Siobhan McMahon MSP

That the Parliament welcomes the opening of the new Asda store in Larkhall, which, it understands, will create up to 160 full- and part-time jobs in the area; believes that, with around one third of the company's staff in Scotland aged from 16 to 24, Asda is helping to provide young people with a first step on to the employment ladder; understands that Asda hires on the basis of attitude and develops skills through its training, which provides a route out of unemployment for many people struggling to access the jobs market; further understands that the company accounts for around 8% of all retail jobs in Scotland and employs over 3,000 staff across Central Scotland, and congratulates all of those involved in bringing much-needed full- and part-time jobs to the South Lanarkshire area.

That the Parliament welcomes the opening of the new Asda store in Larkhall, which, it understands, will create up to 160 full- and part-time jobs in the area; believes that, with around one third of the company's staff in Scotland aged from 16 to 24, Asda is helping to provide young people with a first step on to the employment ladder; understands that Asda hires on the basis of attitude and develops skills through its training, which provides a route out of unemployment for many people struggling to access the jobs market; further understands that the company accounts for around 8% of all retail jobs in Scotland and employs over 3,000 staff across Central Scotland, and congratulates all of those involved in bringing much-needed full- and part-time jobs to the South Lanarkshire area.

That the Parliament congratulates the NHS Lanarkshire North East Unit Health Improvement Team on its Smear Amnesty campaign, which was highly commended at the 2012 Cervical Screening Awards run by Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust; considers that this award is fitting recognition of the Smear Amnesty campaign, which judges described as an innovative project showing positive work among different communities; understands that the Smear Amnesty campaign targeted individual non-attenders and worked with key organisations in the community to run education sessions on the benefits of screening; understands that Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, which launched the Cervical Screening Awards in 2010 during Cervical Screening week, is the UK’s only charity dedicated to supporting women affected by cervical cancer and cervical abnormalities; further understands that around three women in the UK die each day from cervical cancer, and that over 300,000 women a year are told that they may have a cervical abnormality requiring treatment; believes that the NHS Cervical Screening Programme saves an estimated 5,000 lives every year, and welcomes the announcement by NHS Lanarkshire that it plans to extend the Smear Amnesty campaign across the whole of Lanarkshire.

That the Parliament congratulates the NHS Lanarkshire North East Unit Health Improvement Team on its Smear Amnesty campaign, which was highly commended at the 2012 Cervical Screening Awards run by Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust; considers that this award is fitting recognition of the Smear Amnesty campaign, which judges described as an innovative project showing positive work among different communities; understands that the Smear Amnesty campaign targeted individual non-attenders and worked with key organisations in the community to run education sessions on the benefits of screening; understands that Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, which launched the Cervical Screening Awards in 2010 during Cervical Screening week, is the UK’s only charity dedicated to supporting women affected by cervical cancer and cervical abnormalities; further understands that around three women in the UK die each day from cervical cancer, and that over 300,000 women a year are told that they may have a cervical abnormality requiring treatment; believes that the NHS Cervical Screening Programme saves an estimated 5,000 lives every year, and welcomes the announcement by NHS Lanarkshire that it plans to extend the Smear Amnesty campaign across the whole of Lanarkshire.

That the Parliament welcomes the news that the Airdrie-based company, Inver House Distillers, is supporting an initiative by the Children’s Safety Education Foundation to provide healthy lifestyle information booklets to schools in North Lanarkshire; notes that the initiative is aimed at children aged between 7 and 11 and highlights the dangers of substance abuse and the impact that it can have on a person's life;  further notes that participating schools include Chapelhall and St Timothy’s primaries in Airdrie and St Andrew’s High School in Coatbridge; understands that this is the first year that Inver House Distillers has supported the initiative throughout Scotland and that there are plans to extend the scheme to other areas in the vicinity of Inver House distilleries; considers that this initiative will play a valuable role in increasing awareness among young people of the dangers of alcohol, smoking and substance abuse, and hopes that other manufacturers and distributors of alcoholic drinks will support similar schemes across Scotland.

That the Parliament welcomes the news that the Airdrie-based company, Inver House Distillers, is supporting an initiative by the Children’s Safety Education Foundation to provide healthy lifestyle information booklets to schools in North Lanarkshire; notes that the initiative is aimed at children aged between 7 and 11 and highlights the dangers of substance abuse and the impact that it can have on a person's life;  further notes that participating schools include Chapelhall and St Timothy’s primaries in Airdrie and St Andrew’s High School in Coatbridge; understands that this is the first year that Inver House Distillers has supported the initiative throughout Scotland and that there are plans to extend the scheme to other areas in the vicinity of Inver House distilleries; considers that this initiative will play a valuable role in increasing awareness among young people of the dangers of alcohol, smoking and substance abuse, and hopes that other manufacturers and distributors of alcoholic drinks will support similar schemes across Scotland.

