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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: S5W-07113

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 7 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the comment in the Bliss Scotland baby report 2017, that "four out of ten [neonatal] units reported that lack of funding for training and development was a barrier, with a number of units noting that were funding for QIS [qualification in speciality] and Advanced Neonatal Nurse Medical Practitioner training was readily available, funding for other training was difficult to find".

The Scottish Government has provided funding to support the establishment and delivery of Qualified in Speciality and Advance Neonatal Nurse Practitioner training in Scotland for the last four years. We expect all NHS Boards to ensure that their neonatal staff are appropriately trained to the required levels to deliver safe care. I announced that analysis of future workforce requirements will be a key priority for the group tasked with implementing the recommendations of the review of Maternity and Neonatal Services.

Question reference: S5W-07481

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 February 2017
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 7 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what the most recent advice it has received from Health Protection Scotland and Public Health England is on the design, siting and management of incinerators, and what action has it taken to monitor and review emerging evidence and research.

Health Protection Scotland (HPS) and Public Health England (PHE) do not advise the Scottish Government on the design, siting and management of incinerators. The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) determines what is acceptable in relation to incineration facilities through its permitting and licensing systems. Current SEPA guidance on this subject can be found at the following address: https://www.sepa.org.uk/regulations/waste/energy-from-waste/#how

HPS has a remit to provide the Scottish Government and others with advice on the potential health impacts of processes such as incineration. The existing regulatory regime governing waste incineration processes already incorporates a precautionary approach and sets emissions standards explicitly designed to limit human exposure to potentially harmful contaminants. The present system is therefore designed to protect human health. The evidence to date does not suggest a need to adopt a different approach however HPS keep the literature under review on an ongoing basis.

Question reference: S5F-00979

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 March 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 March 2017

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to the Samaritans' report, Dying from Inequality, which suggests that there is an increased risk of suicide in the most deprived communities.

Question reference: S5W-07237

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 6 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many women and girls have been diagnosed with toxic shock syndrome caused by tampon use in each of the last 10 years.

The number of women and girls diagnosed with toxic shock syndrome caused by tampon use is not held centrally. Information on the number of female patients aged 16 and over who have been diagnosed with toxic shock syndrome from any cause in an inpatient setting is shown in the following table.

Number of female patients aged 16 and older who were admitted to hospital with toxic shock syndrome from any cause (ICD-10 code A48.3), Financial years 2006-07 – 2015-16.

Financial Year	Number of individuals
2006-07	3
2007-08	12
2008-09	11
2009-10	4
2010-11	5
2011-12	7
2012-13	6
2013-14	8
2014.15	6
2015-16	5

Question reference: S5W-07477

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 February 2017
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 6 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review planning policy guidance on buffer zones between sensitive receptors and waste facilities.

Question reference: S5W-07249

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 2 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with homelessness organisations in relation to its mental health strategy, and how the strategy will address concerns regarding the impact of homelessness and the rising use of temporary accommodation on the mental health of young people.

During our engagement on the next Mental Health Strategy, we invited written responses on an engagement paper outlining our proposed priorities, and received nearly 600 responses.

The responses were independently analysed and a full report published online, which can be viewed at:

http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2016/12/1634/0

One of the groups suggested as a priority by respondents was people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

All of the feedback we received has helped shape our thinking on the forthcoming Strategy, including the evidence that shows there is a strong link between poor mental health and people experiencing housing problems and homelessness.

We will publish the Strategy in the coming weeks.

Question reference: S5W-07248

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 2 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the impact of homelessness and temporary accommodation on educational attainment.

There are a number of measures in place to ensure that children and young people living in families facing homelessness or living in temporary accommodation get the support they need to make the most of the opportunities that learning provides. For example, the Homeless Persons (Unsuitable Accommodation) (Scotland) Order 2014, sets a number of standards that need to be met in temporary accommodation for households with children. This includes the proximity to the school that any child is attending.

The Scottish Government has also published guidance on Meeting the Best Interests of Children Facing Homelessness which emphasises adopting the GIRFEC approach of multi-agency working and provides guidance on particular issues face by children living in households facing homelessness. This can be accessed at http://www.gov.scot/Topics/BuiltEnvironment/Housing/homeless/futurework/homelesschildren. This makes it clear that local authorities should assess and identify factors that may impact on a child’s well-being with particular reference to education.

Further, under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2014 (as amended), local authorities are under a duty to identify, provide for and review the additional support needs of children and young people for whom they are responsible.

There is support in place for young people facing financial barriers, to get the support they need to stay in education and increase their long term chances of getting a job. For example, Further Education students are able to receive a non-repayable bursary. Scottish domiciled students studying an undergraduate degree in Scotland can access paid tuition fees and a living cost support package of up to £7,625 from the Students Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS). The Education Maintenance Allowance also supports young people aged 16-19 from financially disadvantaged households to remain in post-compulsory education.

Question reference: S5W-07235

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 2 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many women have presented as homeless in each of the last five years.

Question reference: S5W-07441

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 2 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what the terms of reference will be for the group that it has agreed to lead to write new qualities and standards for school toilets.

The group agreed that the guidance will aim to:

Outline a framework for an effective toilet provision and management strategy that caters for all children and young people in our schools. The approach should be easy for schools to adopt but also ensure that children’s rights to hygienic, safe, respectful and private facilities are met.

Promote the implementation of a universal toilet provision and management strategy with the aim of maintaining a high standard of toilet provision and management practice standards in all Scottish schools.

Set a precedent for good toilet provision and management practice standards in future new build and refurbishment projects.

Question reference: S5W-07409

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 2 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether the group that it has agreed to lead to write new qualities and standards for school toilets will address the issue of sanitary item provision in schools.