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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

Filter your results Hide all filters

Displaying 2891 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S5W-10245

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 10 July 2017
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 26 July 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to close the poverty-related attainment gap, in light of the results of the recent Educational Institute of Scotland survey of its members, which highlights rising levels of poverty and inequality in schools.

The Scottish Government has committed £750m during the course of this Parliament through the Attainment Scotland Fund to provide targeted support for children, schools and communities to close the poverty related attainment gap. In 2017-18, this includes £120m which is being allocated directly to schools on the basis of the numbers of pupils in P1-S3 known to be eligible and registered for free school meals. This funding is on top of the existing £50m Attainment Scotland Funding that will continue to provide targeted support to authorities and schools in the communities with the highest levels of deprivation.

Question reference: S5W-10243

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 10 July 2017
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 26 July 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent survey of Educational Institute of Scotland members, which highlights that 77% of respondents noted increased signs of poverty-related mental ill health in school pupils, and what action it is taking on this issue.

The Scottish Government’s new 10-year Mental Health Strategy was published on 30 March, and sets out our vision to improve mental health in Scotland. A key section in the Strategy deals with prevention and early intervention. That section outlines our ambition that every child and young person should have appropriate access to emotional and mental well-being support in school.

A mental health link person is available to every school, this has been achieved using various models working to meet local needs. The link worker may be a CAMHS clinician or another speciality such as a primary care worker. However the named link person will be able to contact specialist CAMHS services for advice if they have any concerns about a pupil.

Through the Scottish Attainment Challenge we have committed £750 million over the course of this parliament to close the poverty related attainment gap for our pupils from the most deprived areas. The Scottish Attainment Challenge will focus and accelerate targeted improvements in literacy, numeracy and health and wellbeing. The Challenge will build on the range of initiatives and programmes already in place to raise attainment and reduce inequity for children across Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-10237

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 10 July 2017
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 26 July 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will set out a timetable for when the NHS in Scotland will provide free abortions for women from Northern Ireland.

Question reference: S5W-10239

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 10 July 2017
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 26 July 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that the same gestational limits for abortion apply in all NHS boards.

Question reference: S5W-09996

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 June 2017
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 19 July 2017

To ask the Scottish Government which of the recommendations of the expert group, tasked by it to look at alcohol marketing, will be incorporated within the next phase of Scotland’s alcohol strategy.

Question reference: S5F-01417

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 19 June 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 June 2017

To ask the First Minister how the national roll-out of the baby box scheme will improve public health and reduce health inequalities.

Question reference: S5W-09517

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by Mark McDonald on 14 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the cost of each baby box will be attributed to the (a) box, (b) mattress and (c) other contents.

The Unit Cost per box is £160. That covers the cost of all the contents of the box. Due to the imminent procurement exercise for year 2 of Scotland’s Baby Box, the itemised value/cost of any item is currently commercially sensitive. Once that exercise is concluded, we will review the efficacy and sensitivity of providing itemised costs and if appropriate, provide further information in due course.

Question reference: S5W-09522

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by Mark McDonald on 13 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it had with the Scottish Cot Death Trust regarding the baby box scheme prior to it announcing the policy.

Question reference: S5W-09523

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by Mark McDonald on 13 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what role the Scottish Cot Death Trust has played in the development of the baby box scheme.

Question reference: S5W-09521

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by Mark McDonald on 13 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what contact it has had with the Scottish Cot Death Trust since May 2016 regarding reducing sudden infant death syndrome and the promotion of safe sleep, including how the baby box might contribute towards this.