Monica Lennon

30 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many police warnings for the possession of cannabis have been issued since (a) 12 May 1999, (b) 1 January 2013 and (c) 13 May 2021.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government believes that the best way to reduce drug-related crime and drug-related death is to get people into appropriate treatment and support services at every point of the criminal justice system. The majority of single possession of drug c…

30 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that it has not yet appointed a Women’s Health Champion, despite a plan earlier in 2022 to appoint one “this summer”, what process was followed for the recruitment and appointment; how many prospective candidates were approached, and whether any candidates turned the…

Answer · Maree Todd: Six candidates were invited to be interviewed for the role of Women’s Health Champion. The Government will make an announcement on the outcome of this process shortly.

30 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what date it will announce the appointment of a Women's Health Champion, and when the role holder will commence their duties.

Answer · Maree Todd: An announcement on the appointment of the Women’s Health Champion will be made shortly. The role holder will commence their duties as Champion to drive change and share best practice and innovation, following the announcement.

30 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) local authorities and (b) housing associations about ensuring their homes are mould-free, and that any concerns or complaints regarding mould outbreaks are taken seriously.

Answer · Shona Robison: Social Landlords are required to meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS), which is monitored by The Scottish Housing Regulator(SHR). SHR wrote to all Social Landlords on 1 December 2022 on the importance of having appropriate, proactive systems to i…

30 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) local authorities and (b) housing associations regarding tackling mould outbreaks in their homes ahead of winter.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-12852 on 10 January 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…

30 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that (a) housing associations and (b) private landlords properly address any concerns and complaints from residents regarding mould outbreaks.

Answer · Shona Robison: We are committed to tackling disrepair in housing and driving a culture in which good maintenance is given a high priority. Social landlords are required to have a clear complaints process and where a tenant is dissatisfied with the response of their housing…

30 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when Healthcare Improvement Scotland will report to ministers on insights and different approaches to the redesign of learning disability day services in the context of COVD-19, and how service users, families, carers and disabled people's organisations will be involved in this work.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of day services to both those who use them and to their families and carers and has been working closely with local areas to ensure that services are delivered safely. Revised guidance for buildings-based day …

30 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-11574 by Humza Yousaf on 10 November 2022, what assessment it has made of whether sufficient and meaningful community consultation is being carried out.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Control of Entry arrangement are set out in the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2009. It is the responsibility of the NHS Boards to put in place a Pharmacy Practice Committee and require NHS Boards to undertake a f…

30 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what date it expects to publish its draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan is due to be discussed at Cabinet shortly, after which we’ll be able to confirm a date for an imminent publication for consultation.  

30 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the World Health Organization's announcement that mpox is the new preferred term for monkeypox, with the name monkeypox to be replaced after one year, what assessment it has made of the impact of the name change on its existing public information campaign.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government are aware of the importance of ensuring consistent and non-stigmatising communications and welcome the World Health Organization’s announcement that mpox is the new preferred term for monkeypox. Public Health Scotland (PHS), who lead …

30 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the World Health Organization's announcement that mpox is the new preferred term for monkeypox, with the name monkeypox to be replaced after one year, what action it is taking to ensure that the public is aware of the change.

Answer · Maree Todd: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-12811 on 12 December 2022. 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-commit…

30 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Public Health Scotland report, Births in Scotland, whether it will review any discrimination against people with mental health issues and learning disabilities during pregnancy, which was last reviewed in 2013.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government expects all women at all times, to receive high-quality, person-centred maternity care, tailored to their needs, with quality and safety for mothers and babies central to decision-making. Implementation of The Best Start is driving tra…

29 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that the consultation on the recommendations of the 2016 Sludge Review, into the spreading of sewage sludge on land, is not delayed again.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The legislative changes recommended by the completed Review of the Storage and Spreading of Sewage Sludge on Land in Scotland (‘The Sludge Review’), are being implemented via the forthcoming Integrated Authorisation Framework (IAF) regulations. Progress on d…

29 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work in implementing the recommendations of the 2016 Sludge Review into the spreading of sewage sludge on land.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Recommended actions from the Review of the Storage and Spreading of Sewage Sludge on Land in Scotland which have already been completed include publication last year of the James Hutton Institute report on the impacts on human health and the environment arisi…

29 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the consultation on the recommendations of the 2016 Sludge Review, into the spreading of sewage sludge on land, will take place.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The legislative changes recommended by the completed Review of the Storage and Spreading of Sewage Sludge on Land in Scotland are being implemented via the forthcoming Integrated Authorisation Framework (IAF) regulations. The proposed changes are designed to…

24 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to remedy the current situation in NHS Forth Valley, which led to it being escalated to Stage 4 of NHS Scotland’s National Performance Framework for Governance, Leadership and Culture, as announced on 23 November 2022.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The leadership of NHS Forth Valley has been unable to demonstrate the necessary governance, leadership and culture required to drive sustainable improvements in poor performance. The Scottish Government has established an Assurance Board, chaired by Christin…

