Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-18543

Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 13 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the number of schools built or refurbished.

Question reference: S5W-18542

Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 13 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how Scotland is strengthening economic ties with Canada.

The Scottish Government’s Canada Engagement Strategy was refreshed in March 2017 and identifies trade and investment in Canada a key part of our overarching strategic objective to enhance Scotland's global outlook. Scotland's key sectors of technology, energy, life sciences, financial services, food and drink, creative industries and tourism have much to offer and gain from increased engagement in the Canadian market and collaboration with Canadian companies. We will work with Scottish Development International and other partners to support Scottish companies to make the most of these opportunities.

The Programme for Government in September 2017 announced the intention to expand our presence in Canada. As part of this expansion, we are opening a new office in Ottawa, which will be operational later in the year. Canada is a priority market for Scotland and our enhanced presence will forge stronger links across Canada at all levels. Meanwhile, our current office in Toronto will continue to ensure that Scotland’s interests are represented in Canada’s financial and business centre.

Co-location of Scottish Government, Scottish Development International (SDI) and Visit Scotland staff in Toronto reflects our Strategic Board's approach to collaboration across agencies and partners in a key market. Strong business alignment and optimising of resource also includes effective leveraging of Globalscots and the alumni of Scottish universities. Alongside Toronto, SDI has an office presence in Calgary. Trade & Investment focus in Canada is concentrated on supporting priority sector and market development opportunities in food and drink; energy; the financial services; and in technology and creative industries.

In the food and drink sector, we are building demand for (premium) Scottish food and drink via in-market specialist support. This includes working directly with importers, distributors, retailers and food service companies in the market, as well as supporting Scottish companies to enter and export more to Canada.

In the energy sector, we are developing inward investment and Scottish supply chain opportunities with oil and gas companies in and around Calgary, Canada’s energy ‘capital’. SDI is also identifying renewables-related opportunities across the Canadian maritime provinces on the Atlantic coast.

SDI also have financial services specialists working in the Toronto market - a recognised North American financial services hub. Toronto presents opportunities to work with large corporate financial services companies, as well as emerging, disruptive ‘fintech’ companies.

In technology and creative industries, SDI has identified significant market development potential in the Greater Toronto Area, and a number of other Canadian cities, with opportunities to align Scottish capability in several emerging and disruptive technology platforms.

Question reference: S5O-02331

Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 September 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the establishment of a deposit return scheme.

Question reference: S5W-17923

Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 29 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how Scotland’s Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) expenditure as a percentage of GDP compares with that for the (a) UK as a whole, (b) average of OECD countries and (c) average of EU member states.

The Scottish Government publishes Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) expenditure statistics in the “Gross Expenditure on Research and Development Scotland” report on an annual basis. The data in the table below is taken from the “Gross Expenditure on Research and Development Scotland 2016” report, which was published on 28 March 2018 and can be found at https://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Business/RD/GERDreport .

Expenditure on R&D performed in Higher Education as a percentage of GDP in 2016

Region	HERD expenditure as % of GDP
Scotland 1	0.71
United Kingdom	0.41
EU28	0.44
OECD	0.42

Source: OECD MSTI 2017/2, ONS and Scottish Government

Notes

1. Market price GDP for Scotland sourced from Quarterly National Accounts Scotland

Question reference: S5W-17922

Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 29 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how Scotland’s current Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) expenditure compares with that in 2001.

The Scottish Government publishes Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) expenditure statistics in the “Gross Expenditure on Research and Development Scotland” report on an annual basis. The data in the table below is taken from the “Gross Expenditure on Research and Development Scotland 2016” report, which was published on 28 March 2018 and can be found at https://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Business/RD/GERDreport .

Expenditure on R&D performed by Higher Education in Scotland, in current prices, in real terms (2016 prices) and as a percentage of GDP, 2001 to 2016.

Year	Higher Education R&D Expenditure (£ million)		% of GDP 3
Year	Current prices	Real terms (2016 prices 2 )
2001	525	713	0.60
2002	608	807	0.67
2003	618	803	0.64
2004	641	810	0.63
2005	689	849	0.64
2006	772	922	0.67
2007	784	914	0.65
2008	891	1,012	0.72
2009	944	1,057	0.77
2010	944	1,038	0.76
2011	951	1,031	0.74
2012	963	1,023	0.74
2013	1,037	1,083	0.76
2014 r	1,049	1,080	0.73
2015 r	1,091	1,116	0.75
2016	1,061	1,061	0.71

Source: ONS and Scottish Government (Gross Expenditure on Research and Development Scotland 2016)

Notes:

1. r denotes revised figures.

2. HM Treasury GDP deflators are used to convert the data to 2016 prices.

3. Market price GDP sourced from Quarterly National Accounts Scotland.

Question reference: S5O-02250

Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 June 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what priority it gives to suicide prevention.

Question reference: S5F-02474

Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 June 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 June 2018

To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government is marking Carers Week.

Question reference: S5F-02432

Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 04 June 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 June 2018

To ask the First Minister what impact the proposed import tariffs on European steel and aluminium by the United States could have on the steel industry in Scotland.

Question reference: S5O-02090

Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 May 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the take-up among claimants of the Scottish universal credit flexibilities.

Question reference: S5O-02060

Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 May 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 May 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what impact it expects minimum unit pricing of alcohol will have on health.

Seòmar agus comataidhean