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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

Filter your results Hide all filters

Displaying 713 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S4W-06053

Asked by: Iain Gray, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 March 2012
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 21 March 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can and, if so, whether it will, cap the financial contribution of parents toward childcare based on ability to pay

We are putting Childcare for All at the centre of our ambition for families in Scotland. We are committed to developing a cohesive and universal system of integrated, high quality early learning and childcare which is accessible, flexible and affordable, matching the best in Europe.

The Scottish Government has announced that in 2013 we will introduce legislation for an expansion from 475 hours to a minimum of 600 hours per year of funded early learning and childcare for all three and four-year-olds and two-year-olds who are looked after.

Further to this, we will set out and develop the steps we need to further develop early learning and childcare provision over the next decade – undoubtedly having control of our tax and benefits system would help.

Question reference: S4W-06055

Asked by: Iain Gray, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 March 2012
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 21 March 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on what impact the reduction in the childcare element of the Working Tax Credit in April 2011 has had on access to childcare in Scotland.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on the impact on access to childcare in Scotland as a result of changes to the childcare element of working tax credits implemented in April 2011.

We do know, from information published by HMRC as at 3 April 2011, that of the families in Scotland defined as in-work, 44,500 families were benefiting from the childcare element of working tax credit. The UK Government decision to reduce the cap on childcare tax credits from 80% to 70% means childcare has become less affordable. Those families claiming the maximum amount will have seen their childcare costs rise £17.50 per week for one child, and £30 per week if claiming for two or more children.

The Daycare Trust, in a report on the cost of childcare published in October 2012, estimated that the change to childcare tax credits has added an estimated average of £546 to the child care bill for half a million UK families (64% of which are lone parents) and up to £1,560 per year for some low income families.

Question reference: S4W-06052

Asked by: Iain Gray, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 March 2012
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 20 March 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to support working parents with childcare costs.

Question reference: S4W-06054

Asked by: Iain Gray, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 March 2012
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 19 March 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to require local authorities to compile data on the supply, quality and marketing of childcare.

Question reference: S4W-05827

Asked by: Iain Gray, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 February 2012
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 1 March 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the additional £8 million in funding to the Scottish Funding Council in 2012-13 to help colleges deliver their Opportunities for All commitments will be allocated to students with learning disabilities aged (a) 16 to 19 and (b) over 19.

Detailed decisions on the allocation of this funding have not yet been made, although the priority age group for college places, in line with our plans for Putting Learners at the Centre, will be 16 to 19-year-olds.

Colleges exist to help people towards employment and we have made clear that this should include everyone, regardless of whether they might have learning or other disabilities. We have also made clear the value we place on non-recognised qualifications where they provide an access route to employment, including for people with disabilities and that, where this is the case, we expect such provision to be protected.

Question reference: S4O-00706

Asked by: Iain Gray, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 February 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 February 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to promote buses as a method of travel.

Question reference: S4W-04968

Asked by: Iain Gray, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 January 2012
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 3 February 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive how many modern apprenticeship new starts there were in East Lothian in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11 and have been in 2011-12.

Question reference: S4O-00618

Asked by: Iain Gray, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 January 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 January 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that reductions in college budgets will not have a disproportionate impact on opportunities for people with learning disabilities.

Question reference: S4W-04704

Asked by: Iain Gray, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 December 2011
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 4 January 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Courts Service has been asked to draw up plans for saving money by closing sheriff courts.

Question reference: S4W-04703

Asked by: Iain Gray, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 December 2011
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 4 January 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Courts Service plans to close Haddington Sheriff Court.