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-12291

Asked by: Gordon Lindhurst, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 14 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the contribution that the City of Edinburgh Music School makes towards (a) culture in Scotland and (b) the country's international reputation with regards to musical performance, production and teaching.

Question reference: S5W-12292

Asked by: Gordon Lindhurst, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 13 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what funding it provides to the City of Edinburgh Council towards the running of the City of Edinburgh Council Music School, and what would happen to that funding if the local authority was to close the school and sought to redistribute its services.

The Scottish Government does not allocate funding directly to the Centres of Excellence, which include the City of Edinburgh Music School, but rather it supports these schools by providing funding through the local government settlement. The Scottish Government highly values the role of all six centres of excellence in Scotland, including the City of Edinburgh Music School. We note that the City of Edinburgh Council has now withdrawn proposals which would have affected the City of Edinburgh Music School from its 2017-18 budget consultation.

However, the original distribution of the settlement agreed between the Scottish Government and COSLA assumes the City of Edinburgh Music School continues. If City of Edinburgh Council were to withdraw this service, this could impact on the future distribution of these former ring fenced funds. The Scottish Government’s view would be that it would not be appropriate for City of Edinburgh Council to benefit, at the expense of other councils, in relation to a facility they no longer provide.

Question reference: S5O-01428

Asked by: Gordon Lindhurst, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 November 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its strategy to tackle climate change, what action it is taking to reduce vehicle emissions.

Question reference: S5W-11866

Asked by: Gordon Lindhurst, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 06 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 31 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether the removal of rates relief from arms-length external organisations is consistent with the policy in its Programme for Government to work with local authorities to support people to live an active lifestyle through access to walking, cycling and places to participate in physical activity.

Question reference: S5W-11864

Asked by: Gordon Lindhurst, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 06 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 31 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what arms-length external organisations it has met and had discussions with ahead of deciding whether or not to action certain recommendations of the Barclay review of non-domestic rates.

Question reference: S5W-11867

Asked by: Gordon Lindhurst, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 06 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 31 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what value of rates relief has been given to arms-length external organisations in each of the last five years.

Question reference: S5W-11865

Asked by: Gordon Lindhurst, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 06 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 31 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what calculation it has made of the economic effects on arms-length external organisations if rates relief is removed.

Question reference: S5O-01400

Asked by: Gordon Lindhurst, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 October 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to encourage growth in the retail sector.

Question reference: S5W-11599

Asked by: Gordon Lindhurst, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 25 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether (a) age check arrangements should be introduced for online knife sales and (b) people who buy knives online should be required to collect their purchase in person.

Within Scotland we are sadly all too aware of the tragic consequences of young people ordering illegal weapons online with inadequate checks on delivery.

I believe that tackling the irresponsible online sale of knives is something that needs to be addressed on a UK wide level, as it is clear that internet sales and deliveries cross borders. That is why I raised this matter with the UK Government earlier this year and they agreed that we should work together to develop a UK solution.

Subsequently the Home Office published a consultation paper

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/offensive-and-dangerous-weapons-new-legislation on 14 October. The Scottish Government welcomes this public consultation which is open to views from across the UK. All responses from Scottish respondents (or where there is a reference to the position in Scotland, or taking a UK wide approach) will be shared with the Scottish Government and will be carefully considered by us in conjunction with the Home Office.

We are committed to taking action in relation to the online sale of knives and the Scottish Government will work closely with the UK Government as the details of specific proposals are developed.

Question reference: S5W-11598

Asked by: Gordon Lindhurst, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 12 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5O-01302 by John Swinney on 27 September 2017, what effect the new guidance on managing incidents involving weapons in schools has had.

The Scottish Government published its refreshed national guidance, Included Engaged and Involved Part 2: A Positive Approach to Preventing and Managing School Exclusions on 19 June 2017. This refreshed guidance contained a new section on managing incidents in schools that involve weapons.

Since the publication, Education Scotland have been working with local authorities to reinforce the key messages, including the need for local guidance on managing incidents involving weapons. Many local authorities have updated or are in the process of updating their guidance relating to this and have taken into account the key messages which are contained in the refreshed guidance. This includes: the need for staff to be trained and supported in de-escalation and in managing incidents involving weapons; the need to record incidents and for incidents to be referred to the Headteacher, and where necessary, referral to the police to ensure the safety of all.

In addition, at the Scottish Learning Festival, over 100 delegates registered for the implementation session on Included Engaged and Involved Part 2. Education Scotland officials discussed our national approach, North Ayrshire Council presented their local authority policy and Renfrew High School showcased a specific approach that they have taken in developing their own policy on knives and offensive weapons. Education Scotland are also planning further implementation sessions with Local Authorities in the coming months.