- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 August 2022
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 13 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what is being done to encourage members of the public to switch to electric vehicles (EVs) and install chargers at home, in light of increasing energy prices.
Answer
The Scottish Government is providing over £30 million this financial year to accelerate the shift to zero emission transport. This includes support for zero emission community transport and car clubs in addition to funding interest free loans for electric vehicles. Electric vehicle chargepoint grants are also available to homeowners and businesses in rural and island areas, where installation costs are often higher. This approach is designed to target those who need the most financial help to make the switch to zero emission transport.
Later this year, we will be introducing legislation to ensure all new buildings with parking, whether that be a new home or local community centre, are EV enabled, future-proofing Scotland's buildings as we transition to a net zero transport system.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 August 2022
-
Current Status:
Answered by Lorna Slater on 13 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government where plastic grass can be recycled in Scotland.
Answer
The majority of synthetic grass is a mix of polymers that can be recycled but are difficult to separate, which makes them difficult to recycle.
While there are some options for recycling synthetic grass in Scotland, the Scottish Government is not currently involved with projects to recycle plastic grass directly. However, through our Route Map we set out to significantly increase reuse and recycling rates and modernise and improve recycling services.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 August 2022
-
Current Status:
Answered by Lorna Slater on 7 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how microplastics, such as those from artificial sports pitches, (a) can be safely disposed of and (b) recycled in Scotland.
Answer
Through the ‘Pitch In’ project, KIMO International and the NGO Fidra , have developed a community toolkit and best practice guidance to reduce the source of microplastic pollution. This includes information on reducing this source of microplastic pollution. Marine Scotland is working with stakeholders to support the implementation of this guidance in Scotland.
The Scottish Government is also taking action on the issue of microplastics pollution from plastic pellets, powders and flakes. We have supported the plastic industry’s voluntary ‘Operation Clean Sweep’ initiative which gives guidance for best handling practice, and are currently working with the industry to develop an auditable full supply-chain certification approach to reduce plastic loss from all businesses handling this material.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 August 2022
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 5 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how much it plans to spend on marketing campaigns to encourage people to use public transport in the financial year 2022-23.
Answer
The Scottish Government will launch a national marketing campaign to promote the new Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel scheme in the coming weeks. The Scottish Government has allocated £400,000 to promote this campaign during this financial year.
On promoting public transport more broadly, Transport Scotland continues to work with operating partners and stakeholders to encourage people to use public transport, as a sustainable way to access work, education and services.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 August 2022
-
Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 5 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider a ban on the sale of vaping products that mimic the smell and taste of confectionery, in light of a reported surge in children and young people using such products.
Answer
The Scottish Government has a precautionary approach to vaping products. Vapes and other nicotine products are part of a range of cessation tools available to existing smokers to help stop tobacco use. They should not be used by non-smokers, in particular by children and young people. They should not been used or promoted as a lifestyle accessory.
Our recent vaping consultation, which closed at the end of April, sought views on tightening rules on advertising and promoting these products. The results of this consultation will be published soon and will inform our Tobacco Action Plan refresh.
We will continue to work with the UKG and other devolved administrations over issues such as the taste and smell of vaping product to help reduce their appeal to children and young people.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 August 2022
-
Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 5 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to discourage and reduce the use of vaping products among children and young people.
Answer
The Scottish Government has a precautionary approach to vaping products. Vapes and other nicotine products are part of a range of cessation tools available to existing smokers to help stop tobacco use. They should not be used by non-smokers, in particular by children and young people. They should not been used or promoted as a lifestyle accessory.
Our recent vaping consultation, which closed at the end of April, sought views on tightening rules on advertising and promoting vaping products. The results of this consultation will be published soon and will inform our Tobacco Action Plan refresh.
We are working with a range of stakeholders to ensure that our Tobacco Action Plan discourages and reduces the use and visibility of vaping products by all non-smokers, including children and young people.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 August 2022
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 5 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how much it spent on marketing and advertising to promote social distancing and COVID-19 protection measures on public transport in (a) 2020-21 and (b) 2021-22.
Answer
The focus of the Scottish Government`s communication activities and guidance during the pandemic was to ensure that, when people needed to travel, and the prevailing Covid-19 restrictions allowed them to do so, they knew to plan ahead and were informed of the guidance to follow to use public transport safely.
Typically messaging on protection levels, ventilation, physical distancing and wearing a face covering when in crowded locations or when on public transport was included within the broader Government’s public health campaign messaging or was part of an operators own communications materials. No specific SG funding was allocated for this activity therefore, it is not possible to say how much was spent specifically on public transport marketing or advertising relating to social distancing and COVID-19 protection measures.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 August 2022
-
Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 1 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to figures reported in the Times Education Supplement stating that only 50% of post-probationary primary teachers are expected to be in work in Scottish state schools by September 2022, down from 77% in 2021.
Answer
Local councils are responsible for the recruitment and deployment of their staff. This includes providing a complement of teachers which best meets the needs of each of their schools and its pupils within the resources available.
The Teacher Induction Scheme provides a one year probationary placement to allow teachers to meet the Standard for Full Registration. This does not provide a guarantee of future employment with a particular local authority. Teaching posts should be advertised and filled in a fair and transparent manner by the local authority employer.
During the pandemic, the Scottish Government provided an additional £240m to local authorities to support the recruitment of additional teachers and support staff.
We have since committed further permanent funding of £145.5m a year to support education staffing. This provides assurance of funding for councils, and removes any uncertainty as a barrier to employing staff on permanent contracts.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 August 2022
-
Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 8 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports of increasing hidden hunger due to the cost of living crisis, what action it is taking to address school meals debt and expand access to universal free school meals.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 8 September 2022
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 August 2022
-
Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 30 August 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is considering the provision of a monkeypox vaccine, and, if this is the case, what action it is taking regarding the potential planning for such a vaccine.
Answer
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommends the use of Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA) vaccines as part of the response to the current monkeypox outbreak, for people who are at higher risk of coming into contact with monkeypox.
The Scottish Government and Public Health Scotland (PHS) are working together with Health Boards to support the safe delivery of monkeypox vaccination.
There is currently a limited supply of existing MVA vaccine, which Scotland has secured its share of. Vaccination is underway and it is currently being offered to those at highest risk first, to help reduce the spread.
Additional supplies are expected in September, and people will be offered a first dose in priority order as soon as it becomes available.
