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: S4W-18678

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 December 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 17 December 2013

To ask the Scottish Government how many hours have been worked on construction on the Forth Replacement Crossing project outwith normal working hours as defined in the Forth Replacement Crossing Code of Construction Practice.

The Code of Construction Practice allows for 24 hour working on marine works, which has and continues to take place other than planned shut downs at holiday periods and as a result of adverse weather. For non-marine works, the total number of approved hours out with normal working hours is 3,495 and relate predominantly to the principal contract concrete batching plant in Rosyth docks, and some overnight works on Fife ITS and M9 Junction 1a for gantry erection and asphalting. The actual number of hours worked of the approved total is not recorded centrally.

Question reference: S4W-18679

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 December 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 17 December 2013

To ask the Scottish Government how many hours have been worked on Sundays since the start of construction on the Forth Replacement Crossing project.

The Code of Construction Practice allows for 24 hour working on marine works, which has and continues to take place other than planned shut downs at holiday periods and as a result of adverse weather. For non-marine works, the total number of approved hours on Sundays is 698 and relate predominantly to the principal contract concrete batching plant in Rosyth docks, and some overnight works on Fife ITS and M9 Junction 1a for gantry erection and asphalting. The actual number of hours worked of the approved total is not recorded centrally.

Question reference: S4W-18680

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 December 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 17 December 2013

To ask the Scottish Government how many hours have been worked on the Forth Replacement Crossing project (a) after 7pm on Monday to Friday and (b) after 6pm on Saturday.

The Code of Construction Practice allows for 24 hour working on marine works, which has and continues to take place other than planned shut downs at holiday periods and as a result of adverse weather. For non-marine works, the total number of approved hours after 7pm on Mondays to Fridays and after 6pm on Saturdays is 1,245 and relate predominantly to the principal contract concrete batching plant in Rosyth docks, and some overnight works on Fife ITS and M9 Junction 1a for gantry erection and asphalting. This total does not include main crossing works undertaken on Saturdays between 6pm and 7pm, which are permitted in the Code of Construction Practice. The actual number of hours worked of the approved total is not recorded centrally.

Question reference: S4W-18676

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 December 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 17 December 2013

To ask the Scottish Government how many working hours extensions have been granted for (a) marine and (b) exceptional works since the start of construction on the Forth Replacement Crossing project.

Question reference: S4W-18636

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 02 December 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 11 December 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-18183 by Michael Russell on 29 November 2013, whether it will address the issue raised in the question regarding the evidence given at the Public Audit Committee on 6 November 2013.

The material to which this question refers relates to college provision in the current academic year. Data for that is not available for some time. For that reason, the previous answer makes clear our commitment to maintain full-time equivalent places, the measure most closely associated with the volume of funded learning, is being delivered.

Changes to the pattern of enrolments across the sector are explained by colleges choosing to focus activity on more intensive learning for young people. As the previous answer also makes clear, that approach is delivering very significant benefits for Scotland and our economy.

Question reference: S4W-18556

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 25 November 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 3 December 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-18185 by Michael Russell on 21 November 2013, what the timetable is for finalising the new procedure for funding college places.

Question reference: S4W-18183

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 08 November 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 29 November 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the evidence given at the Public Audit Committee on 6 November 2013 that there are 14,700 fewer college places in the Glasgow region this year compared with three years previously and that the biggest reduction is in the 25 and over age group.

Colleges are delivering our commitment to maintain FTE student places, exceeding our target by 3% in 11-12.

Moreover, the number of FTE funded places in the Glasgow region in 2011-12 was 25,940, an increase of 1,188 on three years previously (2008-09)

Consistent with the aims of priorities for reform, colleges are focussing on full-time courses for young people that deliver skills for employment and economic growth. That policy is working, only 10 of 28 EU countries have a lower youth unemployment rate than Scotland.

Moreover, college principals made clear in their evidence to the Public Audit Committee on 6 November that regionalisation is delivering benefits, such as improved quality learning.

Question reference: S4W-18244

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 11 November 2013
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 21 November 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-14981 by Humza Yousaf on 31 May 2013, whether it has since taken steps to raise the issue of the poet, Mohamed al-Ajami, with the Qatari authorities.

Question reference: S4W-18182

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 08 November 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 21 November 2013

To ask the Scottish Government how the Scottish Funding Council will determine the funding allocation for (a) higher and (b) further education in the Highlands and Islands.

Question reference: S4W-18185

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 08 November 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 21 November 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what the basis is of its new methodology for funding college places and when it will be (a) finalised and (b) published.