- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 04 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 3 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support local authorities in the roll out of the updated Young
Scot National Entitlement Card (NEC) scheme, and what flexibility it has given
to local authorities in relation to how the scheme is rolled out.
Answer
Transport Scotland is responsible for the policy and some aspects of the operational delivery of the free bus travel scheme for under 22s. However, the Improvement Service (IS) is the accountable body for the NEC scheme and cards are delivered by the National Entitlement Card Programme Office (NECPO) on behalf of local authorities.
Transport Scotland has not been prescriptive on what constitutes acceptable proof or verification that an individual is eligible for the scheme. This is to allow delivery partners and local authorities the flexibility to support applications from a range of eligible individuals.
The Improvement Service, acting on behalf of Local Authorities, make decisions on what evidence is required to support an application for the scheme for online applications through the www.GETYOURNEC.scot website, and all other elements of the application and card issuing process. Local Authorities have discretion regarding the rollout of application and approval processes, which should allow for a broader range of evidence to be accepted, both in person and through other methods that local authorities may use.
Transport Scotland receives regular reports from IS and NECPO on any issues with the application process and we are working closely with them to ensure that children and young people can receive their cards that will give them free bus travel.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 04 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 3 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to support trans young people to update their Young Scot National Entitlement Card (NEC), if their name differs from other identification documents that they hold.
Answer
It is not currently possible for someone to apply online for a card in a different name from that shown in their official identity documents, however an applicant can contact their local authority and request a different name is displayed on their card from that in their identity documents.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 2 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government by what date NHS Scotland will resume face-to-face antenatal classes, in light of the reported resumption of private classes.
Answer
Group antenatal classes were able to resume from 31 July 2020. Current guidance for delivery of maternity and neonatal services throughout the Covid-19 pandemic states that antenatal and postnatal group sessions can continue virtually or in person, subject to local risk assessment in NHS Boards.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) delivering maternity and neonatal services through the pandemic: beyond Level Zero - guidance - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 2 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to prevent deaths from non-communicable disease, in light of a recent report by the Non-Communicable Disease Prevention Coalition, which stated that only one of the six actions it called for had been implemented.
Answer
We are fully committed to taking action to prevent deaths from non-communicable disease. Work is underway to deliver a range of measures to target harmful health behaviours such as smoking, unhealthy diet and obesity and alcohol misuse.
- We published our out of home action plan in September last year.
- On 03 Feb 2022 we launched our consultation to introduce regulations on the domestic advertising of e-cigarettes.
- We are taking a range of actions to reduce alcohol-related harms including consulting on potential restrictions on alcohol advertising this year, reviewing the level of the minimum unit price and improving health information on product labels.
- Our Programme for Government committed to introduce a Public Health Bill that includes restrictions on unhealthier food and drink promotions during the course of this parliament. Government officials are working on this and other policy proposals for the Bill and will be consulting on them throughout 2022. We will continue to engage stakeholders as proposals develop.
- We are undertaking a range of work to ensure that weight management, alcohol treatment, and smoking cessation services can be accessed when needed.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 11 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 28 February 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to lower the age for bowel screenings, and what assessment it has made of recent research and practice, including the US Preventive Services Task Force B-grade recommendation for screening for colorectal cancer in adults aged 45 to 49.
Answer
The Scottish Government will only make plans to introduce any changes to the eligible age range for the bowel screening programme in Scotland if this is recommended by the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC).
The UK NSC advises Ministers and the NHS in the 4 UK countries on all aspects of screening. The Committee’s recommendations are based on the latest evidence and agreed criteria for appraising the viability, effectiveness and appropriateness of a screening programme.
The current age ranges for the Scottish Bowel Screening Programme are based on the 2018 recommendation that screening for bowel cancer using the faecal-immunochemical test should be offered every 2 years to men and women between the ages of 50 and 74 in the UK.
The Scottish Government continues to stress that it is important at any age to be aware of the signs and symptoms of cancer, and to report any concerns to a GP Practice so that these can be investigated.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 16 February 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure an effective roll-out of the cystic fibrosis treatment, Kaftrio, to eligible children aged six to 11 years old.
Answer
Kaftrio ® has been available for the treatment of cystic fibrosis in patients aged 12 years and older since 1 September 2020. This follows a pricing agreement with the manufacturer. There is provision in the access policy and pricing agreement for expanding access to Kaftrio ® as licence extensions are granted by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The most recent extension in January 2022 allows for Kaftrio ® to be used in children aged 6 to 11 years.
This means that clinicians - working in cystic fibrosis treatment centres - can now prescribe Kaftrio ® for younger patients whom they consider will benefit from its use.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 16 February 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ensure a return to in-person learning on a permanent basis for further education courses that are practical subjects.
Answer
Current guidance is being reviewed in collaboration with the sector, taking into account advice provided by the Covid-19 Advisory Sub-Group on Colleges and Universities. The Scottish Government’s 4 Harms approach ensures that the fullest range of impacts is taken into account in developing measures or guidance in all sectors, including for universities and colleges. Some students will already be receiving full time in-person teaching in line with our advice to prioritise students whose qualifications/progression are at risk. It is also for institutions to determine an appropriate balance between online and in-person teaching where that focuses on the reduction and management of risk and a cautious approach to keep people safe.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 03 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Lorna Slater on 11 February 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what impact the resignation of Terry A'Hearn, as Chief Executive of SEPA, will have on the current review of the role of incineration in the waste hierarchy, and when it anticipates that SEPA will have a new Chief Executive in post.
Answer
Dr Colin Church was appointed as independent Chair of the review into the role of incineration in the waste hierarchy in Scotland in November 2021.
SEPA, as with other stakeholders, has the opportunity to submit a response to the ongoing call for evidence and to participate in the review process led by Dr Church . I do not expect Mr A’Hearn’s resignation to have an impact on SEPA’s participation in the review process but this is a matter for SEPA and Dr Church to determine.
SEPA have started the process of recruitment and expect a Chief Executive to be in post later this year.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 27 January 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 7 February 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what additional financial support will be made available to households to help meet the new fire alarm standard, in light of the recent increase in energy prices and the extra pressure this puts on household budgets.
Answer
We know that some homeowners may not be able to meet the cost of fitting the necessary alarms which is why we provided £500,000 through Care and Repair Scotland to help elderly and disabled people. We have also made available a further £500,000 to Care and Repair to extend this support beyond 1 February 2022.
This is in addition to the £1m funding provided to SFRS for its Home Fire Safety Visit programme to owner occupied properties assessed to be at high risk from fire.
We also provided £15m loan funding to social landlords to support them to fit compliant alarms for all tenants.
Flexibility is built into the existing legislation through a provision setting out that the work should be done “within such period as is reasonable in all the circumstances”, allowing flexibility for home owners unable to install alarms by 1 February 2022.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 January 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 3 February 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the use of the CitizenCard as valid ID for the purposes of the vaccine certification scheme.
Answer
Currently only passports and driving licences are accepted as valid forms of ID for registering on the NHS Scotland COVID Status app. Should forms of identification accepted be expanded, then Citizen Cards would be considered alongside other forms of ID. Individuals without a passport and driving licence can request a paper or PDF copy of their COVID Status through NHS Inform .