Monica Lennon

29 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ensure that sheriffs are provided with the full details of any previous criminal proceedings when conducting a civil case in relation to domestic abuse.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Government funded this research on Domestic Abuse and Child Contact: The Interface Between Criminal and Civil Proceedings - SCCJR. In the light of this research, the Scottish Government has held workshops with stakeholders to consider the issues …

29 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to scale up the current model of providing a specialist lawyer for domestic abuse cases in collaboration with Women’s Aid services.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Government has committed to a pilot project which has been established through the Scottish Legal Aid Board up to a limit of £432,000 over a period of three years from 1 April 2023 - 31 March 2026, to support Scottish Women’s Aid for …

29 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that children's rights are protected in custody decisions relating to domestic abuse cases.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: A key aim of the Children (Scotland) Act 2020 (the 2020 Act) is to ensure the child’s best interests are at the centre of contact and residence cases.The 2020 Act will reform the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 (the 1995 Act) which is the key legislation i…

29 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work to restore peatland.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: Through the Peatland ACTION partnership we are funding the restoration of our peatlands. We are also working hard with our Peatland ACTION delivery partners to tackle the many barriers to upscaling peatland restoration in this relatively young sector.We are m…

29 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work to provide training and upskilling for workers to restore peatland in rural areas.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: Through the Peatland ACTION partnership, the NatureScot-led Peatland Skills Action Plan focuses on increasing workforce capacity for design of restoration schemes and growth in the contracting sector to ensure delivery towards our future restoration targets. …

29 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to emulating the New Zealand Government's climate implications of policy assessment.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government continues to improve the information around government spending and its climate impact and has successfully completed a pilot of our new Net Zero Assessment (NZA) methodology which is now undergoing independent expert review.In designi…

29 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide full details of the (a) process and (b) progress of Project Willow; which expert stakeholders are being consulted; what the range is of the potential fuel production processes that are being considered; to what extent the issue of (i) feedstock availability and (i…

Answer · Gillian Martin: Petroineos first approached the Scottish Government in early 2024 to seek support for Project Willow. The Scottish Government has supported this with £799,000 of funding and has successfully leveraged the UK Government to do the same.The Project Willow …

29 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what specific action it is taking to engage boys and men in preventing violence against women and girls.

Answer · Kaukab Stewart: Our Equally Safe strategy makes challenges the notion that violence against women and girls is inevitable or acceptable and emphasises the importance of challenging attitudes that underpin violence against women and girls.We know that it is important that men…

29 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to resource the implementation of the (a) Gender Based Violence in Schools Framework and (b) Behaviour in Schools National Action Plan, in order to address the reported increase in extreme misogyny in schools.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: There is no place for harassment or abuse in any form in our schools. We published a national framework for schools to help tackle sexual harassment and gender-based violence in March 2024. This framework helps to support schools both to prevent gender-based …

29 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is collaborating with (a) the UK Government and (b) international partners on the regulation of online platforms in order to reduce young people's online exposure to radical misogyny.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: Keeping children safe from online abuse and exploitation and tackling misogyny in our society are key priorities for the Scottish Government. We are committed to ensuring that robust measures are in place across Scotland to ensure our services can identify an…

29 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether it is necessary to make comprehensive, gender-equal Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenthood (RSHP) education compulsory and a statutory requirement in order to ensure that all young people have access to the information that they need on healthy relati…

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring all children and young people receive high quality relationships, sexual health and parenthood (RSHP) education, which is an integral part of the health and wellbeing area of the curriculum. The curriculum is n…

29 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered implementing national maternity safety ambitions, in light of these being implemented in England.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The National Maternity Safety Ambition in England was launched in 2015. Delivery of healthcare and the NHS is devolved and the Sottish Government is committed to continuous improvement in maternity safety across Scotland, working in partnership with NHS Board…

29 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the UK Department of Health and Social Care regarding national maternity safety ambitions.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Delivery of healthcare and the NHS is devolved and therefore work on the safety of and continuous improvement in maternity services in Scotland is the responsibility of the Scottish Government. The National Maternity Safety Ambition was launched in 2015 by th…

29 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work it has undertaken with the UK Government to ensure that domiciled residents in Scotland who have migrated from the rest of the UK pay the correct taxation rates.

Answer · Shona Robison: HMRC undertakes an on-going programme of activities to ensure Scottish taxpayers are accurately identified. Scottish Government scrutinise this work through a joint quarterly income tax board.This work includes, comparing PAYE submissions with HMRC’s ow…

26 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support is being provided to NHS boards to manage adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) referrals, in light of the reported backlog of people on waiting lists, including reports that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde assessed 353 adults in 2023 but in June 2024 had 4,268…

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government wants patients to get the help they need, when they need it, and we understand how important a timely ADHD diagnosis is for individuals.While local Health and Social Care Partnerships (HSCPs) have responsibility for putting in place se…

26 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in the development of a single diagnostic pathway for adult autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Answer · Maree Todd: Some positive progress has been made in implementing the recommendations of the Adult Neurodevelopmental Pathways report, which aims to provide local single pathways for adult autism and ADHD, including diagnosis and support.4 Health Boards are undertaking st…

25 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is considering increasing the amount of funding allocated to loss and damage funds, in light of the climate finance deal agreed at COP29.

