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: S6W-05224

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 10 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether military aid for NHS Lanarkshire will be extended beyond 17 December 2021.

Question reference: S6W-05113

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 10 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce an apprenticeship scheme for bus drivers.

Officials across the Scottish Government are working with the bus sector to facilitate solutions to workforce issues through the Labour and Skills Shortages Action Plan, and connecting Local Employability Partnerships who are aware of opportunities in their areas with bus service operators (through the Confederation of Passenger Transport). However, we have no plans to introduce an apprenticeship scheme for bus drivers.

Question reference: S6W-05088

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 10 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact that the (a) COVID-19 pandemic and (b) Omicron variant has had on the implementation of free bus travel for people under the age of 22 from 31 January 2022.

The Scottish Government recognises how important free bus travel will be to those young people under the age of 22 who need to make essential journeys during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. For this reason the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme remains set to come into operation on 31 January 2022. Details on how to apply are available on the Transport Scotland website ( https://www.transport.gov.scot/concessionary-travel/young-persons-free-bus-travel-scheme/#69510 ). At this time, given the high levels of transmission associated with the Omicron variant, we are asking that only those with an essential need to travel by bus apply and that anyone travelling should follow the latest advice to keep themselves and others safe. The high profile marketing campaign which was planned to accompany the opening of the application process has been delayed until a time when it better aligns with wider public messaging, once current guidance on staying at home as much as possible and avoiding mixing in larger groups has been eased. As a result, initial usage of the scheme is expected to be less than it would otherwise have been.

Question reference: S6W-04993

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 10 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 7 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government on what dates the Health and Wellbeing Questionnaire Content Group met, and who attended each meeting.

The specific dates of the meetings of the Health and Wellbeing Questionnaire Content Group were:

26 April 2018

27 June 2018

23 August 2018

25 Sept 2018

16 May 2019

The list of members of the Content Group were as follows;

2 Statisticians, Scottish Government

2 Researchers, Scottish Government

A Public Health Intelligence Principal, NHS Health Scotland

A Public Health Intelligence Adviser, NHS Health Scotland

A HBSC International Coordinator, University of Glasgow (formerly University of St Andrews)

A Health Improvement Lead - Children & Young People, Glasgow City Health & Social Care Partnership

A Senior Education Officer, Education Scotland

A Service Manager, Perth & Kinross Council

A Children’s Services Coordinator, Falkirk Council

2 Headteachers, Perth & Kinross & Aberdeenshire

A Director of the MRC/CSO Social & Public Health Sciences Unit

An Independent consultant

An Attainment Advisor, Education Scotland

An Educational Psychologist, South Lanarkshire Council

A Consultant in Public Health, NHS National Services Scotland

A National Officer, Education Institute of Scotland (EIS)

An Area Officer, Association of Headteachers and Deputes in Scotland (AHDS)

A Director of ScotCen Social Research

A Health Improvement Manager, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (provided an advisory role rather than a formal member of the Content Group)

Where core members above were unavailable to attend a meeting, their representative may have attended in their place. Only core membership was recorded.

Question reference: S6W-05072

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 6 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether the failures identified by the British Academy of Audiology independent clinical audit and governance review into NHS Lothian Paediatric Audiology Services affect patients from other NHS board areas.

In December 2021, we wrote to NHS Board Chief Executives about the systemic failures highlighted in the British Academy of Audiology (BAA) reports. NHS Chief Executives have been asked to examine their services, provide us with assurance on quality of care and also advise of any specific actions being taken in light of the reports. We have also asked Chief Executives to confirm a Lead Director and single point of contact in the service for continued engagement on this matter.

We met with the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) on 16 December 2021 to discuss the recommendations they have proposed which could promote public confidence in the service. This includes a review of quality standards and training for audiologists. A follow up meeting will take place with them in the new year.

Our future focus is on ensuring that where improvements need to be made to national and local practice, as part of the learning from the Lothian Review, these are taken forward in partnership with Health Boards, NDCS and the BAA.

Question reference: S6W-05169

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 6 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to extend free bus travel to (a) people (i) on a low-income and (ii) in receipt of benefits and (b) all young people under the age of 25.

We have no current plans to extend free bus travel beyond the existing older and disabled persons scheme and the new young persons scheme for people under the age of 22.

Our Fair Fares Review, which is currently in its planning stages, will consider the range of discounts and concessionary schemes which are available on all modes including bus, rail and ferry, as well as the cost and availability of services.

Question reference: S6W-05081

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 6 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government by what date a review of the Scottish Quality Standards for Paediatric Audiology will be carried out to ensure that they include SMART standards for all aspects of the paediatric audiology pathway.

Question reference: S6W-05082

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 6 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will undertake a review of the training of paediatric audiologists.

Question reference: S6W-05295

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 5 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent on recruitment for the new post of Director General, Net Zero, and how many candidates were (a) shortlisted, (b) assessed and (c) considered by the final panel.

Question reference: S6W-04914

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 10 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 5 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its position in relation to introducing an equal right of appeal in the planning system.