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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: S6F-00957

Asked by: Maggie Chapman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 28 March 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 31 March 2022

To ask the First Minister what changes the recent shifts in fossil fuel prices and the need for energy security have made to the Scottish Government's plans for decarbonisation.

Question reference: S6W-07136

Asked by: Maggie Chapman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 22 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what evaluation it has made of the impact on the Scottish labour market of the UK Government’s proposed reduction in the time offered to unemployed social security recipients to seek work in their preferred job sector from three months to four weeks.

The Scottish Government routinely publishes a range of labour market statistics and analysis to monitor changes in our labour market. These can be accessed at the following link: Labour market statistics - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

No evaluation of the UK Government’s proposed reduction in the time offered to unemployed social security recipients to seek work has been carried out by the Scottish Government. However, this recent announcement from the UK Government is yet another example of a system which doesn’t work well enough to help our most vulnerable people, in a time when support is most needed. Universal Credit, which is the responsibility of the UK Government, is too often failing the people it is designed to support and driving more people into poverty.

Question reference: S6W-07137

Asked by: Maggie Chapman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 22 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what contact during this parliamentary session it has had with the Department for Work and Pensions regarding the impact of social security sanctions in Scotland.

Since the start of this parliamentary session the Scottish Government has written to the UK Government on three separate occasions regarding a number of different issues with the Universal Credit system. The Scottish Government is very concerned that since the DWP reintroduced conditionality, including sanctions, the number of hardship payments have increased substantially. The Scottish Government will continue to call on the UK Government to make Universal Credit a system that works for people and not against them.

Question reference: S6W-07135

Asked by: Maggie Chapman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 21 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what evaluation it has made of any impact that the voluntary nature of participating in the Fair Start Scotland programme has had on (a) participant satisfaction, (b) entry into employment and (c) the duration of employment outcomes.

On 14 October 2021 the Scottish Government published the Fair Start Scotland: Evaluation Report 4 - Year 3 Overview , which provides an overview of evaluation research relating to the third year of service delivery from 1 April 2020 up to 31 March 2021.

The report includes findings from a telephone survey of over 1000 participants; local area case studies, interviews with participants across the country, an economic evaluation and analysis of management information on participants’ outcomes.

Results from the telephone survey show that nine in ten people (90%) were aware the service was voluntary. It also shows that:

? 95% of people feel they were treated with dignity and respect

? 82% of people felt the service took account of their individual needs and circumstances

? 84% of people felt the service offered support to improve their general quality of life and well-being

The full telephone survey was published alongside the Year 3 Evaluation Report and can be found here .

In addition to findings from the survey, interviews with participants were also conducted as part of the evaluation. Findings from these interviews suggest that Fair Start Scotland participants with experience of the DWP Work Programme disliked the compulsory nature of the latter and the risk of sanctions for non-completion or non-participation. Participants also felt that Fair Start Scotland key workers are more supportive and respectful than Work Programme advisers.

Most recent statistics published on 23 February 2022 show that since its launch in April 2018, FSS has supported more than 14,000 people into work.

The statistics show that for participants where data is complete, 37% were supported into work. They also show that the majority of people who get jobs have high levels of sustaining employment:

? 71% of those starting jobs sustained employment for at least 3 months.

? 79% of those who sustained employment for 3 months reached 6 months.

? 77% of those who sustained employment for 6 months reached 12 months.

The Fair Start Scotland: Economic Evaluation , also published on 14 October 2021, found evidence that the jobs achieved by Fair Start Scotland participants are more stable in comparison with other programmes.

Findings from the overall evaluation suggest that the service has a positive impact on the wellbeing of participants, both in terms of the quality of jobs achieved and improved labour market outcomes, as well with regards to their experience of the service as a whole.

Question reference: S6T-00575

Asked by: Maggie Chapman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 14 March 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in light of reports of potential international food shortages and rising food prices.

Question reference: S6W-06723

Asked by: Maggie Chapman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 3 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the review of the use of snares, which was due by the end of 2021.

Question reference: S6O-00834

Asked by: Maggie Chapman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 March 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what support is available, including through local authorities, to provide accommodation in communities for people displaced by conflict or climate change.

Question reference: S6O-00781

Asked by: Maggie Chapman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 February 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the roll-out of the home insulation programmes in the north east.

Question reference: S6W-05798

Asked by: Maggie Chapman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 January 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 27 January 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with Unite the Union hospitality workers regarding their reported grievances with MacMerry 300 in relation to pay issues and allegations of bullying, failing to investigate sexual misconduct and covering up a COVID-19 outbreak.

The Scottish Government believes that bullying and harassment of any worker, under any circumstances, is unacceptable. Everyone has the right to go to work without fear of intimidation. The Scottish Government endorses the Fair Work Convention's Fair Work Framework and agree that every worker, regardless of status or position, should be treated fairly and with respect.

Scottish Ministers believe that all workers should receive a fair pay for the work they do, regardless of their age and status. The Scottish Government is committed to using all the levers it has at its disposal to promote fair work practices across Scotland including payment of the real Living Wage. We firmly oppose the inappropriate use of zero hours contracts and other non-standard types of employment that offer workers minimal job or financial security.

Scottish Ministers have not met with Unite directly on the issues raised in the question, however the Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise meets periodically with Unite Hospitality representatives to discuss key areas of interest in relation to the hospitality sector. The most recent meeting with key trade union representatives included UNITE, PCS, Prospect, the Scottish Tourism League and the STUC and took place on 9 December.

Question reference: S6O-00713

Asked by: Maggie Chapman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 January 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 February 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the rural affairs secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding support for young farmers in the north east to support and promote good mental health and wellbeing.