Answer · Gillian Martin: Climate finance is key to climate action – as it is essential to allow developing countries to decarbonise in a fair way which supports communities, builds resilience, and addresses loss and damage caused by climate change, in particular frequent devast…

25 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its 2030 child poverty targets, what additional, targeted actions it is considering to ensure that families with a baby are lifted out of poverty.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Eradicating child poverty is a national mission and the top priority of this Government. We remain firmly focused on supporting the six priority family types identified as being at a higher risk of poverty within our first Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan…

25 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken to understand the reported increasing need for baby banks to provide emergency support for families with a baby.

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 baby banks.Anyone supporting a family in desperate need should refer them to their local authority or a health professional, …

25 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will introduce its proposed Heat in Buildings Bill before the Christmas recess.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: We are currently considering all the issues raised in response to our recent consultation on proposals for a Heat in Buildings Bill. We will confirm our decisions and the nature and timing of next steps as soon as practicable.

25 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will introduce its proposed Natural Environment Bill before the Christmas recess.

Answer · Gillian Martin: As set out in the 2024-25 Programme for Government, the Scottish Government has committed to introduce the Natural Environment Bill as part of the year four legislative programme. Due to parliamentary procedure, we are unable to provide the precise date for i…

25 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the ministerial statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care on the National Mission to Reduce Deaths and Improve Lives of People Impacted by Drugs and Alcohol on 12 September 2024, whether it will provide further details of Publ…

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government and Public Health Scotland (PHS) are finalising the scope of the review of the evidence to support decisions on potential proposals in relation to alcohol marketing and promotion that may be taken forward in future, under devolved powe…

22 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the discovery of hundreds of dead fish in Linlithgow Loch on 12 November 2024, what action SEPA has taken in response to this possible pollution event.

Answer · Gillian Martin: Following reports from members of the public on 11 November of a number of dead fish found in Linlithgow Loch, SEPA officers inspected the site on the morning of 12 November. During the inspection, no visible signs of pollution were identified and water quali…

22 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Transport Scotland has carried out an assessment of the use of Starlink on ScotRail services, in light of the proposed appointment of Elon Musk as a member of the Cabinet of the Government of the United States.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: ScotRail will partner with Clarus in a project taken forward on behalf of Scottish Government digital, Scottish Futures Trust, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, which will use ScotRail trains to test satellite connectivity in rural areas where existing 4/5G m…

20 Nov 2024 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what policies and guidance it has in place to support staff in relation to fertility matters.

Answer · Jackson Carlaw (on behalf of the SPCB): The SPCB recognises the pressures staff face in effectively balancing the responsibilities of work with their personal commitments and is committed to providing appropriate support for staff. A comprehensive range of measures are available to support staff in…

20 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the gender balance is of its workforce, expressed in percentages.

Answer · Shona Robison: A breakdown of the Scottish Government workforce by sex is available in table T7 of the Scottish Government Workforce Statistics Scottish Government workforce information - gov.scot (www.gov.scot). The latest available data from June 2024 shows that 56.4% of …

20 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the recent chemical spill incident in the Cameron Street area of Coatbridge, whether it can provide details of what remedial action has been taken by SEPA to limit the possible spread of the contaminant and the resultant impact.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s (SEPA) remit in relation to such incidents covers monitoring and mitigating potential impacts on the environment. It is working in partnership with North Lanarkshire Council who are leading on development of …

20 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the recent chemical spill incident in the Cameron Street area of Coatbridge, whether it can provide details of what information has been collected by SEPA to identify the chemicals involved and their source.

Answer · Gillian Martin: As part of a multi-agency response, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) continues to investigate the reported chemical spill incident in the Cameron Street area of Coatbridge. SEPA is at an early stage of this and is unable to provide further de…

20 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide details of what steps SEPA has taken to communicate with the local community in relation to the recent chemical spill incident in the Cameron Street area of Coatbridge.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has issued two statements via its media centre, on 15 and 22 November, updating the public on its actions regarding recent chemical spill incidents in Coatbridge.For more information, you can contact SEPA dire…

20 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported complaint by Friends of the Earth Scotland regarding 27 alleged breaches of the Scottish Ministerial Code in relation to proposals for a gas-fired power plant at Peterhead.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The First Minister wrote to Friends of the Earth Scotland on 21 August and again on 25 October to set out his detailed considerations of their allegations and his conclusion that the Code had not been breached.The application under consideration in these exch…