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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-25530

Asked by: Jenny Gilruth, MSP for Mid Fife and Glenrothes, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 September 2019
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by John Swinney on 27 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what the scope and timescale is for the forthcoming independent review of the senior phase in school.

The process to develop the scope and remit of the independent review is underway, and we will work with our local and national partners to agree this through the Curriculum and Assessment Board. It will be able to call on a range of existing evidence, including inspection evidence and the recent survey of secondary head teachers. In addition, my officials have been in discussion with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development to explore the contribution it can make to the review. I would expect the work to begin in November.

Question reference: S5O-03610

Asked by: Jenny Gilruth, MSP for Mid Fife and Glenrothes, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 September 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 October 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on planned improvements to the A92 in the Glenrothes area.

Question reference: S5W-25402

Asked by: Jenny Gilruth, MSP for Mid Fife and Glenrothes, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 September 2019
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 19 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what further steps it will take to protect children and young people from exposure to alcohol marketing.

Tackling the attractiveness of alcohol through restricting alcohol marketing is central to our Alcohol Framework 2018 : Preventing Harm.

I have committed to consulting on a range of potential measures to restrict alcohol marketing. I am pleased to announce that, as part of that consultation work, we have commissioned Young Scot to facilitate a co-design project on alcohol marketing, with young people in Scotland.

Over the next six months, the Young Scot Health Panel will explore the extent of alcohol marketing in Scotland, the effectiveness of the current regulatory system and make recommendations on how alcohol marketing in Scotland might be restricted. This will build on the Children’s Parliament’s project on an alcohol-free childhood.

The young people’s views and findings will feed into our public consultation on potential measures to restrict alcohol marketing. I will issue this in Spring 2020.

Question reference: S5O-03584

Asked by: Jenny Gilruth, MSP for Mid Fife and Glenrothes, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 September 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider the implementation of Lucy's Law in Scotland in order to ban the selling of puppies by pet shops and other third party dealers.

Question reference: S5O-03502

Asked by: Jenny Gilruth, MSP for Mid Fife and Glenrothes, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 September 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the contact assessment model pilot.

Question reference: S5W-25063

Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Withdrawn

Question reference: S5W-24987

Asked by: Jenny Gilruth, MSP for Mid Fife and Glenrothes, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 August 2019
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Jeane Freeman on 29 August 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its Programme for Government commitment to consult on legislation to improve forensic medical services for victims of rape and sexual assault.

The Scottish Government’s consultation paper asking for views on legislative proposals to improve forensic medical services for victims of rape and sexual assault was published for response for 12 weeks, between 15 February and 8 May 2019.

Amongst views sought, the paper set out proposals on introducing direct statutory functions on NHS boards to provide forensic medical services and healthcare support to all victims, including those who have chosen not to report the crime to police, or are undecided, but wish to undergo examination and access support (known as “self-referral”).

Where we have permission to do so, we have published moderated responses at https://consult.gov.scot/equally-safe/equally-safe-improve-forensic-medical-services/ .

Scottish Government has also held consultation events with representatives from Police Scotland, the Scottish Police Authority (SPA), the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), NHS Scotland, Rape Crisis Scotland and survivors to explore the development of a consistent national model for self-referral.

Scottish Government has today published an Analysis Report of views expressed through consultation at http://www.gov.scot/ISBN/9781839600647 .

We will fully consider all views expressed through consultation. This will ensure any legislation brought forward as a result is fully considered, supports delivery and is informed by those who have lived experienced of rape or sexual assault.

Subject to the finalisation of the government's legislative programme, it remains the intention to legislate in this area in the current parliamentary session.

Question reference: S5W-24216

Asked by: Jenny Gilruth, MSP for Mid Fife and Glenrothes, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 July 2019
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Clare Haughey on 4 July 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, following the resignation of the chair, Dr Dame Denise Coia, when it will provide an update on the future of the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Taskforce, and when it will publish the taskforce's recommendations.

I can today announce, on behalf of the Scottish Government and COSLA, that the work of the Children & Young People’s Mental Health Taskforce will be taken forward by a new programme board – the Children & Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Programme Board .

The Board, which will be jointly chaired by the Scottish Government Director of Mental Health and the COSLA Head of Policy, will report directly to me and the COSLA Health and Social Care, and Children and Young People spokespersons. The scope of the Board’s work, with an emphasis on delivery and action between now and the end of 2020, will be to oversee reforms. The scope will include relevant areas of education, health, community and children’s services and wider areas that impact on the mental health and wellbeing of children. This will include the recommendations of the Taskforce and the Youth Commission on Mental Health.

This announcement today reflects the next steps in a partnership between the Scottish Government and COSLA aimed at making sure that our children and young people and their families are able to get the right support at the right time from specialist mental health services and community support services. The Taskforce’s vision will guide our approach to making real change. In line with their recommendations, there will be a focus on prevention, early intervention and promoting good mental health. This will be underpinned by the values and principles of GIRFEC and will be responsive to local needs and systems.

We are very grateful to Dr Dame Denise Coia for her considered and collaborative work in leading the Taskforce and her strong guiding presence. We are also grateful to all of the Taskforce and workstream members who gave their time, energy and commitment.

Membership of the Board will include representatives of NHS Chief Executives; Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE); Integration Joint Board Chief Officers; Directors of Education and Children’s Services (ADES); Social Work Scotland; the Royal College of GPs; the Royal College of Nursing; the Association of Educational Psychologists, Directors of Public Health, the Third Sector; other allied health professionals, youth workers and parents (NPF). We will also make use of the services of a participation officer whose role will be to make the appropriate links with children and young people to ensure that a level of co-production applies and their voices are at the centre.

I anticipate that the first meeting of the new Board will take place in August 2019.

Question reference: S5O-03390

Asked by: Jenny Gilruth, MSP for Mid Fife and Glenrothes, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 June 2019
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 13 June 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how much pupil equity funding has been spent in the Mid Fife and Glenrothes constituency since its introduction.

Schools in the Mid Fife and Glenrothes Constituency reported spending £1,205,966 of their Pupil Equity Funding in 2017/18.

Detail of spend for 2018/19 is still being collected and will be published later this year.

Pupil Equity Funding, part of the £750m Scottish Attainment Challenge, is giving additional resources to schools across the country so that they provide targeted support for their children, families and who most need it.

Question reference: S5O-03324

Asked by: Jenny Gilruth, MSP for Mid Fife and Glenrothes, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 May 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 June 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how it is tackling unemployment in the Mid Fife and Glenrothes constituency.