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-18527

Asked by: Mark McDonald, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 22 November 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 4 December 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether it expects local authorities to consult stakeholders when developing local autism strategies; when the strategies will be (a) finalised and (b) implemented; whether they should cover (i) children's, (ii) adult and (iii) older people's services, and whether they will be placed in the public domain.

The Scottish Government expects local authorities to consult fully with stakeholders in the development of local autism strategies and action plans.

Local authorities have been asked to submit their local action plans to the Scottish Government by the end of November 2013 and implemented thereafter.

The Scottish Strategy for Autism is aimed at the whole life journey and to improving access to integrated service provision across the whole lifespan to address the multi-dimensional aspects of autism, and local autism strategies should reflect this, taking account of local needs.

The Scottish Government will publish all local authority strategies and action plans on the Scottish Strategy for Autism website www.autismstrategyscotland.org.uk

Question reference: S4W-18531

Asked by: Mark McDonald, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 22 November 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 4 December 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what options are available to stakeholders if a local authority fails to develop a local autism strategy that covers (a) children's, (b) adult or (c) older people's services.

The joint Scottish Government-COSLA Scottish Autism Strategy focuses on the whole life journey and so local authorities will want to consider where there may be gaps in local services across this journey and focus their strategy appropriately.

Recognising that it is often not possible to satisfy all stakeholders, there are systems in place locally to deal with any concerns, both informally through discussion with officers and/or more formally through elected representatives.

Individuals may challenge their local politicians regarding policy direction. In terms of implementation, services are covered by local authority complaints procedures and issues can be escalated to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman if a satisfactory solution has not been reached.

Question reference: S4W-18532

Asked by: Mark McDonald, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 22 November 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 4 December 2013

To ask the Scottish Government how local authorities are to account for their use of the funding awarded to them to develop local autism strategies.

Question reference: S4O-02611

Asked by: Mark McDonald, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 November 2013
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 21 November 2013

To ask the Scottish Government how its play strategy supports the development of opportunities for disabled children.

Question reference: S4O-02498

Asked by: Mark McDonald, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 October 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 October 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Aberdeen City Council regarding the timescale for improvements to the Haudagain roundabout.

Question reference: S4W-17606

Asked by: Mark McDonald, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 October 2013
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by John Swinney on 2 October 2013

To ask the Scottish Government when the next report of the Fiscal Commission Working Group will be published.

Question reference: S4W-16794

Asked by: Mark McDonald, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 August 2013
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 18 September 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether local authorities are required to ensure the provision of appropriate advocacy for looked-after children when discussing their ongoing care.

There is no legal requirement on local authorities to ensure the provision of advocacy for all looked after children. However, as corporate parents, local authorities should ensure that looked after children, young people and care leavers are able to have their say and their views acted on wherever possible.

The Getting it right for every child approach to improving wellbeing of all children and young people recognises the central importance of involving them in decisions which affect their lives. It also recognises that sometimes children and young people will require support if their views and opinions are to be shared, including through the provision of advocacy. Work is on-going to implement Getting it right for every child in every local authority across Scotland and we have been consulting on principles and standards which should apply whenever children require advocacy support.

Question reference: S4W-16792

Asked by: Mark McDonald, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 August 2013
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 12 September 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it provides to local authorities regarding the provision of support for parents with learning difficulties.

In 2009, the Scottish Consortium for Learning Disability funded by the Scottish Government published the Scottish Good Practice Guidelines for Supporting Parents with Learning Disabilities. The good practice guidance assists social work practitioners to provide the information, arrangements and supports that parents with learning disabilities need to raise their children.

The keys to life – the new learning disability strategy in Scotland recommends that by 2014 parents with learning disabilities should have access to local supported parenting services based on the principles of Supported Parenting and that the Scottish Good Practice Guidelines for Supporting Parents with Learning Disabilities are being followed by professionals working with parents with learning disabilities, to ensure better outcomes for families.

Question reference: S4W-16793

Asked by: Mark McDonald, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 August 2013
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 12 September 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether local authorities should seek the views of looked-after children regarding their ongoing care.

The Scottish Government is clear that children and young people should have their views listened to and should be involved in decisions that affect them.

The Looked After Children (Scotland) Regulations 2009 state that local authorities must seek and take into account the views of a child to be, or being, looked after by them. They must also consult with the child before preparing and when reviewing the child’s plan.

The Support and Assistance of Young People Leaving Care (Scotland) Regulations 2003 place a duty on local authorities to seek and take into account the views and wishes of young people leaving care, to determine what advice, assistance and support is needed.

Question reference: S4W-16952

Asked by: Mark McDonald, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 September 2013
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Derek Mackay on 4 September 2013

To ask the Scottish Government when it will announce the outcome of its consultation on business rates reform, Supporting Business - Promoting Growth.

The Scottish Government is committed to making Scotland the most attractive place to do business in Europe and, as part of that, is committed to ensuring the business rates system supports and encourages businesses to set up and prosper in Scotland.

Today the Scottish Government published its response to “Supporting Business Promoting Growth”, along with independent analysis of the consultation responses.

The reforms outlined in that response will support Scottish businesses through a range of actions, including improving transparency, creating a more consistent approach, more local flexibility and a separate review of the valuation appeals system.

Copies of both the independent analysis and SG response have been placed in SPICe. “Supporting Business, Promoting Growth” Scottish Government Response (Bib. number 55189) and “Supporting Business, Promoting Growth” Independent Analysis of Consultation responses (Bib number 55190).