Monica Lennon

14 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which of its ministers and officials are attending COP28.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: List of Scottish Government Ministers and Senior Civil Servants attending at COP28 Humza Yousaf, First Minister of Scotland Mairi McAllan, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition Colin McAllister, Chief of Staff to the First Minister,…

14 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any further action that it has undertaken to implement self-sampling in the cervical screening programme.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Any decision to introduce changes to a national screening programme in Scotland is guided by the recommendations of the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), an independent expert advisory group which advises all four nations of the United Kingdom on scre…

14 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-20769 by Jenni Minto on 19 September 2023, what specific work (a) has been undertaken and (b) is planned by the Women’s Health Leads Network.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Women’s Health Leads meet together as a Network on a quarterly basis. The Network enables the Leads to identify common challenges and exchange ideas on innovation and best practice, along with discussions on progress to implement the Women’s Health Plan. …

14 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has taken any steps to support NHS boards in implementing a scheme for free period products for NHS workers. 

Answer · Jenni Minto: In February 2022, we wrote to Chief Executives of territorial Health Boards asking that they provide free period products for their staff, if they did not already do so. All of them confirmed that these products were available for staff. As part of the annua…

10 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports of the First Minister finding an old mobile phone with WhatsApp messages on it, (a) for what reason and (b) on what date the First Minister was issued a replacement mobile phone.

Answer · George Adam: In his final statement to the Covid Inquiry the First Minister provided unredacted WhatsApp messages from his personal mobile device.

10 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports of the First Minister finding an old mobile phone with WhatsApp messages on it, whether it is the case that the First Minister had reported a mobile phone as missing, and, if it is the case, what steps were taken to address any potential security issues arising from …

Answer · George Adam: In his final statement to the Covid Inquiry the First Minister provided unredacted WhatsApp messages from his personal mobile device.

10 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-22874 by Shona Robison on 8 November 2023, whether it will confirm on what date(s) the First Minister's WhatsApp messages were provided to the UK COVID-19 Inquiry.

Answer · Shona Robison: The First Minister's WhatsApp messages were provided to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry on the 6 November 2023. The Scottish Government continues to cooperate fully with both the UK and Scottish Covid-19 Inquiries.

10 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what date the First Minister reportedly found an old mobile phone that he had been using during the COVID-19 pandemic for government business.

Answer · George Adam: In his final statement to the Covid Inquiry the First Minister provided unredacted WhatsApp messages from his personal mobile device.

2 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the 16-25 Railcard cannot be used before 10.00 am, and whether there are any plans to remove this time restriction.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-22148 on 7 November 2023. 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-committ…

1 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide an update on any work that it is undertaking to scope promotional opportunities for the culture sector in (a) the USA, (b) Canada, (c) New Zealand, (d) Australia and (e) the EU.

Answer · Angus Robertson: The Scottish Government’s International Network of offices regularly support and create opportunities across the culture sector, making links for the sector within the territories in which they are based and ensuring that cultural activity is central to their…

1 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development last met with COSLA to discuss culture; what was discussed at this meeting, and when the Minister will next meet with COSLA to discuss these issues.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: I last met with the COSLA Culture Conveners group on 21 September 2023. During this meeting we discussed ways in which we can collaborate to progress our shared priorities for culture in Scotland. The next meeting of the Culture Conveners, which I will atte…

1 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with local authorities regarding the upcoming Celtic Connections festival.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: The Scottish Government does not engage directly with local authorities regarding the Celtic Connections Festival. The Scottish Government provides Celtic Connections financial support through EXPO funds, administered through Creative Scotland, to help Celtic…

31 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on the medium-term action to "Provide access in each primary care team to a Healthcare Professional (HCP) or HCPs who have a specialist knowledge in menstrual health including awareness of the symptoms of PMS, PMDD, heavy menstrual bleeding, endometriosis and …

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government has commissioned NHS Education for Scotland to create a bespoke training package and framework which is focussed on menopause and menstrual health for general practice and others working in Primary Care. Through the recent establishme…

31 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on the medium-term action to "Implement and raise awareness of current national guidelines on endometriosis and develop and implement further pathways for care where these don’t currently exist", as set out in its Women's Health Plan 2021-2024.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Endometriosis Referral Care Pathway for Scotland was published by the Centre for Sustainable Delivery in January 2023 and distributed to NHS Scotland Boards. We will continue to work with the Centre for Sustainable Delivery to support implementation of…

31 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the medium-term action to "Commission endometriosis research to find the cause of the condition, leading to the development of better treatment and management options, and a cure", as set out in its Women's Health Plan 2021-2024.