That the Parliament recognises that the week of 15 to 19 October 2012 is Hemiplegia Awareness Week; understands that hemiplegia, which is caused by damage to a part of the brain, can occur before or during birth and affects 1 in 1,000 children across the UK; notes that hemiplegia affects either the right or left side of the body with varying degrees of weakness, resulting in limited control to the affected side, with possible so-called hidden problems such as epilepsy or visual or speech impairment; considers that Hemiplegia Awareness Week represents a valuable opportunity to increase knowledge and understanding of hemiplegia, especially the impact that it has on individuals and their families; believes that a great deal more can be done to help individuals and families affected by the condition, and calls on individuals and organisations across society to support and participate in Hemiplegia Awareness Week.

That the Parliament recognises that the week of 15 to 19 October 2012 is Hemiplegia Awareness Week; understands that hemiplegia, which is caused by damage to a part of the brain, can occur before or during birth and affects 1 in 1,000 children across the UK; notes that hemiplegia affects either the right or left side of the body with varying degrees of weakness, resulting in limited control to the affected side, with possible so-called hidden problems such as epilepsy or visual or speech impairment; considers that Hemiplegia Awareness Week represents a valuable opportunity to increase knowledge and understanding of hemiplegia, especially the impact that it has on individuals and their families; believes that a great deal more can be done to help individuals and families affected by the condition, and calls on individuals and organisations across society to support and participate in Hemiplegia Awareness Week.

That the Parliament congratulates the North Lanarkshire Healthy Living Project, which is led by Charles Fawcett, on its school partnership visit to Mulanje, Malawi, from 5 to 20 June 2012; understands that a tremendous contribution was made toward this by the Girls Go For Health groups from Coatbridge High School and St Margaret’s High School, Airdrie; notes that the Coatbridge group, which included Amy Tedford, Megan Davidson and Karen McMillan, was led by its teacher, Ashleigh Sneddon and the Airdrie group, which included Rachael Nixon, Kathryn Ann McGoldrick and Katie Dunbar, was led by Catherine McNee; also notes the contribution of Andy McKay, Callum Creaney, Callum McKay and Kenny McKay, who took part in the health promotion activities, and believes that the pupils and staff acted as great ambassadors for Scotland and that, as a result, have further strengthened what are considered Scotland’s unique links with Malawi.

That the Parliament congratulates the North Lanarkshire Healthy Living Project, which is led by Charles Fawcett, on its school partnership visit to Mulanje, Malawi, from 5 to 20 June 2012; understands that a tremendous contribution was made toward this by the Girls Go For Health groups from Coatbridge High School and St Margaret’s High School, Airdrie; notes that the Coatbridge group, which included Amy Tedford, Megan Davidson and Karen McMillan, was led by its teacher, Ashleigh Sneddon and the Airdrie group, which included Rachael Nixon, Kathryn Ann McGoldrick and Katie Dunbar, was led by Catherine McNee; also notes the contribution of Andy McKay, Callum Creaney, Callum McKay and Kenny McKay, who took part in the health promotion activities, and believes that the pupils and staff acted as great ambassadors for Scotland and that, as a result, have further strengthened what are considered Scotland’s unique links with Malawi.

To ask the Scottish Government whether the activities of the Football Co-ordination Unit Scotland are limited to (a) football stadia or (b) locations in close proximity to football stadia.

To ask the Scottish Government whether the activities of the Football Co-ordination Unit Scotland are limited to (a) football stadia or (b) locations in close proximity to football stadia.

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) domestic cleaning staff and (b) outside cleaning contractors have been employed by NHS Lanarkshire in each year since 2007.

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) domestic cleaning staff and (b) outside cleaning contractors have been employed by NHS Lanarkshire in each year since 2007.

To ask the Scottish Government what criteria are used by managers when cleaning audits are carried out in hospital wards in NHS Lanarkshire.

To ask the Scottish Government what criteria are used by managers when cleaning audits are carried out in hospital wards in NHS Lanarkshire.

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S40-02044 by Roseanna Cunningham on 25 April 2013, how many of the people convicted could not have been charged under legislation in place prior to the commencement of the Offensive Behaviour and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012.

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S40-02044 by Roseanna Cunningham on 25 April 2013, how many of the people convicted could not have been charged under legislation in place prior to the commencement of the Offensive Behaviour and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012.

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4O-02044 by Roseanna Cunningham on 25 April 2013, how many of the people charged were subsequently tried and what the conviction rate was.

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4O-02044 by Roseanna Cunningham on 25 April 2013, how many of the people charged were subsequently tried and what the conviction rate was.