Parliamentary questions
Monica Lennon
3,484 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
12 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will bring forward amendments at stage 2 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill to include urban areas.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: As I said at my recent evidence session on the Bill with the NZET Committee, Meeting of the Parliament: lghp/18/02/2025 | Scottish Parliament Website we are not going to fix all the issues in either rural or urban Scotland in this one piece of legislation. Ot…
12 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it supports community ownership of land in urban areas.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Communities in Scotland now have more options than ever before to take ownership of land and assets, including several distinct rights to buy, and they can now choose which route to community ownership best suits their aspirations.The Land Reform (Scotland) A…
12 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to protect the health of farmed fish.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Scottish Government’s sustained policy and regulatory interventions on sea lice have focused industry action on sea lice management and have resulted in a downward trend in sea lice numbers at a national level, with 2024 levels being the lowest since 20…
12 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much peatland has been restored since 2021, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The amount of peatland restored through the Peatland ACTION partnership since 2021, broken down by local authority area, can be found in the following table.Local AuthorityHectares restored through Peatland ACTION since 2021Aberdeen City Council0Aberdeenshire…
12 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will meet its peatland restoration target by 2030.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: Good progress is being made towards the current target to restore 250,000 hectares of degraded peatlands by 2030, with - 75,000 hectares restored to date.Recent years have seen strong increases including, in 2023-24, over 10,000 hectares restored in a single …
11 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the proposals in the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill will impact on people and communities in the Central Scotland region.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The proposals in the Bill stem from the work and recommendations of the Scottish Land Commission. It found the most pressing land reform issues were in rural areas in relation to the scale and concentration of land ownership and the resultant impact on local …
7 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason its paper, Scotland’s Circular Economy and Waste Route Map to 2030, does not appear to address artificial turf and crumb rubber.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The Circular Economy & Waste Route Map to 2030 provides a framework to tackle the environmental impact of priority products, and take a targeted, coordinated approach to managing materials across the waste hierarchy. This approach recognises the variation…
7 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its discussions with sports bodies regarding their use of artificial turf and crumb rubber on playing fields.
Answer · Maree Todd: Artificial grass pitches play an important role in the delivery of sport and physical activity across Scotland, helping the nation to lead more active, healthy lives. Well maintained artificial pitches allow for year-round, intensive use and can provide signi…
7 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its discussions with educational bodies regarding their use of artificial turf and crumb rubber on (a) playgrounds and (b) playing fields.
Answer · Maree Todd: Artificial grass pitches play an important role in the delivery of sport and physical activity across Scotland, helping the nation to lead more active, healthy lives. Well maintained artificial pitches allow for year-round, intensive use and can provide signi…
30 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-23094 by Angela Constance on 30 November 2023, how many people have been convicted of an offence under section 40 of the Regulatory Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 each year.
Answer · Angela Constance: There were no prosecutions under section 40(1) of the Regulatory Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 (where main crime) since 1 January 2014.Please note: The latest available data is for 2022-23.
30 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will bring forward measures relating to the consultation on the review of the regional strategic bodies in the Glasgow and Lanarkshire college regions.
Answer · Graeme Dey: As set within the answer to the question S6W-32198 on 12 December 2024, the Scottish Government will proceed with plans to reform the governance arrangements within the Glasgow and Lanarkshire college regions following consultation. Subject to the Parliamenta…
29 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work to develop legislation on the welfare of farmed fish.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government does not have any immediate plans to develop further legislation in relation to the welfare of farmed fish. The Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 protects farmed animals from ‘unnecessary suffering’ and places a…
29 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with (a) COSLA and (b) each local authority to discuss reusable nappy schemes.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government regularly meets with COSLA and local authorities to discuss areas of shared interest. The Scottish Government has focussed efforts on supporting families to make informed choices about reusable nappies by raising awareness of their ben…
29 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to promote Reusable Nappy Week.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of promoting reusable nappies during Reusable Nappy Week. Content will be posted across Parent Club’s social media channels and will highlight the benefits of reusable nappies and answer common questions…
28 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which classifications of train are in the ScotRail fleet, broken down by the (a) average age and (b) number of trains in each classification.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: This is an operational matter for ScotRail
24 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle the reportedly growing issue of retailers selling nicotine products to children.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Scottish Ministers are concerned about the use of novel nicotine products such as nicotine pouches and, in particular, their appeal to children and young people.The Tobacco and Vapes Bill, if passed, will introduce a range of restrictions – for example …
24 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the current legislative framework is appropriate for tackling the reportedly growing issue of retailers selling nicotine products to children.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The purchase of vaping and tobacco products is age restricted. It is illegal to sell to, or buy them for, anyone under the age of 18.Our Tobacco and Vaping Framework, launched in 2023, is our roadmap to 2034 and a tobacco free Scotland.Our Framework is underp…
22 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-32779 by Jenni Minto on 20 January 2025, when it anticipates that it will receive the recommendations from the expert group.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The first meeting of the Expert Group took place on 25 April 2024 and its lifespan was initially expected to be around one year, although there was scope to extend this, and it’s now likely to continue beyond this time.The group aims to share an update …
21 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the role that foodbanks and baby banks can play in supporting access to infant formula milk in a crisis, including related UNICEF advice, in light of the reported confirmation by the UK Department of Health and Social Care that there are no UK restrictions …
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government recognises the impact that child poverty has on families with a baby, and that some of these families may use food or baby banks.Scotland is the first nation in the UK to publish a Cash-First Plan, grounded in human rights, that works …
20 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-33215 by Angus Robertson on 20 January 2025, whether it will provide further details of what opportunities it is exploring with the Swedish Government regarding peatland restoration.
