- Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 October 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 19 November 2012
To ask the Scottish Government what deadline it gave Craigforth Consultancy to produce the analysis of the Your Scotland, Your Referendum consultation responses.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-10495 on 19 November 2012. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Scottish Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.
- Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 02 November 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 15 November 2012
To ask the Scottish Government how many people it estimates do not have a bank account.
Answer
This information is published in the Scottish Household Survey Annual Report, Table 6.11 and can be accessed via the following link:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/08/5277/6
The latest available data shows that in 2011 an estimated 4% of the Scottish population did not have a bank account.
- Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 02 November 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 15 November 2012
To ask the Scottish Government what it has done to encourage high street and retail banks operating in Scotland to offer a free, basic bank account service.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-10891 on 15 November 2012. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.
- Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 02 November 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 15 November 2012
To ask the Scottish Government what work it or its agencies is undertaking with the retail and banking sectors to ensure that everyone who needs it has access to a bank account, ahead of the introduction of universal credit.
Answer
The UK Department of Work and Pensions will require universal credit claimants to have a bank account, and is working with a range of banking and financial product providers to make financial services accessible to potential universal credit recipients.
The Scottish Government has established a stakeholder group to provide input, advice and expertise on the related subjects of financial inclusion, financial capability, personal budgeting support, financial product development, payment exceptions, digital access and digital participation in relation to welfare reform. The broad-based group met for the first time on 26 October 2012 in Glasgow.
- Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 November 2012
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 21 November 2012
To ask the Scottish Government what its estimate is of the value to the Edinburgh economy of the winter festival season.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 21 November 2012
- Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 October 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 14 November 2012
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has met or plans to meet officials from Glasgow City Council to learn from their experiences of promoting and building credit union membership through their credit union development programme.
Answer
The Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism met with credit union representatives on Monday 18 June 2012 to discuss ways in which the Scottish Government might assist credit unions in Scotland. The meeting was attended by an official from Glasgow City Council’s Department of Development and Regeneration Services, who shared information about the Council’s support for Glasgow’s credit unions.
- Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 October 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 14 November 2012
To ask the Scottish Government what grant-based funding streams are open to credit unions for funds appropriate to their development.
Answer
As they are part of the third sector, credit unions are encouraged to apply for support from Scottish Government organisational support programmes, including Just Enterprise. Credit unions will be able to apply to any future third sector organisational development funds when these become available.
- Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 October 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 14 November 2012
To ask the Scottish Government what support it offers credit unions regarding their development and the role that they can play in providing alternatives to high-interest short-term lenders.
Answer
The Scottish Government recognises that credit unions can offer affordable alternatives to high-interest short-term lenders, and will do all that it can to promote them.
The Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism is due to meet with stakeholders, including the Association of British Credit Unions, on 9 November 2012, to discuss what action can be taken by the Scottish Government to assist those who are suffering from financial difficulty due in particular to borrowing from high-interest short-term lenders.
We shall explore at that meeting whether the Scottish Government should provide additional resources to credit unions to develop alternative ethical and affordable products and services.
- Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 October 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 14 November 2012
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce a credit union development fund.
Answer
The Scottish Government recognises the valuable role played by credit unions in providing financial services and products to a wide range of customers, including those facing financial exclusion. We continue to engage with credit union representatives to ensure we are doing as much as possible to support and promote them.
Credit Union’s have benefited from funding through the Third Sector Enterprise Fund and will be eligible to apply for any future Scottish Government third sector organisational development funds.
The Minister is meeting with stakeholders, including the Association of British Credit Unions, on 9 November 2012. We shall explore then whether the Scottish Government should provide additional resources to credit unions to support their development.
- Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 October 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 14 November 2012
To ask the Scottish Government what financial support has been given to credit unions, broken down by (a) provider and (b) the credit union in receipt of the support, in each of the last three years.
Answer
Between 2008 and 2010 the Scottish Government invested £12m in the Third Sector Enterprise Fund. 32 awards were made to credit unions as follows:-
| Organisation | Award | Local Authority Area |
| Grampian Credit Union | £66,704 | Aberdeen |
| North East Credit Union | £60,000 | Aberdeen |
| Cumnock & Doon Valley Credit Union | £70,300 | East Ayrshire |
| Capital Credit Union | £69,000 | Edinburgh |
| Craigmillar Credit Union | £25,000 | Edinburgh |
| First University Credit Union | £25,000 | Edinburgh |
| SCVO Credit Union | £19,308 | Edinburgh |
| Kingdom Credit Union | £7,500 | Fife |
| North East Fife Credit Union | £2,560 | Fife |
| Baillieston Credit Union | £3,105 | Glasgow |
| Drumchapel Credit Union | £20,100 | Glasgow |
| Glasgow South Credit Union | £24,700 | Glasgow |
| Glasgow West Credit Union | £18,990 | Glasgow |
| Greater Govan Credit Union | £73,245 | Glasgow |
| Greater Govan Credit Union | £100,000 | Glasgow |
| Parkhead Credit Union | £25,000 | Glasgow |
| Penilee Credit Union | £13,644 | Glasgow |
| Pollok Credit Union | £53,675 | Glasgow |
| Ruchill Credit Union | £8,899 | Glasgow |
| Scottish Police Credit Union | £12,525 | Glasgow |
| Scottish Transport Credit Union | £95,200 | Glasgow |
| 1st Alliance (Ayrshire) Credit Union | £49,025 | North Ayrshire |
| Cumbernauld South Credit Union | £10,000 | North Lanarkshire |
| Renfrewshire-wide Credit Union | £6,000 | Renfrewshire |
| Renfrewshire-wide Credit Union | £57,000 | Renfrewshire |
| Blantyre Credit Union | £68,500 | South Lanarkshire |
| East Kilbride Credit Union | £20,650 | South Lanarkshire |
| ML9 Credit Union | £22,000 | South Lanarkshire |
| Scotcentral Credit Union | £79,803 | Stirling |
| Dumbarton Credit Union | £10,000 | West Dunbartonshire |
| Livingston Credit Union | £32,029 | West Lothian |
| Western Isles Credit Union | £64,650 | Western Isles |
In 2011, two of Scotland’s largest credit unions, Scotwest and Capital, received a joint investment of £1m from the Scottish Investment Fund. The award is enabling the two credit unions to develop and implement a new operating and account management system.
