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: S5O-01014

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 24 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to use its share of the UK Apprenticeship Levy.

Funding notionally received from the UK Government’s Apprenticeship Levy through the block grant is not additional money, and largely replaces funding the Scottish Government would have previously received. Taking account of public bodies' contributions to the Levy, public sector spending leeway in Scotland will be reduced by around £30 million. Unlike the UK Government, we consulted extensively on how to respond to the Levy. In December I published details of how we will budget for apprenticeship and other employability and training opportunities, in a manner entirely consistent with the findings of our consultation.

Question reference: S5F-01264

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 08 May 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 May 2017

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government is doing to better resource planning authorities, in light of an increase in planning fees for major applications from 1 June 2017.

Question reference: S5O-00961

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 May 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its policy is on the provision of minor injuries units in communities.

Question reference: S5W-08884

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 3 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its long-term strategy is with regard to 18- to 21-year-olds having access to housing benefit.

We remain disappointed that the UK Government have refused to agree an approach that would have avoided housing benefit being withdrawn from young people in Scotland.

We continue to seek a solution that will allow all 18-21 year olds to receive housing costs through Universal Credit subject to the same criteria and eligibility as claimants aged 22 and over and will raise this issue with the incoming UK Government after the election period.

In the interim we will monitor the impact of the regulations in Scotland, and continue to work with local authorities to ensure those young people who will be excluded from financial support by the UK Government will still be able to receive assistance with housing costs through the Scottish Welfare Fund.

Question reference: S5W-08883

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 2 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the findings of its research into barriers to engagement and the role of community councils in planning.

Question reference: S5O-00880

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 April 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to automating some benefits, such as school clothing grants, free school meals and the educational maintenance allowance, to increase the uptake by those most in need.

Question reference: S5O-00848

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 March 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on extending child fares to the age of 18 for all forms public transport.

Question reference: S5O-00812

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 22 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to mitigate the impact that welfare reforms have had on access to free school meals.

Question reference: S5W-07681

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 16 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making with the proposed introduction of a young carer's allowance.

The Scottish Government is aware that young carers face challenges to their health and well-being, and many are unable to access opportunities that are available for other young people. That is why we committed to considering the introduction of a Young Carer’s Allowance to provide extra support for young people with significant caring responsibilities. We have set up the Young Carers Allowance Working Group, which consists of key individuals from organisations such as the Scottish Young Carers Services Alliance, the Scottish Young Parliament and Carers Trust. The Group are developing options for a package of financial and enhanced non-financial support to help young carers. We also received a number of responses from young carers, and the organisations that represent them, during the social security consultation, which we are carefully considering to determine the right package of additional support young carers need.

Question reference: S5W-07724

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 15 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) individuals, (b) organisations and (c) the UK Government regarding legislation to prevent ticket touting.

The Scottish Government fully appreciate the concerns expressed about the deliberate resale of tickets for profit, known as “touting” and recognise that some events do sell out quickly and ticket touts or online sellers take the opportunity to sell tickets at significantly higher prices.

Powers in relation to secondary ticketing are reserved to Westminster and we cannot bring forward any legislation in this area under the current constitutional arrangements. I welcome the amendment that the UK Government is proposing to the Digital Services Bill in relation to ticketing bots. The UK Government’s response to Professor Waterson’s report into secondary ticketing has now been issued. We are giving careful consideration to the proposals on how to deal with secondary ticketing and in particular on how any issues relating to Scotland can be dealt with successfully. My officials are continuing to keep in touch with officials in Whitehall on this to ensure a positive outcome for Scottish consumers.