Parliamentary questions
Monica Lennon
3,484 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
14 Aug 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken since 2021 to ensure that menopause diagnosis and healthcare is provided with a holistic approach across both primary and secondary care.
Answer · Jenni Minto: We are determined to ensure that women who need it are able to access care and support for menopause, in primary and specialist care. Work continues through the menopause actions of the Women’s Health Plan to facilitate women’s access to holistic care. This …
10 Aug 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19830 by Jenni Minto on 31 July 2023 and in light of campaigns in England, for example, Prostate Cancer UK's campaign, "Boys need Bins", whether it will consider conducting research into the need for incontinence bins in men's toilets in Scotland.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government has no plans at present to conduct research into the need for incontinence bins in men's toilets in Scotland.
7 Aug 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to assist local authorities in installing (a) solar panels on local authority buildings and (b) electric vehicle charging points in local authority parking facilities.
Answer · Gillian Martin: (a)The Scottish Government supports the installation of solar panels on public sector buildings through the Scottish Green Public Sector Estate Decarbonisation scheme which provides several funding routes for public sector organisations to decarbonise their b…
2 Aug 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how its Global Affairs Framework prioritises biodiversity.
Answer · Angus Robertson: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-20393 on 14 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-commi…
2 Aug 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how its Global Affairs Framework promotes nature restoration.
Answer · Angus Robertson: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of biodiversity and nature restoration, and the urgent need for action at home and abroad to tackle the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change. This is why our Global Affairs Framework makes clear…
2 Aug 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of what percentage of palm oil that is imported into Scotland is from sustainable sources.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: It is difficult to make accurate estimates of the proportion of palm oil imported into Scotland that is from sustainable sources. There is no reason to believe that the proportion is significantly different from that for the UK as a whole. The most recent Ann…
1 Aug 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to reconfigure Scottish Legal Aid provision to enable access by all victim-survivors of domestic abuse.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Legal Aid Fund is an open-ended, demand led budget. Last year total expenditure on legal aid was £138.3m. Civil legal aid is available in a wide scope of actions with generous eligibility thresholds and the application is subject to statutory tests which …
1 Aug 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to enact the Domestic Abuse (Protection) (Scotland) Act 2021.
Answer · Angela Constance: We are committed to commencing the Domestic Abuse (Protection) (Scotland) Act 2021 which will provide additional protection to those at risk of domestic abuse. Part 1 of the 2021 Act will provide both Police Scotland and the court with new powers that will e…
31 Jul 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19649 by Jenni Minto on 28 July 2023, on what date it expects to publish its Tobacco Action Plan.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government continues to make progress on drafting the refreshed Tobacco Action Plan and this is due to be published in Autumn 2023. The Plan will renew our focus on meeting our ambitious target of a Tobacco-Free Scotland by 2034. We are conside…
31 Jul 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what educational materials are available to schools regarding underage vaping.
Answer · Jenni Minto: We funded ASH Scotland and Young Scot to develop online resources on vaping which are available for young people, and their teachers or carers on the Young Scot website. We are working with colleagues in Education to review additional resources on vaping and …
31 Jul 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what discussions it has had with (a) Police Scotland, (b) local authorities and (c) Trading Standards Scotland regarding tackling underage vaping.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Enforcement of legislation around the sale and purchase of nicotine vapour products (NVPs) is carried out by Local Authorities as part of the Enhanced Tobacco Sales Enforcement Programme (ETSEP). This is overseen by the Society for Trading Standards Officers …
31 Jul 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-15147 by Maree Todd on 16 March 2023, whether it will provide updated information regarding how many individuals have been reported to Police Scotland for selling vapes and e-cigarettes to children and young people under 18, and how many of these se…
Answer · Jenni Minto: Data from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service show, for the period 2018-19 to 2022-23, 17 charges were reported in relation to selling a nicotine vapour product to a person under the age 18. In total, 9 of these charges were prosecuted, of which 4…
31 Jul 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it can confirm which minister has responsibility for textiles.
Answer · Neil Gray: I have overall responsibility within my portfolio for support for business, industry and manufacturing. The Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity, under circular economy, is the lead on the Circular Textiles Fund.
