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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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S6W-16915

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 28 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of NHS boards currently utilise intelligent Liver Function Testing (iLFT) in primary care to improve early detection of liver disease.

Question reference: S6W-17159

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 27 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to reduce the number of disposable nappies that are sent to landfill.

To encourage families to consider the use of reusable alternatives to disposable nappies, a Nappy Voucher is included within the Baby Box which can be used to redeem 1 waterproof nappy wrap, with 5 stay dry nappy pads.

The Nappy Voucher also signposts families to our ParentClub website which highlights the benefits of using reusable nappies as well as signposting families on where to seek advice and support with using them. Ready Steady Baby , which is given out at antenatal appointments, also highlights the benefits of reusable nappies.

The total amount of waste going to landfill in Scotland has dropped by nearly a third over the past decade. We are working to accelerate progress which includes introducing a ban on landfilling of biodegradable municipal waste. Additionally, we are supporting local authorities in improving recycling infrastructure through our Recycling Improvement Fund. This fund provides scope for local authorities to improve collection of problematic materials.

Question reference: S6O-02190

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 April 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will introduce a Scottish Child Payment top-up for parents under the age of 25 who are in receipt of Universal Credit, as called for by the End Young Parent Poverty campaign, in light of it reportedly being supported by more than 30 charities and civil society groups.

Question reference: S6W-16424

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Elena Whitham on 26 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its commitment to introduce new restrictions on the advertising and marketing of alcohol products.

Our recent consultation on restricting alcohol advertising and promotion set out a range of potential options to restrict alcohol advertising and promotion, in order to prevent and reduce alcohol-related harms.

The consultation closed on 9 March. An independent contractor will comprehensively analyse the responses and a report will be published later this year. We will then further consider possible restrictions.

Question reference: S6W-17160

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 26 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how the proposed Circular Economy Bill will encourage the use of reusable nappies.

Question reference: S6W-17002

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 17 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 25 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has given to (a) community organisations, (b) third sector organisations and (c) educational facilities in each of the last five years for the explicit aim of promoting an understanding of Scotland's role within the British Empire.

No direct funding has been provided from the Scottish Government to community organisations, third sector organisations and educational facilities with the explicit aim of promoting an understanding of Scotland’s role within the British Empire.

Following the motion passed by the Scottish Parliament showing solidarity with anti-racism in June 2020, funding was provided to Museums Galleries Scotland for the Empire, Slavery and Scotland's Museums project, which was run by an independent steering group, and included a national consultation on attitudes to museums and racism. The Scottish Government provided £100,000 in 2020-2021, with a further £142,000 in 2021-2022 to complete the project and begin follow up work.

Question reference: S6W-16423

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 03 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 24 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-11483 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 21 October 2022, whether it will provide an update on its progress towards the piloting of universal free school meals in secondary schools.

Question reference: S6W-17008

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 24 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-15648 by Humza Yousaf on 20 March 2023, how many vacancies for consultant-level obstetrician gynaecologists there currently are in NHS (a) Lanarkshire and (b) Forth Valley.

Question reference: S6W-16622

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 31 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 21 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider conducting an inquiry into any recorded incidents of assault against on-duty Scottish Ambulance Service workers; whether it would consider introducing preventative measures based on the findings of any such inquiry, and whether it will consider providing additional support for any ambulance workers who have experienced assault and harm at work.

The Scottish Government does not plan to conduct an inquiry into recorded incidents of assault against on-duty Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) workers. SAS has assured the Scottish Government that they have a range of measures in place to help protect staff, including training and risk assessments. We will continue to work closely with SAS to monitor the safety and wellbeing of their staff.

NHSScotland has joined the multi-agency Your Safety Matters (YSM) initiative, led by Police Scotland. YSM aims to minimise incidents of violence and aggression in workplaces, through campaigns, sharing resources and good practice.

Abuse towards NHS staff is unacceptable, and the courts have extensive powers to deal robustly with those who carry out such appalling behaviour on emergency workers.

Question reference: S6W-16976

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 21 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many people who received Scottish Child Payment, and whose child met the age conditions, received Best Start Grant (a) Early Learning and (b) School Age Payment, following automatic checks by Social Security Scotland.

Social Security Scotland routinely releases information on Scottish Child Payment and Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods including applications received, application outcomes, and payments. These are currently available on Social Security Scotland’s statistics webpage: https://www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/about/statistics/social-security-scotland-statistics-publications

As part of data improvement, development is currently underway to include the number of Best Start Grant (a) Early Learning and (b) School Age payments made automatically to clients in receipt of Scottish Child Payment in future editions of the Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods statistics publication.