Chamber and committees

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-22229

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 18 March 2019
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 28 March 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what the rate of re-offending has been for people convicted of sexual crimes in each year since 2010.

Reconviction rates for sexual crimes from 1997-98 to the most recent available year of 2015-16 are published in Table 6 of the National Statistics publication, Reconviction Rates in Scotland: 2015-16 Offender Cohort. The publication can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.scot/publications/reconviction-rates-scotland-2015-16-offender-cohort/pages/0/ .

Note that the reconviction rates shown in Table 6 includes reconvictions for all types of crime following a sexual crime. Table 7 in the publication separates out reconvictions by crime type.

Question reference: S5W-22228

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 18 March 2019
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 28 March 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what the rate of offending for sexual crimes has been in each year since 2010.

The latest rates of crimes per 10,000 population were published in the Recorded Crime in Scotland, 2017-18
available at https://www.gov.scot/publications/recorded-crime-scotland-2017-18/ (Table 8)

Sexual Crimes recorded in Scotland per 10,000 population, 2008-09 to 2017-18

Crime/Crime Group	2008- 09	2009- 10	2010- 11	2011- 12	2012- 13	2013- 14	2014- 15	2015- 16	2016- 17	2017- 18
Sexual crimes¹	12	12	13	14	14	16	18	19	21	23
Rape & attempted rape	2	2	2	2	3	3	4	3	3	4
Sexual assault	6	7	6	5	6	6	7	7	8	9
Crimes associated with prostitution	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	0	1	0
Other sexual crimes	3	3	3	5	5	5	7	8	9	10

1 - Implementation of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act on 1 December 2010 affected the comparability of the breakdown of Sexual crimes over time. For further information please see the ‘Data Considerations’ section under Sexual crimes within Chapter 3 of the Recorded crime in Scotland 2017-2018 publication ( https://www.gov.scot/publications/recorded-crime-scotland-2017-18/ )

Number of proceedings in Scotland per 10,000 population, 2008-09 to 2017-18

Crime/Crime group	2008- 09	2009- 10	2010- 11	2011- 12	2012- 13	2013- 14	2014- 15	2015- 16	2016- 17	2017- 18
Sexual crimes	2	2	2	2	2	3	3	3	3	3
Rape and attempted rape	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
Sexual assault	0	0	0	0	1	1	1	1	1	1
Crimes associated with prostitution	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Other sexual crimes	1	1	1	1	1	1	2	2	1	1

Number of convictions in Scotland per 10,000 population, 2008-09 to 2017-18

Crime/Crime Group	2008- 09	2009- 10	2010- 11	2011- 12	2012- 13	2013- 14	2014- 15	2015- 16	2016- 17	2017- 18
Sexual crimes	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2
Rape and attempted rape	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Sexual assault	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	1	1
Crimes associated with prostitution	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Other sexual crimes	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1

Question reference: S5W-22281

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 March 2019
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 28 March 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what its original target was for the growth in exportingfor 2010-17, expressed in (a) percentage terms and (b) value; what the actual figures were and, if the target was not met, (i) for what reason and (ii) what lessons it has learned.

The Scottish Government set an ambitious target to grow the value of Scottish exports by 50% between 2010 and 2017. This would have required a increase of approximately £11billion based on the value of exports calculated at the time. In 2017, Scottish exports increased to £32.4billion from £24.1billion in 2010, representing a 35% increase. This was a significant improvement compared with 18% growth over the previous eight years (2002 to 2010). The reasons the target was not achieved are complex and varied. The target period was marked by challenging global economic conditions and a worldwide slowdown in trade growth that was not unique to Scotland.

Nevertheless, we recognise that achieving a greater step change in Scotland's export performance will require a different approach. This will be set out shortly in the forthcoming Export Growth Plan, which is backed by a £20million investment in new actions to significantly grow the value of Scottish exports as a proportion of GDP. The Plan will be published by 1 May, subject to avoiding major disruption from Brexit.

Question reference: S5W-22314

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 March 2019
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 28 March 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comment by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy and Fair Work on 19 March 2019 (Official Report, c. 21) that "we are about to launch our exports strategy", by what date this strategy will be published.

