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: S5T-00119

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 24 October 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will quash the convictions and cautions issued to people for now-abolished gay sexual offences and issue pardons.

Question reference: S5F-00392

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 24 October 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 October 2016

To ask the First Minister when she last met ScotRail.

Question reference: S5W-03121

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 4 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to people who do not complete modern apprenticeships regarding (a) access to other programmes and (b) funding.

There are a number of reasons why an individual may leave the MA programme including entering full-time further education and training; moving into alternative employment or no longer wishing to continue with the programme. A recent finding from SDS research was that for all MA leavers, including non-completers, the vast majority (85 per cent) were still in work six months after completing or leaving their MA with 90 per cent in either work or education.

People who don’t complete a Modern Apprenticeship can access programmes such as Adopt an Apprentice, Employability Fund and start another Modern Apprenticeship subject to normal eligibility rules.

Question reference: S5W-03124

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 4 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how many grants were (a) available and (b) awarded through funding from Scotland’s Employer Recruitment Incentive in each of the last three years.

Scotland's Employer Recruitment Incentive (SERI) was launched on 24 June 2015 to support 2,200 young people who face the greatest barriers to employment.

Up to March 2016, 1,226 young people were supported into sustainable employment with support available for a further 550 young people in this financial year. Up to end August 2016, 164 young people have started a new job, including or Modern Apprenticeships, with SERI support in 2016-17, bringing the total to date to 1,390.

Question reference: S5F-00341

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 03 October 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 October 2016

To ask the First Minister when she will next meet HIV Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-03122

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 30 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what support it offers to organisations that use funding from Scotland’s Employer Recruitment Incentive to provide further training and development for modern apprentices.

Through Scotland's Employer Recruitment Incentive, the Scottish Government offers a package of support to employers recruiting 16-29 year olds, facing barriers to employment, into a new job including a Modern Apprenticeship. Eligible employers receive up to £4,000 to offset the costs of recruiting and sustaining the young person during the first 52 weeks of employment. Specialist employer support, tailored to the needs of the individual, is available from the Open Doors Consortium of Third Sector organisations.

Employers wishing to offer a Modern Apprenticeship to the person they have recruited will also be able to draw on the full range of support offered, by training providers, to all Modern Apprentices and their employers.

Question reference: S5W-03123

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 30 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what support Skills Development Scotland offers to small and medium-sized enterprises to provide training for modern apprentices.

Skills Development Scotland offer a range of support to all employers recruiting a Modern Apprentice including small and medium sized employers. This includes support and guidance through their Employer Engagement Team, an Employer Helpline for those seeking specific advice and support to identify suitable training providers.

SME’s are also eligible for financial support though Scottish Employer Recruitment Incentive. This provides a contribution of up to £4000 to employers recruiting young people facing the greatest barriers to employment.

Question reference: S5W-02539

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 09 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 29 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has provided to support research and development in each year since 2006, also expressed as a percentage of GDP.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes the UK Government Expenditure on Science, Engineering and Technology report. The latest report was published on 15 July 2016 and can be found at: http://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/governmentpublicsectorandtaxes/researchanddevelopmentexpenditure/datasets/scienceengineeringandtechnologystatisticsreferencetables

The table below shows net expenditure on research and development by the Scottish Government. Note that the figures below exclude Scottish Funding Council grants, to universities for research and development, that are administered on behalf of the Scottish Government.

Scottish Government net Expenditure on Research & Development, 2006 to 2014

Year	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014
Expenditure (£ millions)	132	137	141	154	167	158	163	164	164
Expenditure (% of GDP)	0.11	0.11	0.12	0.13	0.14	0.12	0.13	0.12	0.12

Source: UK Government Expenditure on Science, Engineering and Technology, Office for National Statistics

Notes:

1. Expenditure figures are in current prices.

Question reference: S5W-02727

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 28 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to support the growth of the fintech sector in (a) Edinburgh and (b) Scotland.

FinTech offers Edinburgh and Scotland the opportunity to access new markets and attract new entrants to enhance the financial services sector in Scotland, utilising our existing strengths in financial services and our skills and expertise in innovation and digital technology.

The Scotland CAN DO Innovation Forum focuses on increasing the contribution that innovation can make to the Scottish economy through driving up levels of business innovation in all sectors, including FinTech.

Eligible companies in the FinTech sector have access to a wide range of public sector support including equity funding, business development support and support for inward investment through our development agencies.

The Scottish Government fully supports the industry-led programme of activity to develop the FinTech sector in Edinburgh and across Scotland. Scottish Enterprise is working with the financial services industry body Scottish Financial Enterprise and partners in developing a comprehensive Fintech Strategy for Scotland.

The Financial Services Advisory Board, chaired by the First Minister, is providing strategic support and will consider progress on development of the Strategy at its next meeting on 4 October 2016.

Question reference: S5W-02970

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 19 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 28 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether any local authorities have indicated that they wish to use the powers granted to them by the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 regarding localising the business rate relief scheme and, if so, what support it will provide.

The Scottish Government understands that Perth and Kinross Council is this year using the power to further reduce non-domestic rates under the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015.

The Scottish Government has published information for local authorities regarding this and other powers in respect of rates relief – accessible at www.gov.scot/Topics/Government/local-government/17999/11203/nondomratesinfo – and officials have liaised with local authority practitioners in respect of the detail of the legislation. The Scottish Government welcomes dialogue and partnership working with any interested local authorities in respect of this substantial power.