Monica Lennon

28 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that consumers have confidence in consumer protection awards for food items produced and packaged in Scotland.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Consumer protection awards are not a matter for the Scottish Government. Consumer assurance in relation to food produced and packaged in Scotland comes from the comprehensive system of food law we have in Scotland that all food businesses must comply with, wh…

28 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps local authorities should take in the event that a Dog Control Notice already exists on an XL Bully-type dog.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: It can be noted the new safeguards on XL Bully dogs operate independently of any Dog Control Notices (DCNs) that may have been imposed on individual XL Bully dogs. A dog can both be subject to the safeguards required through being a XL Bully and subject to co…

28 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will allow XL Bully-type dogs to be exempted without neutering in the event that a vet recommends that an animal should not be neutered on health grounds.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Dangerous Dogs (Compensation and Exemption Schemes) (Scotland) Order 2024 provides for how the exemption scheme for XL Bully dogs will operate. This includes details on neutering. The Scottish Government’s policy on neutering was developed and informe…

28 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government who can legally decide whether a dog is an XL Bully-type dog, in the event that an owner, a local authority, the police or a court needs to determine whether a dog is of this type, and what training has been provided to allow the decision-maker(s) to make this determination.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The confirmation standard developed by the UK Government is being used to ensure consistency of approach in Scotland. The details of the confirmation standard are available on the Mygov.scot website: https://www.mygov.scot/xl-bully-dogs In the first instan…

27 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what methods and sources of information it uses to (a) estimate the number of adult and young carers and (b) avoid undercounting in this regard.

Answer · Maree Todd: a) Estimates of the number of adult and young carers in Scotland are produced using the Scottish Government’s Scottish Health Survey and the National Records of Scotland mid-year population estimates , as detailed in the most recent publication of unpaid…

26 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact in Scotland of the findings of the Competition and Markets Authority's investigation into some of the UK's biggest housebuilders, including whether they have been sharing information that could influence house prices.

Answer · Paul McLennan: Scottish Ministers welcome the publication of the Competition and Markets Authority's completed investigation into the housing market, in particular those findings relating to Scotland and the published Scotland summary. We are considering their findings care…

26 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the (a) First Minister and (b) Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills plans to read the recent Educational Institute for Scotland (EIS) report on violence in schools, in light of it highlighting an EIS survey of nearly 800 members in Aberdeen, which found that 42% of respondents…

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government received a copy of the EIS report on violence in schools in Aberdeen on 26 February 2024. The First Minister and myself have both read the report.

26 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the processing time for major planning applications in Q1 and Q2 of 2023-24 was 62.1 weeks, in light of the statutory timeframe being 16 weeks.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: There can be many reasons for delays in determining applications including requests for and submission of additional information, delays with responses from statutory consultees and the requirement for a legal agreement. The specific reasons for the time take…

26 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work on inclusive business models.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The National Strategy for Economic Transformation (NSET) announced an Inclusive Business Models review. The review is ongoing and is led by a representative stakeholder group. The independent review group is chaired by Neil McInroy, Global Lead for Community …

26 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-24886 by Michael Matheson on 5 February 2024, whether it will provide details of how exactly frontline staff are supervised and supported to improve their knowledge, in respect of mental health.

Answer · Maree Todd: All frontline staff have monthly call reviews and one-to-one meetings with their line manager, real time clinical supervision and coaching with debrief sessions at the end of each shift. This is in addition to mandatory e-learning and personal development pla…

26 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-24886 by Michael Matheson on 5 February 2024, whether clinical outcomes are reviewed monthly to assess the reasons for any mental health incidents reported to NHS 24 not being triaged.

Answer · Maree Todd: Clinical outcomes are reported monthly and any clinical mental health incidents reported to NHS 24, through any feedback channel, will receive a full investigation and clinical review.  

26 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its environmental policies in Scotland, and in light of reports that the Belgian parliament has voted to criminalise ecocide in both domestic and international law, whether it has made any representations to the UK Government in relation to the potential criminalisation of eco…

Answer · Lorna Slater: International law is a reserved matter and the Scottish Government has not had formal contact with the UK Government in relation to the potential criminalisation of ecocide in international law. However, the Scottish Government is supportive of a revision to …

25 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to (a) investigate any reasons for traumatic birth and (b) reduce the rate of birth trauma, in light of reported research stating that approximately 4% to 5% of women develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after giving birth.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government expects all women, at all times, to receive high-quality, person-centred maternity care, tailored to their needs, with quality and safety for mothers and babies central to decision-making. We recognise that every woman’s experience of …

25 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish a specific just transition plan for the Grangemouth industrial cluster.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government is developing a place-based, industry specific Just Transition Plan for the region, committed to in our 2023 Programme for Government, that will outline the strategic long-term future of the industrial cluster. The plan will outline a…

25 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that vaccination rates in Scotland are in line with the European region of the World Health Organization recommendation that, on a national basis, at least 95% of children are immunised against diseases preventable by immunisation and targeted for elimi…

Answer · Jenni Minto: Public Health Scotland (PHS), through the Scottish Vaccination and Immunisation Programme (SVIP), is responsible for oversight and leadership of vaccine delivery in Scotland. The Scottish Government is part of SVIP and is working closely with PHS and NHS Boar…

25 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of reports that some charitable organisations gave all of their staff three months redundancy notice on the first working day of 2024 due to uncertainties over grant funding for the next financial year.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: We are aware that many third sector organisations issue three-month notices to staff that are funded through grants to inform them that they are at risk of redundancy should funding not continue. In recognition of the impact that this can have, grant manager…

24 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many age-appropriate inpatient mental health beds for children and young people each NHS board currently has.

