- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 23 January 2026
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Current Status:
Answer expected on 6 February 2026
To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will update cervical screening information to raise awareness that cervical screening cannot detect other cancers, such as ovarian cancer.
Answer
Answer expected on 6 February 2026
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 23 January 2026
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Current Status:
Answer expected on 6 February 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that two local authorities' planning services in England have been subject to cyber-attacks, whether it plans to take advice on how to prevent similar attacks occurring in Scotland.
Answer
Answer expected on 6 February 2026
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 08 January 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 22 January 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings have taken place, in the current parliamentary session, between any government minister and/or civil servant and any salmon farming company and/or their umbrella body, Salmon Scotland, and whether the issue of (a) health and safety and (b) workers' rights and trade union recognition in the salmon industry was raised.
Answer
Salmon farming is important for Scotland and the Scottish Government is ambitious for the sector’s future in Scotland. As such, Ministers and officials meet regularly with representatives from salmon farming companies and Salmon Scotland on a range of matters including work to streamline the consenting process, improving fish health and welfare, reducing environmental impact, and support for innovation in the sector.
The Scottish Government expects employers to maintain workplaces that are safe for all workers in line with health and safety legislation, but cannot direct them in respect of these reserved matters. The Scottish Government promotes strong, constructive relationships between employers and trade unions, particularly where they are recognised, or where it is clear workers are seeking this collective representation.
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42856 on 21 January 2026. 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: Wednesday, 07 January 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 22 January 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the reported poor treatment of workers and the level of reportable incidents in the salmon industry risks tainting the reputation of this iconic Scottish product.
Answer
Scottish salmon provides a high quality source of protein which is valued across the globe and its production is of significant economic importance to the Scottish economy and to the local rural communities employed in salmon production and processing.
The provenance and quality of Scottish salmon is valued around the world, making a significant contribution to the Scottish economy and to communities involved in salmon production and processing.
The Scottish Government fully expects employers to maintain workplaces that are safe for workers in line with relevant health and safety requirements. The Scottish Government promotes strong, constructive relationships between employers and trade unions, particularly where they are recognised, or where it is clear workers are seeking this collective representation.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 January 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 21 January 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of 2025 reportedly being the driest hydrological year since 1976, what discussions it has had with SEPA to minimise and mitigate water scarcity in 2026.
Answer
Meetings between Scottish Government and SEPA officials focusing on measures to minimise and mitigate water scarcity take place regularly.
Over the summer, the Scottish Government officials met weekly with SEPA, Scottish Water, and key stakeholders for 28 consecutive weeks to monitor and manage water availability.
SEPA has taken several key actions recently to minimise and mitigate impacts of water scarcity, including improving its website for accessibility, providing clearer guidance, strengthening communications with abstractors, and reviewing abstraction licences to support sustainable water use. Scotland’s National Water Scarcity Plan is available on the SEPA website. This sets out how water resources will be managed prior to, and during, periods of prolonged dry weather.
Officials most recently met SEPA officials in December 2025 to review SEPA’s Autumn Water Situation report, potential implications for 2026 as well as discuss water scarcity mitigation more broadly.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 January 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 21 January 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the level and regularity of reportable accidents that have been submitted to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in relation to health and safety in the Scottish salmon industry.
Answer
The Scottish Government has not had any discussions with the UK Government regarding reportable accidents submitted to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in relation to the Scottish salmon industry. The Scottish Government fully expects employers to maintain workplaces that are safe for workers in line with health and safety legislation, but cannot direct them in respect of these reserved matters. The Scottish Government promotes strong, constructive relationships between employers and trade unions, particularly where they are recognised, or where it is clear workers are seeking this collective representation.
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42856 on 21 January 2026. 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: Wednesday, 07 January 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 21 January 2026
To ask the Scottish Government how many times it has met the Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) regarding the working conditions of salmon farm workers since 2021.
Answer
The Scottish Government has not met with the Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) regarding the working conditions of salmon farming workers.
The Scottish Government fully expects employers to maintain workplaces that are safe for workers in line with health and safety legislation, but cannot direct them in respect of these reserved matters. The Scottish Government promotes strong, constructive relationships between employers and trade unions, particularly where they are recognised, or where it is clear workers are seeking this collective representation.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 January 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 21 January 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in relation to (a) health and safety concerns and (b) reportable accidents in the Scottish salmon industry.
Answer
The Scottish Government has not had any discussions with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in relation to the Scottish salmon industry. Health and Safety legislation is a matter reserved to the UK Government and HSE is the relevant regulator for workplace health and safety across Great Britain.
While the Scottish Government fully expects employers to maintain workplaces that are safe for workers in line with health and safety legislation, it cannot direct any organisation regarding these reserved matters. The Scottish Government promotes strong, constructive relationships between employers and trade unions, particularly where they are recognised, or where it is clear workers are seeking this collective representation.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 January 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 21 January 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports of the scale of health and safety accidents in the salmon industry, what plans it has to urgently raise this issue with the (a) salmon industry and (b) Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Answer
The Scottish Government fully expects employers to maintain workplaces that are safe for workers in line with health and safety legislation, but cannot direct them in respect of these reserved matters. The Scottish Government promotes strong, constructive relationships between employers and trade unions, particularly where they are recognised, or where it is clear workers are seeking this collective representation.
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42856 on 21 January 2026. 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: Friday, 09 January 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 21 January 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what the outturn spend on physical path infrastructure work has been for each of the four statutorily designated long distance routes in Scotland, broken down by (a) routine repair and maintenance and (b) capital works on restoration and improvement, in each financial year from 2022-23 to 2024-25, and what the corresponding allocated budget is for 2025-26.
Answer
Neither Scottish Government or NatureScot provide funding for the maintenance or improvement of the four statutory long distance routes. The respective local authorities and national park authorities lead on maintenance and improvements using a variety of approaches.
Scottish Government provides funding to the local authorities for “land access” as part of the Grant Aided Expenditure settlement. Scottish Government also provides funding to the National Park Authorities, and this has included capital for Long Distance Routes related projects such as Conic Hill on the West Highland Way in Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park.
