- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 06 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 6 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on including access to incontinence pads in the free period product schemes, including for those experiencing menopausal or perimenopausal symptoms who might not meet the criteria for prescription pads.
Answer
The aim of the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act 2021 is to ensure that everyone in Scotland who menstruates can have reasonably convenient access to period products, free of charge, as and when they are required. The definition of period products in the Act does not include incontinence products and there are no plans at present to change this. The Act does not limit the number of products that can be accessed so those experiencing such symptoms are entitled to access as many period products as they need.
To help support people experiencing menopausal or perimenopausal symptoms our Women’s Health Platform, on NHS Inform, includes a resource on menopause and work is underway to refine and create resources on pelvic health. This will include urinary incontinence, looking at prevention, treatment options and reducing stigma.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 06 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 6 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide an update regarding the selection process of patient representatives with lived experience of chronic pain to the pain management panel.
Answer
This information can be found in the published Pain Management Panel report. This is available here: Pain Management Panel consultations: report - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Date lodged: Friday, 10 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 6 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government who the current acting chief executive officer of Scottish Rail Holdings is; how long it is intended that they will be in this position; how many days they are contracted to work in the post, and what their remuneration is for these duties.
Answer
David Lowrie is currently in the Acting Chief Executive Officer post until 31 March 2024. He is currently contracted to work 3 days a week.
Remuneration packages for the Chief Executive Officer post within Scottish Rail Holdings Ltd can be found on the their website via the following link:- Who we are — Scottish Rail Holdings
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 17 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 2 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what action it (a) can take and (b) is taking to encourage private firms in Scotland to divest from fossil fuels, either from direct investment in fossil fuel projects or indirect investment through share ownership in corporations that oversee fossil fuel projects, in light of reports that the Edinburgh-headquartered investment firm, Abrdn, owns £50 million worth of shares in the Indian conglomerate, Adani Group, which is reportedly a major global source of coal production, and the owner of several coal-fired power plants across India.
Answer
The Scottish Government can encourage investment in areas aligned with our climate priorities but the decision on which sectors or projects to invest in is for each individual private company to make.
However, in line with our commitments in the National Strategy for Economic Transformation (NSET), the Scottish Government is working to attract and deploy significant domestic and international private investment in Scotland, including net zero sectors. The recently established Investor Panel chaired by the First Minister will bring investor intelligence into policy and regulatory development early in the process and will primarily focus on how we attract capital investment in the physical infrastructure to support our transition to net zero.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 2 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to research conducted by Common Weal and published in its report, ScotWind: Privatising Scotland's Future Again, which reportedly indicates that the ScotWind auction has resulted in Scotland potentially missing out on £60 billion of revenue.
Answer
We are clear that ScotWind promises to be transformational in delivering wider economic supply chain benefits to help power Scotland’s green recovery in communities across Scotland. The Supply Chain Development Statements set out ScotWind developers’ initial commitments to the Scottish supply chain, with more than £28bn across the 20 ScotWind offshore wind projects. Government and its agencies continue to work closely with developers and those at the top of the supply chain to ensure that local suppliers in Scotland have a realistic opportunity to compete for key manufacturing contracts.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 03 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Clare Haughey on 2 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the (a) affordability and (b) accessibility of reusable nappies, including support for meeting costs associated with laundry care.
Answer
Our Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment helps eligible low-income families with expenses associated with pregnancy or with having a new child. Families can use this payment to best meet their needs which could include buying reusable nappies and meeting the costs associated with laundry care. Information on benefits and one-off payments that are available to parents can be found on our ParentClub website.
To further support the affordability and accessibility of reusable nappies, Scotland's Baby Box includes a voucher that offers a free reusable nappy kit, which comprises of a waterproof wrap and five pads. A further discounted package is available should the family wish to continue with reusable nappies.
The Nappy Voucher contained within the Baby Box also signposts families to our ParentClub website which highlights the benefits of using reusable nappies as well as signposting families on where to seek advice and support with using them. Ready Steady Baby , which is given out at antenatal appointments, also highlights the benefits of reusable nappies.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Date lodged: Friday, 10 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 1 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any plans to bring the Caledonian Sleeper service under public ownership, including whether it would operate under the control of Scottish Rail Holdings.
Answer
It would not be appropriate to comment at this time until all the necessary steps have been taken to ensure our decision is the right one for the Caledonian Sleeper, its passengers and its staff.
On 2 March 2023 I am scheduled to provide an update to Parliament on the future of the Caledonian Sleeper.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Date lodged: Friday, 10 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 1 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether Scottish Rail Holdings has carried out any preliminary work in preparation for the Caledonia Sleeper service to potentially come under public ownership.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-14939 on 1 March 2023. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 28 February 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether its industrial relations with teaching unions will take account of data published by the Office of National Statistics on 27 January 2023, which found that 31% of working adults with children in school would have to work fewer hours due to school closures caused by industrial action, and 28% would not be able to work.
Answer
This Government is clear that industrial action in our schools is in no one’s interest, least of all for pupils, parents and carers who have already faced significant disruption over the past three years.
As indicated by the Office of National Statistics, it is concerning that this industrial action is putting parents and carers are at further financial loss.
We are absolutely committed to reaching teachers’ pay deal and are working closely with the teaching unions and local government partners to reach a resolution as soon as possible. We also continue to urge the teaching unions to suspend industrial action while these talks are ongoing.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 28 February 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide an update regarding the selection process for the chairs of the short-life working groups tasked with implementation of the delivery of the framework for pain management service delivery.
Answer
As set out in the Governance arrangements published in the Framework for Pain Management Service Delivery – Implementation Plan, the chairs for each Short-Life Working Group (SLWG) are drawn from the chronic pain community and appointed based on their expertise, experience and diversity of skills required to deliver the Actions for each Aim set out in the Plan. The Plan is available here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/framework-pain-management-service-delivery-implementation-plan/ .