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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: S5O-04313

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 25 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the SQA regarding the potential impact of COVID-19 on the exam timetable for 2020.

In response to the current challenging set of circumstances, I have had extensive discussions with the Chief Examiner. This culminated in my announcement on 19 March that the exam diet will not go ahead this year. SQA are now working to deliver a credible certification model that can be put in place and can command confidence in the absence of the exam diet. This will ensure that young people in our schools and colleges who, through no fault of their own, are unable to sit exams, are not disadvantaged.

We will continue to work with the education sector and SQA to achieve this.

Question reference: S5W-27757

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 19 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how many so-called university spin-out companies there are in Scotland.

The latest number of active spin-outs from academic year 2017-18 is provided in the following table:

Scottish Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) spin-out activity, AY 2017-18
Type of active spin-out	Number
Formal spin-offs, not HEP-owned	95
Spin-offs with some HEP ownership	192
Graduate start-ups	765
Social enterprises	35
Staff start-ups	67
Total	1,154
Source: HESA HE Business and Community Interaction (HE-BCI) survey report, 2017-18.

Question reference: S5W-27755

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 19 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how much so-called university spin-out companies have contributed to the economy in each of the last five years.

The Scottish Government does not hold any information that specifically measures the economic impact of university spin-out companies.

However, the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) publishes data on the employment and turnover of active spin-out firms through the Higher Education Business and Community Interaction (HE-BCI) survey.

Table 1: Estimated Employment (FTE) from Spin-outs, 2013-14 to 2017-18

Spin-out Type	2013-14	2014-15	2015-16	2016-17	2017-18	Change over 5 years (2013-14 to 2017-18)*
Formal spin-offs, not HE provider owned	1,990	2,553	1,847	1,919	2,828	42%
Spin-offs with some HE provider ownership	1,808	1,833	1,959	1,487	1,490	-18%
Graduate start-ups	829	1,287	1,394	1,508	1,746	111%
Social enterprises	7	24	25	30	50	614%
Staff start-ups	259	971	1,022	1,060	1,205	365%
Total	4,893	6,668	6,247	6,004	7,319	50%
Source: HESA HE Business and Community Interaction (HE-BCI) survey report, 2013-14 to 2017-18. *Some percentage changes may appear large due to small numbers involved.

Table 2: Estimated Turnover (£000s) from Spin-outs, 2013-14 to 2017-18

Spin-out Type	2013-14	2014-15	2015-16	2016-17	2017-18	Change over 5 years (2013-14 to 2017-18)*
Formal spin-offs, not HE provider owned	75,850	507,000	110,600	133,600	229,575	203%
Spin-offs with some HE provider ownership	163,520	195,009	197,399	168,258	171,355	5%
Graduate start-ups	41,750	72,397	83,430	76,834	96,279	131%
Social enterprises	265	270	323	449	413	56%
Staff start-ups	10,420	62,195	82,060	113,430	116,050	1014%
Total	291,805	836,871	473,812	492,571	613,672	110%
Source: HESA HE Business and Community Interaction (HE-BCI) survey report, 2013-14 to 2017-18. *Some percentage changes may appear large due to small numbers involved.

Question reference: S5W-27763

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 19 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how many decrofting applications have been approved by the Crofting Commission in each year since 2014.

The Crofting Commission have approved a total of 2582 decrofting applications since 2013-14. The approvals can be broken down into application type, Croft House Site & Garden Ground, Part Croft and Whole Croft decrofting applications.

DECROFTING APPLICATIONS APPROVED BY THE CROFTING COMMISSION
YEAR (1 April-31 March)	Croft House Site & Garden Ground	Part Croft	Whole Croft	Total
2013-14	136	213	12	361
2014-15	106	136	8	250
2015-16	130	235	11	376
2016-17	152	229	11	392
2017-18	116	206	8	330
2018-19	168	262	8	438
2019 – 06-03-2020	159	274	2	435
TOTAL	967	1555	60	2582

Question reference: S5W-27758

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 18 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what work it has carried out to harness the potential of so-called university spin-out companies.

The Scottish Government recognises the significant economic and social value to Scotland in enabling the commercialisation of innovation emerging from our world class universities and research institutes. This is supported through a range of activities and initiatives, delivered through partnership across public, private, and third sectors.

A number of specific initiatives, such as the High Growth Spinout Programme, the Converge Challenge and the Enterprise Fellowship Programme provide students, researchers and staff with the support they need to enable them to commercialise ideas and bring new technologies and products to market.

Question reference: S5W-27392

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 February 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 9 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government when women affected by mesh complications will receive details of the distribution of the £1 million support fund announced in its Budget for 2020-21.

Now that the budget for 2020/21 has been agreed, we will give careful consideration to how the fund is used and, in doing so, will take care to reflect on the impact that mesh complications have had on the lives of the women affected. As such, we will consult with relevant stakeholders, take account of information already provided by women who have been in touch with us, and have asked the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland to engage with patients.

I will announce further details as soon as possible.

Question reference: S5O-04179

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how many people are employed by the Crofting Commission.

Question reference: S5W-27152

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 January 2020
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 13 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration has been given to additional sailings on the Sound of Barra ferry service during the summer.

Following the short term recommendations highlighted in the Outer Hebrides STAG Report, commissioned by Transport Scotland, timetable improvements for the Sound of Barra were considered during the annual summer 2020-21 timetable review process. The options considered looked at extending the operating day on the Sound of Barra route between Ardmore and Eriskay.

The operational analysis, undertaken by CalMac, concluded that in order to deliver this proposal CalMac would require a full set of additional crew members. This would mean a step change in costs which, due to the challenging fiscal position, is not financially feasible at this time.

The request for additional sailings will remain under consideration in future years when it is hoped that there may be funding available for service enhancements.

Question reference: S5O-04129

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 February 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how the justice system provides support to victims of serious crime and keeps them informed at every stage of the process.

Question reference: S5O-04118

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 January 2020
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 6 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what is being done to address the recruitment challenges in the social care sector in rural and remote areas.

Our National Health and Social Care Workforce Plan aims to support workforce planning across health and social care services and directly address recruitment challenges. As part of this work the Scottish Government launched a national campaign on 27 January 2020 to promote adult social care as a meaningful, valued and rewarding career choice;

we have provided significant resources to enable adult social care workers to be paid the Real Living Wage and average earnings of adult social care workers are consequently higher in Scotland than elsewhere in the UK;
we are working with partners in the sector to develop enhanced career pathways and an framework for practice which shows how both formal and informal learning is recognised;
we are calling for a tailored approach to future immigration requirements, which recognise the importance of a welcoming migration policy to public services, including social care, and to Scotland's demographic challenges. This includes our proposal for the devolution of additional responsibilities relating to the development and administration of additional visa routes such as the creation of a 'Scottish Visa';
In the meantime I along with COSLA's Health and Social Care spokesperson have written a number of times to EU social care staff in Scotland to provide reassurance, to thank them for their commitment to the sector and to encourage them to apply for settled status, highlighting the resources available from the Scottish Government to assist them.