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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: S5F-01671

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 30 October 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 November 2017

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government plans to take to help families faced with financial hardship should interest rates rise.

Question reference: S5W-11708

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 02 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 30 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how it tracks the progress of the Race Equality Framework for Scotland, and what progress has been made since the framework's launch.

The Scottish Government published its Implementation Approach of the Race Equality Framework for Scotland 2016 - 2030 on 23 February 2017. The Race Equality Framework is being delivered by the Scottish Government and is coordinated by the Race Equality Team within the Equality Unit, with support and input from policy areas across Scottish Government who own the actions outlined in the Framework itself. As a model of mainstreaming, implementation against the actions includes linking and engaging external delivery partners and policy areas across Scottish Government. A Highlight Report outlining the progress to date will be published by the end of 2017 along with new actions to drive forward delivery of the Framework.

Question reference: S5W-11711

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 02 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 30 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether the social concept "white privilege" is relevant to its work regarding the Race Equality Framework for Scotland.

The Race Equality Framework for Scotland has been developed with an understanding of the urgent need to avoid and eradicate institutional racism wherever it is found. We recognise that much progress has been made, although much more remains to be done. However, in order to ensure public confidence that our policy and public institutions are working for the good of all our citizens, we need to deal with the systems and practices that, even if unwittingly, perpetuate and fuel inequality. That means understanding the norms, values and behaviours that influence culture and practice within organisations and wider society, and tackling the factors which sustain discriminatory or biased practice. Our work in developing and implementing the Framework has been underpinned by key principles which reflect that understanding.

Question reference: S5W-11746

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 02 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 25 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what the take-up has been of the New Supply Shared Equity (NSEE) scheme.

Question reference: S5W-11747

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 02 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 25 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to extend the Help to Buy scheme beyond 2019.

Question reference: S5W-11710

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 02 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 25 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that English language classes are available to (a) refugees and (b) asylum seekers.

Question reference: S5W-11743

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 02 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 12 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that Syrian refugees receive the support required under the refugees action plan, and what plans it has to review whether the support offered by the assigned integration support teams is meeting their needs.

The operation of refugee resettlement schemes is reserved to the UK Government and managed by the Home Office. Support for refugees arriving under the Syrian Resettlement Programme is provided by local authorities, who report to the Home Office on delivery of the programme in their areas.

The New Scots refugee integration strategy provides a framework for the integration of all refugees and asylum seekers in Scotland. The Scottish Government is working with COSLA and the Scottish Refugee Council and a wide range of other partners to develop the next New Scots strategy for publication in early 2018.

Question reference: S5F-01613

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 02 October 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 October 2017

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will undertake a national audit of the number of people who are rough sleeping.

Question reference: S5W-11256

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 27 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what accountability the Glasgow Colleges Regional Board has to ministers; what role it plays in appointments to the board and the other senior executive positions at the college, and what its position is on the salaries paid to the board and the other senior executive positions.

The Chair of Glasgow Colleges Regional Board (GCRB) is appointed directly by Scottish Ministers; Ordinary members of the board are appointed by the Chair and the Regional Board with approval from Scottish Ministers. Ordinary members are appointed through an open recruitment process with regard to the Government’s College Sector Guidance on Board Appointments.

The level of the Chair's salary is determined by Scottish Ministers. GCRB has responsibility for the salaries of the executive team and responsibility for funding decisions over the college region. The Scottish Funding Council awarded GCRB fully-operational fundable body status from 1 April, 2017 and provides funding directly to GCRB for the management of funds within the region.

Glasgow Colleges Regional Board has reconsidered its decision and it will not implement the proposed salary changes. The Scottish Government has been in close dialogue with GCRB and the Scottish Funding Council on this matter. All publicly funded institutions should ensure that they operate with maximum efficiency and effectiveness recognising the expectations of the Scottish Government that those funded from the public purse should operate within the spirit of the principles of the Public Sector Pay Policy.

Question reference: S5W-10937

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 August 2017
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 12 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has reimbursed local authorities under the Scottish Welfare Fund scheme, Assistance with Housing Costs for 18-21 year olds.

Reimbursement details are subject to agreement through COSLA’s usual processes, and funding for 2017-18 will be announced and included as an adjustment to this year’s Local Government Finance Order in February 2018, with payments to Local Authorities being made thereafter.

Local Authorities in full service areas reported to COSLA that to date there have been a number of enquiries resulting in one case receiving assistance for housing costs through the Scottish Welfare Fund. COSLA report that advice has been given to all those who have presented at Local Authorities as a result of being denied assistance with housing costs through Universal Credit, and in at least 50% of these cases the individual has been able to claim an exemption through DWP after receiving advice and support to do so.

Finance Year	No of households
2007-08	527
2008-09	651
2009-10	721
2010-11	491
2011-12	446
2012-13	302
2013-14	307
2014-15	252
2015-16	189
2016-17	179
Total	4,065