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: S6O-01264

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 June 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how its Resource Spending Review publication, Investing in Scotland’s Future, will ensure that children and young people’s rights to food, education and fun will be met.

Question reference: S6W-08646

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 15 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what support can be offered to young people in South Lanarkshire in applying for the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme, in light of reports that the area has the lowest uptake rate in Scotland.

The level of uptake in South Lanarkshire as of 7 June 2022 was 23%, this is an increase of 8% since 13 May 2022, however I recognise South Lanarkshire are not yet at the level of other Local Authorities in terms of application rates. Following my meeting with COSLA last week I will be writing to all new administrations in our local authority areas, including South Lanarkshire. Meantime I have asked my officials in Transport Scotland to contact the new administration in South Lanarkshire in relation to their work to support the implementation of the under 22s free bus travel scheme.

Question reference: S6W-08900

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 15 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will allocate any funding specifically for alcohol services, in addition to that allocated to Alcohol and Drug Partnerships for drugs services.

We are currently working in partnership with Simon Community Scotland to pilot and evaluate an innovative Managed Alcohol Programme for people who experience homelessness.

Funding allocated to Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs) is for both alcohol and drug treatment services. In 2021-22 ADPs and Health Boards received over £106m for alcohol and drug services.

This funding is used to ensure that services meet the needs of people who experience alcohol as well as drugs harms, including preventative approaches.

Question reference: S6W-08720

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 14 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has evaluated the uptake of the reusable nappy voucher in Scotland's Baby Box, and how many people it estimates have gone on to use reusable nappies after redeeming the voucher.

Question reference: S6W-08899

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 14 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the National Records of Scotland report stating that alcohol-specific deaths increased by 17% in 2020, what (a) short-, (b) medium- and (c) long-term actions have been taken to reduce harm and prevent further deaths.

The Scottish Government’s Alcohol Framework sets out our priorities for preventing alcohol-related harm. It contains 20 actions building on existing measures to change Scotland’s relationship with alcohol, including our world-leading minimum unit pricing policy.

We take a whole population approach to tackling alcohol-related harms, in line with the World Health Organization’s focus on affordability, availability and attractiveness of alcohol.

Key actions in the framework include:

? Consulting on potential restrictions on alcohol advertising and promotion in Scotland this year

? reviewing the level of minimum unit pricing

? progressing a review of Alcohol Brief Interventions

? working with the UK Government on the forthcoming Alcohol Treatment Guidance

We are also exploring the evidence around Managed Alcohol Programmes and are delighted to be able to contribute to the running of the innovative model being piloted in Glasgow by Simon Community Scotland and its evaluation.

Question reference: S6W-08897

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 June 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 14 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to increase the number of people that receive treatment for subclinical hypothyroidism following diagnosis.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that people living with hypothyroidism are able to access the best possible support and benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective and put people at the centre of their care.

We expect clinicians to adhere to current guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment options from authoritative sources such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the British Thyroid Association (BTA).

Question reference: S6W-08718

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 14 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the cost to (a) individuals and (b) the economy of using single-use nappies compared with reusable nappies.

Question reference: S6W-08719

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 14 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will include information in Scotland's Baby Box to raise awareness of local authority reusable nappy schemes and community nappy libraries.

Scotland’s Baby Box ensures that every family with a newborn has access to essential items needed in the first six months of a child’s life. From the outset we have ensured that the only written information contained within the Baby Box is tailored to its specific aims and contents.

There are currently 7 leaflets contained within Scotland’s Baby Boxes including advice and information on safe sleeping, breastfeeding, postnatal depression and Social Security child payment.

The Nappy Voucher contained within the Baby Box signposts to the Scottish Government’s ParentClub website which highlights the benefits of using reusable nappies.

Question reference: S6W-08792

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 30 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 10 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether the R100 Superfast broadband roll-out will be completed in the ML3 7XW postcode area by 30 June 2022.

Question reference: S6W-08609

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 9 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it received advice and information on the progress of the construction of the MV Glen Sannox prior to attending the launch event in November 2017, and, if so, what the advice and information was, and when it was received.

The Scottish Government was in regular contact with all relevant parties prior to the launch and received full updates regarding progress of the build and any impact this would have on delivery.

The then Minister for Transport met with FMEL and CMAL on 3 November 2017 to discuss delivery dates and vessel progress updates.

FMEL wrote to the then Minister for Transport and the Islands, Humza Yousaf MSP, on 7 November 2017 confirming that the delivery of the MV Glen Sannox after being launched on 21 November 2017, would be delayed until winter 2018-19. Mr Yousaf subsequently wrote to the convenor of the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee (REC) on 9 Nov 2017 with this information.