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-03957

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 January 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 January 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what the average college bursary funding is compared with England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Question reference: S4W-23966

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 12 January 2015
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 21 January 2015

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has invested in adult learning in each year since 2007.

Adult learning is funded under a number of different portfolios across the Scottish Government. A proportion of local government funding is allocated by each authority for community learning and development who are key providers of community based adult learning. As such community based adult learning, is funded through local authorities and not through Scottish Government directly therefore specific figures are not available. Total portfolio levels are not disaggregated down to adult learning figures. Examples of portfolio funding include workplace adult learning and initiatives to develop the young workforce which were funded through Training, Youth and Women’s Employment.

Education Scotland’s Community Learning and Development Policy and Improvement Team supports the work and outcomes identified in the Strategic Guidance for Community Planning Partnerships: Community Learning and Development and this includes adult learning. Education Scotland has policy responsibility for adult education and this includes Strategic Funding Partnerships with national adult learning organisations who provide adult learning through the third sector. Figures available for the last three years 2012-15 show that Education Scotland has invested £2,133,580 to the development and support of adult learning.

Question reference: S4W-23961

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 12 January 2015
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 20 January 2015

To ask the Scottish Government how (a) many businesses have received support from and (b) much it has spent on the small business bonus scheme each year.

The number of properties that have received support from the Small Business Bonus Scheme (SBBS) and the total amount of that support each year is set out in tables 1 and 2, as published annually in the non-domestic rates (NDR) relief statistics for small businesses in Scotland

(http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Local-Government-Finance/NDR-Rates-Relief).

Table 1: Total number of SBBS recipients, 2008-09 to 2014-15^1,2,3

Total number of recipients as at:

October 2008

October 2009

September 2010

September 2011

September 2012

September 2013

September 2014

Aberdeen City	1,800	1,873	1,784	2,010	1,975	2,041	2,045
Aberdeenshire	4,016	4,501	4,726	5,040	5,170	5,330	5,408
Angus	1,854	1,904	2,067	2,125	2,190	2,212	2,361
Argyll and Bute	3,152	3,507	3,589	3,885	4,220	4,362	4,576
Clackmannanshire	509	569	637	696	741	787	770
Dumfries and Galloway	3,224	3,475	3,666	3,979	4,079	4,401	4,628
Dundee City	1,494	1,747	1,899	2,047	1,952	2,171	2,275
East Ayrshire	1,127	1,341	1,430	1,469	1,534	1,551	1,658
East Dunbartonshire	626	833	936	1,014	1,068	1,112	1,152
East Lothian	1,244	1,324	1,467	1,529	1,556	1,587	1,668
East Renfrewshire	550	613	676	693	737	747	774
Edinburgh, City of	4,728	5,601	6,275	6,316	6,691	6,163	7,081
Eilean Siar	405	561	507	735	821	885	1,073
Falkirk	1,365	1,579	1,675	1,719	1,879	1,947	2,091
Fife	3,912	4,581	5,004	5,365	5,516	5,800	5,995
Glasgow City	4,713	6,083	6,870	7,476	7,962	8,440	8,943
Highland	5,642	6,487	7,302	7,808	8,383	8,715	8,991
Inverclyde	604	715	793	872	921	983	1,001
Midlothian	779	948	1,081	1,124	1,127	1,107	1,162
Moray	1,509	1,722	1,772	1,815	1,863	2,018	2,055
North Ayrshire	1,847	2,086	2,271	2,425	2,477	2,604	2,646
North Lanarkshire	2,340	2,799	3,085	3,352	3,576	3,768	3,299
Orkney Islands	835	1,019	1,044	1,036	1,132	1,171	1,206
Perth and Kinross	2,893	3,203	3,441	3,798	3,991	4,166	4,343
Renfrewshire	1,797	2,091	2,242	2,258	2,503	2,432	2,475
Scottish Borders	2,809	2,981	3,281	3,414	3,489	3,580	3,652
Shetland Islands	407	551	551	626	671	700	736
South Ayrshire	1,625	1,848	1,944	2,019	2,063	2,164	2,227
South Lanarkshire	2,694	3,224	3,376	3,558	3,597	3,965	4,167
Stirling	1,716	1,859	1,909	2,076	2,155	2,224	2,281
West Dunbartonshire	655	773	977	1,079	1,111	1,194	1,250
West Lothian	1,308	1,541	1,744	1,841	1,937	2,054	2,276
Scotland	64,179	73,939	80,021	85,199	89,087	92,381	96,265

1. Includes recipients of SBBS relief who also receive other NDR relief.

2. 2008-09 was the first year of the SBBS and the thresholds for relief increased in 2010-11 to reflect the change in rateable values due to revaluation.

