Parliamentary questions

Monica Lennon

3,484 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

7 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking as part of the economic recovery from COVID-19 to reduce any occupational segregation in sectors such as energy, transport, construction, agriculture and manufacturing in areas that are male-dominated.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Our 2021 manifesto committed to continuing to promote Fair Work in the Scottish Economy and help tackle occupational segregation, one of the main drivers of the gender pay gap and women’s workplace inequality. Our Covid Recovery Strategy will bring together …

7 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the Royal College of Nursing to discuss the reported increase in nursing and midwifery vacancies.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I last met with the Royal College of Nursing on 1 October 2021, where we discussed a range of issues. The Scottish Government’s position on nursing and midwifery vacancies is set out in my responses to the Member's associated questions: S6W-02826 and S6W-028…

7 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is addressing the 469 nursing and midwifery vacancies (7.3% of posts) in NHS Lanarkshire that have been reported by NHS Education for Scotland, and what support it is providing to the NHS board to ensure that adequate staffing levels are in place and care of patients is not compro…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The number of staff working in NHS Lanarkshire has increased by 31.4 per cent since Sept 2006, to over 12,170 Whole Time Equivalent (WTE). This includes a 28.4 per cent increase in numbers of Qualified Nurses and Midwives, which have risen to 4,309 WTE. NHSS…

7 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is addressing the 4,854 nursing and midwifery vacancies nationally (7.1% of posts) that have been reported by NHS Education for Scotland.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Numbers of Nurses and Midwives in Scotland have increased by 12.1% (or 6,850.9 WTE) in this Government, since September 2006. As a result of efforts to enhance staffing capacity during the Covid-19 pandemic, Nursing and Midwifery numbers have increased by 4.…

7 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-00480 by Jamie Hepburn on 14 June 2021, when it last met the Scottish Funding Council to discuss the (a) International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) working definition and (b) low uptake of universities adopting this.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government and Scottish Funding Council meet regularly to discuss a range of matters, including equalities issues. Universities, as autonomous institutions, are aware of the IHRA definition of antisemitism. Many are actively and presently consul…

7 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-00480 by Jamie Hepburn on 14 June 2021, whether it will contact universities that have not yet adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) working definition to ask for an update on their consultations with stakeholders and com…

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-02816 on 22 September 2021. 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-commi…

6 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Sub-Committee on the Climate Emergency will meet for the first time; how frequently it will meet thereafter, and who its members are.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Cabinet Sub-Committee on the Climate Emergency is currently being established. Once finalised, the remit of the new Sub-committee, including its membership and operating arrangements will be subject to approval by the First Minister. It is however envisag…

6 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Sub-Committee on the Climate Emergency has a defined remit, and whether it will publish this.

6 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking or plans to take to respond to and implement the 166 recommendations made by four committees in the last parliamentary session regarding its Climate Change Plan.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government has already given a point by point response [on 24 March 2021] to all recommendations from the four Committees that scrutinised our update to the 2018 Climate Change Plan. As stated in that response, the Committees’ advice will be con…

6 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will set out the process for (a) monitoring and (b) reporting to the Parliament on the implementation of the Climate Change Plan.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Section 35B of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 sets out the statutory basis for annual reporting on progress to implementation of Climate Change Plans. The Scottish Government’s update to the 2018 Climate Change Plan, which was finalised earlier this …

2 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact that Bitcoin, and Bitcoin mining, has on Scotland's ability to reach its targets for cutting carbon emissions.

Answer · Michael Matheson: We have not made any such assessment. However, achieving the ambition, set out in our Update to the Climate Change Plan 2018-2032: Securing a Green Recovery on a Path to Net Zero , published in December 2020, to reduce electricity sector emissions to zero bef…

2 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what role it can play in ensuring that any delegates from the Global South attending COP26 who have not had a COVID-19 vaccine will be prioritised to receive the vaccine in Scotland prior to the summit taking place.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The UK Government has been working with United Nations to provide COVID-19 vaccines to COP26 delegates that would otherwise not be able to access them. All those who expressed an interest in vaccination to either arrange appointments or set out next steps, ha…

2 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether all delegates attending COP26 will be expected to have a COVID-19 vaccine passport.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Our priority is to ensure a successful, safe and secure COP26 in November and Ministers and officials are working with UK Government counterparts, our partners in Glasgow and the relevant public health bodies to achieve this. We are continuing to work closel…

1 Sep 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its cooperation agreement with the Scottish Green Party, what its position is on Catholic schools, and whether it plans to review this.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government values the positive contribution made by Catholic schools and there are no plans to review the important role they play in the Scottish education system and wider society.

31 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase the number of childcare settings that have signed up to the Scottish Milk and Healthy Snack Scheme.

