Parliamentary questions
Monica Lennon
3,484 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
12 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how its school roll forecasting guidance accounts for the cumulative impact of multiple windfall developments (sites not originally in the Local Development Plan) on a single school catchment area, and what measures are in place to prevent local schools from reaching working capacity bef…
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Local authorities have the statutory responsibility to manage their school estate, including assessing the impact of all housing developments on school capacity.The Scottish Government’s Determining Primary School Capacity guidance provides a consistent…
12 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of the accuracy of Pupil Product Ratios (PPR) used by local authorities to forecast school rolls in areas of high housing growth; what data it holds on instances where actual pupil numbers from new developments have exceeded the 0.3 (primary) and 0.13 (…
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Local authorities have the statutory responsibility to manage their school estate, and determining appropriate Pupil Product Ratios (PPR). The Scottish Government does not hold national data comparing pupil yields with PPR assumptions, however, the Determinin…
12 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that planning capacity formulas for existing schools do not account for modern educational requirements, such as breakout spaces and sensory rooms, and how it ensures that Section 75 developer contributions are sufficient to cover the true cost of modern s…
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Local authorities are responsible for managing their school estate in line with statutory duties and ensure that capacity assessments reflect modern educational design requirements. The Determining Primary School Capacity guidance recognises evolving approach…
12 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will adopt the Scotland’s Childcare Guarantee, which has been proposed by the group, Pregnant Then Screwed, specifically the call to expand funded hours to children from nine months old and the introduction of a 5% household income cap on childcare costs, and what specif…
Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: Any changes to existing funded early learning and childcare arrangements will be a matter for an incoming government to address.There has been no specific modelling carried out on how this proposal would support the retention of multiple-birth parents in the …
12 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of childcare costs on families with multiple-birth children under three years, and whether it will consider a multiples discount or supplementary funding for these families to ensure that the cost of two or more nursery places does not exceed ho…
Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: The aim of the 1140 policy is to support affordability and improve outcomes for all eligible children and their families, with 1140 hours per year offered to all 3- and 4-year-olds and eligible 2-year-olds and we have invested around £1 billion every ye…
12 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to eliminate the reported "postcode lottery" regarding the start dates for funded early learning and childcare (ELC) hours, and what specific support is available for parents of twins who turn three years old mid-term but are forced to pay for two full-time places…
Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: Responsibility for delivering 1140 hours of funded ELC sits with local authorities, who have a statutory duty to consult with families in their area about how they should make ELC available.Current arrangements for when children become eligible for funded ear…
12 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it provides to local authorities to ensure that siblings from multiple births can access their funded early learning and childcare (ELC) hours at the same provider and within the same sessions, in light of reports that limited capacity in some areas is forcing parents to sp…
Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: The Scottish Government fully funds Local Authorities to deliver 1,140 hours of funded ELC. Local authorities have a statutory duty to provide funded ELC to all entitled children in their area and are responsible for local admission policies.The Scottish Gove…
12 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its most recent assessment is of the gynaecology workforce implementation gap that was identified by Audit Scotland; how many consultant gynaecologist vacancies, including locum-filled roles, there are in each NHS board, and what specific actions it is taking to recruit and retain s…
Answer · Neil Gray: Audit Scotland has highlighted a persistent gap between national workforce ambitions and delivery, including the need for improved workforce data and clearer implementation plans. The Scottish Government is working with NHS boards to address these issues thro…
12 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will meet its target to eliminate gynaecology outpatient and inpatient/day-case waits of over 52 weeks by the end of March 2026; how many women remain on the waiting list for inpatient/day-case surgery, and what the average waiting time is for those requiring surgery for endom…
Answer · Jenni Minto: Public Health Scotland (PHS) will publish waiting times data covering the period up to 31 March 2026 on 28 April 2026.PHS uses the national waiting times datamart to collect electronic patient records covering the waits that patients experience waiting for tr…
