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-17189

Asked by: Gordon MacDonald, MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 June 2018
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 19 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how it will continue to attract foreign direct investment.

There is a range of actions that the Scottish Government is taking to attract foreign direct investment, which according to the 2018 EY Attractiveness Survey places Scotland as the top in the UK outside of London for foreign direct investment projects and leading the UK in attracting Research and Development projects.

Through the work of Scottish Development International with its network of offices in more than 20 countries around the world, investors receive on-going tailored and bespoke support before, during and after making an investment to ensure they realise their true potential in Scotland.

A new Directorate for International Trade and Investment has been established in the Scottish Government. Its aims include convening, constructively engaging with and helping co-ordinate and champion the work of Scottish Development International and other key stakeholders as they support and attract existing and new foreign direct investors. One initiative underway is the Inward Investment Forum which enables the Scottish Government and Scottish Development International to listen to and engage with Scotland's major inward investors, while enabling investors to share their views, experience and expertise. This insight will help us to create the right business environment for inward investment to thrive.

Through the Innovation and Investment Hubs in London, Brussels, Dublin and Berlin, with a further Hub to open in Paris, we have established a permanent presence from which we can engage with potential investors and showcase Scottish assets. The Hubs have been complemented by an increase in the number of SDI staff in the Hubs and throughout the global network of offices.

The Enterprise and Skills Review International Phase 2 report of June 2017 set out a range of objectives designed to boost Scotland’s exports and attract more inward investment. Whilst most of the actions contained in the report have been completed, we are continuing to work in partnership with the enterprise agencies, local government, universities, colleges and the Scottish Cities Alliance to attract more inward investment and co-ordinate our international activities to maximise the benefit for Scotland.

Question reference: S5O-02255

Asked by: Gordon MacDonald, MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 June 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how the NHS supports the health and wellbeing of prisoners in HM Prison Edinburgh.

Question reference: S5O-02204

Asked by: Gordon MacDonald, MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 May 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 7 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what powers it has to intervene in semi-rural areas where broadband provision is inadequate.

The delivery of telecoms services in Scotland is a matter reserved to the UK Government.

In spite of this, the Scottish Government has chosen to act, and is now working to build upon the success of the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband roll-out, which - combined with commercial coverage - has delivered over 98% superfast fibre coverage in the City of Edinburgh Council area.

We have announced a substantial investment of £600 million in the initial phase of the Reaching 100% programme, as per our commitment to deliver 100% superfast broadband access across the country.

Procurement is well underway, and I believe the allocation of funding for each of the three lots – with the majority going to the North and South lots – reinforces our view that public spending should be focussed where it is needed most – in rural Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-16636

Asked by: Gordon MacDonald, MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 May 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 29 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what input it has had in the UK Government’s discussions regarding a customs union or partnership when the UK leaves the EU.

The Scottish Government has made its views clear repeatedly to the UK Government that if Brexit is to happen then Scotland and the UK should remain within the Customs Union. However, it is not clear what the UK Government’s position is regarding customs arrangements with the European Union following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, nor how the position of the Scottish Government has been considered by the UK Government.

Question reference: S5W-16327

Asked by: Gordon MacDonald, MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 May 2018
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 15 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how many brewing industry (a) local units and (b) enterprises there have been in each year since 2008.

The latest figures held by the Scottish Government show that:

Manufacture of Beer, Local Units and Enterprises, Scotland

March 2008-2017

	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017
Local Unit Count	40	45	40	45	55	60	75	80	100	110
Enterprise Count	35	40	35	40	50	55	70	75	90	100

Source: Scottish Government, ONS (IDBR)

Notes:

1. A local unit is a business site (e.g. factory, shop, office)

2. Local unit and enterprise counts are rounded to the nearest five.

Question reference: S5W-16329

Asked by: Gordon MacDonald, MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 May 2018
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 15 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what support (a) it and (b) Scottish Enterprise has provided to the Scottish brewing industry in each year since 2008.

Since 2008, the following support has been provided to the Scottish Brewing Sector:

Year	Scottish Government – Food Processing, Marketing and Co-operation Grant Awards*	Scottish Enterprise	Total
2008	-	-	-
2009	-	-	-
2010	-	-	-
2011	-	-	-
2012	£1,081,670	-	£1,081,670
2013	£526,137	-	£526,137
2014	-	£2,161,403	£2,161,403
2015	£35,892	£473,507	£509,399
2016	£49,333	£567,803	£617,136
2017	-	£637,339	£637,339
2018	£717,616	-	£717,616
Total	£2,410,648	£3,840,052	£6,250,700

*alcohol projects only became eligible under the scheme in 2012.

Question reference: S5O-02089

Asked by: Gordon MacDonald, MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 May 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Equalities and Human Rights Commission regarding whether the recent and proposed bank closures contravene the Equalities Act 2010.

Question reference: S5O-01950

Asked by: Gordon MacDonald, MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 March 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to help Edinburgh achieve its ambition to become the data capital of Europe.

Question reference: S5O-01881

Asked by: Gordon MacDonald, MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 March 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has invested in the Schools for the Future programme since 2011.

Question reference: S5O-01740

Asked by: Gordon MacDonald, MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 January 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 31 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how it meets the housing demand of older tenants with mobility issues.