3. Data on number of recipients are mid-year estimates.

4. At the time of the 2014 snapshot North Lanarkshire were undertaking a review of SBBS, resulting in a lower reported number of recipients. This exercise was not completed and numbers may be larger than reported here.

5. Between any given years the numbers of properties in receipt of SBBS may vary due to a range of reasons, including demolitions/ new builds; chains of properties expanding and falling above thresholds; openings/ closures of businesses; relocation of businesses into different Local authority areas; businesses being taken over by chains; switches to other types of reliefs e.g Rural relief, fresh start relief, among others.

Table 2: SBBS relief provided, 2008-09 to 2014-15 by local authority 1,2,3,4

	2008-09	2009-10	2010-11	2011-12	2012-13	2013-14	2014-15
Aberdeen City	2.4	3.3	3.3	3.8	4.0	4.2	4.4
Aberdeenshire	3.4	5.0	5.8	6.4	7.0	7.4	7.9
Angus	1.8	2.4	2.7	2.9	3.2	3.4	3.7
Argyll and Bute	2.2	3.1	3.3	3.8	4.2	4.4	4.8
Clackmannanshire	0.5	0.8	0.9	1.1	1.2	1.3	1.4
Dumfries and Galloway	2.6	3.6	4.0	4.6	5.0	5.6	5.9
Dundee City	1.8	2.8	3.1	3.5	3.7	4.3	4.7
East Ayrshire	1.3	2.1	2.2	2.5	2.7	2.8	3.1
East Dunbartonshire	0.9	1.5	1.7	1.9	2.1	2.3	2.5
East Lothian	1.3	1.9	2.2	2.4	2.6	2.7	2.8
East Renfrewshire	0.7	1.1	1.2	1.3	1.5	1.6	1.7
Edinburgh, City of	6.5	10.1	11.8	12.7	13.9	12.9	15.6
Eilean Siar	0.3	0.6	0.6	0.8	0.9	1.0	1.2
Falkirk	1.7	2.5	2.7	2.9	3.4	3.6	3.9
Fife	4.2	6.5	7.4	8.3	9.2	10.1	10.7
Glasgow City	6.5	11.0	12.8	14.6	16.6	18.0	19.5
Highland	4.2	6.5	7.7	8.7	9.8	10.5	11.1
Inverclyde	0.8	1.3	1.4	1.7	1.9	2.0	2.1
Midlothian	0.9	1.4	1.7	1.9	1.9	1.9	2.1
Moray	1.3	1.8	2.1	2.2	2.4	2.7	2.8
North Ayrshire	1.9	2.7	3.0	3.4	3.7	4.0	4.1
North Lanarkshire	3.2	5.1	5.8	6.5	7.4	7.7	6.9
Orkney Islands	0.5	0.8	0.9	0.9	1.1	1.1	1.2
Perth and Kinross	2.7	4.2	4.5	5.2	5.8	6.2	6.7
Renfrewshire	2.3	3.4	3.7	4.0	4.6	4.7	5.1
Scottish Borders	2.2	3.4	3.8	4.2	4.5	4.9	5.1
Shetland Islands	0.3	0.5	0.6	0.7	0.8	0.8	0.8
South Ayrshire	1.7	2.6	2.9	3.1	3.5	3.8	4.0
South Lanarkshire	3.6	5.5	5.8	6.4	6.8	7.8	8.4
Stirling	1.6	2.4	2.6	3.0	3.3	3.5	3.7
West Dunbartonshire	0.8	1.3	1.6	1.9	2.1	2.3	2.5
West Lothian	1.7	2.6	3.1	3.4	3.9	4.2	4.7
Scotland	67.8	103.7	116.8	130.8	144.5	154.1	165.0

1. Includes recipients of SBBS relief who also receive other NDR relief. The other relief provided is not included in the total relief figure.

