Parliamentary questions
Monica Lennon
3,484 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
4 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government by what date face-to-face antenatal classes that are run by NHS Scotland will resume, in light of the reported resumption of private classes.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Group antenatal classes were able to resume from 31 July 2020. Current guidance for delivery of maternity and neonatal services throughout the Covid-19 pandemic states that antenatal and postnatal group sessions can continue virtually or in person, subject to…
4 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that NHS Lanarkshire is having issues with half-dose COVID-19 vaccine supplies for vulnerable 5- to 11-year-olds, resulting in appointments for this group not being offered until at least 25 March 2022.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: First-dose vaccine appointments for children aged 5-11 at higher risk from Covid-19, or who are a household contact of someone who is immunosuppressed, began scheduling from late January 2022. Appointments for first doses for all 5-11s are scheduled from 19 M…
2 Mar 2022 · SPCB Oral Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will provide an update on any correspondence it has had with Baillie Gifford in relation to reports that the Scottish Parliamentary Pension Scheme's Managed Pension Fund has holdings in the state-owned Russian bank, Sberbank.
1 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when South Lanarkshire Council will receive confirmation of its total allocation from the planned £60 million play park renewal fund, in order to allow the local authority to make plans on how many and what play areas to refurbish.
Answer · Clare Haughey: The Scottish Government will invest £60 million to renew play parks in Scotland, so children have access to high-quality outdoor play in their own communities. This funding is for public, free-to-access parks and will be distributed to local authorities over …
1 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the provisions in the Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019, to guarantee safe staffing levels in health and care services, will be implemented.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government is resolute in its continuing commitment to the Act and its principles. A successful Implementation will only be achieved through the co-production of the relevant stakeholders. Their focus has naturally been on responding to the chall…
11 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made regarding piloting approaches to universal meal provision in secondary schools.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: We have committed to a significant programme of investment an expansion in universal school meal provision, this programme will see universal free school lunches being made available for all children in primary and special schools during school term-time duri…
11 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government by what date universal free meals in primary schools will be fully implemented and what the timetable is for achieving this.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Universal free school lunches are now available for all children in primaries 1 to 5 during school term-time and we remain committed to further expanding universal free school lunch provision, to include all children in primary and special schools, during the…
10 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much of the additional £0.5 million funding to help with the installation of the new interlinked fire alarms has been allocated to Care and Repair Lanarkshire.
Answer · Shona Robison: A further £40,000 of the additional £0.5 million Care and Repair funding has been transferred to Care and Repair Lanarkshire.
10 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it anticipates military aid for NHS Lanarkshire will be extended beyond 4 February 2022.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: A further extension of military aid to NHS Lanarkshire has been approved for the period 4 th February until 26 th February 2022 by both, the Scottish Government and the Ministry of Defence, there is now a phased drawdown of activity as agreed between NHS Lana…
9 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to lower the age for bowel screenings, and what assessment it has made of recent research and practice, including the US Preventive Services Task Force B-grade recommendation for screening for colorectal cancer in adults aged 45 to 49.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government will only make plans to introduce any changes to the eligible age range for the bowel screening programme in Scotland if this is recommended by the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC). The UK NSC advises Ministers and the NHS in …
7 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to prevent deaths from non-communicable disease, in light of a recent report by the Non-Communicable Disease Prevention Coalition, which stated that only one of the six actions it called for had been implemented.
Answer · Maree Todd: We are fully committed to taking action to prevent deaths from non-communicable disease. Work is underway to deliver a range of measures to target harmful health behaviours such as smoking, unhealthy diet and obesity and alcohol misuse.We published our out of…
7 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government by what date NHS Scotland will resume face-to-face antenatal classes, in light of the reported resumption of private classes.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Group antenatal classes were able to resume from 31 July 2020. Current guidance for delivery of maternity and neonatal services throughout the Covid-19 pandemic states that antenatal and postnatal group sessions can continue virtually or in person, subject to…
2 Feb 2022 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with National Records of Scotland and other organisations, on the challenges facing people affected by historic forced adoption when seeking to access records.
31 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the name of the carer who is applying on behalf of a child for their Young Scot National Entitlement Card to access the Young Persons' Free Bus Travel Scheme must be on either the birth or adoption certificate, and, if so, what arrangements are in place to allow a successful appl…
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: This is a requirement for the online process but applications can also be made directly to a local authority, including where the legal guardian is not named on the birth or adoption certificate. Local authorities can look at other documentary evidence to pr…
28 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure an effective roll-out of the cystic fibrosis treatment, Kaftrio, to eligible children aged six to 11 years old.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Kaftrio ® has been available for the treatment of cystic fibrosis in patients aged 12 years and older since 1 September 2020. This follows a pricing agreement with the manufacturer. There is provision in the access policy and pricing agreement for expanding a…
27 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support will be given to young people to apply for an updated Young Scot National Entitlement Card (NEC) in cases where they do not have access to a passport or driving licence due to affordability.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: We know some people may not be able to apply online, for example if they do not hold the required proofs. For this reason applications can be made in-person via local councils. Local councils determine the documents which are required for offline applications…
27 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of digital poverty on young people and their households, in cases where the young person wishes to update their Young Scot National Entitlement Card (NEC).
