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-09279

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 6 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports women who have qualifications in STEM subjects to find employment in (a) teaching and (b) STEM-related industries.

The recruitment and deployment of teachers is a matter for individual local authorities, as they are responsible for using available resources to provide a complement of staff which meets the needs of each of their schools and its pupils based on local needs and priorities.

The Scottish Government has a number of ambitions to address the lack of women in STEM occupations and settings, such as schools. The Gender Equality Taskforce in Education and Learning is also considering how best to ensure that girls and young women are able to freely choose activities, subjects and areas of study including those traditionally dominated by boys and men.

The Scottish Government recognises challenges in STEM teacher recruitment and continues to offer 150 bursaries of £20,000 for career changers, wishing to undertake a one year PGDE Initial Teacher Education (ITE) course that leads to the award of registered teacher status in the hardest to fill STEM subjects.

Skills Development Scotland (SDS) seeks to equip each individual with highly effective Career Management Skills which will empower them to proactively direct their career, as well as give them the ability to manage key transition points throughout their lives. SDS has a network of Careers Advisers working in every school in Scotland, as well as at SDS Careers Centres across the country.

Question reference: S6W-09278

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 6 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether it is giving sufficient funding to local authorities to provide the number of permanent teaching posts that are required to meet the needs of children and young people.

Since the start of the pandemic, the Scottish Government has provided £240m funding to local authorities to support the recruitment of additional teachers and support staff.

We have committed further permanent funding of £145.5m to support education staffing. This will ensure sustained employment of additional teachers, while meeting local needs and benefitting Scotland’s children and young people.

We will also fund 3,500 additional teachers and 500 support staff over this Parliamentary term – over and above the 1,400 teachers recruited during the pandemic.

We continue to work closely with COSLA regarding the employment of teachers to maximise the number of jobs available, including permanent posts.

Question reference: S6W-09283

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 5 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when the recommendations of the Ventilation Short-Life Working Group (a) were submitted to the Scottish Government and (b) will be published, and what the reasons are for any delay.

Question reference: S6W-09277

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 4 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has appointed someone to a dedicated menopause policy post, as outlined in the short-term targets of its Women’s Health Plan.

Question reference: S6W-09276

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 4 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is on track to meet all the short-term targets outlined in its Women's Health Plan published in August 2021.

Question reference: S6O-01300

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 June 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what preparations have been made to protect the economy of rural communities in areas like South Scotland from a repeat of the storms experienced last year.

Question reference: S6W-09073

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 10 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 21 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason no NHS board reportedly provides abortion care up to the legal limit.

The Scottish Government is continuing to work with NHS Boards to improve abortion services, including NHS Boards providing abortions up to the legal limit. Some NHS Boards provide abortion services up to the legal limit for fetal anomalies, however we are aware that women seeking abortions after 20 weeks' for other reasons are often referred to services in England. The Scottish Government is committed to progressing work which would allow women to access abortions services in a way that is right for them.

Question reference: S6F-01264

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 June 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 June 2022

To ask the First Minister when the Scottish Government plans to appoint a Women's Health Champion, in light of the appointment of a Women's Health Ambassador for England.

Question reference: S6W-08992

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 17 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when further details will be released on the care coordinator roles, including the timeline for introduction, as referred to by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care in the debate on long COVID on 19 May 2022, and whether these roles will also support patients with other long-term and complex conditions, such as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME).

The specification of, and recruitment to staff roles supported by investment through the long COVID Support Fund is a matter for individual NHS Boards.

The Strategic Network for long COVID managed by NHS National Services Scotland is providing support to NHS Boards as they plan and implement service developments.

We are supporting NHS Boards to test the introduction of models of care that will generate learning and benefit the management of other long-term and complex conditions, including Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME).

Question reference: S6W-08993

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 17 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that its investment in the provision of support for patients with long COVID will also take account of those with other related chronic conditions.