Monica Lennon

23 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many beds have been allocated specifically for mental health patients in each NHS board in each of the last five years.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The total number of mental health and learning disability beds within the NHS Scotland estate each of the last five years was: Year 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Beds 4,205 4,075 3,922 - - *Source: Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Census…

21 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the use of the CitizenCard as valid ID for the purposes of the vaccine certification scheme.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Currently only passports and driving licences are accepted as valid forms of ID for registering on the NHS Scotland COVID Status app. Should forms of identification accepted be expanded, then Citizen Cards would be considered alongside other forms of ID. Indi…

21 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has carried out of the financial impact on the (a) Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) subway and (b) Edinburgh tram network of the introduction of free bus travel for under-22s.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Transport Scotland has engaged with Transport for Edinburgh and Strathclyde Passenger Transport to try to understand the potential impacts of the introduction of the national free bus scheme on their operations. This work will help to develop a baseline evalu…

21 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of public transport use of under-22s, and whether it plans to extend the free bus travel scheme for under-22s to subway and tram networks.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Transport Scotland has committed to an evaluation of the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme following the first full year of operation. The evaluation will assess the short and medium outcomes and the long term impact of the scheme by comparing conditions …

20 Dec 2021 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister how many missing person investigations have been carried out in 2021.

20 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had regarding the drug, sapropterin, being made available to patients in Scotland with phenylketonuria (PKU).

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government notes the updated National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance on sapropterin published September 2021 following a resubmission by its manufacturer Biomarin. The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) previously consi…

16 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent on recruitment for the new post of Director General, Net Zero, and how many candidates were (a) shortlisted, (b) assessed and (c) considered by the final panel.

Answer · John Swinney: The amount spent on executive search, advertising and assessment centre costs for the Director General Net Zero role is £26,837. Three candidates were shortlisted and assessed. Two candidates were interviewed by the final panel.

16 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported findings of the 2020/21 audit of the Scottish Government Consolidated Accounts by the Auditor General, that the financial support provided to businesses such as Burntisland Fabrications Limited, Ferguson Marine Engineering Limited, Prestwick Airport a…

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government’s investments in private companies are made in line with the Scottish Public Finance Manual (SPFM), supported by a clear economic and commercial rationale and have represented value for money at the time of the investment. While these …

16 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether business support will be provided to hospitality and catering businesses that have lost custom, due to people being advised to work from home.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government recognises the impact that the most recent set of restrictions has had on catering and events businesses and we are engaging with the sector on developing an appropriate package of support. We are working with businesses to develop and…

16 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what COVID-19 financial support it is making available to catering and events businesses that do not operate within a fixed single venue, and what the expected timeline is for any such funding to reach eligible businesses.

Answer · Ivan McKee: Catering and events businesses that do not operate within a fixed single venue will be supported through two routes depending on their particular business model.The £3 million Scottish Wedding Industry Fund, announced on 17 December 2021, will provide top-up …

16 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the challenges raised by the Omicron variant of COVID-19, what funding will be available to the taxi and private hire sector; from what date any fund will open for applications from operators and drivers, and what the eligibility criteria will be for applying to any fund.

Answer · Kate Forbes: We recognise the pandemic’s impact on the economy and businesses across a wide range of sectors. So far, the Scottish Government has provided £79.3 million directly to taxi and private hire drivers and operators in response to the pandemic. Further support of…

15 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure a consistent and appropriate level of passenger assistance is available for disabled people at bus stations.

Answer · Graeme Dey: As part of our Accessible Travel Framework, and recent engagement with disabled people and organisations that represent them, the Scottish Government have committed to exploring the current provision of passenger assistance currently provided at Scotland’s bu…

15 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans are in place to ensure that no-one who needs to self-isolate experiences a loss of income.

Answer · Kate Forbes: Self-isolation can be difficult, but it is essential to protect people and reduce the spread of Coronavirus. The Scottish Government is fully committed to supporting low income workers who have to isolate. That is why we have put aside £100m for increased spe…

15 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what financial support it will make available to workers who do not qualify for the £500 Self-Isolation Support Grant, and whether it plans to (a) increase the value of (b) change the eligibility criteria for the grant.

Answer · Kate Forbes: Those workers who are not eligible for the Self-Isolation Support Grant may be eligible for an emergency grant from their local authority. Scottish Welfare Fund Crisis Grants are available to all people regardless of their current benefit eligibility. They ar…

15 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether military aid for NHS Lanarkshire will be extended beyond 17 December 2021.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: An extension of military aid to NHS Lanarkshire has been approved for the period 7 January until 4 February 2022, by the Scottish Government and the Ministry of Defence.

