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-02073

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 May 2018
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 9 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the provision of GP appointments in NHS Lanarkshire.

The latest Health and Care Experience Survey published on 24 April 2018, reported that the number of people offered an urgent appointment at their GP practice within 48 hours has risen from 91% to 93% in the past year, with all health boards meeting the minimum standard of 90%. 91% of the patients in NHS Lanarkshire who completed the survey gave a positive response for 48 hour access.

The new GP contract, backed by investment of £110 million in 2018-19 and jointly developed with the BMA, will ensure GPs can spend even more time with patients when they really need to see them. There will also be new investment in the wider multi-disciplinary teams to support GPs and improve patient care.

We are already working to increase the number of GPs by at least 800 over ten years to ensure a sustainable service that meets increasing demand.

Question reference: S5W-16089

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 20 April 2018
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 1 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how many recommendations in the report, Review of Scottish public sector procurement in construction, have been implemented.

Following publication of the “Review of Scottish Public Sector Procurement in Construction”, the Government set up The Construction Review Delivery Group (CRDG) to oversee delivery of the Review’s recommendations. To date, the CRDG has endorsed 47 of the Review’s recommendations as complete. A detailed report of the current status of all of the Review’s recommendations can be found on the Scottish Government’s website at the following URL:

http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Government/Procurement/policy/ReviewProcConst/outputs

Question reference: S5W-16086

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 20 April 2018
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 1 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has carried out regarding the impact of the recommendations in the report, Review of Scottish public sector procurement in construction.

The “Review of Scottish Public Sector Procurement in Construction” set out an approach to achieve better collaboration in design-led, efficient and public sector construction procurement and made a number of recommendations as to how this might be realised. These included one recommendation to strengthen the construction procurement policy function within the Scottish Government, and another to introduce capability assessments for contracting authorities. Together these will enable, among other things, the Government to monitor whether the implementation of the Review’s recommendations are having the desired effect, or whether further changes are required.

Question reference: S5W-15836

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 06 April 2018
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 26 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) median and (b) mean total household income of applicants for the Help to Buy (Scotland) scheme has been in each quarter since Q1 2016-17.

Information on the incomes of households purchasing homes through the Help to Buy (Scotland) Scheme is based on sales ‘log form’ information returned by participating households. Data for the first three years of the scheme is published in the Help to Buy (Scotland) Monitoring Information 2013-2016 report which is available at https://beta.gov.scot/publications/help-to-buy-scotland-monitoring-information-report-2013-2016/ .Log forms for the year 2016-17 are in the process of being collated. A summary of findings for the year 2016-17, including average household income by quarter, is planned to be published in June 2018, alongside the latest set of Help to Buy Sales Monitoring Information.

Question reference: S5O-02030

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 April 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met officials from South Lanarkshire Council's Education Resources.

Question reference: S5O-02014

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 April 2018
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 25 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to the Glasgow bid to host the new Channel 4 headquarters.

Question reference: S5O-01996

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 April 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 18 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the impact that its closure could have on the food sector, what discussions the rural economy secretary has had regarding the future of the 2 Sisters plant in Cambuslang.

The Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy and Connectivity, Fergus Ewing has been in discussion with officials about potential support options for the company. As this matter has been led by our Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy, Mr Ewing has been kept closely informed of his discussions with the company and stakeholders; the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work’s meeting with the Unite Union; and the Scottish Government, its agencies and the local council’s work with the company.

Unfortunately, despite our very best efforts, the 2 Sisters Food Group decided that closure could not be avoided.

Question reference: S5W-15707

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 17 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) properties have been purchased and (b) people have been supported each year under the Help to Buy scheme.

The total number of properties purchased through the Help to Buy (Scotland) schemes between 2013-14 and 2016-17 is over 10,000. Broken down by financial year the numbers were;

Financial Year	Number of Properties Purchased
2013-14	750
2014-15	3690
2015-16	3560
2016-17	2370

Please note these numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10

The Scottish Government does hold information regarding number of people who live in households purchased with assistance from Help to Buy

Information regarding published statistics for Help to Buy Scotland can be found at https:--beta.gov.scot-policies-homeowners-help-to-buy-

Question reference: S5W-15705

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 17 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how much homeowners have paid (a) in total and (b) on average each year on fees to meet the administrative costs of agents administering post-sale queries regarding the Help to Buy scheme.

Question reference: S5W-15703

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 17 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what impact (a) changes to the value of property and (b) property being sold has had each year on the value of the equity stakes that it holds under the Help to Buy scheme.