12 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what variation there is between the shortest and longest average waiting times for a first gynaecology appointment in each NHS board, and what targeted interventions it is deploying in the most deprived SIMD quintiles to ensure that its goal of eliminating cervical cancer and reducing gy…
Answer · Jenni Minto: Public Health Scotland (PHS) publish median and 90th percentile for length of time patients wait to be seen as a new outpatient on a monthly basis.The median waiting time is the middle waiting time, calculated by ordering patients from shortest to longest wai…
12 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £12.9 million allocated to gynaecology services in 2025-26 has been directed specifically toward increasing theatre capacity for gynaecological procedures, and what mechanism is in place to track the direct impact of this funding on the number of women removed …
Answer · Jenni Minto: Of the £12.9 million allocation into gynaecology services in 2025-26, over £9.4 million has been directed to inpatient/day-case activity.The impact of this investment is tracked centrally through routine self-reported returns submitted by NHS Boar…
12 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its statement, Strengthening additional support for learning, published on 12 March 2026, how the recommendation for "workforce alignment" will be implemented in Lanarkshire, in light of reported concerns regarding chronic underfunding and overstretched staffing.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The expert Review carried out by Professional Education Advisor Janie McManus’ said that clearer expectations, stronger pathways to support across education, health and social care, and early interventions should underpin the next steps in delivering Ad…
12 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what resource will be provided to local authorities to implement the "workforce alignment" recommendation in the report, Additional Support for Learning: A Review of System Delivery for Learners, in light of the reported failure of the current national additional support for learning fra…
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The expert Review carried out by Professional Education Advisor Janie McManus’ said that clearer expectations, stronger pathways to support across education, health and social care, and early interventions should underpin the next steps in delivering Ad…
12 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of fly-tipping in (a) South Lanarkshire and (b) Glasgow.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government has not made specific assessments of fly-tipping levels in South Lanarkshire or Glasgow. Responsibility for dealing with fly-tipping depends on the location and nature of the incident. Under the Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse, l…
12 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support is available for communities in South Lanarkshire that are concerned about a reported increase in littering and fly-tipping.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Local authorities are responsible for addressing litter and fly-tipping on public land and other land for which they have responsibility, in line with the Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse. Communities should contact their local council in the first insta…
12 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact that low confidence in police response times may be having on the reporting of crime.
Answer · Angela Constance: The most recent Scottish Criminal Justice Survey, published earlier this month shows that the majority of adults are confident in the effectiveness of the police to deal with incidents, solve crime, and catch criminals. Furthermore, the survey showed that 59%…
12 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it monitors the consistency of local authority recruitment approaches, and what guidance it provides to ensure that hiring practices do not disadvantage qualified teachers seeking employment.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Local authorities, as the employers of teachers, are responsible for their own recruitment and hiring processes. Local authorities have a duty to ensure they advertise teaching vacancies through open and fair recruitment processes, in line with all public sec…
12 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the current balance between the number of newly qualified teachers entering the profession and the number of permanent posts available across Scotland.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: While the recruitment and deployment of teachers is the responsibility of local authorities, the Scottish government takes concerns about the recruitment and retention of teachers very seriously.The Scottish Government conducts an annual teacher workforce pla…
12 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact of limited permanent teaching vacancies on the (a) career progression, (b) wellbeing and (c) retention of newly qualified teachers.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Individual Local Authorities, as employers, are responsible for managing teaching vacancies and providing job opportunities across Scotland. Teaching vacancies are advertised across Scotland, throughout the year, through a process of fair and open recruitment…
12 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the Ecocide (Scotland) Bill and specifically in relation to any potential section 35 or section 40 issues under the Scotland Act 1998, and what steps are being taken to ensure that cross-border enforcement and corporate liabili…
Answer · Gillian Martin: There have been official level discussions with the UK Government on the Ecocide (Scotland) Bill. The Scottish Government considers that the Bill, if appropriately amended at Stage 2, would not have raised issues under section 35 or section 40 of the Scotland…
