Monica Lennon

28 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on any discussions that have taken place between NHS Lanarkshire and funeral directors regarding preparations for this winter. 

Answer · Humza Yousaf: We expect all NHS Boards to have robust governance arrangements in place, including those for risk assessment and business continuity; as informed by, and consistent with, national policies and frameworks. NHS Lanarkshire has confirmed that, as part of their …

27 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered the finding of the National Dental Inspection Programme statistics, published by Public Health Scotland on 25 October 2022, that the proportion of children estimated to have severe decay or abscess increased from 6.6% in 2020 to 9.7% in 2022.

Answer · Maree Todd: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-11835 on 8 November 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-committ…

27 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered the finding of the National Dental Inspection Programme statistics, published by Public Health Scotland on 25 October 2022, that 58.4% of Primary 1 children were estimated to have no obvious decay experience in the most deprived areas, compared with 85.8% in the…

Answer · Maree Todd: Over the extended-period we have seen significant improvements in child oral health in Scotland. The first year of the National Dental Inspection Programme in 2002/03 showed that 45% of primary 1 children had no obvious decay experience. Despite the unique ch…

27 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the results of a recent YouGov survey commissioned by the Royal College of Nursing showing that almost half of Scots have avoided NHS treatment in the last year.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government wants everyone to receive the best possible care and treatment from our health and care services. We have set out the wider policy within which NHS Scotland is expected to deliver services, and we expect all NHS Boards to continue to p…

27 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to support local authorities to establish their own bus services, so that any locally-owned companies can provide integrated and improved services, which may lead to a reduction in fares for passengers.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The new powers provided by the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 enable local authorities to determine what is best for their own areas. I recognise that not every authority will want to run their own bus services, some may opt for a partnership or franchise appr…

27 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available for local authorities that wish to implement the provisions regarding bus services in Part 3, sections 34 and 35, of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Section 34 of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 is now in force, providing wider powers for local transport authorities to run their own buses. Additionally, secondary legislation to commence Section 35 (Bus Service Improvement Partnerships) is scheduled to b…

27 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to provide capital or revenue funding for local transport authorities to establish their own bus networks, in light of calls from Strathclyde Partnership Transport in its recent newsletter for October 2022.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-11821 on 11 November 2022, work is currently ongoing with local authorities and COSLA to determine how best to allocate funding in light of the emergency budget review. All answers to written Parliamentary Ques…

27 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide an update regarding its work in preparing for winter 2022-23 regarding (a) the flu, (b) COVID-19 and (c) respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government published its winter resilience plan on 4 October. This sets out a range of actions we are taking to support our health and social sector throughout the winter period - Health and social care: winter resilience overview 2022 to 2023 -…

27 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made regarding the reported threat of a "tripledemic" of the flu, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in winter 2022-23.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Public Health Scotland’s surveillance programme monitors the progress of COVID-19, flu and other respiratory infections, (including RSV), and reports regularly on the ongoing impact of those infections during the winter months. This has been incorporated into…

26 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Scottish Ministers last met with representatives of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The last time Scottish Ministers met with representatives of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland was on the 28 April 2022 when they attended a civil society roundtable on climate, which I chaired, during the Resource Spending Review.

24 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to assist NHS Lanarkshire to overcome reported difficulties in filling vacancies in the neurodevelopmental service.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: We are working with all NHS Boards to support them to implement the National Neurodevelopmental Specification: Principles and Standards of Care , including working with NHS Lanarkshire through regular engagement. NHS Education for Scotland CAMHS Workforce …

24 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the current waiting times for care home places, in light of reports of long waiting lists and delayed hospital discharges.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government does not hold all data on the current average waiting time for a care home place, therefore no assessment can be made.  

24 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the current average waiting time is for a care home place.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government does not hold data on the current average waiting time for a care home place. Information on the number of delayed hospital discharges by reason for delay (including care home placement) and length of delay is available on the Public…

21 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the forthcoming Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy will contain a commitment to support smoking (a) cessation and (b) prevention work for people with poor mental health.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government is aware that those experiencing poor mental health are more likely to smoke, and to smoke more, than those with good mental health. Reducing the inequalities caused by higher rates of tobacco use among this group is an important area …

21 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what specialist person-centred support is available to help people with poor mental health to quit smoking, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government does not currently hold information on cessation support services, available in each NHS board area. However, The Scottish Government are developing an expert group that will be reporting on smoking cessation services early next year. …

20 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions have taken place with stakeholders to ensure that the values and principles of community wealth building are enshrined in the Land Reform Bill.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Following the opening of the consultation published on 4 July 2022, setting out the measures proposed for the next Land Reform Bill, a programme of six public meetings took place. In addition, an online event was held on Thursday 22 July, which was open to al…

