- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 17 April 2023
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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.
Answer
I welcome the innovative approach that Glasgow City Council have chosen to take on school meal debt.
Councils have the power to make discretionary offers of free school meals to families, where they are experiencing financial hardship due to exceptional circumstances, who do not meet the regular eligibility criteria.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 17 April 2023
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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.
Answer
The Scottish Government is in regular contact with COSLA on a range of issues, which has included school meal debt.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 17 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 2 May 2023
To ask the Scottish Government when it last with (a) COSLA and (b) local authorities to discuss the roll-out of universal free school meal pilot schemes in secondary schools.
Answer
The Scottish Government is in regular contact with COSLA and representatives from local authorities regarding the expansion of free school meals.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 14 April 2023
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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.
Answer
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).
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 13 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 2 May 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what specific historical subjects and periods are covered in any education modules in the Curriculum for Excellence that focus on the British Empire.
Answer
As set out in the answer to parliamentary question S6W-16999 on 2 May 2023, within the broad general education phase there is the opportunity to teach the topic of the British Empire within the people, past event and societies section of social studies, and in the senior phase, there is an opportunity to teach the topic of the British Empire within the History qualifications, for example through the ‘Migration and Empire’ and ‘Atlantic Slave Trade’ topics.
All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, 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, 12 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 2 May 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05574 by Keith Brown on 20 January 2022, how many people died while in the custody of the Scottish Prison Service in (a) 2022 and (b) the first quarter of 2023.
Answer
In response to question (a) There were a total of 44 deaths in SPS custody during 2022.
In response to question (b) There have been a total of 4 deaths in SPS custody during the first quarter of 2023.
The SPS publishes information regarding all deaths in our custody in calendar years on the SPS website. This information is updated on a quarterly basis and can be accessed using the following link: Prisoner Deaths (sps.gov.uk) .
The next quarterly update will be published on the SPS website in April 2023 which will provide information on deaths in custody up to and including 31 March 202
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 2 May 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that the specific role that Scotland played in the British Empire is highlighted in (a) the school curriculum (b) further education.
Answer
Colleges operate independently of government, it is for them to decide on the shape of their curriculum, taking into account the needs of the region and communities they serve.
In terms of the delivery of national courses (such as national 5s, Highers and Advanced Highers), schools select topics from the relevant SQA units. Within the context of a history course framework, schools may opt to include topics that examine Scotland's role in the British Empire or the Atlantic Slave Trade.
For more information on how this topic might be covered in the school curriculum, I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-16999 on 2 May 2023. 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: Thursday, 13 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 2 May 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-00020
by Ash Denham on 27 May 2021, how many fatalities have resulted from house
fires in the last 12 months.
Answer
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) 2021-2022 Incident Statistics outline that the total number of fatal casualties from fires in dwellings during 2021-2022 was 30. As further information may yet come to light, for example from coroners reports, this figure is subject to change.
SFRS Fire and Rescue Incident statistics are published annually and include figures on fire fatalities and trends. These can be found here https://www.firescotland.gov.uk/about-us/fire-and-rescue-statistics.aspx .
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 20 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 2 May 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland regarding attracting more people to apply for (a) environmental health undergraduate places and (b) work in local authorities.
Answer
Officials have met with the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland (REHIS) to discuss attracting more people to apply for environmental health courses and to work in local authorities.
The Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health is due to meet with REHIS soon to discuss these themes.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 13 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 2 May 2023
To ask the Scottish Government further to the answer to question S6W-00020 by Ash Denham on 27 May 2021, how many fatalities have resulted from house fires since 2020-21, and what assessment it has carried out of the statistics.
Answer
According to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) Incident Statistics, in 2020-2021 the total number of dwelling fire fatalities was 46. For 2021-22 the total number of fatal casualties from fires in dwellings were 30.
SFRS Fire and Rescue Incident statistics are published annually and include figures on fire fatalities and trends. These can be found here https://www.firescotland.gov.uk/about-us/fire-and-rescue-statistics.aspx .
Any death from fire is one too many and that is why effective fire safety, to prevent fires and reduce their impact, remains a priority for the Scottish Government and SFRS. Whilst fire safety priority groups, themes and actions are operational matters for SFRS, the Scottish Government actively supports measures to reduce fires and fire fatalities.