12 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, following the Parliament's agreement of a Financial Resolution for the Ecocide (Scotland) Bill on 19 February 2026, what specific work is being undertaken during the current pause in stage 2 proceedings to ensure that the (a) Scottish Environment Protection Agency and (b) Crown Office a…
Answer · Gillian Martin: Since the Parliament’s agreement to the Financial Resolution for the Ecocide (Scotland) Bill, there has been contact at official level between the Scottish Government and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency about the level of resources that would…
12 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its review of the effectiveness of section 40 of the Regulatory Reform (Scotland) Act 2014; what data it holds on the number of successful prosecutions under this section for "significant environmental harm" since its inception, and how it plans to ad…
Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government has not committed to a formal review of the offence at section 40 of the Regulatory Reform (Scotland) Act 2014. The information that we hold shows that there have been no successful prosecutions under the section 40 offence of causing …
12 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its commitment to align with European Union standards where appropriate, what assessment it has made of the EU Environmental Crime Directive (2024/1203), which Member States must transpose by May 2026, and how a proposed ecocide offence could bridge any gap between existing …
Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government is continuing to consider the EU Environmental Crime Directive (2024/1203) against our alignment policy. We consider that the existing offence of causing significant environmental harm at section 40 of the Regulatory Reform (Scotland) …
12 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, for what reason it has not yet acted on the call made by Endometriosis UK in its campaign, Menstrual Wellbeing in Scotland, which launched in 2020 and called for menstrual wellbeing education to be made a compulsory component of the curriculum in all of Scotland's schools; whether it pl…
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government published updated statutory RSHP teaching guidance in February 2026. The revised teaching guidance reflects the issues currently facing children and young people, especially around inclusivity, consent and healthy relationships as well…
12 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the geographic disparities in endometriosis diagnosis times across different NHS boards, and what steps it is taking to ensure that women in Scotland are not disadvantaged by a "postcode lottery" when seeking treatment for chronic pelvic pain.
Answer · Jenni Minto: We want all women and girls to be able to access the best possible care and support and to benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective and put women at the centre of their care.Endometriosis continues to be a priority for this Government, and we…
12 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Endometriosis Action Month, March 2026, what its response is to the finding in the Endometriosis UK report, The State of Endometriosis Care in the UK, that the average time to diagnosis in Scotland is ten years and 2 months, and what specific clinical interventions…
Answer · Jenni Minto: It is clear that urgent action is needed to address endometriosis diagnosis times. That is why we have allocated almost £13 million in additional funding to Health Boards this year to target long waits for gynaecology.We are beginning to see the impact …
12 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many specialist endometriosis centres are currently operating at full capacity in Scotland, and what additional funding or resource has been allocated in the 2026-27 Budget to address the backlog of patients waiting for laparoscopic diagnostic surgery and multidisciplinary care.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The three Accredited Endometriosis Specialist Centres in Scotland provide coordinated, multidisciplinary treatment to individuals with complex symptoms of endometriosis and to those requiring complex surgery. Understanding the potential capacity of services s…
12 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Audit Scotland and the Care Inspectorate regarding the findings of the 2026 embezzlement conviction at Women’s Aid Argyll and Bute, and what steps it is taking to investigate reported whistle-blower claims that the financial irregularities ex…
Answer · Kaukab Stewart: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-44387 on 20 March 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees…
12 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact that historic financial mismanagement at Women’s Aid Argyll and Bute had on the delivery of frontline services for vulnerable women and children, and what assurances it has received from the new SCIO management regarding the current stabili…
Answer · Kaukab Stewart: All Scottish Government funding provided to Argyll and Bute Women’s Aid is subject to monitoring and reporting requirements to ensure it is being used for agreed purposes. From 2016, oversight by the Voluntary Action Fund included project visits and six…
12 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what specific monitoring and audit protocols were in place for the funding it provided to Women’s Aid Argyll and Bute between 2016 and 2021, and how it plans to strengthen oversight of third-sector grant recipients to prevent any instances of fraud and embezzlement to happen in the…
Answer · Kaukab Stewart: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-44387 on 20 March 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees…