- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 February 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 13 March 2017
To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to help homeless women manage menstruation
Answer
Local authorities have the duty to provide appropriate services to address homelessness in their area. However, we recognise that some homeless people, including those who be sleeping rough, may not approach statutory services. The Scottish Government has therefore been working with a range of partners to get more robust data on those that may be rough sleeping and the nature of their needs to help improve the services provided.
The Scottish Government supports the Scottish Welfare Fund which provides a safety net for vulnerable people on low incomes through the provision of Community Care Grants and Crisis Grants. Since the establishment of the Scottish Welfare Fund in April 2013, around 493,000 of Community Care Grants and Crisis Grants totalling £116 million have been awarded.
We are also actively considering what other support the Scottish Government can provide for women and girls on a low income to have access to sanitary products in dignified settings.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 February 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 13 March 2017
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the findings of the YWCA Scotland Report, Status of Young Women in Scotland 2016, and what actions it will take as a result.
Answer
The Scottish Government welcomes the publication of YWCA Scotland's second Status of Young Women in Scotland report, and in particular the focus it gives to reaching diverse young women in Scotland and those who might have more limited opportunities to talk about their experiences. The report covers young women's views on a range of topics, such as: sex and relationships; gender bias, and politics, and it highlights that for some young women in Scotland issues such as gender based violence, sexual harassment and racism remain a reality. This is not acceptable, and the Scottish Government will continue to work hard to tackle and challenge these issues so that all young woman in Scotland can grow up in a society without fear and prejudice, and where young women are empowered to determine their own paths.
Our Programme for Government 2016-17: A Plan for Scotland, includes wide ranging commitments to women and girls' equality, including decisive action to improve the representation of women at senior levels; a range of activity to prevent and eradicate violence against women and girls, and the creation of an Advisory Council on Women and Girls to bring new and challenging voices to our work across the Scottish Government to realise gender equality.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 23 February 2017
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 10 March 2017
To ask the Scottish Government how the planning system contributes to reducing health inequalities.
Answer
Scottish Planning Policy supports delivery of high-quality buildings, infrastructure and spaces in the right locations, helping to provide people with choices to live more active, engaged, independent and healthy lifestyles.
The Place Standard is a tool that has been developed by the Scottish Government and partners to help support planning and place issues address inequalities, with a particular focus on health inequalities. It aims to identify the physical and social assets of a place in order to overcome longstanding patterns of poor health and vulnerability and to create the places that support and nurture health.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 23 February 2017
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 10 March 2017
To ask the Scottish Government what financial and practical support it makes available to communities and individuals to participate in the statutory planning process.
Answer
The Scottish Government provides a wide range of support to communities and individuals to participate in the statutory planning process. In 2016-17, this included a total of £537,000 in direct support of 19 community projects through the Design Charrettes and Activating Ideas Fund and to PAS in its work to provide advice and training to individuals and communities across Scotland. The Government and partners have also been active in promoting The Place Standard which provides a simple framework for communities to structure conversations about place.
In addition, the Scottish Government recognises the important role, within the wider community empowerment agenda, that community councils can play in local life. We have therefore supported the launch of a Community Council website (www.communitycouncils.org.uk) and funded a series of digital engagement workshops for community councillors.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 February 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Aileen Campbell on 9 March 2017
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the comment in the Bliss Scotland baby report 2017, that "three quarters of [neonatal] units...do not have enough nurses in post to meet minimum standards for providing safe, high quality care".
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S5F-00793 on 26 January 2017. The answer to the oral parliamentary question is available on the Parliaments website, the Official Report can be viewed at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=10752
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 23 February 2017
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Aileen Campbell on 7 March 2017
To ask the Scottish Government what the most recent advice it has received from Health Protection Scotland and Public Health England is on the design, siting and management of incinerators, and what action has it taken to monitor and review emerging evidence and research.
Answer
Health Protection Scotland (HPS) and Public Health England (PHE) do not advise the Scottish Government on the design, siting and management of incinerators. The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) determines what is acceptable in relation to incineration facilities through its permitting and licensing systems. Current SEPA guidance on this subject can be found at the following address: https://www.sepa.org.uk/regulations/waste/energy-from-waste/#how
HPS has a remit to provide the Scottish Government and others with advice on the potential health impacts of processes such as incineration. The existing regulatory regime governing waste incineration processes already incorporates a precautionary approach and sets emissions standards explicitly designed to limit human exposure to potentially harmful contaminants. The present system is therefore designed to protect human health. The evidence to date does not suggest a need to adopt a different approach however HPS keep the literature under review on an ongoing basis.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 February 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Aileen Campbell on 7 March 2017
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the comment in the Bliss Scotland baby report 2017, that "four out of ten [neonatal] units reported that lack of funding for training and development was a barrier, with a number of units noting that were funding for QIS [qualification in speciality] and Advanced Neonatal Nurse Medical Practitioner training was readily available, funding for other training was difficult to find".
Answer
The Scottish Government has provided funding to support the establishment and delivery of Qualified in Speciality and Advance Neonatal Nurse Practitioner training in Scotland for the last four years. We expect all NHS Boards to ensure that their neonatal staff are appropriately trained to the required levels to deliver safe care. I announced that analysis of future workforce requirements will be a key priority for the group tasked with implementing the recommendations of the review of Maternity and Neonatal Services.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 06 March 2017
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 9 March 2017
To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to the Samaritans' report, Dying from Inequality, which suggests that there is an increased risk of suicide in the most deprived communities.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 9 March 2017
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 23 February 2017
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 6 March 2017
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review planning policy guidance on buffer zones between sensitive receptors and waste facilities.
Answer
Scottish Planning Policy is clear that planning authorities should consider the need for buffer zones between dwellings or other sensitive receptors and certain waste management facilities. We have no plans to review this particular policy at this time, however we will update Scottish Planning Policy in due course.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 February 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 6 March 2017
To ask the Scottish Government how many women and girls have been diagnosed with toxic shock syndrome caused by tampon use in each of the last 10 years.
Answer
The number of women and girls diagnosed with toxic shock syndrome caused by tampon use is not held centrally. Information on the number of female patients aged 16 and over who have been diagnosed with toxic shock syndrome from any cause in an inpatient setting is shown in the following table.
Number of female patients aged 16 and older who were admitted to hospital with toxic shock syndrome from any cause (ICD-10 code A48.3), Financial years 2006-07 – 2015-16.
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Financial Year
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Number of individuals
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2006-07
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3
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2007-08
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12
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2008-09
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11
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2009-10
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4
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2010-11
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5
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2011-12
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7
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2012-13
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6
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2013-14
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8
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2014.15
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6
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2015-16
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5
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