Parliamentary questions
Monica Lennon
3,484 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
18 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to improve surgery waiting times for ovarian cancer patients to ensure that cells do not grow in between gaps of chemotherapy.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government is aware that there has been and are challenges in delivering complex surgery (such as ovarian) across all regions. Regional action plans have been developed to address the specific issues in those areas. The NHS continue to prioritis…
18 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland regarding attracting more people to apply for (a) environmental health undergraduate places and (b) work in local authorities.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Officials have met with the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland (REHIS) to discuss attracting more people to apply for environmental health courses and to work in local authorities. The Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health is due to mee…
18 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when Transport Scotland will issue guidance to local authorities on the enforcement of the new offences listed in the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Parking Standards Guidance document relating to the enforcement of the new parking prohibitions contained in the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 is being developed in consultation with local authorities through the Parking Standards Stakeholder Working Grou…
14 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support is available for people experiencing severe pain linked to burning mouth syndrome while waiting on NHS waiting lists for tests and treatment.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government recognise that uncertainty while waiting can have an impact on health and wellbeing. That is why we are undertaking a new programme of work, ‘Waiting Well’, which aims to support an active waiting well period by providing access to goo…
14 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider stopping the collection of debts to public sector bodies for a period of at least six months in order to help any households struggling with the cost of living crisis to use their money on essentials such as food, energy and housing costs.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Scottish Ministers are on record as expecting public bodies to be considerate to the circumstances of people who are in debt and that those who genuinely can’t pay are provided with support and advice. In relation to council tax debt Ministers have actively e…
12 Apr 2023 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with food producers, manufacturers and distributers regarding supply chains and how to tackle food insecurity and food poverty.
6 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the proposed Circular Economy Bill will encourage the use of reusable nappies.
Answer · Lorna Slater: The Scottish Government consulted on proposals for a Circular Economy Bill - Delivering Scotland's circular economy: Proposed Circular Economy Bill - Consultation analysis - gov.scot ( www.gov.scot ). A Bill will be brought forward before summer recess.
6 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with (a) COSLA and (b) individual local authorities to discuss reusable nappy schemes.
Answer · Natalie Don: The Scottish Government has not met with COSLA or individual local authorities to discuss reusable nappies. We promote and raise awareness of reusable nappies direct to families by including a voucher for one waterproof nappy wrap, with five stay dry nappy pa…
6 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with (a) foodbank providers and (b) other charities to discuss the demand for (i) nappies and (ii) other baby products.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Scottish Government officials meet regularly with food banks and other food aid organisations, including the Trussell Trust and Independent Food Aid Network to discuss overall demand for their services and any specific issues arising. As set out in our Prog…
6 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to reduce the number of disposable nappies that are sent to landfill.
Answer · Lorna Slater: To encourage families to consider the use of reusable alternatives to disposable nappies, a Nappy Voucher is included within the Baby Box which can be used to redeem 1 waterproof nappy wrap, with 5 stay dry nappy pads. The Nappy Voucher also signposts famil…
6 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been carried out regarding the affordability of nappies in Scotland, and whether it is monitoring demand for (a) nappies and (b) baby products at (i) foodbanks and (ii) other charities.
Answer · Natalie Don: We have not undertaken any assessments regarding the affordability of nappies in Scotland and food banks do not currently publish data on nappies and other baby products. However, we will continue to work with partners to ensure that our financial offerings a…
4 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the opening of overdose prevention centres.
Answer · Elena Whitham: Following detailed partnership working between the Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership, Police Scotland and the Crown Office (COPFS), facilitated by the Scottish Government, details of a new service specification have been developed and shared with COP…
4 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last with (a) COSLA and (b) local authorities to discuss the roll-out of universal free school meal pilot schemes in secondary schools.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government is in regular contact with COSLA and representatives from local authorities regarding the expansion of free school meals.
4 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with (a) COSLA and (b) local authorities to discuss the roll-out of universal free school meals to P6 and P7 pupils.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government is in regular contact with COSLA and representatives from local authorities regarding the expansion of free school meals.
4 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the decision of Glasgow City Council to write off school meal debt, and whether it will commit funding to help other local authorities introduce similar measures.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I welcome the innovative approach that Glasgow City Council have chosen to take on school meal debt. Councils have the power to make discretionary offers of free school meals to families, where they are experiencing financial hardship due to exceptional circ…
4 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with (a) COSLA and (b) local authorities to discuss school meal debt.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government is in regular contact with COSLA on a range of issues, which has included school meal debt.
