- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 May 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 7 June 2021
To ask the Scottish Government when children under the age of 18, especially those with health conditions, will be able to access the COVID-19 vaccine.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-00061 on 26 May 2021. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 24 May 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 7 June 2021
To ask the Scottish Government when it will introduce a register of interests for the judiciary.
Answer
It was a manifesto commitment of the SNP to create a register of interests for members of the judiciary to improve transparency and trust in the justice system.
Now that the new government is in place, we will start looking at ways this register can be introduced and take forward the work needed to achieve this manifesto commitment.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 June 2021
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 9 June 2021
To ask the Scottish Government when it will begin and conclude its review of the role of incineration in Scotland’s waste hierarchy.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 9 June 2021
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 21 May 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 2 June 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the forecast by Audit Scotland that Scotland’s colleges face a £54 million funding gap.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to the question S6T-00024 on 26 May 2021, which can be found here: Meeting of the Parliament: 26/05/2021 | Scottish Parliament Website
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 21 May 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 2 June 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, following the mass disruption in George Square on 15 May 2021, what support is available to businesses who were advised to close due to concerns for their welfare.
Answer
Operational policing decisions are matters for the Chief Constable, however Police Scotland confirmed that dialogue was maintained with business premises in the relevant locations contacted prior to 15 May 2021 where details of any threats, risks or potential harm were shared with business owners and operators. The decisions were then made by those businesses as to whether or not they remained open.
The Scottish Government worked closely with Rangers Football Club, Police Scotland and Glasgow City Council to prepare and provide appropriate communications and support ahead of the proposed march by Rangers supporters following the football club’s Scottish Premiership title win.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 20 May 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 1 June 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that people who are on frontline placements with the NHS or other public sector organisations, and who require to drive to carry out their duties, will be able to access driving tests and driving theory tests, in light of the reported backlog caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answer
The UK government`s Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is responsible for the delivery of driving tests in Scotland, however the Scottish government works closely with the DVSA to ensure that waiting times to access a driving test are minimised as much as possible. In collaboration with the DVSA we secured delegated authority earlier this year for some transport operators and the emergency services to undertake driving tests for their own staff, thereby reducing the numbers of people awaiting tests at DVSA test centres. In advance of driving tests resuming when Scotland moved to Protection Level 3 on 26 April 2021, we engaged with DVSA on their remobilisation plans and the development of communications materials to ensure that candidates were “test ready” when they presented for a test. We continue to meet regularly with the DVSA to discuss ways in which we can expedite access to driving tests.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 21 May 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 1 June 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish details, including minutes, of all dealings between its ministers and/or officials and Mr Sanjeev Gupta.
Answer
The Scottish Government is committed to openness and transparency and updates Parliament regularly on discussions relating to Gupta Family Group companies.
On 11 February 2021, Fergus Ewing the then Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy updated the Finance and Constitution Committee on the contingent liability arising from the Lochaber guarantee. The Cabinet Secretary made a statement to Parliament and answered questions on 24 March 2021 on the administration of Greensill Capital UK Limited and its implications for businesses in Scotland, including GFG companies. The former Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy also briefed a cross-party meeting of MSPs and MPs alongside the relevant trade unions on the financing challenges facing the GFG Alliance on 16 April during the election period.
The GFG Alliance is currently in a process of refinancing and restructuring its global businesses in the wake of the collapse of Greensill Capital UK. This is a sensitive commercial matter and Scottish Ministers are duty bound to maintain commercial confidences and not to fuel speculation or prejudice commercial processes.
The Scottish Government will continue to publish details of all Ministerial engagements via its website ( https://www.gov.scot/collections/ministerial-engagements-travel-and-gifts/ ) and take opportunities to update members and Committees of Parliament where appropriate.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 May 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 27 May 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will align with Global Travel Taskforce arrangements simultaneously with other nations, to ensure that travel agents and the wider travel industry can resume business operations in line with the four nations approach.
Answer
The Scottish Government will take decisions on international travel in the best interests of Scotland at the right time and based on the scientific evidence available. The Global Travel Taskforce and its recommendations are for the UK Government, but where possible we will continue to seek an aligned four nations approach to international travel restrictions.
Recently, this has included alignment on the traffic light system for international travel which came into effect on 17 May 2021. Officials are in regular contact with the Department for Transport and the other devolved administrations on this issue as we make progress in responding to the pandemic.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 17 May 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 27 May 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle and reduce any waste and pollution caused by the clothing and fashion industry.
Answer
The Scottish Government recognises the need to tackle our throw-away culture, which includes so-called ‘fast fashion’. For example, the Revolve Programme run by Zero Waste Scotland already seeks to raise awareness of the benefits of responsible consumption by promoting the environmental benefits of second-hand over new clothing purchases, as well as directing consumers to the network of over 100 certified stores: What is Revolve? | The first choice for second-hand shopping (zerowastescotland.org.uk) .
SEPA has identified that Textiles and Apparel Manufacture will be the subject of a forthcoming Sector Plan. This will set out how SEPA will regulate and engage with the industry to tackle and reduce the environmental impacts from the textile sector: Plans in development | Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) .
The Scottish Government is committed to bringing forward a Circular Economy Bill to advance Scotland's ambitions to promote an economy where materials remain in use for as long as possible, rather than being thrown away, and to establish a fund based on the success of the Saltire Tidal Energy Challenge Fund for innovation in tackling textile pollution and throw-away culture.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 13 May 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Ash Denham on 27 May 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how many fatalities have resulted from house fires in the last 12 months.
Answer
According to Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) Performance Data analysis for the year 2020-2021 the total number of dwelling fire fatalities stands at 46, with a further 7 in non-dwelling property types. As further information may yet come to light, for example from coroners reports, the figures are subject to change. SFRS Fire and Rescue Incident statistics are published annually and include figures on fire fatalities and trends. These can be found here https://www.firescotland.gov.uk/about-us/fire-and-rescue-statistics.aspx .