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: We know some people may not have access to the technology required to make an online application for a new or updated card. For this reason, other routes are available to help ensure no eligible young person is excluded. Applications to update cards can be ma…
27 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to support young people who are (a) care-experienced and (b) estranged from parents, family or care givers, to apply for an updated Young Scot National Entitlement Card (NEC), in cases where they do not have access to the identification documents required.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Some young people, or their legal guardians, may have difficulty providing the proofs of person or of address to access the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme, including young people who are (a) care-experienced and (b) estranged from parents, family or ca…
27 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support local authorities in the roll out of the updated Young Scot National Entitlement Card (NEC) scheme, and what flexibility it has given to local authorities in relation to how the scheme is rolled out.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Transport Scotland is responsible for the policy and some aspects of the operational delivery of the free bus travel scheme for under 22s. However, the Improvement Service (IS) is the accountable body for the NEC scheme and cards are delivered by the National…
27 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to support trans young people to update their Young Scot National Entitlement Card (NEC), if their name differs from other identification documents that they hold.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: It is not currently possible for someone to apply online for a card in a different name from that shown in their official identity documents, however an applicant can contact their local authority and request a different name is displayed on their card from t…
27 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact the resignation of Terry A'Hearn, as Chief Executive of SEPA, will have on the current review of the role of incineration in the waste hierarchy, and when it anticipates that SEPA will have a new Chief Executive in post.
Answer · Lorna Slater: Dr Colin Church was appointed as independent Chair of the review into the role of incineration in the waste hierarchy in Scotland in November 2021. SEPA, as with other stakeholders, has the opportunity to submit a response to the ongoing call for evidence a…
25 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ensure a return to in-person learning on a permanent basis for further education courses that are practical subjects.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Current guidance is being reviewed in collaboration with the sector, taking into account advice provided by the Covid-19 Advisory Sub-Group on Colleges and Universities. The Scottish Government’s 4 Harms approach ensures that the fullest range of impacts is t…
21 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what additional financial support will be made available to households to help meet the new fire alarm standard, in light of the recent increase in energy prices and the extra pressure this puts on household budgets.
Answer · Shona Robison: We know that some homeowners may not be able to meet the cost of fitting the necessary alarms which is why we provided £500,000 through Care and Repair Scotland to help elderly and disabled people. We have also made available a further £500,000 to Care and Re…
20 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which NHS boards have dedicated facilities for women experiencing miscarriage or unexpected pregnancy complications.
Answer · Maree Todd: This information is not held centrally. A scoping exercise of NHS Boards in respect of services for miscarriage and unexpected pregnancy complications was paused in light of service pressures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Subject to sustained improvement in t…
20 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-04556 by Maree Todd on 6 December 2021, whether it will provide an update on its scoping exercise, including the remit and timeline; on what dates the roundtables will take place, and who will be invited to participate in the roundtables and to info…
Answer · Maree Todd: The scoping exercise referred to in S6W-04556 will help the Scottish Government to establish current service provision for miscarriage care and support that is available to women who experience unexpected pregnancy complications across all 14 Health Boards an…
20 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which operators have been found liable under the Environmental Liability (Scotland) Regulations 2009 of causing (a) land damage, (b) water damage and (c) damage to protected (i) habitats and (ii) species, and what penalty was imposed.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: Since reporting requirements came into force on 31 st October 2019, no operators have, to date, been found liable for environmental damage under the Environmental Liability (Scotland) Regulations 2009, as amended by The Environmental Liability etc. (EU Exit) …
14 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of NHS never services.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: We wrote to NHS Boards on the 10 December to set out measures intended to support NHS Scotland to manage the continuing pressures resulting from the pandemic and the emerging threats posed by Omicron. Services which were considered essential under this direct…
12 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what evidence it has used to determine a reduction in the period of self-isolation for those who test positive for COVID-19.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government used a range of sources of evidence when determining the latest isolation policy changes including data on various key aspects of the pandemic including vaccination rates; clinical advice from senior clinicians including the Chief Medi…
6 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of how the Chronic Pain Winter Support Fund will be distributed.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Chronic Pain Winter Support Fund has been distributed as follows: Organisation Project Availability Value of award Pain Association Scotland Increased access to self-management service National £38,518 Purple Orchid Health Limited with Bladder He…
5 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people died while in the custody of the Scottish Prison Service during 2021.
Answer · Keith Brown: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: There were a total of 53 deaths in SPS custody during 2021. The SPS publishes information regarding all deaths in our custody…