- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 26 June 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 6 July 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-17549 by Maree Todd on 15 May 2023, whether it will provide an update regarding the date on which its new Mental Health and Wellbeing strategy will be published.
Answer
The Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy was published on 29 June 2023, along with an Executive Summary and Easy Read version. A programme of stakeholder engagement will take place over the Summer on the accompanying Delivery Plan, with the intention of publishing it alongside the Workforce Action Plan in the Autumn. The Strategy is available online at Mental health and wellbeing strategy - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 30 June 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 6 July 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-18270 by Michael Matheson on 1 June 2023, whether it will provide a list of all future meetings in 2023 of the short-life working group, established by the Managed Service Network for Children and Young People with Cancer (MSNCYPC) to carry out a robust workforce review and mapping exercise of posts across the network.
Answer
The Workforce Short Life Working Group set up through the Managed Service Network for Children and Young People with Cancer (MSN CYPC) has now concluded and no future meetings are planned.
As agreed by the MSN Board a Workforce Planning and Development Group will be established to review the pharmacy and Allied Healthcare Professional lead roles which were proposed as part of the 2020 workforce plan but have yet to be recruited to. This Group will also focus on education and training for the wider MSN CYPC community.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 16 June 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 3 July 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to increase funding for skills related to retrofitting, in light of its announced policy to ban gas boilers in all new building developments, and, if so, whether it can provide details.
Answer
Ensuring that we have a suitably qualified workforce in place will be imperative for delivering a smooth rollout of energy efficiency and zero emission heating measures which will support us to achieve our net zero ambitions.
We currently offer support to the sector through a number of schemes which includes the Low Carbon Skills Grant which is available to heating and plumbing apprentices to undertake heat pump training as part of their qualification.
To further ensure the quality of works carried out we also provide funding to assist Scottish SMEs installing heat pumps in achieving MCS certification for the first time through the MCS Certification Fund.
We will continue to keep our offers of support under review to ensure that they are aligned at a local level with business needs and future local demands.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 June 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 28 June 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what consultation it held with the (a) Lord President of the Court of Session and (b) Lord Advocate, regarding clauses 19, 20, 21 and 49 of the Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill.
Answer
In developing the Bill, the Scottish Government engaged extensively with key stakeholders, including legal stakeholders such as the Scottish judiciary as well as carrying out a full public consultation exercise. This engagement has culminated in careful consideration of a wide range of views by Scottish Ministers.
This has led to the Bill as introduced into the Scottish Parliament which will implement a modern regulatory framework that will best promote competition, innovation, and the public and consumer interest in an efficient, effective, and efficient legal sector, while also improving the transparency and accountability of legal services regulation and the legal complaints system.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 June 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 28 June 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet has considered the matter of state intervention in the legal services sector, and, if so, when it last discussed this matter.
Answer
The role of legal services are central to the protection of human rights and freedoms, playing a vital role in upholding the rule of law and providing access to justice.
In this regard, the Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill sets out a regulatory objective “to protect and promote the interests of consumers and the wider public interest”. There must be a public interest in ensuring that the basic needs of all citizens are satisfied.
Ministers are clear in their understanding of the need for independence in the legal profession, the Bill sets out a regulatory objective “to promote an independent, strong and diverse legal profession”.
There remains a need for regulation to operate in the public interest as well as that of the legal profession. Therefore, there should be a process to review the performance of a regulator in the light of issues being raised on how and whether regulators are delivering their regulatory objectives and the operation of regulation in relation to the public interest.
The provisions contained in the Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill were considered by Cabinet in advance of the Bill being introduced to the Scottish Parliament.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 June 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 28 June 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will be developing any further safeguards with regard to state control over the legal services sector, in addition to those outlined in the Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill.
Answer
The Scottish Government very much recognise the importance of an independent legal profession and is committed to maintaining that independence.
The Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill retains and builds on the current oversight role of the Lord President of the Court of Session in respect of the legal regulatory framework in Scotland as well as providing necessary checks and balances. The Bill incorporates safeguards that deliver a balance between the independence of the legal profession with their duty to work in the public interest.
The Scottish Government is committed to continue engagement with stakeholders representing both the consumer and the legal perspective as the Bill proceeds through Parliament.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 June 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 28 June 2023
To ask the Scottish Government when it will next meet with the Law Society of Scotland to discuss the Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill.
Answer
I met with the Law Society of Scotland to discuss the Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill on 24 May 2023.
The Scottish Government continues to engage with the Law Society and is committed to continue engagement with stakeholders representing both consumer and legal perspectives as the Bill proceeds through Parliament.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 June 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 28 June 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what consultations it has held with the legal services sector, regarding the Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill, not including the formal Bill consultation process.
Answer
As well as the full public consultation, the development of the Bill was a result of extensive engagement with key stakeholders including a number of bodies and organisations representing the legal and the consumer perspective.
This engagement informed the consultation proposals and the measures in the Bill aim to provide for a proportionate approach that balances and delivers the key priorities of stakeholders.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 16 June 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 27 June 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what immediate action it is taking in response to reports of rising levels of hate crimes being committed.
Answer
The Scottish Government unequivocally condemns any form of hate crime. The latest figures from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service are a reminder to redouble our efforts to tackle hate and confront prejudice wherever it occurs. We are resolute in our commitment to tackling all incidents of hate crime and we encourage everyone who experiences or witnesses hate crime to report it directly to the police or by using a third party reporting centre.
In March, we published a new Hate Crime Strategy which sets out our vision for a Scotland where everyone lives free from hatred and prejudice, and where our communities are empowered, inclusive and safe. The strategy makes a number of commitments including ensuring improved support for victims of hate crime, improving data and evidence on hate crime and developing effective approaches to preventing hate crime. It will also support implementation of the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021.
A delivery plan, setting out our immediate and longer term activity, will be published later this year.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 08 June 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Natalie Don on 27 June 2023
To ask the Scottish Government when its ministers last met the CEO of The Promise Scotland.
Answer
On 13 June the Cabinet met with Fraser McKinlay – Chief Executive Officer of The Promise Scotland and Fiona Duncan – Chair of The Promise Scotland and Independent Strategic Advisor for the Promise.