Questions and answers

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 ��˿�� 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-12856

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 05 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 15 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government on what date it will announce the appointment of a Women's Health Champion, and when the role holder will commence their duties.

Question reference: S6W-12855

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 15 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that it has not yet appointed a Women’s Health Champion, despite a plan earlier in 2022 to appoint one “this summer”, what process was followed for the recruitment and appointment; how many prospective candidates were approached, and whether any candidates turned the opportunity down.

Question reference: S6O-01730

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 December 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that children and young people in families experiencing poverty are supported throughout the Christmas holiday period.

Question reference: S6W-12774

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 13 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that the consultation on the recommendations of the 2016 Sludge Review, into the spreading of sewage sludge on land, is not delayed again.

The legislative changes recommended by the completed Review of the Storage and Spreading of Sewage Sludge on Land in Scotland (‘The Sludge Review’), are being implemented via the forthcoming Integrated Authorisation Framework (IAF) regulations.

Progress on developing the planned IAF regulations was delayed due to Covid-19 and other priority work such as Brexit. This work has now been reprioritised and has recommenced. A consultation on proposed IAF regulations is due to be published early next year and stakeholders will have the opportunity to comment on the proposals relating to sewage sludge.

Other recommended actions from the Review of the Storage and Spreading of Sewage Sludge on Land in Scotland which have already been completed include publication last year of the James Hutton Institute report on the impacts on human health and the environment arising from the spreading of sewage sludge to land, and implementation of the remedial actions that were recommended to be taken by Scottish Water.

Question reference: S6W-12773

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 13 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when the consultation on the recommendations of the 2016 Sludge Review, into the spreading of sewage sludge on land, will take place.

The legislative changes recommended by the completed Review of the Storage and Spreading of Sewage Sludge on Land in Scotland are being implemented via the forthcoming Integrated Authorisation Framework (IAF) regulations.

The proposed changes are designed to strengthen SEPA powers to ensure effective management practices are implemented and followed by operators within the industry.

A consultation on the proposed IAF regulations is due to be published early next year and stakeholders will have the opportunity to comment on the proposals relating to sewage sludge.

Question reference: S6W-12772

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 13 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work in implementing the recommendations of the 2016 Sludge Review into the spreading of sewage sludge on land.

Recommended actions from the Review of the Storage and Spreading of Sewage Sludge on Land in Scotland which have already been completed include publication last year of the James Hutton Institute report on the impacts on human health and the environment arising from the spreading of sewage sludge to land, and implementation of the remedial actions that were recommended to be taken by Scottish Water.

The legislative changes recommended by the review are being implemented via the forthcoming Integrated Authorisation Framework regulations. A consultation on proposed regulations is due to be published in 2023 and stakeholders will have the opportunity to comment on the proposals relating to sewage sludge.

Question reference: S6W-12820

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 05 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 13 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when Healthcare Improvement Scotland will report to ministers on insights and different approaches to the redesign of learning disability day services in the context of COVD-19, and how service users, families, carers and disabled people's organisations will be involved in this work.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of day services to both those who use them and to their families and carers and has been working closely with local areas to ensure that services are delivered safely. Revised guidance for buildings-based day services was published on 26 May 2022 and 28 September 2022. The guidance says that such services should return to pre-pandemic capacity wherever possible, while operating safely in line with COVID-19 guidance.

Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) was commissioned to gather and provide insights into different approaches to the redesign of learning disability day services, recognising the challenges the COVID-19 pandemic has created for service users, their families and service providers. A range of methods have been used to progress this programme of work including national learning sessions, connections sessions and focus groups. As a result, services have collaborated with people who use services, families, carers and disabled people's organisations to develop new community-based approaches to day service provision. Information on the work currently being undertaken can be found on the ihub website at:

This programme of work concludes at the end of March 2023 and a final report will be published on the ihub website.

Question reference: S6W-12643

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 13 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether additional NHS boards may need to be placed into Stage 4 of NHS Scotland’s National Performance Framework for Governance, Leadership and Culture, in light of the escalation in NHS Forth Valley announced on 23 November 2022.

The decision to escalate or de-escalate an NHS Board is based on a combination of evidence. Escalation addresses complex issues and an element of judgement will always be required. In order to support robust decision-making in this sphere, the Scottish Government regularly convenes the National Planning and Performance Oversight Group which considers a range of data and intelligence relating to the delivery of health and social care across Scotland and the performance of our health boards. Should there be a requirement to escalate any additional NHS Boards, for any reason, I will update Parliament in the first instance.

Question reference: S6W-12779

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 12 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Public Health Scotland report, Births in Scotland, whether it will review any discrimination against people with mental health issues and learning disabilities during pregnancy, which was last reviewed in 2013.

The Scottish Government expects all women at all times, to receive high-quality, person-centred maternity care, tailored to their needs, with quality and safety for mothers and babies central to decision-making. Implementation of The Best Start is driving transformation in maternity care in Scotland, with women receiving continuity of carer throughout their pregnancy, resulting in improved relationships and outcomes. All women are asked as part of their booking process a variety of wellbeing questions in order to assess for additional care needs to assist women, and their families, to prepare for parenthood and facilitate positive maternal health.

The work of the primary midwife is likely to be particularly important for women with additional needs, including those related to mental health and learning disabilities. This is why we have prioritised the introduction of continuity of carer for the most vulnerable women and their families, as we know that, for women with a range of medical, social and psychological complexities, early intervention and coordinated multi-agency care can make a real difference to outcomes.

Question reference: S6W-12812

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 12 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the World Health Organization's announcement that mpox is the new preferred term for monkeypox, with the name monkeypox to be replaced after one year, what action it is taking to ensure that the public is aware of the change.