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.

Question reference: S4W-00549

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 June 2011
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 22 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to reduce youth unemployment in North Ayrshire.

The Scottish Government is continuing to support North Ayrshire Council to identify opportunities to boost employment and solutions to counter youth unemployment. For young people at the beginning of the employability pipeline, the delivery of 16+ Learning Choices has enabled North Ayrshire and its key partners to strengthen school to post-school transition planning, with more young people progressing into a positive and sustained destination, including employment.

Starting in 2010-11, Skills Development Scotland has aligned its pre-employment programmes, Get Ready for Work and Training for Work, with local labour markets, including those in North Ayrshire, through a co-commissioning process with community planning partnerships. This approach is designed to ensure our employability programmes respond effectively to local labour market needs.

Councillor David O’Neill, Leader of North Ayrshire Council, has recently written to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth and I have responded as I have portfolio responsibility for learning and skills. In that reply, I have asked that colleagues in North Ayrshire continue to liaise with senior government officials to work proactively on this issue. I will maintain a close interest in this work as it develops.

Question reference: S4W-00550

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 June 2011
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 16 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is regarding the arming of transport police officers in Scotland in light of the Secretary of State for Transport confirming that British Transport Police in London are to be issued with firearms.

Question reference: S4O-00074

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 June 2011
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to prevent the abandonment of animals in Scotland.

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