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-16966

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 3 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to build or install a Scottish independence readiness thermometer in a prominent public location.

Question reference: S6W-17350

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have (a) been accepted to study and (b) graduated from Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland accredited undergraduate environmental health courses, in each of the last 10 years.

There is one Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland (REHIS) accredited undergraduate course currently available in Scotland, provided by the University of West of Scotland. The University of West of Scotland are able to provide data over the past 9 years on the number of people who have graduated with this degree:

Year	14-15	15-16	16-17	17-18	18-19	19-20	20-21	21-22	22-23
Graduated	4	6	6	6	6	4	4	2*	14**

*- Number lower due to course change from 4 year course with additional year placement to a 4 year sandwich course incorporating the year placement. Students were permitted to defer.

** Students sitting their exams. Results not yet known.

REHIS have developed various pathways offering an ‘alternative route’ option, available to those considering a career in environmental through a non-traditional route.

Question reference: S6W-17349

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many ovarian cancer patients have self-funded related surgery, such as a hysterectomy, in each of the last five years, and whether there are any NHS board inequalities regarding the NHS funding private treatment.

This information is not held centrally within the Scottish Government.

Any arrangements for NHS patients to be treated at an Independent Sector hospital would need to be made between the patient, NHS Board and their clinical team.

While a patient has the right, at any time, to exercise choice and seek private treatment, there can never be the expectation that the NHS will pay for it. The reimbursement of any costs incurred when a patient opts for private treatment, however, is a matter for consideration by the local Health Board.

Question reference: S6W-17348

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to improve surgery waiting times for ovarian cancer patients to ensure that cells do not grow in between gaps of chemotherapy.

The Scottish Government is aware that there has been and are challenges in delivering complex surgery (such as ovarian) across all regions. Regional action plans have been developed to address the specific issues in those areas.

The NHS continue to prioritise emergency, urgent and cancer care, and where there is an urgent suspicion of cancer, they make every effort to ensure a patient is seen as quickly as possible, with the majority receiving appointments within the appropriate time frame.

Significant pressures may result in longer waiting times and efforts are being made to reduce waiting times and support patients to be seen as quickly as possible.

Question reference: S6W-17071

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 17 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the decision of Glasgow City Council to write off school meal debt, and whether it will commit funding to help other local authorities introduce similar measures.

Question reference: S6W-17070

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 17 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with (a) COSLA and (b) local authorities to discuss school meal debt.

Question reference: S6W-17156

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been carried out regarding the affordability of nappies in Scotland, and whether it is monitoring demand for (a) nappies and (b) baby products at (i) foodbanks and (ii) other charities.

We have not undertaken any assessments regarding the affordability of nappies in Scotland and food banks do not currently publish data on nappies and other baby products. However, we will continue to work with partners to ensure that our financial offerings are maximising the support available for young families.

This includes our work to increase the value of the Scottish Child Payment to £25 per child per week and expanding it to all eligible children under the age of 16 from November 2022.

Our five family payments, including the Scottish Child Payment, could be worth over £10,000 by the time an eligible child turns 6 with Scottish support providing over £20,000 by the time an eligible child is 16 years old.

The Child Poverty Action Group estimates that low income families in Scotland will be around £28,000 better off by the time their child turns 18 as a result of more generous support and lower costs for childcare provided by the Scottish Government.

Question reference: S6W-17072

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 17 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with (a) COSLA and (b) local authorities to discuss the roll-out of universal free school meals to P6 and P7 pupils.

Question reference: S6W-17055

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 17 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the First Minister’s recent announcement to commit £25 million to the north east of Scotland from the Just Transition Fund (JTF), whether it will publish an impact assessment of this spending, and whether it will confirm if this spending represents additional money to the existing £500 million JTF.

The £25 million allocated to the Scottish National Investment Bank from the Just Transition Fund is part of the Fund’s existing £500 million commitment over ten years, and will be invested by the Bank on a commercial basis, in line with its Investment Strategy and in support of the just transition to net zero in the North East.

The Bank reports publicly on the performance of its investments including through their annual Impact Report.

Question reference: S6W-17050

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 14 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will (a) investigate and (b) improve NHS treatment pathways for those experiencing chronic urinary tract infections, in light of reports of patients in England and Wales turning to private clinics due to a lack of specialist treatment being available through the NHS.

The Scottish Government expects all NHS healthcare workers in Scotland to follow best practice when providing care for people with UTIs. In support of this, guidelines on management of suspected UTIs were developed by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) in 2020. These support clinicians to provide advice to patients and carers on appropriate treatment, risks and lifestyle and behaviour issues which can support management and prevention of UTIs.

We have supported the development of many urinary tract infection (UTI) resources to support people with these conditions and reduce the risk of infection. This includes evidence-based information and support available on the symptoms, treatment, and prevention of UTIs on NHS Inform . We have also supported local access to support through the development of Pharmacy First in community pharmacies across Scotland which allows women with less complex UTIs to access free advice or treatment where appropriate .

In addition, we continue to work intensively with NHS Boards to maximise capacity and to clear remaining waits as soon as possible, with a specific focus on specialities and areas where there are greater numbers of people waiting, including Urology.

Our Endoscopy and Urology Diagnostic Recovery and Renewal Plan , published on 30 November 2021, and backed by £70m investment , focusses on key areas such as Balancing Demand and Capacity; Workforce Training and Development; and Infrastructure Innovation and Redesign. This will be achieved through the implementation of key actions that are focused on reducing the waiting times back to the 6-week target during the lifetime of this Parliament.

The Renewal Plan will develop and implement clinical pathways that optimise the value of endoscopy and urology diagnostics in each patient's care, in partnership with the Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CfSD).