24 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what preparations it is taking to ensure that patients and workers are not negatively affected by the placement of NHS Forth Valley into Stage 4 of NHS Scotland’s National Performance Framework for Governance, Leadership and Culture.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government is fully committed to ensuring that the NHS in Scotland delivers high quality, safe, effective and person-centred care to all patients, every time they access health services. The Scottish Patient Safety Programme (SPSP) continues to b…

24 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide a timeline for NHS Forth Valley exiting Stage 4 of NHS Scotland’s National Performance Framework for Governance, Leadership and Culture.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Escalation addresses complex issues and an element of judgement will always be required. The timeline will be driven by the actions within NHS Forth Valley’s Improvement Plan and their associated timelines. My expectation was for the Improvement Plan to be de…

24 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to ensure that the placement of NHS Forth Valley into Stage 4 of NHS Scotland’s National Performance Framework for Governance, Leadership and Culture does not negatively affect the performance of the NHS board over the winter period.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: NHS Forth Valley has been unable to demonstrate the necessary governance, leadership and culture required to drive sustainable improvements in poor performance. The Scottish Government has established an Assurance Board, chaired by Christine McLaughlin, co-D…

24 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether additional NHS boards may need to be placed into Stage 4 of NHS Scotland’s National Performance Framework for Governance, Leadership and Culture, in light of the escalation in NHS Forth Valley announced on 23 November 2022.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The decision to escalate or de-escalate an NHS Board is based on a combination of evidence. Escalation addresses complex issues and an element of judgement will always be required. In order to support robust decision-making in this sphere, the Scottish Govern…

23 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the number of recorded sexual crimes having almost doubled since 2012, as set out in the publication, Recorded Crime in Scotland 2021-22, and what actions are being taken to address this.

Answer · Keith Brown: The increase in recorded sexual offences is not unique to Scotland but is part of a global trend. Multiple factors appear to have contributed to this rise including increased reporting of historical offences. Some of this increase is also attributable to grea…

18 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to (a) reduce Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) waiting lists and (b) increase the number of consultants in mental health services, in light of reported recent figures showing 1,417 children and 525 adults have been on the CAMHS waiting list for…

Answer · Kevin Stewart: We made an additional £40 million available to improve Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) last year, with £4.25 million of that specifically dedicated to clearing waiting list backlogs by March 2023. We are also targeting tailored support to…

18 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports in The Ferret that 40 of the 45 clinics that offer private pregnancy scans operate without being registered with Healthcare Improvement Scotland, with only those classed as being run by healthcare professionals being required to register.

Answer · Maree Todd: NHS Scotland provides expectant mothers with all clinically recommended scans during the course of their pregnancy. Anyone choosing to have scans elsewhere, for any purpose, should choose a provider regulated by Healthcare Improvement Scotland and satisfy th…

18 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to streamline and simplify the process required to apply for compensation to Redress Scotland for future applications.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government has taken forward a range of measures to support the efficient delivery of Scotland’s Redress Scheme, which is survivor led with feedback encouraged and acted upon. The scheme was established to provide acknowledgement and tangible re…

18 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what actions it is taking to streamline the backlog in the Scottish court system.

Answer · Keith Brown: Our justice recovery fund of £53.2 million in 2022-23 supports continued recovery, renewal and transformation activity across the justice system. This includes funding increased court and staffing capacity for the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, which …

18 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to encourage applications to Redress Scotland, in light of reports that it has seen a decrease in applications and long delays in paying compensation to survivors of abuse.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government has taken forward a range of measures to support the efficient delivery of Scotland’s Redress Scheme. The delivery of the scheme, in partnership with the independent decision making body Redress Scotland, is survivor led with feedback …

17 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to comments made by the General Secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress regarding the forthcoming National Care Service Bill that reforms "could end up costing an awful lot of money for the Scottish Government at a time when that money could be better used to…

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The establishment of a National Care Service (NCS) is the most ambitious reform of public services since the creation of the National Health Service (NHS). It is necessary to deliver the consistency and quality of care and support across Scotland that people …

17 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the comments from the Chair of the British Medical Association's (BMA) Scottish general practitioners committee that "we are now looking at serious issues of patient safety and staff safety" and that GPs are "exhausted, burnt out and cannot see the light at the en…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Addressing the wellbeing needs of the Health and Social Care workforce is now even more crucial than it was prior to Covid-19 and is key to both retaining our GP workforce as we press ahead with our commitment to increase the GP population in Scotland by at l…

16 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is regarding the impact on Scotland on whether the climate compatibility checkpoint design, published by the UK Government Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on 22 September 2022, is sufficiently robust in relation to allowing the approval of new oi…

Answer · Michael Matheson: My response to the UK Government consultation in March made clear that any credible and effective package of conditionality tests must include both domestic and international dimensions - extending to at least all of the six tests outlined in the consultation…

16 Nov 2022 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what support it has been providing to Scottish Parliament staff during the cost of living crisis, and what further support it will be providing to staff over the course of the winter period.

Answer · Jackson Carlaw (on behalf of the SPCB) : The SPCB is committed to supporting its staff with the cost of living and is putting in place a range of measures to support its staff.  The SPCB believes that this is the right thing to do at this very difficult time, recognising that this is an urgent prior…