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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-10567

Asked by: Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 August 2017
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 17 August 2017

To ask the Scottish Government when the power to implement rent pressure zones will come into force.

Question reference: S5W-09975

Asked by: Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 June 2017
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 13 July 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have come to Scotland through the Syrian Resettlement Programme.

Scotland has welcomed over 1,800 people under the UK Government's Syrian Resettlement Programme since October 2015.

Official statistics for the Syrian Resettlement programme are published quarterly by the Home Office. The latest set of statistics was published on 25 May 2017 and covered the period to 31 March 2017. Those statistics show that from October 2015 to March 2017, 1,661 Syrian refugees arrived in Scotland under the Programme.

Question reference: S5W-09537

Asked by: Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 14 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support refugees who enrol at university to complete an IELTS (International English Language Testing System) qualification during their first year, and whether additional support is provided through summer school places.

The Scottish Government recognises that having English language skills is key to enabling full civic participation, including in education, and we that is why we provide funding for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses via the Scottish Funding Council, the body responsible for funding universities and colleges in Scotland.

Although it is up to individual universities to decide the entry requirements for any course, including language requirements, the Higher ESOL Course which is delivered mainly in colleges and schools across Scotland is recognised by all Scottish universities as one of a list of qualifications which meet general entrance requirements.

Whilst there is currently no specific government funding directed at students undertaking IELTS qualifications, support through programmes like summer school places may be available from individual universities in Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-09536

Asked by: Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 14 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support refugees living in Scotland to enrol at university.

Students or prospective students living in Scotland who have been granted refugee status, or another form of asylum (such as Humanitarian Protection), are eligible to apply to the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) for payment of their tuition fees and financial help towards living-costs. This support is available for those who are, or aim to be, engaged in higher education at a university or college in Scotland.

In addition to free tuition, our support package for students provides a minimum income guarantee of £7,625 for students on the lowest incomes. This is comprised of a combination of bursaries and loans. Eligible students with a household income of less £19,000 can apply for a bursary of £1875 for each year of study. The remainder of the guarantee is comprised of a student loan. All eligible students, irrespective of financial circumstances are eligible for a living-cost loan of up to £4,750 a year.

Question reference: S5O-01106

Asked by: Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 June 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to tackle Islamophobia in schools.

Question reference: S5O-01086

Asked by: Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by Annabelle Ewing on 7 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle and prevent youth crime in north Edinburgh.

We recognise the impact that offending behaviour can have on communities.

Timely and effective interventions are needed to keep communities and young people safe from crime and disorder. A local partnership approach is the key to confronting the behaviour and dealing with underlying issues. I am aware that the Stronger North group has played an important role in responding to issues in North Edinburgh.

This Government's Whole System Approach to youth justice has delivered an 83% reduction in children referred to the Reporter on offence grounds over the last 9 years. In Edinburgh, we have seen a 75% reduction over the same period.

Our national youth justice strategy is being driven forward with national and local partners. We will report on progress later this month.

Scotland’s approach is smart, effective and evidence-led. Prevention, early intervention and timely responses have been shown to divert young people from offending and to improving outcomes.

Question reference: S5T-00583

Asked by: Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 June 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken in Scotland following the recent terrorist attack in London.

Question reference: S5O-01048

Asked by: Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 31 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken and funding it has provided to promote the food and drink sector.

The delivery of the industry-led food and drink strategy (“Ambition 2030”) will be supported by a new three year £10million investment, with £7.5million from the public sector and, for the first time, an industry contribution of £2.5million. This builds on the significant investment of over £150 million that we have made in the food and drink sector since 2007, including £71million towards 233 projects through the Food Processing Marketing and Co-operation Grant scheme.

Question reference: S5W-09168

Asked by: Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 22 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is considering extending the scope of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 to include private companies.

The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 ('the Act') covers private companies if they are wholly-owned by a public authority listed in schedule 1 of the Act. The Act can also be extended to organisations undertaking 'functions of a public nature' - such as the arm's length trusts providing culture, leisure and sporting services on behalf of local authorities, private prison contractors and providers of secure accommodation for children the Scottish Government has brought within scope. The Scottish Government is currently considering consultation responses following consultation on extending the Act to Registered Social Landlords.

Question reference: S5O-01032

Asked by: Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 May 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the UK Government’s benefit cap will have on individuals and families in Scotland.