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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-08744

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 07 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 27 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of the impact of the Mental Health Strategy 2012-15 on the employment rate of people with mental health problems.

Question reference: S5W-08747

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 07 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 27 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has issued to health and social care partnerships regarding employment services for people with mental health problems.

The Scottish Government continues to engage with Integration Authorities to strengthen the links between health, social care and employability, however decisions for the delivery of services at a local level are for Integration Authorities to agree depending on local priorities.

The Scottish Government recognises the very specific challenges that people with mental health conditions can face in securing sustained employment. In designing our devolved employment support programmes, we have made sure to consult with service providers and people who use services to better understand the challenges and how they can be addressed. With devolved employment support, we have an opportunity to do things differently in Scotland and we are currently exploring ways in which we are able to join up devolved employment services with other key areas including health and social care, and justice.

The Mental Health Strategy 2017 – 2027 focuses on the important role of getting a job and staying in work. In particular, action 37 commits to explore with others innovative ways of connecting mental health, disability, and employment support in Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-08746

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 07 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 27 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with the third sector to improve the employment rate for people with mental health problems.

We recognise the very specific challenges that some people with barriers to employment, including mental health conditions, can face in obtaining and securing sustained employment.

That is why we worked with the Open Doors Consortium, a partnership of Scotland’s leading Third Sector specialist employment providers, to develop a tailored in-work work support package to support the employment outcomes of those with the greatest barriers.

This support has been delivered nationally by the Open Doors Consortium since July 2015, and can include mentoring, job coaching, training, orientation visits and providing training to the employers' staff. Help towards essential equipment or work clothes can also be provided. The support package can be accessed at any point within the first 52 weeks of employment.

In recognition of the barriers to employment some young people face, including those with mental health conditions, we are also working in partnership with the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) to provide up to 12 or 18 months of supported job training through a range of third sector employers across Scotland as part of the Community Jobs Scotland programme.

Since 2011 we have invested more than £50 million in Community Jobs Scotland, which has now helped more than 7,500 young people aged 16 to 29 access paid job training and the chance to enhance their longer term job prospects through additional training specifically designed to increase employability skills.

Question reference: S5W-08748

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 07 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 27 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the integration of health and social care has had on services that aim to support people with mental health problems find and retain paid employment.

The Scottish Government holds the principle that care services should be as well-coordinated and seamless as possible. Our programme of health and social care integration, which brings together NHS and Local Authority care services, is helping to deliver this. With a greater emphasis on community-based and more joined-up, anticipatory and preventative care, integration aims to improve care and support for people who use health and social care services. Improving the wellbeing of people with mental health problems is a key priority for Integration Authorities, who recognise that employment is an important factor in promoting wellbeing and recovery.

The Mental Health Strategy 2017 – 2027 focuses on the important role of getting a job and staying in work. In particular, action 37 commits to exploring with others innovative ways of connecting mental health, disability, and employment support in Scotland.

Question reference: S5O-00922

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 April 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it will publish a new anti-bullying strategy for schools.

Question reference: S5W-08355

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 25 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ensure that no members of boards, advisory groups or other bodies for which it has appointment responsibilities is an employee or representative of a company or organisation that has admitted the practice of blacklisting, unless they have subsequently taken adequate "self-cleaning" measures.

Any practice which seeks to suppress or censor the legitimate expression of opinion, or prevents individuals from exercising rights to freedom of association or privacy is unacceptable in a modern democratic society. The Scottish Government condemns any form of blacklisting. Blacklisting is also likely to be unlawful under various provisions of anti-discrimination legislation.

The Scottish public has high expectations of those who serve on the Boards of Public Bodies and the way in which they conduct themselves in undertaking their duties. As a Board member, it is their personal responsibility to ensure that they meet these expectations by ensuring that their conduct is above reproach.

The appointing minister will take steps to confirm that the applicant is a fit and proper person for the position to which they are to be appointed.

Question reference: S5W-08739

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 07 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 25 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what role links workers play in helping people to find employability support in their local community.

Links Workers connect people to non-medical sources of support or resources in the community which are likely to help with the health problems they are experiencing.

Link workers draw on a wide range of services to increase social skills, confidence and employability and help people move forward in their lives. These include services focused on training, volunteering and life skills, in-work support (for people currently employed and experiencing problems), further education and
self-employment.

Question reference: S5O-00899

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 April 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government when it will next meet representatives of the tourism sector.

Question reference: S5W-08354

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 19 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ensure that it only procures goods and services from organisations that pay at least the living wage.

The Scottish Government considers the payment of the Living Wage to be a significant indicator of an employer's commitment to fair work practices and that the payment of the Living Wage is one of the clearest ways that an employer can demonstrate that it takes a positive approach to its workforce. As a Government we are, and encourage others to be, a Living Wage Accredited Employer.

We issued statutory guidance Addressing Fair Work Practices, including the Living Wage, in Procurement in October 2015. We have regard to this guidance as early as possible in all procurement processes to ensure that where relevant and proportionate we include a question on fair work practices and evaluate bidders' responses along with other relevant criteria.

Question reference: S5O-00867

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 19 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to promote technologies that help tackle climate change.

As set out in the draft Climate Change Plan, the Scottish Government is committed to working with business leaders and others to co-design policies and proposals which maximise commercial, export and job opportunities. For example, our Scottish Energy Efficiency Programme will support thousands of jobs across Scotland, creating a substantial Scottish market and supply chain for energy efficiency and renewable heat services and technologies and related expertise which is transferable to international markets.