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-09292

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 5 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports of children being bullied by instructors in the Combined Cadet Forces (CCF), what information it has on any Scottish schools reporting bullying to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in (a) the CCF and (b) Linked Detachment Groups; how many incidences of bullying in Scotland have been reported to the MoD; what the MoD's policy is on bullying in the CCF and Linked Detachment Groups, and what information it has on whether parents and children are made aware of the MoD's bullying policy.

The Scottish Government has no information on Scottish schools reporting bullying to the MoD in the CCF or Linked Detachment Groups. Matters relating to defence are reserved to the UK Parliament. We would expect any instance of bullying in a Scottish school to be addressed appropriately and handled according to the school’s and local authority’s policy and procedures relating to bullying. All Cadet staff in Scotland are required to be members of the PVG scheme run by Disclosure Scotland. The Army Cadets, Sea Cadets and Air Training Corps all have safeguarding and/or child protection policies which are available to view online.

Question reference: S5W-09290

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 5 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the submission to petition PE1603 from Scientists for Global Responsibility, which criticises the use of the military to teach STEM subjects in schools, and whether part of the proposed cadet experience will be used to teach STEM subjects.

Education Scotland published benchmark guidance earlier in 2017 which provides clarity on the national standards expected in each curriculum area and at each Curriculum for Excellence level in Scotland. The guidance affirms that teaching of STEM subjects in Scottish schools is designed to help develop the skills and attitudes young people will require to be scientifically-literate citizens as well as to participate successfully in the labour market. For example, pupils are required to demonstrate an understanding of the moral and ethical implications of scientific developments. Schools are encouraged to make use of external partnerships with employers and others to ensure STEM learning in schools is stimulating, inspiring and relevant. It is up to teachers and local authorities to use their professional judgement to decide which external partnerships to build and how to use them to support their young people gain the skills, capability and confidence they need.

Question reference: S5W-09289

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 5 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to consult with (a) parents, (b) teachers and (c) pupils on the use of the military to provide voluntary opportunities that are accredited by the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

Question reference: S5W-09423

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 1 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its proposal to bring the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) under the governance of a strategic board focused on economic outcomes, whether the ability of the SFC to focus on activities that do not relate to enterprise and skills will be constrained.

The Scottish Funding Council will remain accountable to Scottish Ministers. The SFC, in common with the other agencies, will retain its own board which will continue to perform its duties in line with its Ministerial letter of guidance and legislative requirements. The role of the Strategic Board will be to establish increased collaboration between the agencies in order to deliver inclusive economic growth.

Question reference: S5W-09425

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 1 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its proposal to bring the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) under the governance of a strategic board focused on economic outcomes, how the SFC’s role, functions and activities that do not relate to enterprise and skills will be governed and maintained.

Question reference: S5W-09424

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 1 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its proposal to bring the Scottish Funding Council under the governance of a strategic board focused on economic outcomes, how it will protect academic freedom.

Question reference: S5W-09259

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 1 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills on 16 May 2017 (Official Report, c. 15), on what dates it has held joint meetings with Colleges Scotland and EIS-FELA regarding the implementation of the agreement that was reached in 2016.

Question reference: S5O-01007

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 18 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to prepare for the event of no deal being agreed following the Brexit negotiations.

The Scottish Government is considering a range of scenarios in relation to Brexit. It will be much easier to predict and plan for all scenarios if Scotland is fully engaged in the negotiation process.

It is clear is that a no-deal scenario would be extremely damaging for Scotland. We will do our very best to avoid that and therefore continue to adhere to the JMC (EN) terms of reference on oversight and UK-wide agreement

Question reference: S5O-01025

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 May 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the distributional impact on households of its proposed Air Departure Tax reduction.

Question reference: S5T-00536

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 May 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the decision by the SQA to restrict teachers’ access to exam papers after the exam has been taken to prevent "inappropriate postings" on social media.