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: S4F-03332

Asked by: Drew Smith, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 21 March 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 March 2016

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on the call from COSLA for a constitutional convention to restore and strengthen local democracy.

Question reference: S4O-05697

Asked by: Drew Smith, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 March 2016
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Government what policies it has instigated to achieve a greater degree of equality between the most and least wealthy areas of the country.

Question reference: S4W-29772

Asked by: Drew Smith, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 08 February 2016
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 25 February 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-29496 by Michael Matheson on 3 February 2016, when it will conclude its final consultation on delivering indoor smoke-free prison facilities.

Question reference: S4O-05556

Asked by: Drew Smith, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 February 2016
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review the Personal Footcare Guidance.

Question reference: S4O-05484

Asked by: Drew Smith, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 January 2016
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the impact on poorer students in Scotland of the UK Government replacing bursaries with loans.

Question reference: S4W-29207

Asked by: Drew Smith, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 January 2016
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 19 January 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what input it had to the 2015 UK state party report to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination; whether it consulted minority ethnic communities in relation to such input, and whether it will publish its submission.

The UK Government is responsible for providing the state party report to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The Scottish Government provided an update to the UK Government in relation to the race equality work being carried out. It did not formally consult on this update. However the input was informed by its on-going work around race equality, including dialogue with communities, and drew on the relevant available data and information. The Scottish Government has no plans to publish its contribution to the UK report.

The Scottish Government has focused on an extensive programme of engagement throughout 2015 as part of developing a new race equality framework for Scotland. The race equality framework document will be published in 2016.

Question reference: S4O-05239

Asked by: Drew Smith, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 January 2016
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

Question reference: S4W-28935

Asked by: Drew Smith, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 December 2015
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 18 December 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the findings of the GMB Scotland Young Members' Network report, Bullying, Harassment and Discrimination in Scottish Workplaces, and whether it will take these into account when developing its fair work framework.

The Scottish Government takes the issue of bullying, harassment and discrimination in the workplace very seriously. That is one of the reasons that the independent Fair Work Convention was set up in April 2015 bringing together trade unions, the private sector and the wider public sector. Part of the convention's remit is to encourage progressive workforce policies which encourage innovation, higher productivity and better workforce engagement.

The convention has been tasked with developing a Fair Work Framework by March 2016. The convention is aware of the GMB Scotland Young Members' Network report and will be discussing this at its next meeting.

Question reference: S4O-05187

Asked by: Drew Smith, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 December 2015
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the publication of the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation has been delayed.

Question reference: S4W-28527

Asked by: Drew Smith, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 November 2015
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 24 November 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to hold a public consultation on the future of the British Transport Police in Scotland.