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: S5W-27036

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 January 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 31 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government which organisations have been involved in retail apprenticeships in each year quarter since Q1 2014-15.

Regarding organisations that have been involved in retail apprenticeships, Skills Development Scotland who deliver Apprenticeships on behalf of the Scottish Government contract with training providers to deliver Apprenticeship frameworks including retail. Training providers work directly with different employers. Skills Development Scotland does not have a direct relationship with the employers with whom the training providers work, so they cannot provide the names of employers who employ Retail Modern Apprentices, but are able to provide details of the contracted training providers.

Listed below are the training providers that have been contracted to deliver Retail MA starts since 2014-15:

Training providers delivering Retail MA Starts:

2014-15

Aberdeen and Grampian
Chamber of Commerce

Argyll Training Limited

Babcock Training Ltd

Calman Trust Ltd

EQL Solutions Limited

Falkirk Council

Fife College

First4Skills Limited

Galloway Training Limited

Intec Business Colleges Ltd

ITP (Training) Limited

JMG Training and Development Ltd

Jobs & Business Glasgow

learndirect Limited

Life Skills Central Ltd

MGT Training Ltd

Muir Slicer Associates Limited

Pera Training Limited

Rathbone Training

Robson Associates Limited

Superdrug Stores PLC

The Intraining Group Limited

Topic Training Grampian Ltd

Unique Solutions

West Lothian College

XL Training (Scotland) Ltd

2015-16

Babcock Training Ltd

Falkirk Council

First4Skills Ltd

Galloway Training Limited

learndirect Limited

Life Skills Central Ltd

Limelight Careers Ltd

MGT Training Ltd

Muir Slicer Associates Limited

Rathbone Training

Robson Associates Limited

Superdrug Stores PLC

The Intraining Group Limited

Topic Training Grampian Ltd

XL Training (Scotland) Ltd

YouTrain Ltd

2016-17

Babcock Training Ltd

CEIS Ayrshire

Falkirk Council

First4Skills Ltd

Galloway Training Limited

GTG Training Limited

Intec Business Colleges Ltd

learndirect Limited

Life Skills Centres Ltd

Lifetime Training Group Limited

MGT Training Ltd

Microcom Training Ltd

Muir Slicer Associates Limited

Rathbone Training

Robson Associates Limited

SSVQ Ltd

Superdrug Stores plc

The Intraining Group Limited

XL Training (Scotland) Ltd

2017-18

Aberdeen Foyer

Babcock Training Ltd

CEIS Ayrshire

Falkirk Council

Galloway Training Limited

GTG Training Limited

Impact Results Ltd

learndirect Limited

Life Skills Centres Ltd

Lifetime Training Group Limited

MGT Training Ltd

Microcom Training Ltd

Muir Slicer Associates Limited

On Track Training (Highland) Limited

Rathbone Training

Robson Associates Limited

SSVQ Ltd

Superdrug Stores plc

The Intraining Group Limited

Training Direct Ltd

West Lothian College

XL Training (Scotland) Ltd

2018-19

Babcock Training Ltd

Calder Associates (Scotland) Limited

CEIS Ayrshire

Galloway Training Limited

GP Strategies Training Limited

GTG Training Limited

Intec Business Colleges Ltd

learndirect Limited

Life Skills Centres Ltd

Lifetime Training Group Limited

MGT Training Ltd

Microcom Training Ltd

Muir Slicer Associates Limited

On Track Training (Highland) Limited

PeoplePlus Group Ltd

Rathbone Training

Robson Associates Limited

SSVQ Ltd

Superdrug Stores plc

Training Direct Ltd

West Lothian College

XL Training (Scotland) Ltd

2019-20 up to end of q2

Babcock Training Ltd

Calder Associates (Scotland) Limited

Falkirk Council

Genius People Limited

GTG Training Limited

Lifetime Training Group Limited

MGT Training Ltd

Muir Slicer Associates Limited

On Track Training (Highland) Limited

PeoplePlus Group Ltd

Rathbone Training

Robson Associates Limited

SSVQ Ltd

Superdrug Stores plc

XL Training (Scotland) Ltd

Question reference: S5O-04104

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 January 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it will publish its Good Food Nation Bill.

Question reference: S5W-27035

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 January 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 29 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether a review has been undertaken on each sector of (a) Modern, (b) Foundation and (c) Graduate Apprenticeships.

Education Scotland have delivered a number of quality reviews of Modern Apprenticeships. These have covered: Engineering, ICT, Automotive, Hairdressing, Hospitality and Social Services (Children and Young People). Education Scotland and Skills Development Scotland are currently planning which occupational areas will be covered in 2020-21.

Additionally all individual Modern Apprenticeship training providers are subject to the Skills Development Scotland’s Quality Assurance and Improvement Framework.

In relation to Foundation and Graduate Apprenticeships, there has not yet been any sectoral review activity as these programmes are relatively new. Formal quality review procedures are currently being piloted with both Foundation and Graduate Apprenticeship providers. Both programmes have been designed and developed with industry and are aligned to key sectors of the economy with current skills shortages and projected future jobs growth.

