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: S4W-22292

Asked by: Jenny Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 August 2014
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 21 August 2014

To ask the Scottish Government when and for what reason it decided to refresh its youth employment strategy.

In Parliament on 24 June 2014, I announced this government’s intention to refresh the youth employment strategy. The economy returned to pre-recession levels in the first quarter of this year with a general strengthening of the labour market. Against a backdrop of a more positive economic climate it is important that we continue to ensure that our resources are effectively targeted to support young people into sustainable employment. The refresh will allow us to take the view of employers, young people and stakeholders on the shape of that support and will allow us to reflect the ambitious agenda set by the Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce.

Question reference: S4O-03437

Asked by: Jenny Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 July 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 August 2014

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it considers that an independent Scotland would continue to receive UK Sport funding given that UK Sport does not fund sporting activity in other countries.

Question reference: S4O-03418

Asked by: Jenny Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2014
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 25 June 2014

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it is spending £623 less in real terms per pupil on education than it was in 2008-09.

In cash terms, between 2007-08 and 2012-13, the resources within the Scottish Government’s control increased by 6.4%.

Over the same period local government’s budget increased by 8.9% in cash terms demonstrating the strong financial settlements agreed with local government during challenging financial times.

The real terms fall in spending by local authorities on education reported by the Accounts Commission on 19 June 2014 is a direct result of the austerity Labour and their colleagues in Better Together, the Tories and Lib Dems have inflicted on Scotland. Indeed the real terms fall in the Scottish Government’s revenue budget, after we protected health, is greater than the 5% seen in council education spending.

Question reference: S4O-03360

Asked by: Jenny Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 June 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 June 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Dundee City Council regarding taking forward some of the plans in the Dundee City of Culture 2017 bid.

Question reference: S4W-20811

Asked by: Jenny Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 April 2014
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 2 May 2014

To ask the Scottish Government when it will bring forward proposals to the Parliament to deal with dangerous dogs.

The consultation ‘Promoting responsible dog ownership in Scotland: microchipping and other measures' closed on 31 March 2014 with in excess of 2,000 responses received. The responses will be independently analysed and thoroughly considered and it is expected that an analysis report will be published during summer 2014.

In addition, the Scottish Government held a responsible dog ownership summit on 27 March 2014. This was an opportunity to bring together key stakeholders including representatives from local authorities, the police, prosecutors and animal welfare charities to discuss how the current laws and approach on dangerous and out of control dogs is operating and whether further measures are needed to improve public safety.

The Scottish Government will be informed by the views offered in response to both the consultation and at the summit as we consider next steps in relation to improving responsible dog ownership within our communities.

Question reference: S4O-03025

Asked by: Jenny Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 March 2014
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 19 March 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what international treaties it expects an independent Scotland would sign.

Following a vote for independence, Scotland will declare and notify its intention to assume responsibility for the UK’s multilateral and bilateral treaties, where it is in Scotland’s interest to do so, as mentioned in the white paper. The Scottish Government expects that other parties to these treaties will welcome Scotland’s intention to sign up to, and continue, these obligations.

It will be for the government of the day to negotiate on the possibilities of Scotland becoming party to additional treaties.

Question reference: S4F-01968

Asked by: Jenny Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 17 March 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 March 2014

To ask the First Minister what steps the Scottish Government is taking to tackle human trafficking.

Question reference: S4W-19927

Asked by: Jenny Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 February 2014
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 11 March 2014

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding Skills Development Scotland has given to the modern apprenticeship programme in each year, broken down by sector, and what the projected level is for (a) 2015 and (b) 2016.

Question reference: S4W-19416

Asked by: Jenny Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 January 2014
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 24 February 2014

To ask the Scottish Government on what date it will hold its proposed summit on dangerous dogs.

Question reference: S4W-19125

Asked by: Jenny Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 January 2014
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 23 January 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what research it has carried out into the impact of lengthening the payment period for bankruptcies on (a) debtors and their families and (b) the rate of defaults on payments, and with what outcomes.

The Scottish Government has examined the evidence which shows that lengthening the payment period for bankruptcies will have no impact on the majority of debtors and their families or the rate at which they might default.

A significant majority of debtors who enter bankruptcy do not have enough income to pay a contribution. Around half of all new debtor applications are now made via the ‘low income, low asset’ route and Accountant in Bankruptcy’s analysis, overall, suggests that a contribution is paid in less than one third of all bankruptcy cases in Scotland.