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-10880

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 02 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 15 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-09635 by Nicola Sturgeon on 25 September 2012, how many of the consultation responses referred to blacklisting and whether the proposed Sustainable Procurement Bill will address the issue.

Question reference: S4O-01481

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 November 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government how it protects the environment.

Question reference: S4W-10410

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 October 2012
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 7 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what support it will give to Armadale’s bid for the national tennis centre.

Question reference: S4W-10409

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 October 2012
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 6 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will bring forward the construction of the motorway junction at Winchburgh as a matter of priority.

Question reference: S4W-10393

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 October 2012
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 5 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with West Lothian Council regarding the decision to close the Hall's meat processing plant in Broxburn.

West Lothian Council has been an integral part of the Hall’s of Broxburn Task Force from its first meeting on 5 July when the company announced the consultation on closure.

We are working with West Lothian Council and Task Force members to provide the Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) initiative for staff affected. Representatives from PACE, led by Skills Development Scotland and comprising key partners including the Department of Work and Pensions, have been onsite 5 days per week since 24 August 2012 and have delivered 92 presentations to around 800 employees. PACE representatives have continued to liaise closely with the trade unions during delivery of PACE support for employees.

Support provided includes:

PACE Guides translated into Polish and Romanian, and a Polish-speaking adviser available to support staff;

specific CV support for Halls of Broxburn employees;

onsite and offsite resource centres offering one to one support for employees;

three jobs fairs organised for staff - the first of these will take place on
10 November with PACE Partners and local and national employers who have expressed an interest in recruiting Halls employees in attendance; and

the local colleges collaborating to develop a programme of learning that can be tailored to individual needs with the primary aim of boosting employment potential and earnings.

In addition we are in discussion with West Lothian Council and Task Force members on a recovery plan for the area to support those affected by the closure. All options will be explored in this process. The resulting plan will be agreed by the Task Force at its next meeting.

Question reference: S4W-10406

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 October 2012
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 5 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what incentives and support it will provide to businesses in West Lothian prepared to take on staff from Hall's meat processing plant.

Question reference: S4W-10396

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 October 2012
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 5 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what resources it will give to (a) West Lothian Council, (b) charities, (c) the third sector, (d) social enterprises and (e) other agencies to deal with the impact of the closure of the Hall's meat processing plant in Broxburn.

Question reference: S4W-10408

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 October 2012
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 5 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide support to ensure that the Winchburgh railway station development goes ahead as a matter of priority.

Question reference: S4W-10403

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 October 2012
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 5 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the impending closure of Hall's meat processing plant, whether it will provide additional resources to (a) West Lothian College, (b) Oatridge College and (c) other local training providers to provide additional places and courses for people who need to retrain.

Question reference: S4W-10394

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 October 2012
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 5 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government which of its agencies are providing support to the employees of Hall's meat processing plant in Broxburn and what the nature of this support is.