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-09336

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 12 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that the impact of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) on Scotland's seabird colonies is appropriately assessed, and any actions coordinated, with input from bodies such as the Scottish Seabird Centre.

The UK is currently experiencing the largest outbreak of avian influenza to date, which has affected commercial and backyard flocks of poultry and other captive birds, as well as wild birds, including our internationally important seabird colonies.

While maintaining high levels of biosecurity among domestic flocks helps protect against disease, addressing the disease among wild birds can pose significant challenges. The Scottish Government is taking the current situation very seriously and continues to work with a range of partner organisations to monitor and respond to the situation where action can be taken, recognising the importance of communication and coordination in preparedness and responses.

As part of the co-ordinated GB response to avian influenza, the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) on behalf of Defra, the Scottish Government and the Welsh Government, carries out year-round surveillance, including testing of dead wild birds reported to Defra’s GB-wide national telephone helpline. This helps us capture information on the general location and strains of avian influenza that might be prevalent across Great Britain, as well as species affected.

Dedicated monitoring at key colonies can also assist in the response to the outbreak in wild birds, which is why we welcome the significant work by NatureScot, the National Trust for Scotland, RSPB Scotland, the Scottish Wildlife Trust and other partners to collect data on the number of dead wild birds located at key colonies, as well as monitoring apparent population changes.

Working with our partners, the Scottish Government will continue to review its response planning to current and future avian influenza outbreaks, based on the latest scientific advice and existing disease control measures. We will also be identifying with partner organisations whether anything else can be done to respond to the outbreak and improve the resilience of our internationally important seabird populations.

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.