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-27701

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 May 2024
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 31 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the Department for Work and Pensions regarding any potential impact on devolved benefits in Scotland of the proposed early release of prisoners, in light of the statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs on 16 May 2024.

Following the statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs on 16 May 2024, the Director of Justice in the Scottish Government wrote to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Area Director for Scotland, to make them aware of the Cabinet Secretary’s statement.

The letter committed to keeping the DWP informed regarding plans for emergency release and other measures as they continue to be developed.

The Scottish Government, with the Scottish Prison Service, has established an Operational Delivery Leads Group, to support planning and delivery in relation to emergency release. Representatives from the DWP have been invited to join the group. The group met for the first time on 30 May 2024.

Question reference: S6W-27698

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 May 2024
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 31 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-26254 by Tom Arthur on 27 March 2024, by what date it expects to have completed its analysis and feasibility exercise regarding a Community Wealth Building Bill.

Question reference: S6W-27699

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 May 2024
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 31 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-27126 by Tom Arthur on 13 May 2024, in light of the recent ministerial reshuffle, whether it still plans to report on the findings of the independent review prior to summer recess in 2024.

Question reference: S6W-27702

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 May 2024
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 30 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with alcohol and drug partnerships regarding the proposed early release of prisoners, in light of the statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs on 16 May 2024.

Following the statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs on 16 May 2024, the Director of Justice in the Scottish Government wrote to Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs), to make them aware of the Cabinet Secretary’s statement.

The letter committed to keeping ADPs informed regarding plans for emergency release and other measures as they continue to be developed.

In addition to this, we are working with health boards to ensure that the impact on prison healthcare teams is understood and considered within decision-making and, to support these teams respond to the current high levels of the prison population, whose needs are increasingly complex. Following the statement, a network of Executive-level leads from all Health Board areas and national and local SPS representatives met to discuss the prison population increase and will continue to correspond on all significant developments, meeting whenever necessary.

Question reference: S6W-27732

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 May 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 30 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered expanding the number of salmon rivers that are classified as category 3, in light of the record low salmon catch recorded in the Scottish salmon and sea trout fishery statistics for 2023.

Scotland has a regime of statutory salmon conservation orders in place which are refreshed annually. Salmon caught in rivers in poor conservation status, classified as category 3, are not allowed to be retained, thus ensuring the protection of the species where it is at greatest risk.

We will soon be consulting on the latest conservation assessment for salmon which takes account of the most recently available catch return statistics in assessing the status for 173 rivers and river groupings.

Question reference: S6W-27527

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 May 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 30 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the proposed Education Bill, as set out in its Programme for Government 2023-24.

The Scottish Government is committed to implementing the system and culture change required to improve outcomes and support professionals in classrooms and education settings all over Scotland. As part of this work, a Bill will be laid before parliament this year which will underpin the establishment of a new qualifications body and an independent officeholder for education inspection, to be in place in the Autumn of 2025.

Question reference: S6W-27456

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 May 2024
Current Status: Answered by Claire Baker (on behalf of the SPCB) on 30 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body when it last reviewed its flag-flying policy.

Question reference: S6W-27457

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 May 2024
Current Status: Answered by Claire Baker (on behalf of the SPCB) on 30 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how it will mark Pride Month, which takes place between 1 and 30 June 2024.

Question reference: S6W-27531

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 May 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 29 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the updated Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan, as set out in its Programme for Government 2023-24.

As the Government has previously set out, we intend to strategically align green skills policy and planning behind our wider net zero and economic growth priorities so that it is fulsome, integrated and better reflects the pervasive issue of skills planning. We will therefore integrate the next phase of our work on green skills into the Just Transition Plans and other planned activity, rather than through a separate CESAP update.

Question reference: S6W-27567

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 May 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 29 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) guidance and (b) policies are in place to safeguard against any unpaid individuals being deployed to perform duties and roles that would normally be undertaken by NHS employees.

NHS Boards have a responsibility for ensuring they have the right workforce in place at all times to provide safe and high quality patient care.

There is a long history of volunteer services in NHS Scotland, and we are thankful to those who chose to volunteer. Volunteer services are not however there to replace the core workforce, and we expect all NHS Boards to have policies and procedures in place to ensure that volunteers are used appropriately, and only specifically for volunteering services. Volunteers are subject to the same safety checks as NHS staff, including PVG and Disclosure.