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 2683 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S5W-02144

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 August 2016
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 12 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the feedback to its consultation on international development policy, Meeting Global Challenges & Making a Difference - Aligning our International Development Policy with the Global Goals, was not published on the expected date of 31 July 2016, and on what date this will now be made available.

The Scottish Government’s public consultation on future shape of its International Development Policy (Meeting Global Challenges & Making a Difference - Aligning Our International Development Policy with the Global Goals) ran from 24th February 2016 until 20 May 2016. As part of the consultation process, a number of sectorial events were led by the Minister for International Development, for non-governmental organisations, academics, diaspora communities, and public bodies. Scottish Government officials also ran a further series of events around Scotland aimed at the general public to support the consultation.

The stated purpose of the consultation was to consider, in light of the key milestones of the advent of the new Global Goals and the 10th anniversary of the Scottish Government’s international development programme, how best we might refine our international development programme going forward. It was highlighted that we were keen to arrive at a refreshed Scottish Government international development policy that embraces and seeks to deliver on our commitment to the Global Goals, and is in line with good development practice. We also highlighted that, through the consultation and resultant decision-making process, we wanted to ensure that the refreshed international development policy preserves and builds on the best elements of our current international development work and partnerships, whilst more effectively targeting and focusing our activity to achieve the greatest impact.

A total of 129 valid responses were received, and have since been independently analysed with a view to publishing the Analysis of Responses Report. The anticipated date for initial feedback was 31 July, however we received a large number of detailed responses, which we were keen to consider in depth. The Report is currently being finalised and will be published this month. As indicated in the consultation document, the responses form a key part of the ensuing policy development and decision-making process.

Question reference: S5W-02163

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 26 August 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 8 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with (a) BT and (b) Highlands and Islands Enterprise regarding the (i) location and (ii) timetable for installation of new cabinets to provide superfast broadband.

The Scottish Government regularly liaises with BT and Highlands and Islands Enterprise regarding delivery of the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband projects.

Recent discussions have focussed on the modelling of Gainshare resources – additional funding generated by higher than anticipated take-up, which will help extend coverage further than originally anticipated.

BT provides information on planned cabinet deployments to the Scottish Government and Highlands and Islands Enterprise through quarterly contractual reports, which are scrutinised by the respective delivery teams.

Question reference: S5W-01919

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 August 2016
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 8 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scottish Qualification Authority's findings that 88.7% of teachers believe unit assessments "work badly".

We are carefully considering the findings of the SQA evaluation reports, published in May 2016, and the main issues identified are being explored by the Assessment and National Qualifications Group.As was made clear in Delivering Excellence and Equity in Scottish Education: A Delivery Plan for Scotland (June 2016), the Scottish Government will work with the Assessment and National Qualifications Group to consult on the design of assessment within the qualifications system - involving teachers, parents, young people, employers, national partners and other stakeholders. I chaired the first meeting of the reconvened group on Wednesday 17 August 2016.

Question reference: S5W-01979

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 August 2016
Current Status: Answered by Mark McDonald on 8 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Fair Funding for our Kids report, Where's my Nursery Place?, which recorded that (a) 65% of all nursery places were half days only, (b) 89% of all council nursery places for 3 to 5-year-olds were half days only and (c) local authorities are underfunding places in private nurseries by up to £492 per child.

The Minister for Childcare and Early Years met with Fair Funding for our Kids on 30 August 2016 to discuss their report and welcomed their interest. There is evidence of local authorities such as Edinburgh City and Fife offering a wider range of choice including full days in around 25% of their settings; and 38% of Glasgow City Council nurseries are open extended hours, but demand continues to outstrip supply. Through the Early Learning and Childcare Strategic Evidence group we are considering how best to monitor and evaluate the implementation of early learning and childcare provisions under the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act including flexibility and choice.

In terms of local authorities underfunding private nurseries by up to £492 per child, the Scottish Government is aware of concerns about current funding levels and is conducting a financial review, including a detailed review of partner providers, in order to better understand funding arrangements and costs.

Question reference: S5W-02078

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 19 August 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 7 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason current and former councillors are excluded from applying for roles in the Scottish Land Commission.

Section 12 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 sets out those groups of people who are disqualified from being appointed as a member of the Scottish Land Commission. The list comprises those who are, or have been in the previous 12 months, elected representatives at local, national, UK and European level and Scottish Government officials. Local authority councillors are included at 12(1)(3).The Scottish Land Commission is being established to provide an independent source of advice on any matter relating to land in Scotland and the exclusions will help to demonstrate the independence of the commission.

Question reference: S5W-01990

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 August 2016
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 6 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the guidance letter to be issued to all schools for the first day of the new academic year on curriculum for excellence was not delivered as scheduled and when schools will receive this guidance.

The new teacher guidance provides an emphatic statement of priorities for Scotland's schools that addresses all of the relevant issues and provides the clarity that teachers need.

We consulted widely across the teaching profession to ensure that it would be as beneficial as possible. This included engagement with the Scottish Government's Teacher Panel, the Assessment and National Qualifications Working Group and the Curriculum for Excellence Management board, which includes representatives of the teacher unions and a range of other partners.

We agreed that to publish the guidance at the end of August 2016 to coincide with publication of the new benchmark guidance. We believed this would be of most value to teachers. The statement and guidance was distributed to teachers on 29 August 2016.

Question reference: S5W-01918

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 August 2016
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 6 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has (a) taken and (b) plans to provide support for students whose mental health and attainment has been affected by stress caused by the new structure for assessment.

We take the mental health of all our young people extremely seriously. All schools should ensure that young people understand the importance of mental wellbeing and will have measures in place to support learners. If there is evidence to suggest that a pupil is facing mental health issues, then the school should take steps to provide the right support for that pupil. This includes discussing any stress a young person may be feeling, and support around how this can best be managed.

Delivering Excellence and Equity in Scottish Education: A Delivery Plan for Scotland, published on 28 June 2016, sets out the actions we are taking to clarify and de-clutter the curriculum for teachers and to help reduce workload for teachers and young people. The Plan makes clear that the Scottish Government will work with the reconvened Assessment and National Qualifications Group to consult on the design of assessment within the qualifications system - involving teachers, parents, young people, employers, national partners and other stakeholders. Work is already underway to streamline the qualifications.

Question reference: S5T-00040

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 05 September 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take in response to the findings of the Audit Scotland report, Scotland’s colleges 2016.

Question reference: S5W-01954

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 August 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 2 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that its current approach to funding and support to colleges is sufficient and has no negative impact on the existing college programmes.

Over the last Parliament we maintained the commitment we made in 2011 – to deliver 116,000 Full-time Equivalent college places. We will continue this commitment, focused on purposeful, job-focused learning.

In 2014-15, our colleges delivered 97% of learning hours on courses leading to a recognised qualification – an eight percentage point on 2006-07. Meanwhile, over that same period, the average hours of learning per student has increased by 63%.

Question reference: S5W-01956

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 August 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 2 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scottish Funding Council report, Learning for All: Measures of Success, which recorded that the proportion of students completing further education courses at college fell from 77.3% in 2013-14 to 74.6% in 2014-15; what it believes the reasons are for the reduction, and what action it is taking.