Monica Lennon

21 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-20906 by Jenni Minto on 19 September 2023, whether it will confirm when in the autumn the refreshed Tobacco Action Plan will be published.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The refreshed Tobacco Action Plan will be published in the autumn in line with our commitment in the PfG. No fixed date for publication has been set.

20 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported concerns raised about the closures and potential closures of community swimming and leisure facilities, and in the context of the reported financial pressures on local authorities, as well as the delivery of Barnett consequential funding as a result of the UK Go…

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government places great importance on community sports and leisure facilities, such as swimming pools. They are crucial to the wellbeing of all our country and most importantly, for our children and young people to be healthy and active. We are …

20 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports of a high drowning rate of 58 accidental water-related fatalities in Scotland in 2021 and the view of swimming as an essential basic skill, what measures it is taking to ensure that swimming remains (a) accessible and (b) available to children across different commun…

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government believes that every child should be given the opportunity to learn to swim, it is a life skill that can save lives. In response to terrible tragedies in Scotland’s waterways during 2021, the Scottish Government brought together key wa…

20 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration has been given to patients who may require assistance or have additional communication needs, in light of the NHS Scotland National Elective Coordination Unit (NECU) initiative aimed at validating patient waiting lists by text message in NHS Lanarkshire.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-21623 on? 29 September 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-comm…

20 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures are in place to ensure that people will not inadvertently be removed from waiting lists, in light of the NHS Scotland National Elective Coordination Unit (NECU) initiative aimed at validating patient waiting lists by text message in NHS Lanarkshire.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The National Elective Coordination Unit (NECU) does not directly remove patients from NHS health board waiting lists. As part of the agreed pathway to support national waiting list validation, and to ensure a patient’s appointment requirements are accurately …

20 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide the reasons for the reported change in the policy of Reach, from previously targeting schools in areas with low progression into higher education to focusing in on pupils’ home postcode.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The Reach programme, one of the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) funded Access to High Demand Programmes (ADHP), was initially founded in 2010 to improve progression to higher education (HE) and targeted specific schools with lower rates of progression to HE. …

20 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider extending payments of Scottish Social Services Council fees to all workers in the care sector.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government is committed to improving terms and conditions for the adult social care workforce, to support the development of an attractive, sustainable and effective social care sector. We recognise paying a recurring fee may be challenging for …

19 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to public petition PE2046, and whether it will consider enabling birth certificates to be issued in respect of any baby stillborn after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee has asked for the Scottish Government’s views on public petition PE 2046. Working closely with National Records of Scotland, we are currently preparing a response to the Committee.

18 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) ministers have and (b) the Women's Health Champion has had any meetings regarding pre-eclampsia in 2023.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Ministers have not attended any meetings to specifically discuss pre-eclampsia in 2023. The Women’s Health Champion Professor Anna Glasier has met with a variety of organisations and experts across various sectors to drive forward improvements in women’s hea…

18 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve understanding of pre-eclampsia among (a) the public and (b) health professionals.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government recognises that it is essential that pre-eclampsia is diagnosed and treated as soon as possible. This is why the Scottish Government contributes funding towards the commissioning of the Maternal Newborn and Infant Clinical Outcome Revi…

18 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what dates ministers have met with the Scottish Perinatal Network, and what was discussed.

Answer · Jenni Minto: I met members of the Scottish Perinatal Network at the National Best Start Learning Event on 28 June, however have not had a formal meeting with the Scottish Perinatal Network since taking up office. My Officials regularly meet with the Network and sit on the…

18 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on which NHS boards are currently providing women with access to placental growth factor (PIGF)-based tests, should their maternity care require it.

Answer · Jenni Minto: As stated in my response to S6W-18105 on 5 June 2023, the Scottish Government expects all NHS Boards in Scotland to consider the recommendations in the Scottish Health Technologies Group report, published on 23 March 2023, and take steps to ensure that women …

18 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider introducing a new 20mph speed limit on all residential roads, in light of the Welsh Government's recent introduction of 20mph speed limits in Wales.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government is developing a national strategy for 20mph speed limits, which supports the 2021 Bute House Agreement and 2022 Programme for Government commitment. We have supported local road authorities with £1.4 million in funding to undertake th…

18 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recommendations outlined in Oxfam GB's published report, Payment Overdue: Fair ways to make polluters across the UK pay for climate justice.

Answer · Tom Arthur: As Oxfam’s report recognises, the regulation of fossil fuel industries and the majority of tax powers remain reserved to Westminster. We will keep pressing the UK Government to take the urgent action needed – especially after their recent backsliding on net-z…

15 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is considering instructing SEPA to assess any potential damage to nature and the environment in the river Spey, including the cause and responsible party, in light of reports of a possible chemical spill and growing numbers of dead fish. 

