Questions and answers

Question reference: S5O-03987

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 January 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the rural economy secretary has had with the finance secretary regarding how much will be allocated to farmers in the next Budget.

Question reference: S5O-03885

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 December 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 December 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that a large number of police officers are going to work while physically and mentally unwell.

Question reference: S5W-26354

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 November 2019
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 21 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what training is provided to (a) primary and (b) secondary school teachers in the (i) City of Edinburgh, (ii) East Lothian, (iii) Midlothian and (iv) West Lothian Council area to teach first aid.

This information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.

All teachers engage in professional learning to develop and enhance their knowledge and practice in order to enhance the quality of teaching and learning. Teachers' professional learning is informed and supported by the General Teaching Council for Scotland's professional standards, education policy and academic literature. The particular learning undertaken would be subject to the needs of individuals and their contexts.

Question reference: S5W-26356

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 November 2019
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 19 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what methods are used to deliver first aid education in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in the (i) City of Edinburgh, (ii) East Lothian, (iii) Midlothian and (iv) West Lothian Council area.

Question reference: S5W-26355

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 November 2019
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 19 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what external providers (a) the City of Edinburgh, (b) East Lothian, (c) Midlothian and (d) West Lothian Council uses to assist with the provision of first aid education in (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools.

Question reference: S5W-26260

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 November 2019
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 19 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of (a) primary and (b) secondary school pupils in the (i) City of Edinburgh, (ii) East Lothian, (iii) Midlothian and (iv) West Lothian Council area are taught first aid.

The information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. Under Curriculum for Excellence, the Scottish Government does not prescribe on the content of lessons taught in Scottish schools. Schools and education authorities currently have the flexibility to provide first aid training in schools and, where they choose to do so, it is a matter for them to decide how best to deliver it taking into account the needs and circumstances of all children and young people in attendance.

Question reference: S5O-03811

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 November 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what provisions have been made for disabled people who are unable to use the fingerprint scanners that have been installed as part of the two-factor authentication service at the entrances to the complex.

Question reference: S5W-26014

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 October 2019
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 11 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether funding from the Equally Safe (Violence Against Women and Girls) Fund 2017-2020 is available to organisations providing a women-only service, and whether such organisations can use the legal exemptions under the Equality Act 2010 to provide such a service if they wish to receive this funding.

Nothing in the Scottish Government’s standard conditions of grant prevent organisations from appropriately applying the exceptions available under the Equality Act 2010, including in order to deliver women-only services where a condition in the Act is met and the restricted provision is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim. This includes funding provided through Equally Safe.

We would expect organisations to make decisions about their service provision within the relevant legal framework, including use of the single sex exceptions where provided for in the Act and where this is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.

Question reference: S5W-26015

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 October 2019
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 11 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether its funding rules exclude organisations from applying for exemptions under the Equality Act 2010 to run single-sex services and, if so, whether this is lawful.

Nothing in the Scottish Government’s standard conditions of grant prevent organisations from appropriately applying the exceptions available under the Equality Act 2010, including in order to deliver women-only services where a condition in the Act is met and the restricted provision is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim. This includes funding provided through Equally Safe.

We would expect organisations to make decisions about their service provision within the relevant legal framework, including use of the single sex exceptions where provided for in the Act and where this is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.

Question reference: S5O-03762

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 November 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what support it can provide to the owners of properties, including in the Western Harbour development in Edinburgh, who are facing difficulties in trying to sell or remortgage because their homes have aluminium cladding.

Chamber and committees