Answer · Angus Robertson: Officials from the Scottish Government, Forestry and Land Scotland, Scottish Forestry and NatureScot are working together with counterparts in the Swedish Government and its agencies to explore opportunities for collaboration on the development of technical s…
14 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-20923 by Maree Todd on 26 September 2023, whether it can provide an update on progress with the implementation of Anne's Law, and whether it will be in force by the end of 2025.
Answer · Maree Todd: The core elements of Anne’s Law have already been delivered by using our existing powers to strengthen Health and social care standards on visiting in care homes and in updates to guidance. As a result people living in care homes can now expect to see f…
13 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-32625 by Maree Todd on 8 January 2025, whether it will provide the information that was requested and confirm which NHS boards have restricted access to mental health services to tier (a) 3 and (b) 4 patients.
Answer · Maree Todd: As set out in my answer to question S6W-32625 on 8 January 2025, Tier 3 and Tier 4 services are those secondary and specialist mental health services - including Community Mental Health Teams, Adult Acute Psychiatry, and specialist Perinatal Mental Health car…
13 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-32625 by Maree Todd on 8 January 2025, which NHS boards are meeting their targets for early intervention with regard to mental health.
Answer · Maree Todd: Improving access to Mental Health services is a priority for Scottish Government and whilst we recognise the ongoing pressures facing the NHS, we remain committed to supporting all Boards to achieve the standard that 90% of patents start treatment within 18 w…
9 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how many local authorities have received funding to forgive school meal debt.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government has made £2,877,287.97 of funding available to local authorities to enable them to cancel school meal debts within their respective local areas. This sum represents the entire amounts bid for by each local authority.29 local auth…
9 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its engagement with the government of (a) Greenland, (b) the Faroe Islands, (c) Norway, (d) Denmark, (e) Iceland, (f) Sweden and (g) Finland since the establishment of a Scottish Government office in Copenhagen.
Answer · Angus Robertson: There is ongoing engagement with the Nordic countries on a wide variety of policy issues which deliver against the commitments in Scotland’s International Strategy and the Scottish Government’s Priorities for Scotland. For example: officials are w…
9 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to establish an international office in Africa, in light of its commitment to the Scotland-Malawi partnership.
Answer · Angus Robertson: The Scottish Government remains committed to the Scotland-Malawi relationship, with funding continuing to support programmes focused on health, inclusive education, equalities, renewable energy and climate justice, as well as financial support for civil socie…
9 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work in relation to the Arctic Policy Framework.
Answer · Angus Robertson: Scotland’s first Arctic policy framework, Arctic Connections, was published in 2019. In line with commitments in Scotland’s International Strategy, work has begun on an evaluation process. This will consider the impact of the framework, how Scotla…
8 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-31048 by Jenni Minto on 25 November 2024, whether it can provide an update on its work to improve the technical infrastructure of the existing register of tobacco and nicotine vapour product retailers.
Answer · Jenni Minto: In line with the Tobacco and Vaping Framework, work is underway to improve the technical infrastructure of the existing register of Tobacco and Nicotine Vapour Product retailers.Officials are working with Scottish IT developers ePass, selected by the Scottish…
8 Jan 2025 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it plans to review its social media presence on X.
Answer · Christine Grahame (on behalf of the SPCB): Giventhe pace of change and developments in the digital landscape, the SPCB reviewsits communications channels on an ongoing basis. Considerations include extentof reach and levels of effective audience engagement, ethical considerationslinked to impartiality…
6 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce the risk of exposure of firefighters to fire contaminates.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Government and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) are committed to ensuring the safety of firefighters. In the draft budget for 2025-26, the Scottish Government will provide SFRS with an additional £18.8 million, which includes &po…