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Scotland’s independent environmental regulator, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), monitors and investigates impacts on our water environment and takes steps to ensure it is protected on a daily basis. Scottish Ministers introduced the Water …

15 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made regarding the cause of still-births in Scotland. 

Answer · Jenni Minto: The causes of stillbirth are complex and in some cases remain unknown. Nevertheless, the Scottish Government is committed to supporting families who have experienced stillbirth and are funding key initiatives to help reduce the incidence of stillbirth in Scot…

15 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to a reported increase in still-births. 

Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-21476 on 2 October 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-committe…

14 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on implementing a local inheritance tax.

Answer · Tom Arthur: This is not a proposal of the Scottish Government.

14 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has assessed the potential risk of NHS Lanarkshire returning its risk level to Code Black ahead of winter.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Scotland’s Health Board’s operate their own escalation policy for the management of whole system capacity that includes well established processes with locally agreed trigger points. We believe Health Boards are best placed to judge what reasonable measures s…

14 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is the case that it will not seek to alter the level of funding granted to local authorities should they secure additional funding from elsewhere, in light of reports that local authorities are reviewing the amount of money that they pay into the Strathclyde Pension Fund due t…

Answer · Tom Arthur: The annual local government settlement will continue to be distributed in full using the needs based formula, which is discussed and agreed each year with COSLA on behalf of all their local authority members. The Scottish Government is always open to any sugg…

13 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which minister has responsibility for the conduct and practice of post-mortems.

Answer · Jenni Minto: I have portfolio responsibility for hospital arranged post mortem examinations. These are undertaken for deaths in hospitals to establish the medical cause of death and require consent from the individual or the family. Separately, post mortems can be carrie…

13 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the use of pay-as-you-drive tolling systems, which could be based on time or distance on the road, and other factors, for example, fuel type and efficiency, in light of the Just Transition Commission report, Can We Reduce Car Use Fairly?.  

Answer · Mairi McAllan: As outlined in our draft route map to 20% car km reduction, the scale of the challenge means that we need to take forward a broad combination of interventions, including infrastructure, incentives and regulatory actions. However, we are committed to a Just Tr…

13 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-17950 by Gillian Martin on 23 May 2023, whether community models and co-operative ownership were discussed during its trade delegation to Denmark. 

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Danish Government to promote collaboration on zero emissions heat, heat networks and energy efficiency, plus onshore and offshore wind energy and hydrogen economy. In September 2023, I led a …

13 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to provide support to people in crisis, in light of reports that the number of people seeking emergency support for help with their energy bills has increased by over 50%.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government is providing almost £3 billion in this financial year to help families and households face the increased cost of living. We continue to do everything we can within our limited powers to support those worst affected by the Cost Crisis. …

13 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether mask mandates will return. 

Answer · Michael Matheson: The present state of the pandemic has been transformed by science, moving away from population level restrictions to strong programmes of vaccination and therapeutics. As part of our enhanced surveillance systems, we continue to monitor, assess and be ready …

8 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider establishing a support fund for households to support the use of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) fuel to run existing boilers.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Scottish Government has no current plans to provide financial support for homes to use Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil for heat. However, we already offer a comprehensive support package for domestic heat and energy efficiency measures through our Home Energy …

8 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many NHS Forth Valley buildings have been assessed as containing reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.

Answer · Michael Matheson: No NHS Forth Valley buildings have been assessed as containing reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete. The NHS Scotland Assure survey programme has identified eight buildings in the NHS Forth Valley estate with two or more characteristics consistent with the …

8 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many NHS Lanarkshire buildings may have to temporarily close due to the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The list of NHS Scotland buildings which have two or more characteristics consistent with the presence of RAAC was provided in the response to answer S6W-19366 on 21 July 2023. This list has also been made available on the NHS Scotland Assure website: RAAC -…

8 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many NHS Lanarkshire buildings have been assessed as containing reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.

Answer · Michael Matheson: No NHS Lanarkshire buildings have been assessed as containing reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete. The NHS Scotland Assure survey programme has identified eighteen buildings in the NHS Lanarkshire estate with two or more characteristics consistent with the…

8 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many NHS Forth Valley buildings may have to temporarily close due to the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The list of NHS Scotland buildings which have two or more characteristics consistent with the presence of RAAC was provided in the response to question S6W-19366 on 21 July 2023. This list has also been made available on the NHS Scotland Assure website: RAAC…