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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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S5W-31584

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 11 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the financial support it is providing to amateur dramatic and theatre groups.

Question reference: S5W-31496

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 31 August 2020
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 10 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-31256 by Ivan McKee on 28 August 2020, how many business pillar meetings (a) it and (b) its agencies' officials had in 2019-20 with stakeholders in each of the 15 priority markets outlined in A Trading National.

Scottish Government business pillar engagements are led by Ivan McKee MSP, Minister for Trade, Investment and Innovation. The Minister’s T&I Overseas Visits focus on the 15 priority markets, as outlined in A Trading Nation ; Scottish Government’s plan for improving Scotland’s export performance . The visits he undertook in 2019 – 2020, along with the number of meetings are summarised below:

Market	Date	Number of meetings
Poland	23 – 24 January 2019	11
Italy	10 – 12 February 2019	11
Norway	17 – 19 March 2019	7
Sweden/Denmark	9 - 11 April 2019	11
Netherlands	19 - 20 May 2019	5
China	1 – 5 July 2019	26
Belgium	7 – 9 September 2019	10
USA	20 – 25 October 2019	27
Ireland	27 – 29 November 2019	10
Switzerland	29 – 30 January 2020	9
Spain	10 – 12 November 2020	16
TOTAL		143

In line with commitments under the Scottish Ministerial Code all Ministerial engagements, including those overseas, are proactively published here - https://www.gov.scot/collections/ministerial-engagements-travel-and-gifts/

Whilst a record is not held centrally for Scottish Government officials and trade and investment agency, Scottish Development International; representatives regularly meet with stakeholders across our top 15 markets to promote Scotland as a place to invest in and trade with internationally.

Question reference: S5W-31479

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 31 August 2020
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 10 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-27645 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 6 March 2020, when it expects to be able to provide an update on the installation of Social Security Scotland into its new head office in Dundee.

Question reference: S5W-31548

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 10 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been allocated by the Digital Growth Fund; how many businesses have received support, and whether it is still operational.

Question reference: S5W-31531

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 September 2020
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 10 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how many incinerators have combined heat and power solutions included in their planning approval; where these are located, and how much energy they have produced each year.

Question reference: S5O-04592

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether, following the end of the transition period, it will want Scotland to keep pace with all new EU laws.

Question reference: S5W-31494

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 31 August 2020
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 8 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-31262 by Kate Forbes on 27 August 2020, whether it will provide a breakdown of which market-led service offerings the internet of things support programme has helped deliver, and what the current status is of each.

The Internet of Things (IoT) Support Programme was designed to create use case demonstrator projects from a series of 14 thematic workshops, facilitated by CENSIS. The following five demonstrators are all in active development with a mix of partners from private and public sectors:

Transport - Transport Scotland and a Scottish SME working together to explore using IoT to increase usage in electric charging infrastructure.

Smart Cities – Scalable demonstrator for creating efficiencies in road maintenance with a Scottish local authority and the Scottish Local Government Digital Office. Working with three companies based in Scotland

Food & Drink – large salmon producer and a Scottish SME exploring the use of IoT to create value in aquaculture (based in the Highlands and Islands).

Tourism – IoT solutions for the West Highland Way. Working with two Scottish SMEs, a Scottish local authority and a community interest group.

Smart Hospital – a testbed within NHS Highland enabling the testing and validation of non-clinical IoT uses. This includes aspects such as asset tracking and building maintenance.

Question reference: S5W-31497

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 31 August 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 8 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what targeted financial support it will provide to support cleaning, maintenance and other supply chain businesses that have been impacted by the continued closure of non-essential offices.

The Scottish Government has provided £2.3 billion in packages to support businesses through the Covid-19 pandemic, alongside the UK Government support to furloughed staff via the Job Retention Scheme. This includes the Coronavirus Business Support fund which has awarded over 89,000 grants valuing over £998 million.

Information on all available support for businesses can be found on Find BusinessSupport .

Question reference: S5W-31495

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 31 August 2020
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 8 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-31262 by Kate Forbes on 27 August 2020, what plans it has to replicate the internet of things support programme to aid future market opportunities for private business.

We are currently assessing the impact of the Internet of Things (IoT) Support Programme and are following the development and implementation of the five demonstrator projects. Through 14 thematic workshops, held around Scotland, the programme engaged with a total of 438 representatives from private, third and public sector organisations.

The IoT Support Programme capitalised on existing activities and expertise. CENSIS and the Data Lab both provide a wide range of advisory services and support for businesses of all sizes whether they seek to bring new sensor-based products to market or optimise processes through the use of data harvested by sensor technology. Additionally, Enterprise Agencies such as Highlands and Islands Enterprise have a well-established programme of events designed to educate, inspire and enthuse businesses about the benefits of adopting IoT.

Question reference: S5W-31422

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 August 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 7 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-31253 by Fiona Hyslop on 25 August 2020, whether it is currently assessing any potential interventions in privately owned businesses and, if so, how many.