Monica Lennon

6 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its position on any link between alcohol marketing and increased alcohol consumption in children and young people. 

Answer · Maree Todd: International evidence shows that seeing alcohol marketing is associated with an increased likelihood that children and young people will start to drink alcohol or, if they already drink alcohol, drink more. This is harmful to them in both the short and long …

6 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that all children and young people have an alcohol-free childhood.

Answer · Maree Todd: Our Alcohol Framework (published 20 November 2018) sets out our priorities for preventing alcohol-related harm. There is a strong focus on reducing health inequalities and protecting children and young people from alcohol-related harm. A key action in the fr…

6 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to alcohol marketing, what its response is to the Young Scot Health Panel's recommendation to (a) prohibit alcohol-branded sports merchandise, including sponsorship on replica kits, (b) offer accreditation to "family friendly" sports venues that reduce the alcohol advertisin…

Answer · Maree Todd: It is crucial that the voices of children and young people are at the heart of developing our next steps on alcohol policy. Our recent consultation on restricting alcohol advertising and promotion directly references the recommendations of the Young Scot Hea…

6 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what date the (a) conversion therapy ban, (b) Deposit Return Scheme, (c) alcohol advertising ban and (d) abortion clinic buffer zones policy was approved by the Cabinet.

Answer · John Swinney: Further information about each of these policy matters is as follows. (a) Conversion therapy A ban on conversion therapy was a commitment in the SNP’s 2021 manifesto. It was agreed by Cabinet in August 2021, both as part of the Bute House Agreement and as p…

6 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assistance and funding it has provided to local volunteer groups to (a) procure electric vehicles and (b) install electric vehicle infrastructure in each year since 2016, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government deliver assistance and funding to local volunteer groups for the procurement of electric vehicles, e-Bikes and associated electric vehicle infrastructure through the Plugged-in Communities and eBike grant funds. This scheme is administ…

6 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what funding it has provided for electric vehicle infrastructure in (a) North Lanarkshire, (b) South Lanarkshire and (c) Falkirk in each year since 2016.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The following two tables provide details of funding: 1. Awarded under various funding schemes to each of the local authorities for public EV charging infrastructure and to local authorities and other public bodies for public sector fleet EV charging infrastr…

6 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives from the British Medical Association to discuss pay restoration for junior doctors.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I last met with the Chair of the BMA Scotland Committee on 11 January to discuss their request for a national conversation, and met with Chair of the BMA Scottish Junior Doctors Committee on 15 December to discuss their concerns around pay for Junior Doctors.…

6 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on full pay restoration for junior doctors in NHS Scotland. 

Answer · Humza Yousaf: We recognise the importance of Junior Doctors to NHS Scotland and the important work they contribute. Their demands for an above retail price index pay increase, plus an additional ask of 23.5% – meaning a pay raise of more than 35% - are unaffordable. We h…

6 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when its ministers last met UK ministers to discuss issues surrounding loss and damage.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development met with the UK Minister for Development and Africa on 15 March, where they discussed a number of key international development issues including climate justice. In particular, in relatio…

6 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will announce the tender awards for the Climate Just Communities programme, and what percentage of the £36 million Climate Justice Fund will go towards this initiative.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government thanks all those who submitted proposals in response to the Climate Just Communities invitation to tender. The Scottish Government anticipates announcing the contract winner early into next financial year. Up to £24 million will be aw…

6 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to amending the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 to grant communities equal rights of appeals, in light of the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee (ACCC) recently accepting the admissibility of a complaint by the Environmental Rights Centre for Scot…

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: A number of amendments that sought to introduce a third party right of appeal were considered, and rejected, by the Scottish Parliament during consideration of the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019. We are aware of the communication brought to the Aarhus Conventio…

3 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what actions it has taken since COP27 to encourage (a) the UK, (b) the Welsh and (c) non-UK governments to commit funding to loss and damage schemes.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Since becoming the first developed country to pledge funding for Loss and Damage at COP26, the Scottish Government and Ministers have actively sought to push the issue further up the global climate agenda. For example, in October 2022 the Scottish Government …

3 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish an impact assessment of the money spent in Malawi as part of the loss and damage fund.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government’s funding for addressing loss and damage is supporting work in several countries including, although not exclusively, Malawi, Bangladesh and the Pacific. The majority of the initial £2 million committed to loss and damage has already b…

3 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that the funds that it has committed under the loss and damage scheme are being used to support prevention and adaptation measures in relation to climate damage.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Actions on loss and damage can either avert, minimise or address loss and damage; meaning we can prevent climate impacts by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, reduce the severity of climate impacts through adaptative measures or remedy the harm that has been …

3 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many consultant obstetrician-gynaecologists there are in (a) NHS Lanarkshire and (b) NHS Forth Valley.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: There are 56.3 Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) obstetrics & gynaecology staff working in NHS Lanarkshire as at December 2022. There are 35.7 Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) obstetrics & gynaecology staff working in NHS Forth Valley as at December 2022. This include…

3 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is working on any further agreements regarding the private finance funding of nature restoration, in light of the recently announced agreement between NatureScot, Hampden & Co, Lombard Odier Investment Managers and Palladium.

