Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-26355

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 November 2019
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 19 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what external providers (a) the City of Edinburgh, (b) East Lothian, (c) Midlothian and (d) West Lothian Council uses to assist with the provision of first aid education in (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools.

Question reference: S5W-26260

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 November 2019
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 19 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of (a) primary and (b) secondary school pupils in the (i) City of Edinburgh, (ii) East Lothian, (iii) Midlothian and (iv) West Lothian Council area are taught first aid.

The information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. Under Curriculum for Excellence, the Scottish Government does not prescribe on the content of lessons taught in Scottish schools. Schools and education authorities currently have the flexibility to provide first aid training in schools and, where they choose to do so, it is a matter for them to decide how best to deliver it taking into account the needs and circumstances of all children and young people in attendance.

Question reference: S5O-03811

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 November 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what provisions have been made for disabled people who are unable to use the fingerprint scanners that have been installed as part of the two-factor authentication service at the entrances to the complex.

Question reference: S5W-26014

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 October 2019
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 11 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether funding from the Equally Safe (Violence Against Women and Girls) Fund 2017-2020 is available to organisations providing a women-only service, and whether such organisations can use the legal exemptions under the Equality Act 2010 to provide such a service if they wish to receive this funding.

Nothing in the Scottish Government’s standard conditions of grant prevent organisations from appropriately applying the exceptions available under the Equality Act 2010, including in order to deliver women-only services where a condition in the Act is met and the restricted provision is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim. This includes funding provided through Equally Safe.

We would expect organisations to make decisions about their service provision within the relevant legal framework, including use of the single sex exceptions where provided for in the Act and where this is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.

Question reference: S5W-26015

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 October 2019
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 11 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether its funding rules exclude organisations from applying for exemptions under the Equality Act 2010 to run single-sex services and, if so, whether this is lawful.

Nothing in the Scottish Government’s standard conditions of grant prevent organisations from appropriately applying the exceptions available under the Equality Act 2010, including in order to deliver women-only services where a condition in the Act is met and the restricted provision is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim. This includes funding provided through Equally Safe.

We would expect organisations to make decisions about their service provision within the relevant legal framework, including use of the single sex exceptions where provided for in the Act and where this is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.

Question reference: S5O-03762

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 November 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what support it can provide to the owners of properties, including in the Western Harbour development in Edinburgh, who are facing difficulties in trying to sell or remortgage because their homes have aluminium cladding.

Question reference: S5W-25274

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 3 October 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how many people completed the Fair Start Scotland scheme in the last three months, and how many (a) went into and (b) remain in employment.

The Scottish Government publish statistics relating to Fair Start Scotland (FSS) on a quarterly basis. The most recent statistics can be found here: www.gov.scot/publications/scotlands-devolved-employment-services-statistical-summary-3/ . Data relating to the last three months (July to September) will be published on November 27 th 2019, as pre-announced on the forthcoming statistics publication timetable (www2.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/ForthcomingPubs).

Question reference: S5O-03652

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 October 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 October 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that reductions in teacher numbers have impacted on the implementation of the curriculum for excellence.

Question reference: S5O-03613

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 September 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 October 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what co-ordination discussions it has had with the City of Edinburgh Council, bus companies and businesses regarding congestion during the Edinburgh festivals.

Question reference: S5W-25082

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 17 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government which stakeholders the Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People has declined to meet following requests made since 1 March 2018 to discuss issues relating to transgender people, gender recognition reform and sex-based women's rights, broken down by the (a) date of each request and (b) reason for the decision not to meet.

Chamber and committees