Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-35290

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 28 February 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 14 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on existing health and safety legislation regarding the provision of single-sex toilets.

Question reference: S6W-35289

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 28 February 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 14 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has contacted public sector organisations to clarify health and safety workplace regulations regarding the use of single-sex toilets, and, if not, whether it plans to do so.

Question reference: S6W-35292

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 28 February 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 14 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to make the provision of single-sex toilets a condition for receiving public funds, where an organisation occupies or owns a relevant building.

Question reference: S6W-34309

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 27 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support alcohol-related brain damage services, in light of Public Heath Scotland data reportedly stating that there were over 1,000 more alcohol-related hospital admissions in 2024, compared with 2023.

The Scottish Government provides local services with support through funding to ensure care is available for alcohol-related brain damage though a range of social care, healthcare community and residential services. The Scottish Government remains committed to doing all it can to reduce harm caused by alcohol through any of these support services.

The UK’s first Clinical Guidelines for Alcohol Treatment will be published shortly and will include guidance for services on care for those with alcohol-related brain damage, supporting the wider improvement of alcohol treatment across Scotland.

Question reference: S6O-04396

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 February 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported view of the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland that proposed changes to legislation on religious observance diverge from the recommendation by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child to allow young people to independently opt out of religious observance at school.

Question reference: S6W-34386

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 03 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 25 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report, Dietary Intake in Scotland’s CHildren (DISH), which found that only 8% of children meet the recommended Scottish dietary goal for free sugars.

I note the publication of the Dietary Intake in Scotland’s Children (DISH) report. It is disappointing that the DISH report found that only 8% of children are meeting the recommended Scottish dietary goal for free sugars. The Scottish Government recognises the impact that excess sugar consumption can have on children and young people’s health.

Scottish Government are committed to improving the diets of children and young people. We are continuing to support the roll out of universal Free School Meals, meaning more children can access free nutritious food and drink on each day they attend school.

The Scottish Government funds regional Community Food Networks and the Healthy Living Programme. Both projects support individuals and families to access affordable healthier food options, particularly in lower income areas.

The Scottish Government continues to focus on improving the food environment to support young people to make healthier choices, including future regulation of promotions of foods high in salt, sugar and fat. We also welcome the UK Government's move to introduce legislation to restrict advertising of less healthy food and drink and will be supporting its implementation in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-34382

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 03 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 25 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when its next meeting with the A77 Campaign Group will take place, and when it plans to host a roundtable meeting with the A77 Campaign Group and other interested stakeholders on issues regarding the A77.

I had a productive meeting with members of the A77 Campaign Group on the 21 November 2024. Following that my officials from Transport Scotland last met with the A77 Campaign Group on 5 December 2024 as part of a regular series of meetings that they have with the group. The next meeting date has yet to finalised, however, it is likely to be in April 2025.

With respect to hosting a roundtable meeting, I intend to convene this in the near future with a focussed group of transport stakeholders from the south west, including members of the campaign group. My officials are currently making arrangements.

Question reference: S6W-34387

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 03 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 25 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the diets of adolescents aged 11 to 15.

The Scottish Government recognises that improving children’s dietary health and increasing levels of healthy weight are complex issues that require a range of collaborative actions by governments and stakeholders.

The Scottish Government is committed to improving adolescents’ diets including through range of actions, for instance strengthening the provision of balanced and nutritious school meals food to children and young people. Eligible pupils in Primary 6 through to Secondary 6 can benefit from free school meals in Scotland.

In addition, the Scottish Government initiated a partnership between Young Scot and the Scottish Grocers Federation to explore and pilot use of the Young Scot National Entitlement Card to buy healthier options.

The Scottish Government continues to focus on improving the food environment to support young people to make healthier choices including future regulation of promotions of foods high in salt, sugar and fat. We also welcome the UK Government's move to introduce legislation to restrict advertising of less healthy food and drink and will be supporting its implementation in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-34383

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 03 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 25 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has had any recent discussions with the UK Government regarding A77 upgrades.

Question reference: S6W-34388

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 03 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 25 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has conducted an analysis of the potential impact that introducing regulations on food and drink high in fat, sugar and salt will have on children’s diets.

The Scottish Government has undertaken a range of analysis and assessment as part of developing proposals on potential regulation of the promotion of food and drink high in salt, sugar and fat. This analysis will be set out in a suite of impact assessments including a Child Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment, which considers, among other things, the potential impact of regulations on children and young people’s diets.

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