Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S6W-09292

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ash Regan on 30 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its plans for a bespoke model to address commercial sexual exploitation in Scotland.

Over the last six months, a Short Life Working Group has been helping the Scottish Government to develop draft principles to underpin a framework (originally defined as a Model) for Scotland which effectively tackles and challenges men’s demand for prostitution, and encourages better access to support for those involved in prostitution. This work is being supported by research being progressed on International Comparisons and Lived Experience. Over the summer period we will undertake further targeted stakeholder engagement on the draft, before looking to publish.

Question reference: S6W-08979

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 22 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a response to the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee report, Health and Wellbeing of Children and Young People.

Question reference: S6W-08995

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 21 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to making the placental growth factor (PIGF) blood test, which can detect those at risk of pre-eclampsia, freely available on the NHS.

Question reference: S6O-01224

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 June 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on the level of need for accessible housing in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-08622

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 1 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its proposed timetable is for delivering its commitment to establish a National Register of Ancient Woodlands.

Question reference: S6O-01152

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 May 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what role local authority scrutiny will have in relation to the recently published consultation document on police complaints, investigations and misconduct legislation.

Question reference: S6O-01148

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 May 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its analysis is of the latest transmission charging forecasts from National Grid ESO, in light of Transmission Network Use of System charges reportedly increasing in Scotland by between 39% and 73% while charges are decreasing in the majority of zones in England.

Question reference: S6O-01090

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 May 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what role a COVID-19 booster vaccination programme this winter will play in its Covid Recovery Strategy.

Question reference: S6W-08078

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 10 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how it is ensuring that harms from drugs and alcohol, which were cited in the Budget 2022-23 as "twin public health emergencies", are being addressed with equal urgency and importance.

Alcohol and drug-related harms are important public health issues in Scotland, which is why we established a national mission to improve and save lives. At the core of which is ensuring that every individual is able to access the treatment and recovery they choose.

We are working to ensure people with alcohol use disorder continue to receive the same quality of care as those with drugs misuse. The forthcoming Alcohol Treatment Guidelines will provide support for alcohol treatment, similar to the Medication-Assisted Treatment Standards for drugs. We are also developing alcohol treatment targets alongside Stage Two of the Drugs Targets Implementation in 2024.

We announced £100 million of additional investment to increase the availability of residential rehabilitation, that will benefit people experiencing alcohol and/or drug addiction.

On 06 December 2021, we launched a campaign to address stigma experienced by people with problematic alcohol and drug use. The campaign ran across multiple media platforms.

Question reference: S6W-07361

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 01 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 29 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the impact on households in Scotland, particularly in rural areas, what (a) action it is taking to mitigate the effects of increases in the price of kerosene heating oil and (b) discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding any consideration of a potential price cap for heating oil, similar to the electricity price cap.

I know that many rural households, living in off gas grid areas and reliant on heating oil, are likely to be facing difficulties as the price of kerosene has soared in recent months. We are doing all we can within our powers to assist those worst affected and have recently allocated a further £10 million to our Fuel Insecurity Fund (FIF). The FIF is delivered through trusted third sector partners including the Fuel Bank Foundation and Advice Direct Scotland, who administer our Home Heating Support Fund. Both these organisations are able to provide direct assistance to households who rely upon solid, or liquid fuels such as kerosene, for their heating.

Following on from recent discussions with the heating oil trade body, UKIFDA, my officials have engaged with the UK Government to raise concerns about the recent unprecedented rises in heating fuel costs for off-gas-grid customers in parts of Scotland. However the UK Government has indicated that there are no plans to regulate the sector.