Parliamentary questions

Monica Lennon

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

9 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-23975 by Mairi McAllan on 18 January 2024, whether it can detail any work that it has undertaken in relation to exploring joining the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance (BOGA) as a core member, and whether it will provide an update on its position on BOGA …

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan (ESJTP), to be published in summer, will include the Scottish Government's updated policy position on offshore oil and gas exploration and production, among other matters. The Strategy will set out a clear pathway …

9 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has reportedly excluded (a) Africa, (b) South America and (c) Oceania from the Offshore Wind Directorate's International Engagement Strategy's designated priority regions.

Answer · Gillian Martin: Our Offshore Wind International Engagement Strategy was developed working closely with Scottish Development International, using the latest market intelligence. The strategy identifies priority countries crucial to delivering our offshore wind objectives, en…

9 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide an update on its engagement with Vestas regarding potential investment in Scotland.

Answer · Gillian Martin: We are continuing to engage with Vestas around potential investment into Scotland. Most recently, the First Minister met with the CEO of Vestas on 3 April 2024. Throughout our engagement with Vestas it has continued to emphasise its commitment to Scotland. O…

9 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide an update on its work in reviewing the Good Practice Principles for community benefits from onshore renewable energy developments.

Answer · Gillian Martin: Despite the powers to mandate community benefits being reserved to the UK Government, through our voluntary approach - supported by our Good Practice Principles for Community Benefits from Onshore Renewable Energy Developments - over £26 million of community …

9 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide an update on its work in expanding collective bargaining in Scotland.

Answer · Gillian Martin: While employment law is reserved, we will continue to do whatever we can with the levers we have to strengthen effective voice and ultimately collective bargaining in Scotland. The Scottish Government has made a clear commitment to promote collective bargaini…

9 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide an update on its work to make Scotland "a leading Fair Work Nation by 2025".

Answer · Gillian Martin: Scotland is making great strides towards becoming a leading Fair Work nation. The number of accredited Real Living Wage employers is up from 14 in 2014 to over 3,500 in 2023. That’s proportionately 5 times as many than the rest of the UK, and some 65,000 wor…

9 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide an update on its engagement with the UK Government regarding any implications for Scotland of the Harrington Review of Foreign Direct Investment.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government and its partners have regular engagement with the UK Government to ensure a strategic approach and alignment of activity around Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). We welcome the recommendations from the Harrington Review to increase inv…

9 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide an update on when it (a) last met and (b) will next meet with the UK Minister of State for Energy Security and Net Zero regarding Grangemouth refinery.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: I was disappointed that the UK Government Minister for Energy Security was unable to attend the recent meeting of the Grangemouth Future Industry Board Industrial Leadership Forum on the 28th March. He did attend the previous meeting in January and met with S…

4 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish guidance for local authorities on bond calculations, inspections and approvals in relation to housebuilding, and whether it has discussed the adoption of a standardised approach toward bond calculations, inspections and approvals in relation to housebuilding with …

Answer · Paul McLennan: The Scottish Government is reviewing the Competition & Markets Authority’s ‘Housing Markets Study’ which was published on 28 February 2024. The report recommends consideration by the Scottish, Welsh and UK governments of standardised approaches to bond calcul…

3 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason there has reportedly been a delay to approving the budget for Skills Development Scotland.

Answer · Graeme Dey: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-26656 on 1 May 2024. 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/w…

3 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the construction industry in relation to the reported freeze on Modern Apprenticeships.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The funding for the 38,000 apprentices in training is committed. Skills Development Scotland commenced contracting for up to 25,500 new Modern Apprenticeship opportunities at the start of April, including in the construction sector.

3 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what immediate action it will take in response to the reported freeze on Modern Apprenticeships.

Answer · Graeme Dey: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-26667 on 2 May 2024. 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/w…

3 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of waiting times for clinical assessment for suspected hernias in NHS Lanarkshire.

Answer · Neil Gray: Excessively long waits are, of course, unacceptable. We are working hard to drive down the longest waits, which have been exacerbated by the impacts of the global pandemic, to ensure all people receive the treatment they need as soon as possible. The commitm…

3 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce waiting times for clinical assessment for suspected hernias in NHS Lanarkshire.

Answer · Neil Gray: As set out in answer S6W-26679 on 23 April 2024, excessively long waits are, of course, unacceptable. We are working hard to drive down the longest waits, which have been exacerbated by the impacts of the global pandemic, to ensure all people receive the trea…

2 Apr 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether any public bodies in Scotland currently use physical record keeping as their only means of information storage.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. This would be a matter for individual public bodies.

27 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to introduce a bill on ending conversion practices.

Answer · Emma Roddick: The Scottish Government is committed to introduce legislation to end conversion practices in Scotland that is as comprehensive as possible within devolved competence. Conversion practices, which aim to change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation or gend…

26 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to protect people and properties, in light of SEPA's recently reported warning that around 400,000 homes are at major risk of flooding within 50 years due to climate change, which is an increase of 40%.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: SEPA’s 2018 National Flood Risk Assessment set out the numbers of properties at risk of flooding now and in the future. The numbers have not changed since that assessment, which are that 284,000 properties are at risk of flooding now and by the 2080s this num…

26 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken in response to the reported statistics that 41% of parents have had to rely on some form of debt or withdraw money from their savings to pay for childcare.

Answer · Natalie Don: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-26499 on 23 April 2024. 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-committee…

26 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken in response to the reported statistics that 42% of parents are spending more than a quarter of their entire household income on childcare.

Answer · Natalie Don: The Scottish Government recognises that childcare costs can be a challenge for many parents and carers, particularly those experiencing poverty. Data from the nationally-representative Scottish Household Survey in 2022 showed that of households with at least …