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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: S6W-07075

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 04 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 14 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when the provisions in the Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019, to guarantee safe staffing levels in health and care services, will be implemented.

The Scottish Government is resolute in its continuing commitment to the Act and its principles. A successful Implementation will only be achieved through the co-production of the relevant stakeholders. Their focus has naturally been on responding to the challenges presented by the pandemic.

As services remobilise we are re-engaging with stakeholders to ensure implementation takes account of the learning developed during the pandemic and recognises the new environment within which services will now operate.

Question reference: S6W-06562

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 14 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 14 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the additional £0.5 million funding to help with the installation of the new interlinked fire alarms has been allocated to Care and Repair Lanarkshire.

Question reference: S6W-06658

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 18 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 10 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government by what date universal free meals in primary schools will be fully implemented and what the timetable is for achieving this.

Universal free school lunches are now available for all children in primaries 1 to 5 during school term-time and we remain committed to further expanding universal free school lunch provision, to include all children in primary and special schools, during the remainder of this parliamentary term.

Our budget for 2022-23 includes a £30 million capital allocation for initial investment in school kitchens ahead of the roll-out of free school lunches to all primary school children later in this parliamentary term.

We will continue to work with our partners in local authorities to plan for the expansion of free school lunch provision over the next academic year. This work will ensure the expansion can be delivered equitably across all schools, in all areas, whilst maintaining high quality lunch provision for all children.

Question reference: S6W-06659

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 18 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 10 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made regarding piloting approaches to universal meal provision in secondary schools.

We have committed to a significant programme of investment an expansion in universal school meal provision, this programme will see universal free school lunches being made available for all children in primary and special schools during school term-time during the course of this parliamentary term.

As a part of this workstream, we have also committed to piloting approaches to the provision of free school meals in secondary schools during the course of this parliamentary term. We will provide updates on the progress of delivery around our work to establish pilots of universal free school meal provision in secondary schools as this progresses.

Question reference: S6W-06221

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 8 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether the name of the carer who is applying on behalf of a child for their Young Scot National Entitlement Card to access the Young Persons' Free Bus Travel Scheme must be on either the birth or adoption certificate, and, if so, what arrangements are in place to allow a successful application where the name of the carer is not on either the birth or adoption certificate.

Question reference: S6W-06549

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 11 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 8 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it anticipates military aid for NHS Lanarkshire will be extended beyond 4 February 2022.

Question reference: S6O-00861

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S6W-06144

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 04 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 3 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of digital poverty on young people and their households, in cases where the young person wishes to update their Young Scot National Entitlement Card (NEC).

We know some people may not have access to the technology required to make an online application for a new or updated card. For this reason, other routes are available to help ensure no eligible young person is excluded. Applications to update cards can be made in-person via local councils and through some schools. Many local councils have dedicated staff on hand to help applicants who might have difficulty accessing the online card management system.

Question reference: S6W-06142

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 04 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 3 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to support young people who are (a) care-experienced and (b) estranged from parents, family or care givers, to apply for an updated Young Scot National Entitlement Card (NEC), in cases where they do not have access to the identification documents required.

Some young people, or their legal guardians, may have difficulty providing the proofs of person or of address to access the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme, including young people who are (a) care-experienced and (b) estranged from parents, family or care givers. To this end, many local councils have dedicated staff on hand to help applicants who might have difficulty with the application process, including care-experienced young people, and need particular support. Transport Scotland has not been prescriptive on what constitutes acceptable proof or verification that an individual is eligible for the scheme. This is to allow delivery partners and local authorities the flexibility to support applications from a range of eligible individuals.

The Scottish Government have produced guidance which has been issued to all local authorities, advising that children and young people should be supported to access free bus travel where appropriate, with specific guidance aimed at supporting those who will have the most difficulty in providing documentary evidence. As corporate parents, local authorities are committed to ensuring that the children and young people they look after experience the same opportunities and life experiences as are open to their non-care experienced peers.

At the time the scheme opened in January, because of the high levels of transmission associated with the Omicron variant, we asked 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. Since travel restrictions have eased, we are asking all eligible young people to apply for free bus travel and have been working to make the application process easier to use. On 28 January we released the Transport Scot Pass Collect app, which lets people aged 16 – 21, who already have a National Entitlement Card or Young Scot National Entitlement Card, to download free bus travel onto their existing card. This means they may not need to apply for a replacement card.

In designing the scheme, Transport Scotland worked closely with Barnardo's Scotland on how to safeguard young people travelling on the bus network, including providing training material for bus drivers. This helps drivers to recognise and respond to children or young people who need support while travelling on the bus network and help ensure that they can travel safely.

Question reference: S6W-06140

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 04 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 3 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support local authorities in the roll out of the updated Young Scot National Entitlement Card (NEC) scheme, and what flexibility it has given to local authorities in relation to how the scheme is rolled out.

Transport Scotland is responsible for the policy and some aspects of the operational delivery of the free bus travel scheme for under 22s. However, the Improvement Service (IS) is the accountable body for the NEC scheme and cards are delivered by the National Entitlement Card Programme Office (NECPO) on behalf of local authorities.

Transport Scotland has not been prescriptive on what constitutes acceptable proof or verification that an individual is eligible for the scheme. This is to allow delivery partners and local authorities the flexibility to support applications from a range of eligible individuals.

The Improvement Service, acting on behalf of Local Authorities, make decisions on what evidence is required to support an application for the scheme for online applications through the www.GETYOURNEC.scot website, and all other elements of the application and card issuing process. Local Authorities have discretion regarding the rollout of application and approval processes, which should allow for a broader range of evidence to be accepted, both in person and through other methods that local authorities may use.

Transport Scotland receives regular reports from IS and NECPO on any issues with the application process and we are working closely with them to ensure that children and young people can receive their cards that will give them free bus travel.