Answer · Lorna Slater: Through the National Strategy for Economic Transformation, the Scottish Government has committed to “establish a values-led, high-integrity market for responsible private investment in natural capital, supported by a national project pipeline for nature-based…

3 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what date it plans to publish its public sector pay policy 2023-24.

Answer · John Swinney: We are now considering the most recent inflationary trajectory over the next 12-18 months and are working on a Pay Strategy for 2023-24 in collaboration with stakeholders. This will set out key principles and recognise the link between pay, public service ref…

3 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider introducing an equal right of appeal in the planning system.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government currently has no plans to make changes to rights of appeal in the planning system. A number of amendments that sought to introduce a third party right of appeal were considered, and rejected, by the Scottish Parliament during consider…

3 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it plans to achieve full compliance with the Aarhus Convention.

Answer · Elena Whitham: The Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee (“ACCC”) has previously welcomed significant progress made by Scotland in addressing the concerns identified by the ACCC. In response to decision VII/8s, issued by the ACCC in October 2021, the UK submitted an action…

3 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has carried out of any social and economic impacts of swimming pool closures and/or reduced opening hours.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government places great importance on swimming pools, and recognise the physical, social and economic benefits these facilities provide to communities across Scotland. Whilst we have not undertaken an assessment of the social and economic impact…

3 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many Significant Adverse Event Reviews were commissioned for a Category I event in each year since 2007.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government holds some of the information asked for and this has been provided in the following table. Table - The number of Significant Adverse Event Reviews commissioned for a Category I event – data held by Scottish Government . Count of In…

3 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available for parents and families affected by baby loss, including any access to short breaks.

Answer · Maree Todd: The loss of a baby, no matter at what stage of pregnancy, is a significant and traumatic event for women and their families. The Scottish Government is committed to delivering high-quality, sensitive bereavement care and support, and has provided funding to S…

3 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to promote bee health.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: In June 2022, as part of a Programme for Government commitment, the Scottish Government published the second iteration of the Honey Bee Health Strategy 2022-2032. This is a comprehensive bee health programme, focusing on both bee diseases as well as the wider…

3 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which (a) schools, (b) colleges and (c) training providers offer access to the National Progression Award (NPA) in Beekeeping at SCQF level 5.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA) has advised that the following centres offer the National Progression Award (NPA) in Beekeeping at SCQF Level 5. a): Schools • Annan Academy (Dumfries & Galloway) • Dalkeith HS (Midlothian) • Garnock Community Ca…

3 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many registered beekeepers there were in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: A voluntary register of beekeepers ‘BeeBase’ is maintained by the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s National Bee Unit and which the Scottish Government pay an annual contribution to have access. As registration to ‘BeeBase’ is entirely voluntary, it is importa…

3 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many National Progression Award (NPA) in Beekeeping at SCQF level 5 qualifications have been awarded in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Details of the number of candidates awarded SCQF Level 5 National Progression Award in Beekeeping between 2018 and 2022, broken down by Education Authority are set out in the following table:  2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Aberdeen City 0 0 0 0 0 Aberd…

3 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to its commitment to allocate £14.6 million to NHS boards for the roll-out of hybrid closed loop systems, what (a) monitoring and (b) evaluation it has carried out regarding any (i) impact and (ii) outcomes there have been for people living with diabetes.

Answer · Maree Todd: In February 2021, we published a refresh of the Diabetes Improvement Plan (DIP). This sets out our priorities and commitments to improve prevention, treatment and care for everyone in Scotland affected by diabetes. The Scottish Diabetes Group (SDG) oversees i…

3 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will consult on proposals to decriminalise abortion.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Programme for Government published in September notes that the Scottish Government will consider what further actions need to be taken to embed women’s rights to safe access to healthcare. In the first instance, the Scottish Government plans to focus on i…

3 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure equal access to palliative care for people in every part of Scotland.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government is developing a new Palliative and End of Life Care Strategy, which aims to ensure that everyone in Scotland receives well co-ordinated, timely, and high quality palliative care based on their needs and preferences including support fo…

3 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what grant support it is providing to Larkhall and District Volunteer Group to ensure that the organisation has sustainable funding for the services that it provides for the local community.

Answer · Shona Robison: In 2022-23 Larkhall and District Volunteer Group have received:£108,467 from our Plugged-in Communities fund to support the purchase of a zero emission community transport vehicle, we also provided a grant of £1,999 from our EV infrastructure fund which suppo…