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-17227

Asked by: George Adam, MSP for Paisley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 June 2018
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Michael Matheson on 13 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its next sectoral insight intended to demonstrate the breadth of Scotland’s interests in the negotiations and future relationship with the EU.

On 14 June at 00.01, I will announce the publication of Scotland’s Place in Europe: Security, Judicial Co-operation and Law Enforcement. The Paper can be accessed at: http://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781787810068

This Paper aims to improve the understanding about why maintaining a close relationship with the EU in the area of security, judicial and law enforcement is vital for Scotland. It set outs the key benefits this arrangement brings to our law enforcement agencies in fighting crime and keeping pace with developments.

In negotiating a future security relationship, it is essential to take account of the fact that Scotland has a separate criminal justice system and that our law enforcement agencies should maintain direct links with their EU counterparts. It also explains why data sharing arrangements and the role of the Court of Justice EU are potential barriers to having a close relationship with the EU in the justice and security area.

The people of Scotland voted decisively to remain within the European Union, and it is the role of the Scottish Government to continue making sure that their safety and security are protected.

Question reference: S5W-17112

Asked by: George Adam, MSP for Paisley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 June 2018
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Annabelle Ewing on 8 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government when statistics on hate crime are due to be published.

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) is publishing official statistics “Hate Crime in Scotland” on 15 June at 09:30. This provides information on the number of charges reported to them across all hate crime categories (race, religion, sexual orientation, disability, transgender) and charges under the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act (OBFTC Act).

At the same time, the Scottish Government is publishing “Religiously Aggravated Offending in Scotland 2017-18”. This report provides further details about religiously aggravated charges reported to the COPFS in 2017-18.

Since 2012-13, the Scottish Government had published an analysis of charges reported to the COPFS under the OBFTC Act. The OBFTC Act was repealed earlier this year. There is therefore not a complete set of charges to analyse for 2017-18 meaning that any analysis would not be comparable with previous years. Therefore, the Scottish Government will not be publishing an analysis of these charges.

The Scottish Government is also planning to publish information based on hate crime incidents recorded by Police Scotland later this year.

Question reference: S5O-02206

Asked by: George Adam, MSP for Paisley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 May 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 7 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what progress it is making in encouraging waste recycling.

Through Zero Waste Scotland we continue to engage with Scottish local authorities, businesses and the public, providing advice, guidance and funding to support recycling.

Data released last week by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency for 2016, clearly indicates the significant progress that is being made in Scotland. Over 61% of the total waste produced in Scotland was recycled, composted or prepared for re-use, an increase of over half a million tonnes from 2015, There was 10% less waste generated in Scotland in 2016 compared to 5 years before, indicating that our waste prevention strategy is being effective. I would also draw attention to the fact that 32.7% of all waste produced in Scotland was sent to landfill, the lowest ever figure.

These improved statistics have been driven by Scottish waste legislation which is amongst the most ambitious in Europe.

Question reference: S5O-02211

Asked by: George Adam, MSP for Paisley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 June 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how it encourages engagement between universities and secondary education establishments.

Question reference: S5W-17007

Asked by: George Adam, MSP for Paisley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 31 May 2018
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 5 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how it is helping families meet the cost of school uniforms.

I know the cost of a school uniform can be considerable for families and I am delighted that Scottish Government has now secured agreement with CoSLA and Scottish local authorities to introduce a new national minimum school clothing grant.

The minimum grant has been set at £100 and it will be made available to eligible families in time for the start of the 2018-19 academic year. To support the introduction of the national minimum the Scottish Government is contributing an additional £6 million funding to local authorities. The additional funding is intended to assist local authorities in meeting the national minimum grant level of £100. Furthermore, the minimum grant will be reviewed every two years to ensure that the amount available remains in line with the cost of living.

Question reference: S5O-02153

Asked by: George Adam, MSP for Paisley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 May 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 31 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making with the roll-out of fibre broadband, including ensuring that all new build homes have access.

Question reference: S5O-02131

Asked by: George Adam, MSP for Paisley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 May 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of recent developments regarding the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill, what its position is on the views expressed during the independence referendum that a "yes" vote would mean Scotland would be taken out of the EU and a "no" vote would see it granted new powers as an equal part of the UK.

Question reference: S5W-16241

Asked by: George Adam, MSP for Paisley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 27 April 2018
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 30 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Congress on Disability, Employment and the Workplace, whether ministers will announce any new actions aimed at reducing the Disability Employment Gap.

Throughout the day, the First Minister, the Minister for Social Security and I will be at the Scottish Government’s Congress on Disability, Employment and the Workplace, where we will be talking to disabled people, their organisations, and employers across the private, public and third sector, to ensure that we are taking the collective action necessary to ensure we deliver a step change in the number of disabled people in work.

As part of our commitment to at least halve the Disability Employment Gap, the First Minister will set out three elements of an all-government, all-Scotland approach:

Firstly, the launch of a formal consultation on increasing disabled employment in the public sector, including options for setting targets for public sector bodies.

Secondly, the announcement of our intention to publish a Disability Employment Gap Action Plan in the Autumn of 2018. This plan will set out how we will meet our commitment to at least halve the Disability Employment Gap, working closely with civil society, employers, disabled peoples organisations, trade unions, and the wider public sector as well as disabled people themselves.

Thirdly, that the Scottish Government will invest £1 million to provide additional support and advice to help meet our ambitions to increase the disability employment rate.

Question reference: S5W-15016

Asked by: George Adam, MSP for Paisley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 March 2018
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Michael Matheson on 2 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Executive Review of the Scottish Police Authority.

I am pleased to announce the report of the Executive Review is now available on the Scottish Government website at http://www.gov.scot/Publications/Recent .

I commissioned the Review in June 2017, to consider how the Executive of the Scottish Police Authority could most effectively support the Board to deliver its statutory functions. It was conducted by Malcolm Burr, Chief Executive of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, and Nicola Marchant, the former Deputy Chair of the SPA. The report makes 17 recommendations and it will now be for the Chair and Interim Chief Officer of the SPA to consider how best to take these forward.

Question reference: S5W-14935

Asked by: George Adam, MSP for Paisley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 February 2018
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Annabelle Ewing on 28 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government when the independent review of Legal Aid will present its findings.