Monica Lennon

16 Nov 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions finance ministers have had with the Minister for Higher Education and Further Education, Youth Employment and Training to assess the number of construction apprentices and construction workers needed to support the recovery of Scotland’s economy and meet its net zero tar…

16 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to ensure that alternative career routes that are available to them, such as apprenticeships, are being promoted and championed to young people via career advice services, and that support is available to ensure that young people can navigate a range of career …

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government is taking a range of measures to ensure that young people understand all the available options to them. Skills Development Scotland (SDS) delivers career information, advice and guidance services in all state secondary schools througho…

11 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the comments in the HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland: Annual Report 2021-22 regarding prolonged isolation of prisoners during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Answer · Keith Brown: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: Our response to the pandemic has always been aligned with public health advice whether locally or nationally. We gradually and cautiou…

11 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent reported comments by Derek Feeley regarding the lack of a detailed budget for its proposals for a National Care Service.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Financial Memorandum set out the range of possible costs for the NCS. The NCS is being developed through a Co-Design approach. We are starting to work with the Lived Experience Experts Panel on larger scale co-design, and will continue to work with a ran…

11 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it last discussed the proposed Rosebank oil field development with the UK Government, and what those discussions involved.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government has made clear to the UK Government our position that to support our just transition to net zero, new offshore oil and gas licenses should be subject to a stringent climate compatibility checkpoint. My response to the UK Government co…

11 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its position on the proposed Rosebank oil field development.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Oil and gas exploration and production, including licensing, remains reserved to UK Government. Our position on oil & gas licensing is clear , unlimited extraction of fossil fuels is not consistent with our climate obligations and meeting the Paris Agreement …

11 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the independent report analysing the responses to the public consultation on the draft fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) will be published, in light of the Participation Statement issued in October 2021 stating that it would be published as soon as possible after the consult…

11 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many directors, managers or partners of corporate bodies have been found guilty of offences under regulation 67 of the Pollution Prevention and Control (Scotland) Regulations 2012 since 1 January 2012.

Answer · Keith Brown: There were no prosecutions under regulation 67 of the Pollution Prevention and Control (Scotland) Regulations 2012 (where main crime) since 1 January 2012. Please note: The latest available data is for 2020-21. Information for 2021-22 will not be available u…

11 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many directors, managers or partners of corporate bodies have been found guilty of offences under regulation 44(1) of the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2011 since 1 January 2011.

Answer · Keith Brown: There were no prosecutions under regulation 44(1) of the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2011 (where main crime) since 1 January 2011. Please note: The latest available data is for 2020-21. Information for 2021-22 will not be…

11 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been found guilty of offences under section 40(1) of the Regulatory Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 since 1 January 2014.

Answer · Keith Brown: There were no prosecutions under section 40(1) of the Regulatory Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 (where main crime) since 1 January 2014. Please note: The latest available data is for 2020-21. Information for 2021-22 will not be available until publication of the…

11 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been found guilty of offences under section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 since the establishment of the Scottish Parliament.

Answer · Keith Brown: The latest available information on the number of people convicted under section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 since the establishment of the Scottish Parliament is provided in the following table. Number of people proceeded and convicted under…

9 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether additional support for people attending mammogram appointments, such as an updated NHS preparation guide for patients and optional aftercare support for those who find the appointment to be distressing, will be included in its new Cancer Strategy.

Answer · Maree Todd: The content of the Cancer Strategy is still being developed, however, a Breast Screening Modernisation Programme has been established which will drive forward work around the 17 recommendations that were included in the Major Review of the Breast Screening Pr…

9 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it expects the phase-out of oil and gas production and use to be complete.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Offshore oil and gas licensing is reserved to UK Government. Scottish Government is clear the world cannot extract fossil fuels indefinitely, if we are to reach the Paris Agreement target of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees. Instead, we must accelerate …

9 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will report on the First Minister’s visit to COP27 in Egypt and seek to make a statement setting out the achievements and agreements reached.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: COP27 finished on 20 November. A statement responding to the outcome of COP can be found here First Minister comments as COP27 concludes - gov.scot ( www.gov.scot ). The Scottish Government will report fully on the First Minister’s visit to COP27 in due cou…

9 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether its forthcoming Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan will set out a pathway to the phasing out of oil and gas production and use.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government will consult on a draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan (ESJTP) in the coming months. The ESJTP will outline a co-ordinated vision for Scotland’s future energy system setting out a route map of steps required to deliver the v…

9 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its current estimate is of Scotland’s marine carbon store, in tonnes of CO2-equivilant, including the sea itself, the substrate and the flora and fauna within.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: There are two principal types of carbon in marine carbon habitats: organic carbon (can be digested by microbes and hence converted back to CO 2 - approximately 15%), and inorganic carbon (microbially indigestible and chemically stable shell and coral - approx…