Question reference: S5W-22227

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 18 March 2019
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 26 March 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the adequacy of the resources and arrangements for the monitoring of sex offenders deemed (a) high and (b) low risk.

This Government is committed to doing all it can to minimise the risks posed by Registered Sex Offenders (RSOs). This includes our support for multi-agency public protection arrangements (MAPPA) for RSOs. MAPPA arrangements provide a number of safeguards, this can include increased police monitoring. These arrangements also support the sharing of information to relevant agencies. The overall effect is more comprehensive risk assessment and more robust risk management planning.

It is for Police Scotland, local authorities, the Scottish Prison Service, and Health Boards, as the MAPPA ‘responsible authorities', to determine the arrangements necessary to meet the individual requirements, risks and circumstances of such offenders.

Question reference: S5W-21878

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 February 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 25 March 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether the living wage will be paid to all social care workers in the third sector for overnight care by 31 March 2019.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that the investment provided to Local Authorities to support the delivery of the real living wage commitment in social care including overnight support, reaches social care workers.

The Scottish Government wrote to Health and Social Care Partnerships on 19 October 2017, following the announcement of the extension of real living wage commitment to overnight support. It confirmed that the commitment was to be extended during 2018/19, giving time for local systems to prepare.

The Scottish Government has worked closely with COSLA, Integration Authorities, care providers and trade unions to ensure this policy is implemented successfully. It is recognised that progress has been made in implementing the commitment, but challenges remain in some areas. I therefore wrote to Local Authority Chief Executives and Integration Authority Chief Officers on 20 December 2018 setting out expectations that rates for overnight support should be based on the real living wage. The letter noted that many Local Authorities had already passed on additional resources provided by Scottish Government to meet this commitment, but some had not. The letter asked that every effort be put in place by the end of January to demonstrate how the commitment will be implemented by end March 2019.

As I discussed with Ms Baillie at our meeting on 13 March, we are aware that there continues to be positive movement on agreement of local rates and where challenges remain, the Scottish Government and COSLA will continue to work with local partners to address these.

Question reference: S5W-22038

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 March 2019
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 20 March 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has updated the estimate set out in its consultation paper, Investing in and paying for your water services from 2021, that "between 10-15% of households pay more than 3% of net household income after housing costs on water charges", and, if so, what the revised figure is.

Question reference: S5W-22039

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 March 2019
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 20 March 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-21944 by Roseanna Cunningham on 7 March 2019, whether the Principles of Charging and Ministerial Objectives will be framed to provide support for people who are least able to afford water charges by ensuring that there is no overall increase in the number of households paying 3% of net income of these charges after housing costs.

As referred to in the answer to S5W-21944, my officials will continue to work with industry stakeholders to determine how the Scottish Government can continue to keep customer charges as low as practicable and provide support for those members of society that are least able to afford those payments. The final Principles of Charging and Ministerial Objectives will be published no later than June 2020, the date set out in the industry timetable.

Question reference: S5W-21792

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 25 February 2019
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 13 March 2019

To ask the Scottish Government which projects were taken forward by the ScotRail Alliance during Control Period 5, and whether it will set out the spend and approval, start and completion dates for each.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-21791 on 13 March 2019. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

The funding for Network Rail is planned and regulated by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) and projects included in the ORR’s final determination for CP5 can be accessed via the following links:-

Scottish projects can be found on page 343 of the Control Period 5 Determination:https://orr.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/452/pr13-final-determination.pdf .

In addition details on Scottish projects can be found in Network Rail’s Enhancement Delivery plan: https://cdn.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/EDP-December-2018.pdf .

Question reference: S5W-21791

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 25 February 2019
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 13 March 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what funding was available to the ScotRail Alliance during Control Period 5.

The ScotRail Alliance enables Abellio ScotRail and Network Rail to work together to deliver against their respective remits.

Abellio ScotRail, through their contract with Scottish Ministers have been allocated £1.5 billion in Control Period 5 (2014-2019).

Network Rail is regulated by the Office of Rail and Road and Scottish Ministers have invested £2.1bn via direct grant paid to Network Rail. They also have access to £3.3bn of public borrowing.