Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-35227

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 14 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the development of its plan to issue bonds.

The Scottish Government published a further update to the work on Scottish Government bonds alongside the 2025-26 Scottish Budget https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781836910558.

This explains the outcome of the initial phase of due diligence and the work required in the next stage in the due diligence process. This phase will include timing considerations for an inaugural issuance given market conditions and related events.

The Scottish Government remains committed to ensuring Parliament is updated on this work as it progresses.

Question reference: S6W-35633

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 March 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 27 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that unpaid carers have (a) timely access to social care support and (b) breaks from caring.

Question reference: S6W-35634

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 March 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 27 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that unpaid carers can access (a) regular health checks and (b) flexible healthcare appointments, as outlined in the carers strategy.

Question reference: S6W-35582

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 March 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 27 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many official visits by a First Minister have been made to each Scottish Parliament constituency since the start of the current parliamentary session.

Question reference: S6W-35077

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jackson Carlaw (on behalf of the SPCB) on 12 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will consider seeking Period Positive Workplace certification, to build on its existing Period and Menopause Policy.

The SPCB’s approach to partnerships and accreditations is governed by our Diversity and Inclusion commitments and aims. The SPCB assesses accreditations having regard to issues such as budget and resource implications (including staff time to achieve the accreditation), alignment with the SPCB’s purpose and values, and the extent to which the accreditation supports the delivery of strategic aims and alignment with our policies, practices and procedures. While the SPCB does not intend to apply for Period Positive Workplace certification at this time, the SPCB is confident, having reviewed the Period Positive Workplace implementation plan, that it already has arrangements in place which are recognised as best practice for an inclusive, period positive workplace. This includes providing free period products in all toilets within Holyrood, a Period and Menopause policy and guidance for managers in supporting their staff. In order to ensure that this continues to be the case, the SPCB is committed to reviewing its Period and Menopause Policy so that it continues to meet the needs of its staff.

Question reference: S6W-35249

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 12 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government on what dates since 1 January 2025 the Cabinet Secretary for Transport has met representatives of (a) ScotRail and (b) the Caledonian Sleeper to discuss plans to procure new trains.

Question reference: S6W-35286

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 11 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the speech by the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health as part of the debate on motion S6M-16353 on 6 February 2025, whether the work to roll out baby loss suites in all territorial NHS boards will be completed by the end of 2025.

The Scottish Government committed through the Programme for Government 2023 – 24, published on 5 September 2023, to improving miscarriage care, including the provision of separate private spaces in hospitals with maternity wards for women experiencing pregnancy and baby loss.

The Delivery Framework for Miscarriage Care, published on 6 February 2025, sets out that those experiencing miscarriage at any stage of pregnancy should be seen in a separate private space appropriate for bereavement. This action carries a priority category of “N” which means this should be implemented within 6 months from 1 April 2025.

Question reference: S6W-35245

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 11 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) North Lanarkshire, (b) South Lanarkshire and (c) Falkirk Council regarding underage vaping, including the sale of vapes to these young people.

The Scottish Government has not had specific discussions with North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire or Falkirk Council about underage vaping, including the sale of vapes to young people.

We work closely with the Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland (SCOTSS) on underage sales of vapes. SCOTSS provides an overview of the action taken at a local level on underage sales of vapes and provides an opportunity for concerns to be raised.

As members of the COSLA Trading Standards Policy and Co-ordination Group we are able to work with a range of stakeholders at national and local level on the topic of youth vaping.

Question reference: S6W-35232

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 11 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-34459 by Jim Fairlie on 19 February 2025, whether the guidance that is in development regarding the welfare of farmed fish at the time of slaughter will be placed on a statutory footing, and by what date it will be published.

We are carefully considering the recommendations in the UK Farm Animal Welfare Committee report from 2014 and its updated opinion of February 2023, in conjunction with the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs and Islands Committee’s follow-up inquiry report into fish farming that was published on
17 January 2025.

The welfare of farmed fish at the time of slaughter is assured by Article 3.1 of retained Council Regulation (EC) 1099/2009 and as such we have no immediate plans to introduce further legislation. However, once engagement with the industry and other stakeholders is complete, the guidance we intend to publish will provide flexibility for the industry to quickly adopt new technology and management techniques to improve fish welfare at time of slaughter.

Question reference: S6W-35247

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 11 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an assessment of trends in the level of demand on the NHS for the type 2 diabetes treatment, Ozempic.

The data for the number of people being prescribed Ozempic by year in Scotland can be found in the following table.

To note: the table contains prescribing data for Ozempic only and does not include data for those being prescribed other branded semaglutide medicines.

Paid Calendar Year	Number of Paid Items
2020	19,945
2021	30,584
2022	44,022
2023	47,086
2024	38,690

As always, it remains a clinical decision to prescribe Ozempic or any other medication in line with prescribing guidance and in consultation with the individual to ensure that they have taken into account the patient’s clinical condition and own individual circumstances.

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