Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question to S5W-14218 on
9 February 2018. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

Benny Higgins is currently leading work to develop an Implementation Plan for a Scottish National Investment Bank. The Implementation Plan will provide recommendations on the scope and scale of the bank, as well as governance, capitalisation and state aid. The Plan will be published in late February.

I refer the member to the answer to question to S5W-14218 on
9 February 2018. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

Export financing is a matter currently reserved to the UK Government. However Scottish Development International work closely with UK Export Finance (UKEF) and the Enterprise Agencies and their partners to ensure that Scottish companies benefit fully from the financial products available.

The Scottish Government believes that more needs to be done to ensure that Scottish businesses get their fair share of opportunities. For example, the newly established Scottish Trade Board has specifically identified actions to be taken forward around export finance.

This is a matter for the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner. An Annual Report is laid before the Scottish Parliament under section 43(5) of the Police Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006. The latest was laid in December 2017 (SG / 2017 / 216). It is also available on PIRC’s website https://pirc.scot/media/4441/pirc-commissioners-report-final.pdf.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-14077 on 8 February 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found athttp://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

The Independent Office for Police Conduct for England and Wales and the Office of Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland have different statutory responsibilities to the PIRC and the Scottish Government is not aware of any performance information produced on a directly comparable basis across these bodies.

The Scottish Government holds regular sponsorship meetings with the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner as set out in the Governance and Accountability Framework. The quality and standard of reports is a matter for the PIRC. In relation to criminal matters, PIRC undertakes investigations under the direction and supervision of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

An Annual Report is laid before the Scottish Parliament under section 43(5) of the Police Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006. The latest was laid in December 2017 (SG / 2017 / 216). It is also available on PIRC’s website https://pirc.scot/media/4441/pirc-commissioners-report-final.pdf.

The Scottish Government is working with the Construction Industry Training Board, Skills Development Scotland (SDS) and other partners to support the 128 apprentices identified as being employed by Carillion. All of these apprentices were following the General Construction Operative framework and were deployed in groundwork activities on construction sites within the Glasgow area. To date, 28 have secured employment, another 26 are about to complete their apprenticeship and the remaining 74 are being supported to complete their MA. All 74 apprentices are being case managed by Career Information Advice and Guidance staff in SDS. The wider impact of Carillion’s liquidation is both complex and continues to evolve. We are undertaking further investigations, as well as monitoring the situation and are ready to respond to the needs of the apprentices affected.

The Statutory processes are set out in Section 22 of the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000 which requires Scottish Ministers to lay a copy of the accounts and the auditor's report before the Parliament and to publish the accounts and auditor's report by no later than 31 December - in this instance 31 December 2017.

For financial year 2016-17 the letters and reports from the Auditor General for Scotland for SE and HIE were received on 11 July and 19 September respectively and their Annual Reports and Accounts were laid and published within the statutory timeline.