31 Jul 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide an update on the Scottish Swimming Facilities Project, which is being supported by sportscotland.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government places great importance on sport and leisure facilities, they are vital in supporting the physical and mental health of the nation. The Scottish Swimming Facilities Project will help accurately understand the current swimming pool prov…
31 Jul 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the reported new ministerial working group on child poverty, to be led by the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, will consider and make recommendations before the end of 2023 regarding any policy to mitigate the effects of the UK Government's policy of a two-child cap on benef…
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Tackling poverty and protecting people from harm is one of three critical missions of this government. The Tackling Child Poverty Ministerial Oversight Group, which I will convene, will provide Ministerial-level oversight and assurance of the delivery of the…
31 Jul 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to raise awareness of the reported greater levels of effectiveness of ground-source heat pumps compared with air-source heat pumps.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The suitability of Zero Direct Emission Heating Systems is dependent on a number of factors, including, for example: the age of the property, its location, available space, and any energy efficiency improvements that have already been installed or are require…
31 Jul 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the reported new ministerial working group on child poverty, to be led by the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, will consider and make recommendations before the end of 2023 regarding (a) accelerating the delivery of universal free school meals to P6 and P7 pupils and (b) est…
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Tackling poverty and protecting people from harm is one of three critical missions of this government. The Tackling Child Poverty Ministerial Oversight Group, which I will convene, will provide Ministerial-level oversight and assurance of the delivery of the…
31 Jul 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the reported new ministerial working group on child poverty, to be led by the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, will consider and make recommendations before the end of 2023 regarding increasing the level of the Scottish Child Payment for parents under 25.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Tackling poverty and protecting people from harm is one of three critical missions of this government. The Tackling Child Poverty Ministerial Oversight Group, which I will convene, will provide Ministerial-level oversight and assurance of the delivery of the…
31 Jul 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to oppose the approval by the UK Government of new oil and gas licences in the North Sea, in light of the Scottish Government’s draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan.
Answer · Neil Gray: Responsibility for policy on oil and gas exploration and production is a reserved matter and sits with the UK Government. The Scottish Government continues to call for the climate compatibility checkpoint to be strengthened and to seek a four nation approac…
31 Jul 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the approval by the UK Government of new oil and gas licences in the North Sea, in light of the Scottish Government’s draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government is clear that unlimited extraction of fossil fuels is not consistent with our climate commitments. That is why we are calling for a robust and transparent climate compatibility test to be applied to all new developments. The Scottish…
28 Jul 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19639 by Maree Todd on 17 July 2023, when the adult support and protection minimum dataset that is currently being developed by The Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Services will be delivered.
Answer · Maree Todd: The deadline for receipt of the first quarter of the ASP minimum dataset (April – June 2023) was the end of July 2023. We intend to review the data quality and comprehensiveness of the initial submissions and expect to publish results when we are assured that…
28 Jul 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to questions S6W-16562 and S6W-18739 by Maree Todd on 21 April 2023 and 19 June 2023, whether it plans to establish a swimming pool fund, and, if so, what specific actions it has taken in relation to such a fund.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government places great importance on sport and leisure facilities, they are vital in supporting the physical and mental health of the nation. sport scotland, our national agency for sport, is working with Scottish Swimming to undertake a review…
28 Jul 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to ensuring that all storm overflows are monitored and reported on by 2026.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: Comprehensive and rigorous monitoring of Scotland’s water environment is already undertaken by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). This monitoring shows that 66% of Scotland’s water environment as a whole is assessed as having ‘good’ status and…
28 Jul 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to reduce sewage spills and ensure that storm overflows only operate during heavy rainfall.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: As highlighted in the answer to S6O-02060 on 23 March 2023, the river basin management plans set out our long-term aims for improving our water environment. The plans are supported by Scottish Water’s Improving urban waters route map, which commits up to £500…
28 Jul 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is ensuring that its policies relating to (a) net zero (b) energy and (c) transport consider the needs of disabled people.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government has a duty to ensure that Government policies protect the rights of disabled people and reduce inequalities. Strategies, Plans and policies related to net zero, energy and transport are thoroughly assessed to ensure they do not discrim…
28 Jul 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice has had with the (a) Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition and (b) Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy regarding carbon reduction policies and their potential impact on disabled pe…
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The impact of climate change policies on disabled people is a key consideration in just transition planning. We are currently engaging widely on priorities for our Just Transition Plans to ensure the transition to net zero and climate resilience reflects the …
28 Jul 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the result of Disability Equality Scotland weekly poll from 23 June 2023, which showed that 66% of members polled disagreed with the actions that the Scottish Government plans to take to reduce car use.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The draft route map to achieving a 20% reduction in car km by 2030, published in January 2022, outlines over 30 interventions across all parts of government to support people reduce their reliance on cars for a fairer, safer, and greener Scotland. The route m…
28 Jul 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care has had with the (a) Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition and (b) Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy regarding carbon reduction policies and their potential…
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The impact of climate change policies on disabled people is a key consideration in just transition planning. We are currently engaging widely on priorities for our Just Transition Plans to ensure the transition to net zero and climate resilience reflects the …
28 Jul 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a timescale for the completion of its announced streamlining of the Statement of Dental Remuneration.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Humza Yousaf MSP, the then Cabinet Secretary, wrote to the profession on 7 February 2023 providing an update on the new Determination 1 and indicated the direction of travel for dental reform: Letter to NHS dental teams from the Cabinet Secretary for Health …
28 Jul 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide details of the reported 655 items on the Statement of Dental Remuneration that it plans to remove or streamline.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The details of the current fee codes can be found in the Statement of Dental Remuneration and the discretionary fee guide. Copies of these documents are available online at:Statement of Dental Remuneration (scottishdental.org) Discretionary fee guide | Nation…