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-24901

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 29 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 6 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide a full list of the non-government representatives who were part of its delegation to COP28, including private organisations such as businesses and trade associations.

The following list of companies part in Scotland’s business delegation to COP28 in December 2023:

Company

COP 28 Attendees

Aquatera

4 Delegates

AstroAgency Limited

1 Delegate

CCU International

1 Delegate

D-CAT

1 Delegate

Green Bioactives

1 Delegate

Hydrogen Vehicle Systems (HVS)

4 Delegates

Krucial

1 Delegate

Mocean Energy

1 Delegate

Motive Offshore Group

1 Delegate

Norco

2 Delegates

Nova Innovation

1 Delegate

Orbital

1 Delegate

ReVentas

2 Delegates

Roslin Technologies

1 Delegate

Siccar

2 Delegates

SolarisKit Ltd

3 Delegates

Sunamp

1 Delegate

Additional Companies

NZTC

3 Delegates

Xodus Group

1 Delegate

Additional Team Scotland Representatives

Scottish Development International

7 Representatives

Scottish Chambers of Commerce

2 Representatives

Question reference: S6F-02810

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 05 February 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 February 2024

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to the Who Cares? Scotland research report, Is Scotland Keeping the Promise?, which reportedly indicates that, on the fourth anniversary of the publication of The Promise, key pledges made to care experienced people are not being fulfilled.

Question reference: S6W-24886

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 26 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 5 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide details of how NHS 24 ensures that calls regarding mental health are properly triaged.

NHS 24 ensures that mental health calls are correctly triaged through training, support for frontline staff and ongoing oversight and review of calls and processes.

All new staff undertake a robust four-week induction training programme, and Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners and Mental Health Nurse Practitioners are trained to conduct specialised mental health assessments to ensure that patients are triaged appropriately.

All frontline staff undertake monthly clinical and line management supervision with Senior Charge Nurses, and are continuously supported to improve their knowledge and adhere to organisational processes and clinical governance guidelines. Clinical outcomes are reviewed monthly to identify any changes in referral patterns, and any significant variations are investigated and reviewed by NHS 24.

Question reference: S6W-24722

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 5 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to increase capacity in hospices.

It is for Integration Joint Boards to govern, plan and resource adult palliative care in their areas, including independent hospice care, using the integrated budget under their control.

The Scottish Government is not taking action to increase capacity in hospices. We are gathering data on current and projected needs for palliative care over the next two decades, to inform the development of the new national strategy for palliative care in Scotland. The strategy will address a range of models to meet those needs and provide palliative care and care around death in a range of settings, including specialist inpatient and outpatient units, hospices, hospitals, community hospitals, care homes and peoples’ own homes.

Question reference: S6W-24758

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 2 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide details of the uptake of reusable nappy vouchers through the QR code on the Baby Box.

We commenced the issuing of reusable nappy kit vouchers via a QR code at the start of September 2023, giving parents the option to register for the reusable nappy kits by QR code or by post.

Data from our Baby Box Managing Agent covering the period September 2023 to January 2024 shows that they have received 1,332 applications by post and 101 applications via the QR code. The following table provides a breakdown by month.

Period	Application by post	Application by QR Code
September	357	8
October	384	11
November	252	17
December	215	28
January	124	37

Question reference: S6W-24757

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 1 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when the Scottish National Investment Bank's advisory group will be established, and how often it will meet.

Under Section 29 of the Scottish National Investment Bank Act 2020, the Scottish Ministers must establish and maintain an advisory group to provide Ministers with advice on the Bank’s objects, conduct and performance.

Now that the Bank is fully established, and has a growing portfolio of investments, work is underway to advise ministers on the establishment of the advisory group.

Details such as membership, appointment processes and meeting frequency remain under consideration. We hope to provide an update on this work in the coming months.

Question reference: S6W-24313

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 31 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of its 2024-25 Budget on local community and voluntary organisations.

The 2024-25 Scottish Budget is a budget built on our values - setting out, in tough times, to protect people, sustain services, and take pragmatic steps to addressing the climate emergency. All budget decisions are subject to robust assessment in line with the Fairer Scotland Duty Act of 2018, which requires Scottish Ministers, when making strategic decisions, to reduce the inequalities of outcome caused by socio-economic disadvantage.

We a re keenly aware of the pressures facing them as a result of the current financial climate. The funding in the budget for the Third Sector will continue to prioritise investment in key infrastructure organisations and programmes that provide critical support to help the wider sector navigate the challenging financial climate.

Question reference: S6W-24638

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 19 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 30 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that local authorities have lost in-house expertise on trees, green infrastructure, biodiversity and nature conservation, and what action it will take to address any workforce and skills pressures in these areas.

Local authorities are independent corporate bodies with their own powers and responsibilities. It is up to each local authority how it manages its day-to-day business and decision making processes, including the allocation of staff resources and the level of services that are provided.

Addressing the biodiversity crisis needs action across the whole of government and wider society. Through the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy and Delivery Plan we are working with local authorities to ensure they have the right tools and guidance for nature restoration, and to empower the development of partnerships that include the right skills and knowledge to deliver local nature restoration projects.

Since 2021-22, we have directly allocated £17 million to Local Authorities through the Nature Restoration Fund for them to deliver such projects in partnership with other organisations. In 2023-24, we allocated an additional £5 million to support initial work to develop local nature networks.

Question reference: S6W-24476

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 12 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 23 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6O-02933 by Christina McKelvie on 10 January 2024, whether it has set a deadline for the full or partial reopening of sites where access has been restricted, following the conclusion of Historic Environment Scotland’s inspection programme at the end of March 2024.

Further to my response to the question S60-02933 on 10 January 2024, I have not set a deadline for the full or partial reopening of sites affected by high level masonry issues. Historic Environment Scotland continues to put the health and safety of individuals first and will continue reopening sites when safe to do so.

Details of the inspection programme and site reopening's are published on the Historic Environment Scotland website: High Level Masonry Inspections | Historic Environment Scotland . Indeed the member will be pleased to note that the website currently advises that Bothwell Castle in her constituency is due to reopen for Easter 2024.

I will continue to engage with Historic Environment Scotland on the inspection programme and the reopening of sites affected.

Question reference: S6W-24404

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 22 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what urgent action it is taking to support the mental health and wellbeing of teachers and other workers impacted by violent and abusive behaviour in schools.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of teachers and education professionals impacted by violent and abusive behaviour in schools. Violence is never acceptable, and the safety of both pupils and staff is paramount. No staff members should have to endure verbal or physical abuse in educational settings.

As part of the Scottish Government’s commitment to ensure schools are safe and consistent environments for all, we are currently working with partners to develop a national action plan which will include consideration of what further support local authorities and schools may require. The action plan will be published as soon as possible.

In addition, since October 2020, we have allocated over £2 million to specifically support the wellbeing of the education workforce. This year, an additional £200,000 is earmarked to provide wellbeing coaching to teaching staff and educational professionals in Scottish schools and early learning facilities.

Moreover, we are funding the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland to implement an Education Workforce Support Project, aimed at gaining a comprehensive understanding of current practices supporting the wellbeing of our education workforce.