Questions and answers

Question reference: S4W-10987

Asked by: Siobhan McMahon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 21 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason Barnardo’s Scotland represents the views of the NSPCC, Save the Children, Action for Children and the Children’s Society on the National Steering Group on Advocacy Support for Children and Young People.

The membership of the National Steering Group on Advocacy Support for Children and Young People reflects the range of stakeholders with experience and expertise in delivering support to children and young people, including advocacy support. At the inception of the group it was agreed that Barnardo’s would, in their capacity as members of the group, represent the views of Quarriers, Children 1^st, Action for Children and Aberlour Childcare Trust.

Question reference: S4W-10988

Asked by: Siobhan McMahon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 21 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what charities act as representatives for other organisations in dealings with its directorates or agencies.

There are a range of charities who will act as representatives for other organisations from time in time in their dealings with the Scottish Government directorates and its agencies. However, we do not collect or hold information centrally.

Scottish Ministers and Scottish Government officials regularly and routinely engage with Third Sector organisations and their representatives because we recognise the important role which they have in contributing to civic life, to the economic well being of Scotland, and to policy design and service delivery, all of which serve to improve the quality life of Scotland’s citizens.

Question reference: S4W-10630

Asked by: Siobhan McMahon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 October 2012
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 14 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the reason for it not being possible to transfer some properties during the changeover of the contract to provide accommodation and transport services to asylum seekers in Scotland.

Asylum and Immigration are matters reserved to the UK Government, the United Kingdom Borders Agency (UKBA) and its delivery partners. However, the Scottish Government remains clear that whilst asylum seekers are in Scotland they are to be welcomed and supported, and to that end has regular discussions with UKBA and its delivery partners about the myriad issues relating to asylum seekers living here.

The Scottish Government, where informed by UKBA and the contractors, understands that there was a delay of approximately two weeks in transferring some of the properties, due to it taking longer than originally anticipated to finalise some aspects of the contract. However, as this is a reserved matter and not the responsibility of the Scottish Government, I would refer the member to UKBA.

Question reference: S4W-10627

Asked by: Siobhan McMahon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 October 2012
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 14 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made representations to (a) Glasgow City Council, (b) Serco or its sub-contractor, Orchard and Shipman, and (c) the Scottish Refugee Council regarding the transfer of properties during the changeover of the contract from Y People to Serco to provide accommodation and transport services to asylum seekers and, if so, what representations.

Asylum and Immigration are matters reserved to the UK Government, the United Kingdom Borders Agency (UKBA) and its delivery partners. However, the Scottish Government remains clear that whilst asylum seekers are in Scotland they are to be welcomed and supported, and to that end has regular discussions with UKBA and its delivery partners about the myriad issues relating to asylum seekers living here.

The Scottish Government has engaged with Glasgow City Council on the potential impact of the contract transfer, however, as the contract between Serco/Orchard & Shipman is with the UK Government, neither Scottish Ministers or officials have engaged directly with them. Officials meet regularly with the Scottish Refugee Council and discuss the range of issues relating to asylum seekers and refugees, including the transfer of contract for accommodation and transport services.

Question reference: S4W-10629

Asked by: Siobhan McMahon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 October 2012
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 14 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government whether it received representations from or made representations to the UK (a) Government or (b) Border Agency during the transfer of the contract to provide accommodation and transport services to asylum seekers in Scotland and, if so, what representations.

Asylum and Immigration are matters reserved to the UK Government, the United Kingdom Borders Agency (UKBA) and its delivery partners. However, the Scottish Government remains clear that whilst asylum seekers are in Scotland they are to be welcomed and supported, and to that end has regular discussions with UKBA and its delivery partners about the myriad issues relating to asylum seekers living here.

In December 2011, the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop MSP wrote to Home Office Minister Damian Green MP stating that asylum seekers in Scotland should not be adversely affected by the change in contractor and there will be minimum disruption to their lives. She also wished to be kept fully informed during the roll out of the contract in Scotland. Scottish Government officials met with UKBA and their delivery partners on 3 occasions during the summer months, in the lead up to the transfer of the contract.

Question reference: S4W-10631

Asked by: Siobhan McMahon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 October 2012
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 14 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how the reported 143 asylum seekers living in the properties that could not be transferred during the changeover of the contract to Serco to provide accommodation and transport services have been relocated and whether they were relocated (a) in or (b) outwith Scotland.

Asylum and Immigration are matters reserved to the UK Government, the United Kingdom Borders Agency (UKBA) and its delivery partners. However, the Scottish Government remains clear that whilst asylum seekers are in Scotland they are to be welcomed and supported, and to that end has regular discussions with UKBA and its delivery partners about the myriad issues relating to asylum seekers living here.

As responsibility for asylum seekers is reserved it would be for the UKBA to provide this information.

Question reference: S4W-10026

Asked by: Siobhan McMahon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 October 2012
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 24 October 2012

To ask the Scottish Government how many local planning decisions it has called in in each of the last five years after they were (a) rejected and (b) approved by a local authority, broken down by (i) type of application and (ii) local authority.

Scottish ministers have no power to call in a planning application after the written notice of refusal or approval has been issued by a planning authority.

Planning applications that were notified where the planning authority was minded to approve and subsequently called in were as follows:

Planning Application Area	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012
Aberdeenshire	1			2	1
Argyll and Bute	1
City of Edinburgh	1
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar	1				1
East Lothian					1
Falkirk		1
Midlothian				1
Highland	4	1
North Lanarkshire				1
Scottish Borders			2
South Ayrshire				1
South Lanarkshire	1

Question reference: S4W-10025

Asked by: Siobhan McMahon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 October 2012
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 24 October 2012

To ask the Scottish Government how many local planning decisions have been referred on appeal to its reporters in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) local authority area and (b) type of application.

Question reference: S4W-10028

Asked by: Siobhan McMahon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 October 2012
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 24 October 2012

To ask the Scottish Government how many local planning applications its reporters have approved in each of the last five years after they were (a) called in by the Scottish Government and (b) referred on appeal by an applicant, broken down by (i) local authority and (ii) type of application.

Question reference: S4O-01368

Asked by: Siobhan McMahon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 October 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 October 2012

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports access to further education for mature female students, disabled people and those from low-income backgrounds.

Chamber and committees