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-30596

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 March 2016
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 16 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it can take to encourage employers to allow (a) parents and (b) carers the opportunity to request flexible working.

The Scottish Government funds and is an active partner in the Family Friendly Working Scotland Partnership which was established 2014 to actively encourage family-friendly working across Scotland for parents and carers.

The Scottish Government supports the Scottish Top Employers for Working Families awards which celebrate progressive employers who recognise and promote exceptional practice, we have launched ‘Happy to Talk Flexible Working’, a strapline and logo for employers to use on job adverts to confirm that they are open to flexible working options, and we are establishing a network of champions who can help spread good practice and create more family friendly workplaces in Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-30610

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 March 2016
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 16 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of primary school children receives free fruit in (a) Orkney, (b) the Highlands and Islands and (c) Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-30595

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 March 2016
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 16 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to remove debt repayments owed to the Student Loans Company by Scotland-domiciled and resident graduates.

Question reference: S4W-30607

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 March 2016
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 16 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on introducing a new management fee to be paid by EU students.

As previously indicated in the answer your question on 23 February 2015 (S4W-24406), considerable discussion took place with EU representatives about the concept and application of management fees for EU students. My predecessor, Michael Russell MSP, made clear to the Scottish Parliament on 5 December 2013, introduction of such a policy would need to meet with EU requirements and is therefore difficult to implement.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

Question reference: S4W-30608

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 March 2016
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 16 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the European Commission to discuss introducing a new management fee to be paid by EU students and whether it will publish all records of these discussions.

Question reference: S4W-30336

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 March 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 15 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4O-05622 by John Swinney on 3 March 2016 (Official Report, c. 8), in light of the cabinet secretary's comment that powers "around consumer advocacy to support individuals who are troubled by the persistence of nuisance calls" were to be devolved, what its position is on extending the Scottish Business Pledge to promote business practice that demonstrates a commitment to ending such calls, and whether it has met Ofgem to discuss the issue.

The Scottish Business Pledge is a voluntary commitment made by companies in Scotland to adopt fair and progressive business practices with the goal of boosting productivity, competitiveness, employment, fair work and workforce engagement and development. It does not refer specifically to nuisance calls and we have no plans at this stage to extend it to do so. However, we will continue to work with key stakeholders, including industry regulators, to determine what practical steps can be taken to better protect consumers, within the boundaries of our devolved powers.

Question reference: S4F-03307

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 14 March 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 March 2016

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the final report of the Commission on Widening Access.

Question reference: S4W-29955

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 15 February 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 14 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4O-04688 by Fiona Hyslop on 8 October 2015 (Official Report, c. 2), whether any additional bids have been submitted for the development of a film studio.

The Film Studio Delivery Group (FSDG) welcomes proactive approaches from private sector developers and will assess each proposition in terms of value for the screen sector, value for money, whether the proposition meets the requirements of legal and financial due diligence and whether the proposition would be financially viable with the levels of financial support that the public sector is able to provide under European Commission rules on state aid. The FSDG has been recently approached to consider a new project, however this proposal is at a very early stage and I am unable to say more at this time.

Question reference: S4W-29957

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 15 February 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 14 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4O-04688 by Fiona Hyslop on 8 October 2015 (Official Report, c. 2), what recent discussions it has had with Creative Scotland and Scottish Enterprise regarding the development of a film studio.

The Film Studio Delivery Group (FSDG) consists of representatives from the Scottish Government, Creative Scotland and Scottish Enterprise. The FSDG meets on a fortnightly basis to discuss progress, actions, and any new potential opportunities for the development of a film studio. The last meeting took place on 1 March 2016 where the proposed planning application of Wardpark Studios Ltd for their site at Cumbernauld was discussed. The next meeting will take place on 15 March 2016.

Question reference: S4W-29954

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 15 February 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 14 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4O-04688 by Fiona Hyslop on 8 October 2015 (Official Report, c. 2), whether the proposal from the private sector developer to build a film studio is still being considered by the film studio delivery group and, if so, what progress is being made with it.

<>As I set out in my recent evidence to the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee, progress is being made. The Film Studio Delivery Group (FSDG) is continuing to work with the private sector developer, announced on 9 March 2016 as Wardpark Studios Ltd at Cumbernauld. A planning application is about to be submitted to expand the impressive, existing facilities at Wardpark by an additional 30,000 square feet with a ceiling height of 50 feet. Once delivered, we will see a facility comprising, in total, of 78,000 square feet and six sound stages. The FSDG has been working intensively with this developer to deliver an outcome that satisfies EU State Aid rules whilst still meeting the needs of private and public sector interests. As I set out in my evidence, the FSDG will continue to welcome any new proposals because although the Wardpark planning application represents significant progress, we are keen to support the industry’s wider ambitions to see multiple sites available for production in Scotland.