9 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its current estimate is of the rate of emissions and/or sequestration to Scotland’s marine carbon store, in tonnes of CO2-equivilant.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Estimates of marine carbon sequestration rates have large uncertainties and are difficult to calculate. There are few direct in-situ measurements of carbon sequestration by any marine habitat. Estimates of sequestration rate primarily depend on modelling whic…

9 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce emissions from Scotland's marine carbon store.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The UK Climate Change Committee briefing on blue carbon, published in March 2022, recognised the challenges in estimating the climate change impact of fishing through disturbance to sea floor sediments and the current, significant, evidence gaps. The briefing…

9 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered publishing alongside its new Climate Change Plan a comprehensive statement of its global, regional, intra-UK and bilateral diplomacy to encourage and agree country-based or co-operative action on climate change or climate finance.

Answer · Michael Matheson: As required by the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019, the Climate Change Plan will set out proposals and policies for supporting, including by the sharing of expertise and technology, action in developing countries to reduce emi…

9 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it expects to take to ensure a fair transition for workers and communities affected by the phase-out of oil and gas production and use.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The oil and gas sector continues to play an important role in our economy, and a bright future lies ahead for a revitalised North Sea in supporting a net zero energy system. Our highly skilled oil and gas workforce have long been at the forefront of energy in…

9 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered publishing alongside the new Climate Change Plan details of its policies and proposals related to greenhouse gas emissions not addressed by the UK inventory, such as marine carbon.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The next Climate Change Plan must include proposals and policies for the following sectors:energy supply,transport (including international aviation and shipping),business and industrial process,residential and public (in relation to buildings in those sector…

9 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered publishing alongside its new Climate Change Plan details of its policies and views in relation to matters that are reserved, such as oil and gas licences.

Answer · Michael Matheson: As required by the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019, the Climate Change Plan will set out proposals and policies regarding the exploitation of fossil fuels. In addition to setting out those proposals and policies, I intend fo…

9 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will set out its plans for research, public engagement and consultation in advance of publishing its new Climate Change Plan “for consideration in the first half of this parliamentary session”.

Answer · Michael Matheson: We recognise the importance of engagement in developing the Climate Change Plan. We are planning for engagement with stakeholders in 2023. This is in advance of the draft Climate Change Plan being laid by the end of 2023 – for a period of at least 120 days of…

9 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the independent report analysing the responses to the public consultation on the draft fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) will be published, in light of the participation statement, published on 26 October 2021, which stated that the independent report would be published as s…

Answer · Tom Arthur: The report of analysis of responses to the consultation draft National Planning Framework 4 was published on 8 November 2022 and is available from the Scottish Government’s website: https://www.gov.scot/publications/draft-fourth-national-planning-framework-a…

7 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to local authorities to help them to remobilise day centre services for children and adults with learning disabilities.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of day services to adults with learning disabilities, their families and carers. Decisions about individual services are made by local authorities. However, the Scottish Government maintains regular contact wi…

7 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of lockdowns and COVID-19 protective measures on children and adults with learning disabilities, including any social isolation resulting from no or reduced access to day centre services.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: We know that the global pandemic and the lockdowns implemented to restrict the spread of the virus have had significant impact on many people with learning disabilities who were unable to access the support and community connections that they usual rely upon.…

2 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S6W-11464 and S6W-11465 by Dorothy Bain on 1 November 2022, whether the 90% of final post-mortem reports that have been received within 12 weeks of the date of post-mortem are received by the next of kin of the deceased, or whether this figure represe…

Answer · Dorothy Bain: The figure quoted in answer S6W-11465 represents the percentage of final post mortem reports received by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS). It is not related to a specific target for toxicology or pathology providers, but demonstrates the…

1 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it is providing NHS Lanarkshire to help with reported ongoing pressures regarding the size of the workforce.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Notwithstanding NHS Lanarkshire’s staffing levels are at a record high, with 33% growth under the SNP government compared to 22.1% across NHSScotland, we are providing continued assistance by investing in domestic labour supply, international recruitment, tra…

1 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase uptake of the COVID-19 booster vaccine, in light of the reported lower than anticipated take-up this winter.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: This year’s winter vaccination programme has enjoyed very high uptake to date. According to the latest data, 87.8% of older adult care home residents, and 83.0% of those aged 65 and over, have received a winter COVID-19 vaccination. Nevertheless, we are con…

31 Oct 2022 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what urgent action the Scottish Government is taking to prevent poverty-related malnutrition and food insecurity, in light of reported growing concerns from healthcare workers, school staff and charities about the impact of hunger on people across Scotland.