Answer · Maree Todd: There are currently 54 Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) inpatient beds across Scotland for children and adolescents. Forty eight of these beds are commissioned on a regional basis. These are split across:North of Scotland Region - Dudhope …

24 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to announce or propose any further Council Tax freezes during the current parliamentary session, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The Council Tax Freeze that was announced by the First Minister, and accepted by almost all Councils, relates only to the 2024-25 financial year. It will provide certainty to households during a time of economic uncertainty and rising prices. The funding pro…

24 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent in the current parliamentary session on actions to raise awareness of the (a) symptoms of fibromyalgia and (b) support available for patients and families.

Answer · Jenni Minto: We have invested over £2m within this parliamentary term to deliver the Framework for Pain Management Service Delivery which looks to reduce the impact of chronic pain, including fibromyalgia, on quality of life and wellbeing and improve information, care and…

23 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will detail how it is tackling plastic pollution on beaches.

Answer · Lorna Slater: The Scottish Government is tackling marine litter, which often ends up on our beaches, with actions detailed in our Marine Litter Strategy. The Strategy aims to address the amount of litter entering the marine environment, to achieve ecological, economic and …

23 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to reserving a portion of future Barnett consequential funding as an additional top-up for local authorities, in light of the reported funding pressures experienced by several local authorities.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government recognises the challenging financial circumstances that local authorities, and indeed the entire public sector are currently facing. These challenges were considered and reflected in the Scottish Budget which will provide local author…

22 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether health professionals are offered training and educational resources in relation to chronic conditions, such as fibromyalgia.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Current guidelines for healthcare professionals regarding fibromyalgia are available from authoritative professional sources such as the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) - https://www.sign.ac.uk/our-guidelines/management-of-chronic-pain/ a…

22 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that fibromyalgia patients are aware of the availability of Attendance Allowance.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: It is a fundamental priority for the Scottish Government to ensure that people take up their full entitlement to social security benefits. This includes UK reserved benefits such as Attendance Allowance, where promotion and delivery remains the responsibility…

22 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to mark International Fibromyalgia Day 2024.

Answer · Jenni Minto: International Fibromyalgia Day on 12 May 2024 is an important opportunity to raise awareness of this distressing and debilitating condition. We want to ensure that all people living with fibromyalgia in Scotland are able to access the best possible care and s…

22 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action the Chronic Pain Task Force (a) has taken to date and (b) plans to take in the future regarding services for people affected by fibromyalgia, and whether the Task Force has any professional members with particular expertise in treating or aiding fibromyalgia patients.

Answer · Jenni Minto: (a) The Pain management - service delivery framework: implementation plan sets out the actions we will take to reduce the impact of chronic pain on quality of life and wellbeing and improve information, care and services for people in Scotland, which includ…

21 Feb 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service takes to ensure that any information that it receives from pathology service providers is accurate and reliable.

20 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider introducing a free period products scheme on all ScotRail trains for customers and employees, to ensure that people have access to the essential products that they may need whilst travelling.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: This is an operational matter for ScotRail. The member may wish to contact ScotRail directly.

16 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the funding that it provides to bus companies to subsidise the Young Persons’ (Under 22s) Free Bus Travel Scheme, for what reason local authorities are reportedly unable to access this, or similar, funding to meet school transport costs, and whether it will consider allowing l…

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The National Bus Travel Concession Scheme for Young Persons provides free travel on local registered bus services and long distance bus services throughout Scotland. Dedicated school transport services do not fall within the definition of eligible services se…

16 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any reasons for the reportedly high level of pneumonia (mycoplasma pneumoniae) infections in the five- to 14-year-old age group recorded in recent Public Health Scotland data.

Answer · Jenni Minto: PHS has advised the Scottish Government that mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common cause of respiratory infections, particularly in school-aged children. Most infections display as a mild respiratory illness, however, some persons experience severe pneumonia and …

16 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to enhance public awareness and education regarding pneumonia (mycoplasma pneumoniae) infections, particularly among any parents, caregivers and educators of children aged five to 14 who may have concerns, in light of any sustained levels of infections recorded…

Answer · Jenni Minto: Mycoplasma pneumonia infection typically is not severe but it can cause a pneumonia that is usually mild in nature. PHS has reviewed routine surveillance data available to them and are reassured that most presentations of mycoplasma pneumoniae infections are …