- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 19 May 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 5 June 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made against the actions outlined in its A Healthier Future –
Scotland’s Diet & Healthy Weight
Delivery Plan, now that it is five years since its publication.
Answer
In our we set out ambitious and wide-ranging action to deliver our vision for a Scotland where everyone eats well and has a healthy weight.
We are taking forward a range of action across five key outcomes: giving children the best start in life; creating a healthier food environment; better access to weight management services; leadership and reducing health inequalities.
We continue to make progress. This includes, among other things:
- We will consult on the detail of proposed regulations to restrict promotions of food and drink high in fat, sugar or salt where they are sold to the public this autumn.
- We have updated the to give children more access to nutritious food.
- Continued provision of free vitamin D to infants, and pregnant and breastfeeding women.
- Additional investment to support breastfeeding, particularly in the days immediately following birth. We have provided over £9 million of additional funding since 2018.
- , and have all been updated to provide parents practical advice on weaning, and at the ages and stages that follow: toddlers, pre-schoolers, and primary school aged children.
- We continue to provide funding to health boards to deliver weight management services for children and young people in line with our , ensuring consistent quality and equity of access to evidence-based support across Scotland.
- Since 2020-21, we have provided additional funding to health boards and their partners for projects to encourage healthy eating and physical activity in families and communities at risk of diet-related health inequalities. This work has included: specialised training for practitioners, increasing physical activity, and support for those experiencing food insecurity.
- We have continued to support pilots in eight local areas to develop and champion a whole system approach to diet and healthy weight. An was published on 6 December 2022, which is informing the development of resources to support national rollout.
- We continue to provide funding to improve weight management services for adults, in line with our 2018 and Public Health Scotland’s .
- In June 2022, Public Health Scotland launched a to increase awareness of and challenge weight stigma and bias within healthcare settings.
- In 2021 we published our to support people and business to access to healthier options. This includes Food Standards Scotland and Public Health Scotland developing an Eat Out Eat Well Framework and code of practice for children’s menus.
- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 May 2023
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 8 June 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what value it places on resourcing community sport as part of efforts to eradicate health inequalities.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 8 June 2023
- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 May 2023
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 24 May 2023
To ask the Scottish Government how much it has allocated in its Budget 2023-24 for the roll-out of free school meals to all primary school pupils.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 24 May 2023
- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 05 May 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 16 May 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to reduce any barriers to community land buyouts.
Answer
There are several ways that the Scottish Government assist communities to take ownership of assets. The Scottish Land Fund, which will be doubled to £20m by 2026, allows groups to purchase assets, often through negotiated sales, from both public and private owners.
In addition, there is a Land Reform Bill which shows our commitment to introducing Land Reform legislation to further improve transparency of land ownership, help ensure large scale land holdings deliver in the public interest and empower communities by providing more opportunities to own land and have more say in how land in their area is used.
- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 March 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 14 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what its position is regarding the impact in Scotland of the UK's agreement to the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT), including whether ECT membership is consistent with achieving climate change targets, and what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding ECT membership.
Answer
The Scottish Government share many of the concerns raised by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and others regarding the Energy Charter Treaty. As our Vision for Trade makes clear, no part of a trade or investment agreement should limit the ability of the Scottish Parliament to regulate in devolved areas, or constrain much needed action to achieve our net zero goal.
We continue to engage with the UK Government and other Devolved Administrations on the UK’s future membership, and impact in Scotland, especially in light of recent developments amongst EU member states and the potential impact of this on the modernisation process.
- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 April 2023
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 19 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how it is supporting NHS boards, including NHS Ayrshire and Arran, which have outsourced Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in order to reduce waiting times, to bring such services back in-house.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 19 April 2023
- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 March 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 6 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government how its proposed new cancer strategy will address the findings of the Cancer Research UK report, Cancer in the UK: Deprivation and cancer inequalities in Scotland, including the finding that more deprived populations (a) are less likely to take up cancer screening invitations, (b) are less aware of the signs and symptoms of cancer and (c) report more barriers to seeking help for potential symptoms.
Answer
We know that those from areas of deprivation are less likely to take part in screening and more likely to delay presenting with possible symptoms. This is why we launched, and continue to invest in, our Detect Cancer Earlier (DCE) Programme with a focus on reducing health inequalities such as these. The Programme adopts a whole-systems approach to improving earlier diagnosis rates from public awareness & education to supporting primary care improvements.
We committed £2 million over 2021-22 and 2022-23 to tackle inequalities in cancer screening programmes and will invest a further £1 million in 23-24 to build on progress to date. This commitment will be reflected in the forthcoming cancer strategy. To direct and support this work, the first Equity in Screening Strategy is being produced in collaboration with NHS and third sector partners, setting out a vision to achieve equity for all those eligible for screening.
We regularly undertake research with people from areas of deprivation in Scotland to help inform and measure our Detect Cancer Earlier (DCE) Programme’s behaviour change campaigns. As a result of our most recent insight we developed and launched ‘Be the Early Bird’ on 6 March 2023 to increase awareness of possible symptoms and empower those concerned to act early. A roadshow is currently touring areas of deprivation across Scotland to reinforce this message and encourage prompt action.
A wealth of data and insight from varying sources has been analysed to help inform Scotland’s new cancer strategy, including incidence, survival, staging, socioeconomic insight and pathway timings to name a few.
- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 23 March 2023
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 30 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will provide an update on pay negotiations with trade unions representing Scottish Parliament staff.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 30 March 2023
- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 March 2023
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 30 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on investment in research and coordinated care services to support those living with long Covid.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 30 March 2023
- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Date lodged: Friday, 03 March 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 21 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) Transport Scotland and (b) East Ayrshire Council regarding any potential risks on the A76 at Mauchline that may have been heightened by recent housing developments.
Answer
Transport Scotland, acting on behalf of the Scottish Ministers, is a statutory consultee in the planning process for all planning applications that have the potential to impact the performance and safety of the Trunk Road Network.
East Ayrshire Council consulted Transport Scotland on two separate planning applications for residential developments in Mauchline on the A76. Both planning applications were supported by detailed transport appraisals, the outcomes and recommendations from which were accepted by Transport Scotland. Following extensive dialogue with the developer regarding the proposed junction accesses onto the A76 trunk road, and submission of Road Safety Audits, Transport Scotland responded to the planning authority on both applications recommending approval subject to a number of conditions.
