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: S4O-03426

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 July 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 August 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what employment opportunities have been created through the Youth Employment Scotland scheme.

Question reference: S4W-21595

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 June 2014
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 4 June 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what legislative consent motions it will lodge in connection with the legislative programme of the UK Government to be announced in the Queen’s Speech on 4 June 2014.

In accordance with the Sewel Convention, the UK Parliament does not legislate with regard to devolved matters in Scotland without the consent of the Scottish Parliament.

This is an important part of the devolution settlement, which acknowledges the special constitutional position of the Scottish Parliament and the democratic mandate conferred on this Parliament by the people of Scotland. In the view of the Scottish Government, the Sewel Convention will remain an essential part of the constitution of the UK for as long as the UK Parliament retains its current powers and functions in relation to Scotland.

In the normal course of business, legislation on devolved matters should be scrutinised and determined in the Scottish Parliament. There may however be situations in which it is helpful and appropriate for legislation dealing with devolved matters to be taken forward at Westminster.

The Scottish Government is committed to assessing opportunities of this kind on their merits and to working closely and constructively with the UK Government, on a case by case basis, to deliver legislation which best meets Scotland’s needs.

The formal consent of the Scottish Parliament is required in relation to all proposals for Westminster primary legislation on devolved matters, including alterations to devolved competence, in accordance with Chapter 9B of Standing Orders.

Within the legislative programme announced today by the UK Government, we have identified two areas where a Legislative Consent Motion (LCM) may be appropriate.

The UK bills which we currently expect to give rise to LCMs in the Scottish Parliament cover:

Serious Crime Bill – a Bill which aims to address serious and organised crime which mainly extends to England and Wales but on introduction we expect that it will require legislative consent for amendments to the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002; reform of serious crime prevention orders; the Computer Misuse Act 1990 and, the closing of a legislative loophole around Female Genital Mutilation legislation.

Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill – a Bill which aims to remove what are regarded as unnecessary impediments to business and includes a range of measures aimed at promoting economic growth. Discussion with the UK Government indicates that it is likely that there will be a requirement for legislative consent on several areas of the Bill when it is introduced later this month.

The Scottish Government will, in due course, lodge memoranda and motions for these bills, once they have been introduced in the UK Parliament. It will then be for the Scottish Parliament to determine whether to give or withhold consent.

It is possible there may be a requirement for the Scottish Government to consider further LCMs as the UK legislative session progresses and we will consider such proposals on their merits to ensure the best interests of the people of Scotland are served.

Question reference: S4O-03115

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 March 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 April 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what input the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing has had to its programme to deal with asbestos in public and private workplaces.

Question reference: S4O-02892

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 January 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 February 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what economic growth opportunities the canal network in Glasgow Anniesland offers local communities.

Question reference: S4O-02618

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 November 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 November 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what trading and cooperation opportunities there are for Scotland arising from its participation in the recent Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference.

Question reference: S4O-02519

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 October 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 October 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to promote the reduction of food waste.

Question reference: S4O-02484

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 October 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 October 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the findings of the second report of the Fiscal Commission Working Group.

Question reference: S4W-17536

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 September 2013
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Michael Matheson on 1 October 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will introduce legislation to improve outcomes for carers and young carers.

The First Minister announced on 1 October 2013, at the second annual Carers Parliament, that the Scottish Government plans to introduce legislation to improve outcomes for carers and young carers.

We will consult widely on legislation that aims to improve both the assessment and support for carers and young carers. In relation to young carers, this will take account of the existing measures within the Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill.

We believe that this legislation, focused on carers and young carers, will: improve carers’ health and wellbeing;sustain the caring role;enable carers to have a life alongside caring;assist carers to remain in or return to work;enable access to community support networks and prevent or delay hospital or residential care admissions for cared-for persons.

Question reference: S4O-02443

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 September 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 October 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what the educational benefits are of learning a second language.

Question reference: S4O-02420

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 September 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 September 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of it providing assistance to NGOs supporting humanitarian projects in Syria, whether it shares growing concerns at the mounting humanitarian crisis in the country.