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 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.

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Question reference: S4O-02389

Asked by: Jenny Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 September 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 September 2013

To ask the Scottish Government how many reports of female genital mutilation have been made to the police by NHS staff since 2005.

Question reference: S4O-02362

Asked by: Jenny Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 September 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 September 2013

To ask the Scottish Government how many times a procurator fiscal’s recommendation to proceed on solemn procedure has been rejected by the Crown Office since 1999.

Question reference: S4W-16529

Asked by: Jenny Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 26 July 2013
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 23 August 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to make assisted changing toilets available during the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

The Scottish Government recognises the need for suitable changing facilities in toilets for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities.

Provision of appropriate facilities for the 2014 Commonwealth Games is the responsibility of the Glasgow 2014 Organising Committee, and they are currently investigating the provision of assisted changing toilets in games venues.

Their review will consider existing provision in venues, client group requirements, venue capacities, venue location, design and space requirements and cost. Provision of temporary facilities is being considered in addition to the permanent assisted changing toilets which already exist at the Royal Commonwealth Pool, Scotstoun Sports Campus and Tollcross International Swimming Centre.

Question reference: S4W-16508

Asked by: Jenny Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 July 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 20 August 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance is available to the (a) police and (b) NHS to (i) identify and (ii) help women and girls who have experienced genital mutilation.

The guidance available for police officers includes the Honour Based Violence, Forced Marriage and Female Genital Mutilation Standard Operating Procedures document which provides officers with the necessary understanding and skills to deal appropriately and consistently with hepatitis B virus incidents including Female Genital Mutilation. They also receive regular training and a fact sheet has been prepared for Police Scotland’s intranet.

NHS guidance available for health workers includes: NHS Scotland - Perineal Repair after Childbirth 2008, a procedure and standards tool to support practice development; The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has guidelines available on Female Genital Mutilation and Its Management and the Royal College of Nursing – Female Genital Mutilation – Education Resource for nursing and midwifery staff.

Question reference: S4W-16511

Asked by: Jenny Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 July 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 20 August 2013

To ask the Scottish Government how it raises awareness about female genital mutilation in communities where it is considered that the practice is likely to occur.

A number of methods are used to raise awareness and encourage the reporting of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) including engaging with individuals and minority ethnic women’s organisations such as Dignity Alert Research Forum, Saheliya and Shakti Women’s Aid which provide services to women who come from communities affected by FGM.

The Scottish Government awarded Saheliya £225,000 from the Violence Against Women Fund for the period 2012–15 to support and empower women from communities affected by FGM in order to increase their confidence to reject the practice.

The government also works in partnership with other voluntary organisations, social services, education departments and the police to support victims and engage with communities for the prevention of FGM.

Question reference: S4W-16509

Asked by: Jenny Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 July 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 20 August 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what action is taken by the (a) police and (b) NHS when a woman or girl is identified as having experienced genital mutilation.

If an incident of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is reported, the police will carry out a thorough investigation and report the case to the Procurator Fiscal for the appropriate action.

Midwives, along with other health professionals such as doctors, nurses and health visitors, can play a crucial role in eradicating FGM because women from practicing communities are likely to use health services during pregnancy or for other health reasons. If women are identified as being victims of FGM, the NHS in Scotland offers all available assistance to ensure positive health outcomes for the women affected.

Question reference: S4W-16510

Asked by: Jenny Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 July 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 20 August 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) positions and (b) specific units there are in the (i) police and (ii) NHS to help prevent female genital mutilation.

Police Scotland has a dedicated officer who will coordinate all actions against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) nationally. FGM is addressed by the Honour Based Violence Working Group chaired by a Detective Chief Superintendent. Victims of FGM can access NHS services such as the genital anomaly surgical service and the specialist midwife for asylum seekers and refugees provided by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

Question reference: S4W-16504

Asked by: Jenny Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 July 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 20 August 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had since July 2012 with (a) the police, (b) the NHS, (c) COSLA, (d) the Home Office, (e) social work departments and (f) support organisations regarding female genital mutilation.

The Scottish Government has engaged on an ongoing basis since July 2012 with organisations, individuals and groups of people from the communities affected by Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), to raise awareness of the harm caused by FGM, along with awareness about the law and the government’s position. The Scottish Government works closely with police, voluntary organisations, health professionals, social services and education departments, to share good practice and promote awareness across Scotland for the prevention of FGM, officials also liaise with Westminster colleagues on a regular basis.

Officials are members of Police Scotland’s Honour Based Violence Working Group and the Scottish Government promotes collaborative working with minority ethnic women’s organisations such as Saheliya, Dignity Alert Research Forum and Shakti Women’s Aid as well as voluntary and community groups and encourages links with relevant statutory bodies such as the police, health, social services and education to ensure that issues around FGM remain in focus.

The Scottish Government submitted written evidence to the House of Commons International Development Committee’s inquiry into violence against women and girls with regards to the Scottish Government’s position on FGM in Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-16503

Asked by: Jenny Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 July 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 20 August 2013

To ask the Scottish Government how it encourages the police to identify that female genital mutilation has taken place.

The Scottish Government is represented on Police Scotland’s Honour Based Violence Working Group which co-ordinates work on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in addition to other forms of honour based violence. Officials work closely with the police to provide advice and share information and participate in the development of documents such as the Police Scotland action plan and fact sheet on FGM.

Question reference: S4W-16502

Asked by: Jenny Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 July 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 20 August 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what its strategy is for tackling female genital mutilation.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is addressed under the violence again women policy area and will be included in the violence against women strategy currently being developed. The FGM strand of this strategy will focus on prevention through awareness raising, supporting victims, empowerment of women and girls, community engagement, multi-agency action and enforcement.

Appropriate action plans for FGM prevention, pathways for safeguarding children, protocols for referral and sharing of information will be strengthened in the new strategy and reviewed regularly.