Answer · Clare Haughey: We continue to promote registration so more children can benefit from milk and a healthy snack. We are working in close partnership with COSLA and Local Authorities via an Implementation Group. We will shortly be expanding the remit and membership of this Gro…

31 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many childcare settings in each local authority area have signed up to the Scottish Milk and Healthy Snack Scheme.

Answer · Clare Haughey: Initial data from our local authority partners shows that 3,101 childcare settings and 116,293 eligible children are registered to the Scottish Milk and Healthy Snack Scheme out of around 7,822 total childcare settings in Scotland. Please see the following t…

30 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on how the recently announced Gresham House Forestry Fund (a) meets one of the tests of the Scottish National Investment Bank that projects supported cannot attract private investment, and (b) contributes to diversifications of forests and land ownership.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Bank has been established to be administratively independent from Government. While Ministers set the Missions, the Bank’s Board determines its investment strategy and investment criteria. Any investment the Bank makes is assessed rigorously by the Bank’s…

26 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it (a) plans to enact the social responsibility levy within the Alcohol etc. (Scotland) Act 2010, and, if so, within what timeframe, and (b) will invest any funds raised by such a levy in communities that are most affected by alcohol harm and alcohol-related deaths.

Answer · Ash Denham: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-02207 on 2 September 2021. 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…

25 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to (a) prevent burnout, distress and suicide among doctors and (b) reduce the stigma associated with doctor burnout and mental health.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Our Health Recovery Plan, published on 25 August, outlines that recovery of staff is intrinsic to our collective ambitions for renewing our NHS. The Scottish Government is providing £8 million this financial year to support the mental health and wellbeing of…

24 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance the NHS is using to signpost people with long COVID to pulmonary rehabilitation services.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) Guideline 161 provides guidance on managing the long-term effects of COVID-19 including signposting people to rehabilitation services where required. In addition the Implementation Support Note , which h…

24 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been on a waiting list for pulmonary rehabilitation in each quarter since Q1 in 2018-19, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Maree Todd: The information requested is not held centrally. Statistics on patients waiting for pulmonary rehabilitation are not held by Public Health Scotland (PHS). Waiting times statistics relating to specific conditions a patient is waiting to be seen for are not hel…

24 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with (a) the Chief Executive of the NHS and (b) each NHS board regarding pulmonary rehabilitation services.

Answer · Maree Todd: Access to pulmonary rehabilitation is a key recommendation in national clinical guidelines which we expect NHS Boards to follow. Improving access to pulmonary rehab is also a key commitment within our Respiratory Care Action Plan (RCAP), which can be found at…

24 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people with (a) long COVID, (b) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), (c) bronchiectasis and (d) asthma are on waiting lists for pulmonary rehabilitation, broken down by NHS board.

18 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the reported increase in cocaine being involved in drug-related deaths, from one in 20 deaths in 2012 to one in three in 2020, and what action it is taking to help people who misuse cocaine into treatment and recovery pathways.

Answer · Angela Constance: The most recent statistics indicate that there has been an increase in the use of cocaine and crack cocaine over recent years and we are seeing this reflected in the drug-related death statistics. It is believed this increased use may be related to decreases …

17 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which cabinet secretary or minister has responsibility for climate justice.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: As the Minister for Environment and Land Reform, I am responsible for environmental and climate justice.

13 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what funding will replace the Climate Challenge Fund, and how it will be delivered in a way that responds to the review of the fund in spring 2019.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Key to the spring 2019 review was that projects should continue to be designed at a grass roots level but that a more strategic approach to funding was needed to deliver lasting behavioural change. We are providing a vehicle for communities to come together …

13 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many community climate action hubs have been set up to date, and what evaluation has been carried out of their work.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The two pathfinder regional community climate hubs were launched on 6 September: The Northern Highlands and Islands Climate Action Hub will be delivered by Thurso Community Development Trust, and the North East Scotland Climate Action Network (NESCAN) Hub wil…

13 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle the reported 40% increase in sewage spills into rivers and seas in the last five years, and whether it plans to introduce binding targets to limit sewage pollution.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The combined sewer network is designed to spill during heavy rainfall to protect homes from flooding. The reported 40% increase in sewage spills in the last five years is primarily due to increases in total annual rainfall and rainfall intensity which are rel…

10 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will include the economic pathway to meeting its statutory climate change targets through a just transition as part of the remit of the Advisory Council on Economic Transformation and, if so, whether it will (a) arrange a presentation of these issues to be held at a council me…

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish economy faces unprecedented challenges as it recovers from the pandemic and transitions to becoming a net zero economy. To guide the economy through this period, the Scottish Government has committed to delivering a new 10 year National Strategy …

10 Aug 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that the Advisory Council on Economic Transformation hears from people who have experienced economic hardship because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused economic hardship for many householders throughout Scotland and is why the Scottish Government reacted quickly to provide vital support to help people, communities and businesses during this unprecedented period. The Scottish …