2. 2008-09 was the first year of the SBBS and the thresholds for relief increased in 2010-11 to reflect the change in rateable values due to revaluation.

3. Estimates of relief provided are mid-year estimates.

4. When comparing the amount of relief received in each year, it is important to consider impacts of annual changes in the poundage rates. The poundage rates for each year were as follows: 2008-09 45.8p, 2009-10 48.1p, 2010-11 40.7p, 2011-12 42.6p, 2012-13 45.0p, 2013-14 46.2p, 2014-15 47.1p. The drop in the poundage rate between 2009-10 and 2010-11 is due to the 2010 revaluation which saw a decrease in the poundage rate to offset an overall increase in the Rateable Values (RV) of properties.

Question reference: S4W-23955

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 12 January 2015
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 20 January 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what rates of pay apply for modern apprentices and whether it considers them sufficient to live on.

Employment law, including National Minimum Wage (NMW) legislation, remains a matter reserved to the UK Government.

In 2010 the UK Government introduced the apprentice rate of the NMW. The Low Pay Commission (LPC) consult each year on NMW levels, including the apprentice rate. In response to these consultations, the Scottish Government has consistently held the position that, while we recognise employers’ expectation that apprentices ought not to be paid the same rate as qualified employees, the apprentice rate of NMW should be higher.

Question reference: S4W-23953

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 12 January 2015
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 20 January 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what the cost to it is of each modern apprenticeship placement, broken down by sector.

Funding from the Scottish Government for modern apprenticeships (MAs) represents a contribution towards the cost of training the apprentice.

Skills Development Scotland (SDS) publish a table of contributions which indicates the cost of MAs, broken down by the framework followed rather than sector, here:

http://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/our-services/provider-central/national-training-programmes/modern-apprenticeships/

Question reference: S4W-23959

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 12 January 2015
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 20 January 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has for an independent assessment of the outcomes of the modern apprenticeship programme.

Question reference: S4W-23958

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 12 January 2015
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 20 January 2015

To ask the Scottish Government how many modern apprentices have remained in employment with the same employer at the end of their apprenticeship.

Question reference: S4W-23940

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 12 January 2015
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 20 January 2015

To ask the Scottish Government in which areas of the economy it has identified skills shortages, and what action it is taking to tackle these.

The UK Employers Skill Survey offers a comprehensive source of information about skill shortages in Scotland. The survey is available to view at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/327492/evidence-report-81-ukces-employer-skills-survey-13-full-report-final.pdf.

Through the development of sectoral Skills Investment Plans (SIP) and Regional Skills Assessments (RSAs) we are working to ensure that Scotland’s skills and education system remains closely aligned with the needs of employers. Whilst the SIPs provide a blueprint for addressing skills supply issues within specific sectors, the RSAs are intended as a resource to inform future investment in skills at a regional level, including the development of College Regional Outcome Agreements.

Question reference: S4W-23963

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 12 January 2015
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 20 January 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what the criteria are for small businesses seeking support from the small business bonus scheme.

The criteria for eligibility for the Small Business Bonus Scheme are: rateable value of the properties occupied by each ratepayer falling within the thresholds set out in the following table; and that the rateable occupier is not a payday lender.

The table shows the level of relief available under the corresponding rateable value thresholds.

Combined rateable value (RV) of all properties	Small Business Bonus Scheme Relief
Up to £10,000	100% (i.e. no rates payable)
£10,001 to £12,000	50%
£12,001 to £18,000	25%
£18,001 to £35,000	25% on each individual property with a rateable value not exceeding £18,000*

* Allows a ratepayer occupying two or more properties with a cumulative rateable value of under £35,000 to qualify for relief at 25% on individual properties each with rateable value up to £18,000.

Question reference: S4W-23951

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 12 January 2015
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 20 January 2015

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on the modern apprenticeship programme in each year since 2007.