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government has already committed to the production of refreshed guidance to education authorities on the statistical collection on additional support needs. This work has begun and will be concluded in time for the next national data collection.

4 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review its guidance to local authorities on how to identify, record and monitor the additional support needs of young people in schools.

Answer · John Swinney: Guidance to education authorities on duties under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 is provided through the Statutory Code of Practice ‘Supporting Children’s Learning’ which is available from: http://www.gov.scot/Resource/Doc…

21 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-05094 by Maureen Watt on 12 December 2016, whether it will update the guidance for the mental health innovation fund, and when this will be published on its website.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The Guidance for the Mental Health Innovation Fund provided parameters for how NHS boards and their partners were to use £15 million additional funding, with £5 million being allocated in each of 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18. The Guidance is therefore specifi…

21 Dec 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what further consideration it has given to how it will address the affordability and accessibility of sanitary products.

8 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-01498 by Maureen Watt on 22 July 2016, whether it will provide an update on its timetable for the publication of the updated mental health strategy.

Answer · Maureen Watt: I gave evidence to the Health and Sport Committee on 29 November 2016 as part of the Committee's Inquiry into mental health. During that session, the Committee requested that publication of the new Mental Health Strategy be withheld to allow Committee's repor…

7 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-01773 by Mark McDonald on 22 August 2016, whether it will provide an update on what (a) progress it is making in identifying the items that will be included in the baby boxes and (b) discussions it has had with (i) parents' groups, (ii) women’s grou…

Answer · Mark McDonald: Collaboration is a key part of this policy. We have been working closely with a range of stakeholders including midwives, health visitors, other health professionals and our third sector partners. We have also commissioned research with parents themselves to …

7 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-01773 by Mark McDonald on 22 August 2016, what its position is on the baby box containing aids to support breastfeeding, including breast pads and pumps.

Answer · Mark McDonald: The Baby Box will include materials which promote attachment and which help parents prepare for the arrival of their baby. There will also be a strong focus on joining up core public health messages around things like safe-sleep. At present we do not plan to …

7 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-01773 by Mark McDonald on 22 August 2016, what its position is on the baby box containing (a) sanitary pads and (b) maternity pads.

Answer · Mark McDonald: The Scottish Baby Box will contain essentials for babies and for parents. We have engaged with health professionals, third sector stakeholders and parents to discuss the development of the policy and the contents of the Box. Parents have told us that maternit…

30 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-03842 by Maureen Watt on 2 November 2016, what percentage of the £65.7 million remaining package to support the mental health strategy will be allocated to children and young people’s services.

Answer · Maureen Watt: Decisions on the remaining funding will be taken in due course. It remains that the balance funding will support the priorities in our forthcoming Mental Health Strategy, to ensure we continue to improve access to services – including for children and young p…

29 Nov 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how its public information campaign to maximise incomes and benefit take-up will target the estimated 53,000 carers who do not claim carer's allowance.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: We want to see incomes maximised for people to receive all the benefits to which they are entitled. There are many benefits reserved to the UK Government, including Carer’s Allowance, where take up could be improved. We plan to run a take-up campaign in 2017-…

29 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the Developing the Young Workforce programme will seek to address gender imbalances in modern apprenticeships.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: In response to Developing the Young Workforce recommendations, Skills Development Scotland (SDS) published the Equalities Action Plan for Modern Apprenticeships in Scotland in December 2015. The five year plan outlines the challenges to be addressed and the a…

29 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it will cost to operate the Developing the Young Workforce regional groups each year, also broken down by how much each group will be allocated.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The annual cost when all groups are fully operational will be up to £4.2m. The DYW Regional Groups that have been established are supported with Scottish Government funding over a 3 year period. The following table provides the indicative 3 year budget for ea…

29 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many Developing the Young Workforce regional groups will be established, and how many are currently operational.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Developing the Young Workforce National Group, chaired by Rob Woodward, Chief Executive of STV, is identifying and working with key individuals and business organisations across Scotland to establish up to 21 Developing the Young Workforce Regional Groups…

28 Nov 2016 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scottish Children's Services Coalition warning that Scotland faces a "lost generation" of children with additional support needs.