4 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on the number of NHS dental practices in NHS (a) Lanarkshire and (b) Forth Valley that have stopped offering NHS treatment since 6 May 2021.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government does not hold information about the number of NHS dental practices that have stopped offering NHS treatment. NHS Boards make arrangements with independent dental contractors to provide NHS General Dental Services. Individual health bo…
4 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to prevent NHS dental practices from moving to the private sector.
Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to question S6O-02056 on 23 March 2023 which is available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at Meeting of the Parliament: 23/03/2023 | Scottish Parliament Website
4 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any potential impact on the implementation of its fair work principles and on decisions to support the development of business with multinational companies operating in Scotland, what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government in relation to the Comprehensive and Pro…
Answer · Richard Lochhead: As with the development of all new trade arrangements, the Scottish Government has sought to engage with the UK Government at Ministerial and official level throughout the negotiation process for accession to the CPTPP to ensure that Scottish interests are id…
4 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any potential impact on decisions to support business development with multinational companies in Scotland, what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government in relation to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) regarding the …
Answer · Richard Lochhead: As with the development of all new trade arrangements, the Scottish Government has sought to engage with the UK Government at Ministerial and official level throughout the negotiations for accession to the CPTPP to ensure that Scottish interests are identifie…
4 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding any impact on Scotland of the reported concerns about the potential use of Investor-State Dispute Settlement mechanisms b…
Answer · Richard Lochhead: As with the development of all new trade arrangements, the Scottish Government has sought to engage with the UK Government at Ministerial and official level throughout the negotiation process for accession to the CPTPP to ensure that Scottish interests are id…
4 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has undertaken of any economic impact on Scotland of the UK joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: In our engagement with the UK Government on accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), as with all developing trade agreements, the Scottish Government has consistently requested an assessment of the econom…
4 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when ministers last met with their counterparts in the (a) Welsh and (b) UK Government to discuss any impact on Scotland of the UK's accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Trade Ministers from the Scottish, Welsh and UK Governments and the Northern Ireland Executive meet quarterly as the Inter Ministerial Group for Trade. The last meeting of this group took place on 9 January 2023, and was attended by the then Minister for Busi…
4 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is, regarding the potential impact in Scotland, on the response of the Chairwoman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission to the UK Minister for Women and Equalities that “a change to the Equality Act 2010, so that the protected characteristic of ‘sex’ means biologi…
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: I have written to the Equality and Human Rights Commission to highlight that the Scottish Government should be fully consulted on any proposed material changes to the Equality Act 2010, including on the current definition of ‘sex’, if there would be any impac…
4 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has undertaken of the potential impact on its legal challenge to the section 35 order, preventing the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill from proceeding to Royal Assent, of any change to the Equality Act 2010 by the UK Government to include biological sex as a p…
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government cannot comment on live legal proceedings. As usual in relation to legal action, the Scottish Government has taken legal advice and considered the position in connection with the Section 35 Order. It is too early generally to determine …
4 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the First Minister’s recent announcement to commit £25 million to the north east of Scotland from the Just Transition Fund (JTF), whether it will publish an impact assessment of this spending, and whether it will confirm if this spending represents additional money to the ex…
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The £25 million allocated to the Scottish National Investment Bank from the Just Transition Fund is part of the Fund’s existing £500 million commitment over ten years, and will be invested by the Bank on a commercial basis, in line with its Investment Strateg…
4 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will (a) investigate and (b) improve NHS treatment pathways for those experiencing chronic urinary tract infections, in light of reports of patients in England and Wales turning to private clinics due to a lack of specialist treatment being available through the NHS.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government expects all NHS healthcare workers in Scotland to follow best practice when providing care for people with UTIs. In support of this, guidelines on management of suspected UTIs were developed by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines…
3 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-15648 by Humza Yousaf on 20 March 2023, how many vacancies for consultant-level obstetrician gynaecologists there currently are in NHS (a) Lanarkshire and (b) Forth Valley.
Answer · Michael Matheson: No further update to question S6W-15648. The next quarterly workforce statistics will be published on 6 June with data as at March 2023.
3 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met (a) local authorities and (b) the UK Government to discuss the issue of poverty rates among minority ethnic people in Scotland.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Tackling poverty and protecting people from harm is one of three critical and interdependent missions for the government – alongside our focus on the economy and strengthening public services. As set out within ‘ Best Start, Bright Futures’ , the Tackling Ch…
3 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce the number of minority ethnic people in poverty, in light of reports that almost 50% of people from Asian, British Asian, Mixed-ethnic, Black and Black British backgrounds in Scotland are in poverty.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Tackling poverty and protecting people from harm is one of three critical and interdependent missions for the government – alongside our focus on the economy and strengthening public services. The Scottish Government is taking a wide range of action to tackl…