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-18827

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 24 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 15 October 2018

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason only five universities offer undergraduate or postgraduate education courses specialising in business, and what impact it considers this has on the (a) number of business management and accountancy teachers and (b) availability of courses available for pupils to study business management and accountancy courses at National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher level.

What is offered in way of undergraduate and postgraduate education courses is a matter for universities, given they operate as autonomous bodies. It is not practicable for each Initial Teacher Education university to offer teaching programmes in all subjects.

For the 2018-19 academic year, 83 places have been allocated to Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) programmes in Business Education. These are available at the Universities of Aberdeen, Glasgow, Highlands and Islands and Strathclyde. The University of Stirling also offers a combined undergraduate degree in Business Education and teaching.

As the national awarding body, the SQA offers a range of national qualifications including Accounting and Business Management. The precise number and range of qualifications on offer for pupils will be a decision for schools to take in consultation with learners and parents.

Question reference: S5W-18823

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 24 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 15 October 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how many business education teaching posts are vacant.

Question reference: S5W-18744

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 11 October 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of any instances where mesh implants for hernia have resulted in long-term health issues for the recipient.

As with any surgical procedure, there is a risk of complication and the Scottish Government has received a small number of letters from patients describing symptoms after hernia mesh surgery. However, the use of mesh in hernia repair is accepted practice across the UK and there no evidence to suggest its use is unsafe, with no medical device alert having been issued in any jurisdiction anywhere in the world. Any complications are expected to be followed up as necessary by the clinicians involved in the case.

Question reference: S5W-19125

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 28 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 5 October 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review or amend the regulations governing the arrangement and conduct of funerals.

Part 3 of the Burial and Cremation (Scotland) Act 2016 sets out who can make the arrangements for the burial or cremation of an adult, child, still-born baby and pregnancy loss. As part of the ongoing implementation of the 2016 Act, Part 3 will be laid before the Scottish Parliament for commencement soon.

The 2016 Act does not restrict or govern who may organise or conduct the funeral of a deceased person. The Scottish Government has no plans to introduce regulations governing who can conduct a funeral.

Question reference: S5O-02434

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 3 October 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve teacher recruitment in problem subject areas to tackle reductions in subject choice.

The Scottish Government is taking a number of actions to improve teacher recruitment in problem subject areas, including supporting universities in the development of new routes into teaching, offering bursaries of £20,000 for career changers to do teacher training in certain STEM subjects, and delivering our teacher recruitment campaign ‘Teaching Makes People’ which focuses on STEM and other subjects where demand is at its greatest.

We believe it is important that local authorities and schools offer a broad range of subject choices that meet their pupils' needs and aspirations.

Question reference: S5W-18756

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 27 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-18230 by Kevin Stewart on 4 September 2018, how it will judge the relative value for money of its funding into Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association compared to its other strands of investment in affordable housing.

Question reference: S5W-18757

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 27 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-18230 by Kevin Stewart on 4 September 2018, how much investment is still to be committed to meet its affordable housing target by March 2021.

Question reference: S5W-18755

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 27 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-18230 by Kevin Stewart on 4 September 2018, whether it expects to use analysis of the impact of its funding to Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association to shape further investment in affordable homes, and, if so, on what timescale.

Question reference: S5W-18758

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 27 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-18230 by Kevin Stewart on 4 September 2018, what monitoring of the £6 million provided to Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association has been undertaken by officials supervising the More Homes Scotland programme.

Question reference: S5W-18759

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 27 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-18230 by Kevin Stewart on 4 September 2018, what steps it has taken to encourage more partnership funding, such as that operated by Hearthstone Investment.