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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: S6O-00527

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 December 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what the latest Open with Care guidance is for care homes, in light of the emergence of the Omicron variant.

Question reference: S6O-00490

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 December 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration was given to increasing the maximum spend on both long and short campaigns for the forthcoming Scottish local council elections in May 2022.

Question reference: S6W-04448

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 29 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to meet the third sector organisations that are proposing the establishment of a statutory so-called future of work commission to help improve workplace wellbeing.

The Scottish Government recognises the issues raised by third sector organisations regarding the impact the Covid pandemic has had and is having on working lives, especially those in low-paid or insecure jobs. That is why a range of actions have been set out in the Mental Health Transition and Recovery Strategy and the broader Covid Recovery Strategy to mitigate negative impacts on workers and to improve the financial security of lower income households.

Our overarching vision to become a Fair Work Nation by 2025 is central to addressing issues of job insecurity, in-work poverty and under-employment – priorities that will also be reflected through the forthcoming National Strategy for Economic Transformation. The Scottish Government is committed to safeguarding the wellbeing of workers across Scotland and will keep a future of work commission under review.

Question reference: S6W-04449

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 29 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to bring together public, private and third sector stakeholders to inform and drive the policy decisions that will help reset working lives in a positive way that supports both good mental health and economic productivity.

The Scottish Government engages regularly with the public, private and third sectors on economic policy developments, including Fair Work, and our upcoming National Strategy for Economic Transformation. Fair Work is a key driver for sustainable and inclusive economic growth; it sits at the heart of our wellbeing economy ambitions and is central to economic recovery and renewal. A key strand of our Fair Work Action Plan is creating more diverse and inclusive workplaces, and our Fairer Scotland for Disabled People: Employment Action Plan contains a commitment to work with employers to support the development of mentally flourishing workplaces and also to develop pathways that enable those seeking to enter or remain in work to access appropriate and timely mental health and employability support.

As I highlighted in the Sustainable Procurement and Fair Work debate on 2 November 2021, we have launched a public consultation on the action needed to ensure Scotland becomes a Fair Work Nation. The consultation has been informed by discussions with key stakeholders from the public, private and third sectors and workshops are being held to gather wider views. I encourage you and members to promote this consultation to employers and workers across their constituencies.

Question reference: S6W-04447

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 26 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it has introduced to ensure that workplaces safeguard the mental wellbeing of their staff.

We know that meaningful, fair work can provide important benefits for people’s mental health and wellbeing. We also know that creating workplaces which support and promote good mental health benefit individuals and employers.

Our ‘Mental Health – Transition and Recovery Plan outlines our response to the mental health impacts of COVID-19 and sets out our commitments to supporting mental health and wellbeing as we recover from the pandemic. The plan includes key employment actions to promote and support mental health and wellbeing at work.

A Short Life Working Group, consisting of employer groups, trade unions and mental health organisations, has been established to help take forward our key employment actions. The group is working collaboratively to identify the issues and challenges that employers are facing in supporting mental health at work. The outcomes of this phase of work will inform the next steps that will be undertaken to ensure employers have the support they need to create mentally healthy workplaces, free of stigma and discrimination.

Question reference: S6O-00459

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 November 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the veterans secretary has had with skills agencies regarding maximising employment opportunities for veterans.

Question reference: S6W-03872

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 17 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how its commitment to establishing a National Register of Ancient Woodlands relates to the existing Ancient Woodland Inventory.

Question reference: S6W-03870

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 17 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of its commitment to establishing a National Register of Ancient Woodlands, and how it plans to work with planners and developers to protect ancient woodland and with land managers to enhance and restore ancient woodland conditions.

We are working closely with NatureScot and Scottish Forestry to determine the best approach to developing a new National Register of Ancient Woodlands. This will help us to determine how best to work with planners, developers and land managers as this project is developed. We're committed to working with a broad range of stake-holders and will make sure this includes cross-parliamentary representatives.

Question reference: S6W-03871

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 15 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to strengthen policy on ancient woodland and veteran tree protection in National Planning Framework 4.

Our draft National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) sets out how our approach to planning and development will help to achieve a net zero, sustainable Scotland by 2045. This includes draft planning policy on Trees, Woodland and Forestry, which states that development proposals should not be supported where they would result in; any loss of ancient woodlands, ancient and veteran trees, or adverse impact on their ecological condition.

Views are currently being invited on the draft NPF4 alongside parliamentary scrutiny, following which we anticipate producing a final version for approval and adoption around summer 2022.

The draft NPF4 is available to view on the Scottish Government website at: Scotland 2045 - fourth National Planning Framework: draft - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

Question reference: S6O-00419

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 November 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what the Scottish Parliament’s budget is for both inbound and outbound school visits.