Parliamentary questions
Monica Lennon
3,484 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
17 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Audit Scotland report, Covid-19 Personal protective equipment, and what action it is taking to implement the recommendation to support suppliers in developing more environmentally-friendly PPE.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government welcome the Audit Scotland report, and we are pleased that it recognised the swift actions of Scotland’s public sector partners to respond to the significant and unprecedented challenges presented by Covid-19. The Scottish Government a…
17 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has carried out or plans to carry out of the issue of microplastics originating from hospital laundrettes being found in the ocean.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The easiest way to mitigate microplastic presence in waste water from laundries is to ensure appropriate lint filters are fitted to washers before the water is discharged into the drain. Most NHS Laundries are using appropriate lint filters already, the remai…
17 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason there are no dedicated mother and baby residential care units for people seeking substance abuse treatment that would allow them to receive recovery support while living with their children, and what its position is on introducing such facilities.
Answer · Angela Constance: We are committed to increasing residential rehabilitation placements and getting more women into treatment and recovery. This includes keeping families together when it is appropriate to do so. £100 million of the additional £250 million funding announced as…
16 Jun 2021 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what support and advice it is making available to MSPs who wish to facilitate a four-day working week (32 hours) or part-time equivalent for their employees, at no loss of pay.
Answer · Jackson Carlaw (On behalf of the SPCB): The SPCB provides the staff cost provision to enable Members to employ up to the equivalent of 4 full time staff. Individual Members have flexibility to decide how to use their staffing budget, including setting staff salaries within the agreed pay ranges and…
14 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-00281 by Maree Todd on 7 June 2021, whether it will provide an update on making access to remote abortion care a permanent option.
Answer · Maree Todd: Early medical abortion at home, and the changes adopted in March 2020, has been an important measure to ensure abortion services have continued to be delivered throughout the pandemic, without delays. The Scottish Government launched a public consultation o…
14 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of safety concerns regarding the impact of proposed quarry work on the Ineos ethylene pipeline.
Answer · Tom Arthur: A planning application has been submitted by Stonepack Ltd to Scottish Borders Council for a proposed Sand and Gravel Quarry at Slipperfield, West Linton. It is understood that the Health and Safety Executive does not advise, on safety grounds, against the gr…
14 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-36170 by Paul Wheelhouse on 23 March 2021, whether it will provide an update on what plans it has to produce procurement policy for public ferry contracts.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Interim Report on the future approach to the procurement of lifeline ferry services was published on 20 December 2017. The report confirmed that a decision on the future approach to procuring these services would be taken ahead of the current contract for…
14 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will provide an update on the procurement of new ferry vessels.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government is working with Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) and ferry operators to develop and deliver a programme of major and small vessel replacements. Detail of the current programme is included in Annex D of the Infrastructure Investmen…
11 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made regarding recommendation seven of the Healthcare Improvement Scotland report: Review of Ayrshire Maternity Unit University Hospital Crosshouse, NHS Ayrshire and Arran (Adverse Events).
Answer · Maree Todd: In June 2017, Healthcare Improvement Scotland published their report on the Review of Ayrshire Maternity Unit, University Hospital Crosshouse, NHS Ayrshire & Arran (Adverse Events). Recommendation seven said that NHS Scotland should develop and agree a list…
11 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to calls for an investigation into the wildlife deaths at Blair Drummond Safari Park.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The historical deaths reported in the Scottish Sun were shocking in their alleged nature. However, enforcement of the Zoo Licencing Act 1981 is a matter for Local Authorities. In addition, I am aware that Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park is a member o…
11 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to a new study, which reports potential water shortages for some rivers.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government welcomes the study, which was carried out to support Scotland’s response to climate change and will help identify the rivers most at risk from water shortages and prioritise the development of resilience. Scotland is a water rich nati…
11 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take in response to the recommendation in the Poverty Alliance report, Transport and child poverty - beyond the pandemic, that public transport should be made more affordable.
Answer · Graeme Dey: We welcome the research of the Poverty Alliance, who worked in partnership with Transport Scotland to explore the links between child poverty and transport. As of April 2021, over 1.4 million older and disabled people were eligible for free bus travel, and al…
11 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much of its procurement budget for COP-26 has been spent on Scotland-based businesses.
