Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-07269

Asked by: Christina McKelvie, MSP for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 28 February 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what funding it makes available to projects that help tackle violence against women.

The Scottish Government has invested £24.07m over 2015-17 from the Equality Budget to support a range of projects and initiatives to tackle all forms of violence against women (VaW). An additional dedicated £20 million over the period 2015-18, announced in March 2015, is being invested from the Justice Budget in a range of measures to tackle all forms of violence against women and girls (VAWG).

In addition, on 16 February 2017 the Scottish Government announced that three year rolling funding (from 1 July 2017 to 31 March 2020) is being made available to third sector equality and violence against women and girls organisations, providing security to vital services.

More information about Scottish Government VAWG funding can be found at: https://beta.gov.scot/policies/violence-against-women-and-girls/funding/.

Question reference: S5W-07270

Asked by: Christina McKelvie, MSP for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 24 February 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how much it will award each project that will receive support from the £20 million that it has made available to drive forward the equality agenda in 2016-17.

Question reference: S5W-07075

Asked by: Christina McKelvie, MSP for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 21 February 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to comments by the Secretary of State for Scotland that a differentiated deal in Scotland maintaining single market membership is still possible.

The UK Government White Paper on Exiting the European Union (EU) makes it clear that the UK Government will not be seeking membership of the European Single Market. However, the Scottish Government’s paper “Scotland’s Place in Europe” sets out proposals that would protect Scotland’s interests through a differentiated deal for Scotland based on examples from across the EU. A differentiated solution would allow Scotland to remain a member of the European Single Market, while providing a structure for continued free trade and movement of people and goods across the UK. The Scottish Government will continue to press the UK Government to act on these proposals, in line with the Prime Minister’s commitment on 15 July for full engagement with Scotland, and for Article 50 not to be triggered until there are objectives for negotiations "that deliver a Brexit that works for the whole of the UK."

Question reference: S5O-00669

Asked by: Christina McKelvie, MSP for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 February 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 February 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the roll-out of broadband in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse constituency.

Question reference: S5W-06166

Asked by: Christina McKelvie, MSP for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 13 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 24 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it plans of what the impact would be on Scotland’s economy of the proposal by the UK Government to levy firms in specific industries £1,000 a year for each EU worker that they hire.

The Immigration Skills Charge, as introduced by the UK Immigration Act 2016, will be paid by employers sponsoring skilled migrants from outside the EEA under Tier 2 of the UK Points Based System. The charge will be introduced in April 2017 and will be collected by the Home Office as part of the Certificate of Sponsorship application process.

The Scottish Government remains concerned that the charge will make it more difficult for employers to recruit the individuals they require for their business. The suggestion from the UK Government that the charge should be extended to cover EU citizens working here sends entirely the wrong signal – especially given the ongoing uncertainty caused by UK Ministers’ failure to guarantee the residency rights of EU nationals – and any such move would be opposed by the Scottish Government.

The charge constitutes an additional bureaucratic and financial burden on Scottish businesses, and our employers should not be penalised for employing the skilled staff that they need. Given the nature of Scotland’s private sector being heavily made up of smaller establishments, the financial impact of the charge on smaller businesses may be felt more acutely in Scotland.

I wrote to the Minister of State for Skills in July 2016 asking about the impact that this new charge will have in Scotland, and specifically on Scotland’s seven key growth sectors. No reply has been received.

Question reference: S5O-00583

Asked by: Christina McKelvie, MSP for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 January 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to encourage young people’s participation in badminton.

Question reference: S5W-05806

Asked by: Christina McKelvie, MSP for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 December 2016
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Alasdair Allan on 21 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of its new International Development Strategy.

The Scottish Government has produced a refreshed international development strategy after extensive consultation with stakeholders. The strategy embraces and seeks to deliver on our commitment to the UN Global Goals and is in line with good development practice.

The strategy will better target and focus our International Development Fund and other related work where we can make a real difference and the most impact in relation to our budget whilst ensuring that the refreshed strategy preserves and builds on the best elements of our current international development work and partnerships.

The new strategy will see us partner with Malawi, Zambia, Rwanda and Pakistan in our international development work. We will retain a wide range of themes in which to invest our efforts, rather than narrowing these or being overly prescriptive. Our work will be led by the needs and priorities of these countries. We will also continue to progress the Beyond Aid agenda and Policy Coherence for Development.

Question reference: S5W-05362

Asked by: Christina McKelvie, MSP for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 December 2016
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Angela Constance on 7 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its commitment in its Programme for Government to appoint a race equality framework adviser to help implement the actions in the Race Equality Framework.

I am pleased to announce that the Scottish Government has today confirmed the appointment of Kaliani Lyle as the independent Race Equality Framework Adviser.

Ms Lyle stepped down as Scotland’s Commissioner for Equality Human Rights Commission (EHRC) earlier this year and is a former member of the Christie Commission.

Ms Lyle’s role will be to provide strategic independent expertise, insight, and advice to the Scottish Government as we implement the actions in the Race Equality Framework.

Question reference: S5W-04864

Asked by: Christina McKelvie, MSP for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 21 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 30 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the findings of the Medact report, The Recruitment of Children by the UK Armed Forces, what representations it will make to the UK Government regarding the implementation of recommendations in relation to young recruits.

The Scottish Government supports the Armed Forces and the contribution they make to our communities. We would also expect that the MoD fully complies with the provisions of the Armed Forces Act and the “Policy on the Care of Service Personnel under the Age of 18” and other policies designed to provide safeguards for the care of those personnel.

Matters of defence, including recruitment to the Armed Forces, are reserved to the UK Government and it is therefore a matter for them to respond to the report’s conclusions. The Scottish Government is examining the Medact report and will ensure that its conclusions are communicated to the Ministry of Defence.

Question reference: S5W-04863

Asked by: Christina McKelvie, MSP for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 21 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 30 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to respond to the Medact report, The Recruitment of Children by the UK Armed Forces.

The Scottish Government supports the Armed Forces and the contribution they make to our communities. We would also expect that the MoD fully complies with the provisions of the Armed Forces Act and the “Policy on the Care of Service Personnel under the Age of 18” and other policies designed to provide safeguards for the care of those personnel.

The Scottish Government has no plans to respond to the Medact report. Matters of defence, including recruitment to the Armed Forces, are reserved to the UK Government and it is therefore a matter for them to respond to the report’s conclusions.

Chamber and committees