- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 20 October 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 17 November 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent reported announcement by the President of the United States of America regarding pardoning people convicted federally of "simple possession" of cannabis, whether it plans to consider the possibility of taking similar action for people convicted in Scotland.
Answer
The Scottish Government takes a public health approach to drug use and believe that the current UK drug legislation is rooted in an outdated view that drug use is a criminal justice matter. That is why I was pleased when the Lord Advocate decided that an extension of the Recorded Police Warning Guidelines to include possession offences for Class A drugs was appropriate. Police officers in Scotland may now choose to issue a Recorded Police Warning for simple possession offences for all classes of drugs.
However, as you are aware the subject matter of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 is reserved. Accordingly the Scottish Government is limited in what it could do in this domain, and could not bring forward legislation to pardon those convicted of an offence under that Act. If these powers were to come to Scotland in the future, we would be open to exploring this further alongside amending the legislation to better fit with the realities and evolving nature of Scotland’s drug deaths challenge.
- Asked by: James Dornan, MSP for Glasgow Cathcart, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 November 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 17 November 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the success of this year’s COP27 conference in building upon the commitments made at COP26 held in Glasgow.
Answer
COP27 is ongoing. I understand from the Minister at COP that there is a real need for pace and urgency in negotiations over these last few days to both protect and build on what was agreed at Glasgow, and to finally deliver for countries experiencing loss and damage. In due course I will be happy to report on progress once the conference has concluded.
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Current Status:
Withdrawn
- Asked by: Natalie Don-Innes, MSP for Renfrewshire North and West, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 November 2022
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 24 November 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how measures set out in the NHS Recovery Plan will support innovation and capacity in diagnostics for thrombosis.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 24 November 2022
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 November 2022
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 24 November 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what urgent action it is taking to stabilise NHS dentistry services in Dumfries and Galloway.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 24 November 2022
- Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 November 2022
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 24 November 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the right of disabled people to dedicated accessible spaces.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 24 November 2022
- Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 November 2022
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 24 November 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address high private sector rents.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 24 November 2022
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 November 2022
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 24 November 2022
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met NHS Lothian and NHS Borders.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 24 November 2022
- Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 November 2022
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 24 November 2022
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met COSLA and what issues were discussed.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 24 November 2022
- Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 November 2022
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 23 November 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact that the increase in inflation will have on the ability of the public sector to deliver on its Covid Recovery Strategy.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 23 November 2022