Answer · Jenni Minto: We are jointly funding a £250,000 endometriosis research project with the charity Wellbeing of Women. The research project, which will primarily be run by researchers at The University of Edinburgh, will look at the drug dichloroacetate in the management of e…

24 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider donating period products to assist the humanitarian response in Gaza, in co-ordination with local authorities, other public bodies and the supply chain involved in delivering Scotland's free period products scheme.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: We recognise that hygiene related needs in Gaza are acute. However, it is generally accepted as good practice to defer to the expertise of local humanitarian organisations that are best placed to assess and prioritise needs. We have consulted with a number o…

24 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response (RADAR) quarterly report published in October 2023, what action it is taking in response to the reported finding that nitazenes, which are new synthetic opioids, are being detected in post-mortem and hospital toxicology samples.

Answer · Elena Whitham: The appearance of nitazenes and other synthetic opioids in the drug supply has been a concern for Scottish Government for some time. Public Health Scotland issued an alert regarding nitazenes in January 2023 and the UK Government have since issued a similar a…

23 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-15639 from Elena Whitham on 6 March 2023, whether it will provide an update on (a) what action it will take and (b) the timescales for any such action, in response to the finding by the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee that Scotland was not in…

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee (“ACCC”) has previously welcomed significant progress made by Scotland in addressing the concerns identified by the ACCC. Officials worked with Defra to submit an action plan to the ACCC on behalf of the UK in July 2…

23 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will form a special committee or working group to consider whether the establishment of an environmental court could enhance environmental governance arrangements.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Section 41 of The UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Act 2021 (“the Continuity Act”) required Scottish Ministers to review and prepare a report on the following matters:whether the provisions of this Chapter have ensured that there …

20 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to (a) third sector, (b) private and (c) tertiary educational facilities to include provision for (i) Scots and (ii) Gaelic language materials.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government provides £29m support across a range of Gaelic and Scots organisations, whose activities include the provision of Scots and Gaelic language materials but is not all they do. For Scots, grant funding is provided to the following organis…

20 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can detail what discussions the (a) Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care and (b) Minister for Public Health and Women's Health has had with the Scottish Ambulance Service, since their appointment, regarding neonatal transport, and whether they have explic…

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Cabinet Secretary and myself have had no discussions with the Scottish Ambulance service since their appointment regarding neonatal transport. The Scottish Ambulance Service and ScotSTAR are members of the Perinatal Sub Group that conducted the Options Ap…

18 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-21732 by Dorothy Bain on 11 October 2023, how many of the 4,460 post-mortem examinations were in relation to suspicious deaths.

Answer · Dorothy Bain: A post-mortem examination may require to be instructed by the Procurator Fiscal to determine the cause of death, to ensure the circumstances surrounding the death are fully investigated and to exclude criminality. When a death is reported to the Procurator F…

18 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-21732 by Dorothy Bain on 11 October 2023, whether it can provide details of the use of chemical substances in the brain removal process.

Answer · Dorothy Bain: Pathology service providers have confirmed that, where a brain requires to be removed and examined as part of the post mortem examination, no chemicals are used in that process. On the rare occasions when the pathologist requires to retain the whole brain, …

18 Oct 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any link between nutrition and behaviour in its work to address violence in schools.

17 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-13820 by Christina McKelvie on 24 January 2023, whether it will provide an update on how long the current waiting list is for rape survivors at each rape crisis centre.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-12962 on 22 December 2022. The Scottish Government does not hold this level of service detail for Rape Crisis Centres. Rape Crisis Centres are independent charitable organisations which hold their own informati…

17 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the medium-term goal to provide access in each primary care team to a healthcare professional who has a special interest in menopause, in line with its Women's Health Plan 2021-24.

Answer · Jenni Minto: One of the key aims in the Women’s Health Plan is to ensure that all women will have access to a healthcare professional with an interest in menopause through primary care, and that in the longer term, we build a basic understanding of menopause amongst all…

17 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to implement menopause education within the school curriculum, to ensure that young people gain an understanding of menopause, perimenopause and symptoms from an early stage.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-32637 on 9 November 2020. In addition to the links to learning activities in the previous answer, there is a learning activity in the senior phase that includes learning on the menopause that can be found at …

17 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it plans to take to enhance people's understanding of menopause, including menopause symptoms and how to mitigate them, and what help is available to patients.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Women’s Health Plan recognises that it is important all women know about the menopause and have access to consistent information and care when they seek help with menopause symptoms. The Scottish Government continues to promote the comprehensive meno…

16 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Scotland will be represented at the School Meals Coalition Global Summit in Paris on 18-19 October 2023.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government is aware the School Meals Coalition Global Summit took place in Paris on 18 and 19 October 2023, but as non-members did not attend.

16 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on joining the School Meals Coalition.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring we have a comprehensive and high quality free school meal programme and we regularly work with other nations to ensure good practice is shared. We have no plans at this stage to join the School Meals Coalition…