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: S5W-00200

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 8 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports in The Sunday Post on 21 May 2016 suggesting that Glasgow Prestwick Airport spent (a) £600,000 on management consultants, (b) £90,000 on recruitment consultants and (c) £15,000 on a four-day team building exercise for executives, and what discussions it has had with the airport’s operators with regard to this matter.

The Scottish Government has not had any discussions with Glasgow Prestwick Airport regarding use of consultancy support or other professional services. In compliance with European Union state aid rules, the airport is operated on a wholly commercial basis at arm’s length from the Scottish Government. Despite seeking to expand the city deal to include further investment, this was not agreed to by the UK Government.

It is for the senior management team at the airport to determine when it is appropriate to use external professional advice to ensure a positive future for the business.

Question reference: S5W-00201

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 8 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports in The Sunday Post on 21 May 2016 suggesting that senior management at Glasgow Prestwick Airport have filed expenses claims for staying at five-star hotels, including in London and Las Vegas, and what discussions it has had with the airport’s operators with regard to this matter.

The Scottish Government has had no discussions with Glasgow Prestwick Airport on the expenses claimed by the senior management team at the airport. In compliance with European Union state aid rules, the airport is operated on a wholly commercial basis and at arm’s length from the Scottish Government, the Scottish Government have no involvement in the day to day running of the airport, including staff expenses. Attendance at the World Route Development Forum in Las Vegas in 2013 took place while the airport was owned by Infratil.

Question reference: S4W-30539

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Rutherglen, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 March 2016
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 17 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-30084 by John Swinney on 7 March 2016, whether it considers the regulation of claims management companies in Scotland to be adequate, in light of the level of reported nuisance calls about PPI.

Question reference: S4O-05694

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Rutherglen, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 March 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the pay of workers in the hospitality sector.

Question reference: S4W-30156

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Rutherglen, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 26 February 2016
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 10 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what projects have received funding through its tackling sectarianism initiatives in 2015-16, also broken down by the (a) amount awarded and (b) date the award was made.

This government has provided more funding for work to tackle sectarianism than any administration before us. Our funding has supported 38 projects and a small grant programme to tackle sectarianism in 2015-16. Confirmation of awards was made on 15 January 2015 with all grants beginning on 1 April 2015.

The detailed breakdown requested for funded projects is set out in the following link.

http://news.scotland.gov.uk/Multimedia-Library/Tackling-Sectarianism-funding-2015-16-e59.aspx

Additionally, on 12 June 2015, we confirmed that we would provide an additional £66,883 of funding for the national community justice voluntary organisation, SACRO (Safeguarding Communities – Reducing Offending) to develop its Diversion from Prosecution Service as a National Service for people who are charged under the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communication (Scotland) Act 2012.

Question reference: S4W-30085

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Rutherglen, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 February 2016
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Burgess on 9 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-29488 by John Swinney on 4 February 2016, whether it conducted a privacy impact assessment on its energy efficiency policies and, if so, whether this identified a risk of increased nuisance calls.

The Scottish Government has not undertaken a privacy impact assessment on its energy efficiency policies. However, all relevant organisations involved in the delivery of our energy efficiency schemes are required to have appropriate data protection policies in place.

We are aware that there appeared to be an increase in nuisance calls about replacement boilers to households in 2015 following announcements from the UK Government on changes to their energy efficiency related schemes. The Information Commissioners Office (ICO) is currently investigating a number of organisations in this sector, which appear not to have complied with the Regulations.

None of the Scottish Government energy efficiency programmes involve cold calling and I have publicly condemned nuisance callers that have been misleading customers. Households have been urged to contact Home Energy Scotland to access free impartial advice and support.

The ICO request that individuals receiving nuisance calls continue to submit their concerns.

Question reference: S4W-30083

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Rutherglen, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 February 2016
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 7 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-29584 by John Swinney on 9 February 2016, in light of the proposed devolution of consumer advocacy and advice, whether it is aware of the findings of the trial that Trading Standards Scotland carried out in 2015 on call blocking technology and, if so, whether it will use these to help develop policy in this field.

The Scottish Government is aware of Trading Standards Scotland's recent trialling of the trueCall technology for blocking nuisance calls. Reports of the technology's effectiveness - blocking over 95% of all nuisance calls received during the trial and providing peace of mind to many vulnerable and elderly residents - are extremely encouraging. We understand that 27 of Scotland's 32 local authorities have now signed up for provision of trueCall technology.

The Scottish Government recognises that wider implementation of call blocking technology is one of a number of options available that could help reduce the volume of nuisance calls received across the country, and we will consider all of these options in developing future Scottish Government policy on consumer protection.

Question reference: S4W-30084

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Rutherglen, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 February 2016
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 7 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-29584 by John Swinney on 9 February 2016, whether it will provide details of the work that it is carrying out with the UK Government and key stakeholders regarding the effectiveness of regulation in this area, and which minster is taking lead responsibility for this.

The Scottish Government is clear that current UK regulation of nuisance calls and texts is fragmented. We believe more can be done at a UK level to make the regulation and enforcement of nuisance calls work more effectively for consumers, for example –

The UK Government should seek to work with industry to introduce a mandatory code of business practice;

A clear expiry date on personal consent to third party marketing should also be established; and

The terminology used in consent boxes, which indicate that the consumer has or has not agreed to receive calls or texts, is clear, fair and fit for purpose.

We will continue to work in partnership with key consumer bodies, businesses and regulators to advocate for a system that better protects consumers from unwanted calls. New consumer powers under the Scotland Bill will help us deliver our vision to create confident consumers in Scotland and markets that work for businesses and consumers. Key to this will be greater clarity for Scottish consumers on where to turn to for help and advice, as well as work with the business community to highlight the benefits of adopting customer-focused approaches. Effective data sharing on nuisance calls is essential to earlier identification of malpractice and to helping raise awareness among businesses of good practice.

Issues relating to consumer protection are currently the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Economy.

Question reference: S4O-05621

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Rutherglen, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 February 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the 2016-17 local government settlement will have on communities.

Question reference: S4W-29488

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Rutherglen, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 25 January 2016
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 4 February 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it conducts privacy impact assessments when developing major policies and, if so, whether these assessments examine the effect of policy on the number of nuisance calls received by homeowners.

Privacy impact assessments (PIA) are used in the Scottish Government to identify and manage privacy risks of new projects and policies, often as part of the normal project and risk management process. No formal record is automatically kept linking changes to policy or legislation back to a specific privacy impact assessment. However, if a PIA did identify that there is a risk of nuisance calls then measures would be taken to address those risks.