Answer · Michael Matheson: There is no ring-fenced procurement budget for COP26. The Scottish Government, and relevant agencies / bodies, have procured a number of contracts among suppliers for COP26, with a total value of £416,240 through Scotland-based businesses, and £24,612 through…
11 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much of the Green Jobs Fund has been committed, and for what purposes.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Green Jobs Fund comprises two tranches of money – £50m which has been baselined into our Enterprise Agencies capital funding; and £50m under the direct control of Scottish Ministers. As of 25 June 2021, no specific projects have been funded for 2021-22. Scott…
11 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has carried out environmental assessments of the businesses that are benefitting from its procurement spend on COP-26.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00633 on 13 July 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-committees…
11 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many green buses it has supported the purchase of in each year since 2015-16.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government has supported the purchase of green buses between 2011 and 2018 through the Scottish Green Bus Fund, and then since 2020 through the Scottish Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme. Details of the buses purchased through these schemes are publi…
11 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has awarded to (a) SEPA, (b) its Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services division, (c) Scotland's Rural College and (d) the Royal Botanical Garden Edinburgh in each year since 2010-11.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The information requested is not held centrally. Details of the funding awarded to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is published in annual reports and accounts available at www.sepa.org.uk and www.rbg…
11 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much of its procurement budget for COP-26 has been spent on businesses outside of Scotland.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00633 on? 13 July 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-committee…
10 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that Kinlochleven hydro-electric power station has been leased to London-based infrastructure investor, Equitix, and what securities are in place, in light of its financial guarantee and support for GFG Alliance.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The Kinlochleven hydro-electric power station was built specifically to power the Kinlochleven Aluminium Smelter. Since the smelter closed in 2000 all the electrical power produced at Kinlochleven has been exported to the national grid and no power is dispatc…
10 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to calls from the Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland for a review of nursery guidance, and whether it will publish guidance on safe ways that adults can observe transition events for nursery and primary school pupils.
Answer · Clare Haughey: The Scottish Government maintains up to date COVID-19 safety guidance for Early Learning and Childcare settings. This guidance is developed in consultation with public health experts on both the Advisory Sub-Group on Education and Children’s Issues, and in Pu…
10 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives of the health and social care sector to discuss the extended use of face masks and coverings in community care and adult care homes.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Chief Nursing Officer and Scottish Government officials met with representatives from Scottish Care and Erskine Care Homes on 9 June 2021 to discuss the updated extended use of face masks and face covering guidance in hospitals, primary care, wider commun…
10 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consultation was carried out with (a) residents, (b) caregivers, (c) workers and (d) care home operators, prior to it publishing COVID-19 guidance on the extended use of face masks and coverings in hospitals, primary care, wider community care and adult care homes on 7 June 2021, an…
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The updated guidance regarding the extended use of face masks and coverings in hospitals, primary care, wider community care and adult care homes was published after consultation with numerous stakeholders, including Scottish Social Services Council, Scottish…
8 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to calls for national parks to allocate 10% of their areas for rewilding.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: Our Statement of Intent on Biodiversity was published in December 2020 and highlights the need to create new locally driven projects to improve ecological connectivity across Scotland. We have made an ambitious, voluntary commitment to protect 30% of Scotla…
4 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to calls from the Scottish Environment Link coalition to introduce legally-binding targets to protect wildlife by 2022.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government is committed to action to protect wildlife and to the effective monitoring of progress towards this goal. The Scottish Government has recently added a new single high level indicator to the National Performance Framework which measures…
4 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that people on low incomes are not excluded or adversely affected by switches to electric and low-emission vehicles in city centres.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government offers a range of initiatives delivered through the Energy Savings Trust (EST) to support low income households in Scotland, this will ensure all households are able to enjoy the benefits that come with making the switch to electric ve…
4 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update regarding by what date it expects a public energy company to be operational.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Work on a planned public energy company was halted during the pandemic. As set out in the SNP manifesto, Ministers will now focus government efforts on a new dedicated national public energy agency. This will coordinate and accelerate delivery of heat and ene…
3 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which universities have adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government, Universities Scotland, College Development Network and Colleges Scotland are clear that there is no place for any form of hatred or prejudice, including antisemitism, in further and higher education. Universities, as autonomous insti…
3 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been (a) charged and (b) convicted of altering images or producing deepfake pornographic material in each year since 2017.
Answer · Keith Brown: This information is not held centrally. Altering images or producing deepfake pornographic material is not a specific offence, therefore: (a) the Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal service are unable to separately identify such offences from their database and…
2 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support Caledonian Sleeper staff who are planning industrial action for 11 days over a pay dispute.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government has provided exceptional additional funding in excess of £35 million to maintain full employment on full pay for Caledonian Sleeper Staff, throughout the pandemic period, despite the significant reduction in passenger numbers. In total…
2 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response to the WWF Nature Fund report, Feeling The Heat.
Answer · Michael Matheson: We welcome the WWF’s Feeling the Heat report and the focus it brings to the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change. We are already taking world-leading action at home and abroad, with action on these issues central to our green recovery from COVI…