It is important to note that a newly developed Apprenticeship Advisory Group (AAG) will replace the Modern Apprenticeship Group from 1 April 2020. The AAG will evaluate and approve all Scottish apprenticeship frameworks, maintain the quality of frameworks and provide assurance and recommendations to the Scottish Apprenticeship Advisory Board on the development of apprenticeships. Apprenticeship frameworks are also regularly reviewed with industry to ensure that they are meeting skills needs.

Question reference: S5W-27037

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 January 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 29 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how many modern apprenticeship starts there were in 2018-19 in each sector/occupational grouping, also broken down by (a) ethnicity and (b) disability.

Statistics on the breakdown of Modern Apprenticeship starts within each sector, broken down by ethnicity and disability are detailed in the following tables. Additional information is available within the Apprenticeship Equality Action Plan Annual report 2019( EAP Annual report 2019 ) which outlines Skills Development Scotland’s priorities for improving diversity and equality of opportunity in apprenticeships.

Skills Development Scotland Modern Apprenticeships 2018-19: MA Starts

Breakdown by occupational grouping and ethnicity

	Self-identified Ethnicity status
Occupational Grouping	Mixed or Multiple; Asian; African; Caribbean or Black; and Other ethnic group	White	Prefer not to say	Total
Administration & Related	60	1,760	6	1,826
Animal Care, Land & Water Based	*	*	5	290
Automotive	20	1,161	6	1,187
Chemicals & Biotechnology Related	0	23	0	23
Construction & Related	40	6,038	33	6,111
Creative & Cultural Skills	8	125	1	134
Engineering & Energy Related	20	1,490	5	1,515
Financial Services	45	811	6	862
Food & Drink	11	1,203	7	1,221
Hospitality & Tourism	90	2,470	14	2,574
Management	21	828	6	855
Other Manufacture	*	*	0	177
Other Services	81	2,222	28	2,331
Personal Services	9	834	5	848
Retail & Customer Service	66	2,002	6	2,074
Sport, Health & Social Care	128	3,855	36	4,019
Transport & Logistics	16	1,187	20	1,223
Total	621	26,465	184	27,270

Note: Disclosure control has been applied where figures are less than 5 or where such small numbers can be identified through differencing.

Skills Development Scotland Modern Apprenticeships 2018-19: MA Starts

Breakdown by occupational grouping and disability

	Self-identified disability status
Occupational Grouping	Impairment, ‎ health ‎ condition ‎ or learning ‎ difficulty	No ‎ Impairment, ‎ health ‎ condition ‎ or learning ‎ difficulty	Prefer not to say	Total
Administration & Related	255	1,535	36	1,826
Animal Care, Land & Water Based	54	222	14	290
Automotive	169	1,005	13	1,187
Chemicals & Biotechnology Related	*	*	1	23
Construction & Related	436	5,579	96	6,111
Creative & Cultural Skills	11	119	4	134
Engineering & Energy Related	114	1,387	14	1,515
Financial Services	109	719	34	862
Food & Drink	104	1,107	10	1,221
Hospitality & Tourism	638	1,869	67	2,574
Management	98	713	44	855
Other Manufacture	*	*	1	177
Other Services	291	1,958	82	2,331
Personal Services	165	678	5	848
Retail & Customer Service	483	1,570	21	2,074
Sport, Health & Social Care	722	3,222	75	4,019
Transport & Logistics	105	1,086	32	1,223
Total	3,771	22,950	549	27,270

Note: Disclosure control has been applied where figures are less than 5 or where such small numbers can be identified through differencing.

Question reference: S5W-27099

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 January 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 29 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to publish a new Career Information, Advice and Guidance in Scotland strategy since publishing its Programme for Government 2019-20.

The new Careers Strategy, building on the previous careers strategy published in March 2011, has been developed by the Scottish Government in collaboration with representatives from across the careers sector and independent specialists. Our collaborative approach has ensured invaluable input from across the sector at every development stage and we plan to publish the new careers strategy shortly.

Question reference: S5W-27022

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 January 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 28 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government where the additional 30 trainee radiographer posts, announced in its integrated workforce plan, will be located.

Question reference: S5O-04037

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 January 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how many local authorities offer digital school registration.

Question reference: S5W-26434

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 18 November 2019
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 3 December 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what funding is available to organisations that support bipolar people and their families.

NHS Scotland, Local and Integrated Authorities work in partnership with third sector and other service providers to deliver care, services and support to people with bipolar disorder and their families from the overall resources they receive from the Scottish Government.

The Scottish Government also has a long history of supporting Bipolar Scotland, and other national mental health third sector organisations who will support people with bipolar disorder and their families, through direct grant funding schemes. Since 2012 the Scottish Government has provided £270,000 to support Bipolar Scotland deliver support for people with bipolar disorder across Scotland. A current grant application is under consideration.

Question reference: S5W-26435

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 18 November 2019
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 3 December 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of medical trials of alternatives to Lithium.

Question reference: S5W-26436

Asked by: Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 18 November 2019
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 3 December 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what the annual cost is of treating a patient with Lithium.