20 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the Just Transition Commission report, Making the Future, which was published on 14 July 2022, what consideration it has given to the recommendations regarding the Land Reform Bill.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Making the Future contains two substantive references to the Land Reform Bill. One (under “Strategic Priorities) welcomed the publication of the consultation on the Bill https://www.gov.scot/publications/land-reform-net-zero-nation-consultation-paper/ publ…

20 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the reported £5 million reduction in GP practices sustainability payments for 2022-23 will impact GP services budgets in (a) Lanarkshire and (b) Forth Valley.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government recognised in 2021 that partial implementation of the pharmacotherapy and community treatment and care services, on a national level, meant that general practice was facing a difficult winter without all of the support Scottish Governm…

13 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is considering providing any additional funding to Falkirk Council to prevent the reported closure of Falkirk Town Hall.   

Answer · Neil Gray: Falkirk Council took the difficult decision to close Falkirk Town Hall theatre following recommendations that funding the modernisation of the building did not represent best value in the current challenging financial environment. While disappointing for ma…

12 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent reported announcement by the President of the United States of America regarding pardoning people convicted federally of "simple possession" of cannabis, whether it plans to consider the possibility of taking similar action for people convicted in Scotland.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government takes a public health approach to drug use and believe that the current UK drug legislation is rooted in an outdated view that drug use is a criminal justice matter. That is why I was pleased when the Lord Advocate decided that an exte…

12 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what advice is available to communities that are concerned about (a) community pharmacy closures and (b) proposals for new community pharmacies being rejected.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The provision of NHS Pharmaceutical Care services is the responsibility of territorial Health Boards. Any concerns by members of the public on pharmacy closures and accessing services should be raised with the Health Board. The arrangements under which appli…

12 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any assessment it has made of the impact of stigma on late presentation of liver disease.

Answer · Maree Todd: We understand that stigma associated with particular health conditions, including liver disease, can create very specific challenges - it can isolate people from their communities and act as a significant barrier to seeking help and support. This can increase…

12 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of premature mortality due to liver disease on years of working life lost in 2021.

Answer · Maree Todd: Data specific to Years of Working Life Lost (YWLL) for liver disease is not routinely published. Scottish Burden of Disease data published in Sept 2021 showed that for liver disease (cirrhosis and other chronic liver disease) the number of years of life lost …

12 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to fund research on conditions that effect menstrual health, such as fibroids, with a view to improving treatment options.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government’s Chief Scientist Office operates open competitive funding schemes for applied health research projects and fellowships across the wide range of NHS and health challenges in Scotland. These schemes continue to operate and are open to…

11 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it plans to take to improve the treatment and care for patients with inflammatory breast cancer.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Cancer Network (SCN) has engaged collaboration from clinical staff across Scotland to draft a National Clinical Management Pathway for all breast cancer patients, to achieve consistent care across Scotland. The CMP is currently in draft and out f…

11 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps will be taken to improve surgery waiting list times for those with breast cancer, including inflammatory breast cancer that involves reconstructive surgery.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: £10 million of funding has been directed to support Cancer Waiting Times improvements in our NHS across 2022-23, targeting the most challenged specialties, including breast. Significant funds are going towards up-skilling nurses and investment to support exte…

11 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to fund research into inflammatory breast cancer treatment, and, if so, how much funding will be allocated for this purpose.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government funds health and care research through the Chief Scientist Office. We are not currently funding any inflammatory breast cancer clinical trials. Researchers can apply directly to the Chief Scientist Office for funding. The CSO’s Transl…

7 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6O-00237 by the Lord Advocate on 6 October 2021 (Official Report, c. 3), whether it will provide an update on the work of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to address acknowledged issues in managing post mortem reports.

Answer · Dorothy Bain: Significant work has been done by COPFS, toxicologists and pathologists to address this issue. Since the beginning of 2021, there has been no backlog of toxicology reports. In some cases, the toxicology analysis requires to be supplemented by further scientif…

7 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service's target to conduct its investigation and advise the next of kin of the outcome within 12 weeks of the initial report of the death in at least 80% of cases following a sudden or unexplained death, what (a) percentage and (b) …

Answer · Dorothy Bain: COPFS aims to conduct its investigation and advise the next of kin of the outcome within 12 weeks of the initial report of the death in at least 80% of cases. Reporting years 2020-21 and 2021-22 saw increases in deaths reported to COPFS of 44% and 40% respec…

7 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on increasing income tax, primarily higher and top rates, to raise additional revenue for the purposes of combatting climate change, in light of recommendations in the report to Stop Climate Chaos Scotland titled Financing Climate Justice, published on…

Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government has used the powers at its disposal to build a fairer and more progressive Income Tax system in Scotland that raises vital additional revenue for the Scottish Budget. This has helped us commit to investing £2 billion for climate …