- Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 September 2024
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 26 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review its relationship with LGBT Youth Scotland, in light of reported allegations regarding safeguarding failings.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 26 September 2024
- Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 September 2024
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 11 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what impact reductions to mental health budgets will have on child and adult mental health services.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 11 September 2024
- Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 June 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 13 June 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any potential impact on its funding of the service, what discussions it has had with the Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre in relation to its compliance with employment laws.
Answer
Rape crisis centres are independent and the governance and day-to-day operation of services sits with their Boards. As such, it would not be appropriate for the Scottish Government to discuss employment law matters with Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre. We continue to fund Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre to support survivors of rape and sexual assault.
- Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 May 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 4 June 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has reimbursed the legal expenses sought by the UK Government regarding its legal challenge of the decision by the UK Government to issue a section 35 order in relation to the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill.
Answer
On 28 May, the Advocate General for Scotland asked the Court of Session to extend the time limit to lodge their account of expenses with the court from 31 May to 31 July 2024. The court has now granted the Advocate General’s request, which the Scottish Government did not oppose.
- Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 19 April 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 3 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government how many instances of the use of conversion
therapy have been recorded since 2010, and under which bodies.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold this data. At present, Scots law does not provide for a specific criminal offence relating to conversion practices, nor is there another basis for any bodies to collect such data.
Both the independent Expert Advisory Group on Ending Conversion Practices and the Equalities, Human Rights & Civil Justice (EHRCJ) Committee heard from people in Scotland with recent lived experience of conversion practices. Each produced reports which provided insight into the prevalence and types of conversion practices used in Scotland.
In their report of 25 January 2022, the EHRCJ Committee concluded that sufficient research and evidence is available in relation to conversion practices in Scotland and recommended that the Scottish Government does not duplicate evidence gathering already undertaken.
The UK Government’s National LGBT Survey, conducted in 2017 identified that, in Scotland, 7% of ‘LGBT’ respondents had either undergone or been offered ‘conversion therapy’.
- Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 19 April 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 2 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a clear definition of the term "conversion therapy practices", which outlines the difference between "quackery" and advice provision.
Answer
The public consultation on “Ending Conversion Practices in Scotland” which ran from 9 January 2024 until 2 April set out the Scottish Government’s proposals on defining prohibited conduct in legislation.
Consultation responses will be analysed and considered to inform future legislation to be introduced into Parliament.
- Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 19 April 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 2 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with faith leaders regarding its proposed legislation banning conversion practices.
Answer
The Scottish Government has undertaken extensive engagement with a range of faith and belief stakeholders throughout the development of proposals on ending conversion practices in Scotland and following the launch of our public consultation document on 9 January. This includes both individual and group meeting with faith-based organisations on at least 14 separate occasions since the launch of our consultation on 9 January 2024. In addition, a roundtable event specifically for faith and belief representatives was held on 3 April 2024, managed by independent, impartial external facilitators to support a free expression of views.
This engagement with faith and belief stakeholders has informed the development of our proposals, and feedback and consultation responses will be analysed and considered to inform future legislation to be introduced into Parliament.
- Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 22 April 2024
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 23 April 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the LGBT Youth Scotland pilot programme to introduce youth clubs in schools.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 23 April 2024
- Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 April 2024
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 17 April 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review the current model of care for children with gender dysphoria.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 17 April 2024
- Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 18 March 2024
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 21 March 2024
To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will engage with NHS Scotland on ending the prescription of puberty suppressing hormones to children, following the recent announcement by NHS England.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 21 March 2024