14 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to extend free bus travel to (a) people (i) on a low-income and (ii) in receipt of benefits and (b) all young people under the age of 25.

Answer · Graeme Dey: We have no current plans to extend free bus travel beyond the existing older and disabled persons scheme and the new young persons scheme for people under the age of 22. Our Fair Fares Review, which is currently in its planning stages, will consider the rang…

13 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address reported concerns about dog welfare in relation to ear cropping.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government considers the practice of cropping a dog's ears purely for cosmetic reasons in order to achieve a desired look a despicable and cruel practice. Should the Scottish Parliament agree that the measures set out in the Kept Animals Bill sho…

13 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) the UK Government and (b) COSLA regarding the use of hotels to accommodate asylum seekers.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government did not receive advance notice of the Home Office decision to accommodate asylum seekers in hotels in Scotland. I wrote to the Home Secretary on 21 October to raise concerns about the lack of advance engagement on this matter and on th…

13 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle racism in sport.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government unequivocally condemns any form of racism hatred or prejudice, in sport and wider society. There is no excuse – it is totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Scotland is a diverse, multi-cultural society and this diversity stre…

13 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to mitigate any risks to wildlife that may be caused by light pollution, as a result of the 2022 arts project, Green Spaces Dark Skies, which is part of the programme UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK.

Answer · Neil Gray: Unboxed is a festival of creativity and innovation with Green Spaces, Dark Skies one of the six cross-UK programmes funded directly by the UK Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sports and administered via Festival UK Ltd. Details of all planned acti…

11 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much financial support will be provided to the bus and coach sector after March 2022 to assist with the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The draft Budget for 2022-23 provides £40 million in support for bus services as patronage recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. This is in addition to the continuation of pre COVID bus service support funding of £53.5 million. Where coach operators run regist…

11 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce pop-up COVID-19 vaccination centres in supermarkets and shopping centres.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Local teams look at available space within their area when considering appropriate locations for COVID-19 vaccination centres to meet local requirements, that have the right reach and size of venue for their population. Pop-up clinics can be located in a vari…

11 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce an apprenticeship scheme for bus drivers.

Answer · Graeme Dey: Officials across the Scottish Government are working with the bus sector to facilitate solutions to workforce issues through the Labour and Skills Shortages Action Plan, and connecting Local Employability Partnerships who are aware of opportunities in their a…

11 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle reported bus driver shortages.

Answer · Graeme Dey: We are working with operators to monitor the impact on service levels and changes in vacancy levels. My officials are also in regular contact with the Department for Transport regarding issues about delays to licence applications and driver testing, which hav…

9 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact that the (a) COVID-19 pandemic and (b) Omicron variant has had on the implementation of free bus travel for people under the age of 22 from 31 January 2022.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government recognises how important free bus travel will be to those young people under the age of 22 who need to make essential journeys during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. For this reason the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme remains set …

9 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will undertake a review of the training of paediatric audiologists.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-05072 on 6 January 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-committe…

9 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date a review of the Scottish Quality Standards for Paediatric Audiology will be carried out to ensure that they include SMART standards for all aspects of the paediatric audiology pathway.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-05072 on 6 January 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-committe…

9 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the failures identified by the British Academy of Audiology independent clinical audit and governance review into NHS Lothian Paediatric Audiology Services affect patients from other NHS board areas.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: In December 2021, we wrote to NHS Board Chief Executives about the systemic failures highlighted in the British Academy of Audiology (BAA) reports. NHS Chief Executives have been asked to examine their services, provide us with assurance on quality of care an…

7 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will investigate the National Advisory Committee for Chronic Pain, in light of reports of bullying allegations and the resignation of seven of the 10 elected patient representatives, and what impact this will have on the draft framework for pain management service delivery tha…

Answer · Maree Todd: Claims of bullying behaviour by civil servants are untrue. All members of the National Advisory Committee for Chronic Pain (NACCP) are free to make whatever contribution they wish to discussions. All committee members are required to abide by the behaviours …

7 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-02827 by Humza Yousaf on 21 September 2021, how it is addressing the increase to 520 nursing and midwifery vacancies (8% of posts) in NHS Lanarkshire that has been reported by NHS Education for Scotland, and what support it is providing to the NHS b…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: For information on Scottish Government action to address nursing vacancies I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-05019 on 5 January 2022. NHS Lanarkshire is receiving a proportional share of funding allocations for the recruitment of qualified nur…