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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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S5W-08659

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Mark McDonald on 3 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-05422 by Mark McDonald on 15 December 2016, what breastfeeding outcomes were achieved in the pilot areas, and whether breastfeeding aids will be included when the baby boxes are rolled out nationally.

Question reference: S5W-08695

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Mark McDonald on 3 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what items were (a) rejected and (b) selected for inclusion in the baby box; what criteria and evidence it used in determining this, and how often it plans to review the contents.

Question reference: S5W-08658

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Mark McDonald on 3 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-05421 by Mark McDonald on 15 December 2016, what evidence it used to reach the decision to (a) include maternity pads in and (b) exclude sanitary pads from the baby box, and whether it will reconsider the decision regarding sanitary pads when the boxes are rolled out nationally.

Question reference: S5F-01234

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 28 April 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 May 2017

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government has taken to improve access to sanitary products.

Question reference: S5O-00924

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 April 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to improve literacy rates.

Question reference: S5W-08698

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 25 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has cost to maintain the charitable status of private or independent schools in each of the last five years.

Question reference: S5W-08697

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 25 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the question S5W-06644 by John Swinney on 8 February 2017, for what reason it has no plans to review the charitable status of private or independent schools.

The Scottish Government are focused on ensuring that our public schools deliver the best possible outcomes for our children giving priority to raising attainment and closing the equity gap. We remain committed to publicly funded, comprehensive school education ensuring that every child has the chance to succeed.

As previously stated we currently have no plans to review the charitable status of independent schools. Any independent school wishing to obtain charitable status must meet the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) requirements. OSCR’s public benefits test asks whether an organisation has charitable purposes – advancement of education being one such purpose – and whether it provides public benefit. Whether schools meet the test is a matter for OSCR who operate independently of Government.

Question reference: S5W-08699

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 25 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is planning to extend the charitable status to state schools, in light of the resolution that was passed at the October 2016 SNP conference calling for this, and, if so, what (a) meetings and (b) discussions have taken place or are scheduled.

The number one priority of this Government is education and our focus is on raising attainment and closing the equity gap. We want to ensure that every child has an equal chance to fulfil his or her potential, deliver the best outcomes for all children while taking every opportunity to interrupt the cycle of deprivation and poverty which attacks the life chances of far too many children and young people in Scotland. The education system has many strengths and we need to build on them by reforming our approach to get the whole system pulling in the same direction. We need an integrated framework that meets the needs of all young people at every stage of their journey through life which can be achieved by building on our Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC), Curriculum for Excellence and Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce policies.

The education landscape is complex. We regularly reflect on current practice and explore and listen to ideas for change. Any such ideas are given full consideration as to the implications they would have and the benefits they would bring to the children of Scotland. Our public services need to focus on delivering improved outcomes for children rather than organisational arrangements.

Question reference: S5W-08265

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 21 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to attract investment to the (a) Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse and (b) East Kilbride constituency.

The Scottish Government is committed to promoting Scotland as an attractive place for business and innovation and helping all businesses to thrive, grow and create employment opportunities. Our substantial investment in infrastructure, regeneration and business support helps to deliver inclusive economic growth and resilience, helping to create and retain jobs in communities across South Lanarkshire, including in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, and East Kilbride constituencies.

For example, our £500million investment in the M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvement Project will help to promote sustainable economic growth by improving access to facilities and employment areas for communities and businesses.

Specific examples of our recent support to businesses in each constituency can be shown by regeneration funding of £450,000 for a Community Resource Hub in Hamilton that will provide small and medium-sized enterprises, micro businesses and social enterprises with access to a range of specialist resources and training opportunities, and three Regional Selective Assistance awards to businesses in East Kilbride totalling £600,000 and creating or safeguarding 56 jobs.

Question reference: S5O-00894

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 April 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Justice last met the chair of the Scottish Police Authority.