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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-14650

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 28 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has carried out of the accuracy of the information that is provided on electric car charging points by ChargePlace Scotland.

As part of the Electric Vehicle charge point network operator services agreement awarded in 2016 to Charge Your Car (CYC) Limited, Transport Scotland tasked CYC with auditing each charge point site to ensure that the information provided on electric car charging points is accurate. Due to the logistics involved in visiting over 800 charge points across Scotland, the exercise is still ongoing, although nearing completion. Transport Scotland officials also meet with CYC's network manager on a weekly basis where updates on this exercise are provided.

Question reference: S5W-14603

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 12 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 27 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how many members of school staff are employed using pupil equity funding, broken down by staff role.

The number of teachers funded through Pupil Equity Funding (PEF) was given in the answer to question S5W-13385 on 12 January 2018 . All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

Whilst we are aware that PEF is being used in a wide range of innovative ways, the Scottish Government does not hold information on the number of non-teaching school staff funded by PEF. Headteachers will report the use of PEF and impact to date in their schools annual standards and quality report.

Question reference: S5W-14269

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 26 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what support it has given to relief efforts in Yemen in each of the last 10 years.

Question reference: S5W-14270

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 23 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S5W-03736 and S5W-11258 by Keith Brown on 31 October 2016 and 20 September 2017 respectively, how much it has provided each year to companies that export arms to Turkey.

Question reference: S5W-14272

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 23 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S5W-03736 and S5W-11258 by Keith Brown on 31 October 2016 and 20 September 2017 respectively, what information it has regarding whether any companies that it provides financial support to have supplied weapons or equipment that might have been used in the alleged war crimes in Yemen by the Saudi Arabian air force, which are being investigated by the UN.

Question reference: S5W-14271

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 23 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S5W-03736 and S5W-11258 by Keith Brown on 31 October 2016 and 20 September 2017 respectively, in light of its commitment to UN Sustainable Development Goal 16 on Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, what assessment it has carried out on the impact of it providing financial support to companies that engage in the arms trade.

The Scottish Government has not used public money to support the manufacture or export of munitions from Scotland.

However, we recognise the vital role that Aerospace, Defence and Marine engineering sectors play in Scotland’s economy, and aims to create an environment in which sectors can continue to grow and prosper, particularly through diversification in developing non-military applications for technology. That’s why our support has consistently focused on non-military developments and has ranged from innovation and efficiency improvements to internationalisation and identification of new markets.

Question reference: S5W-14435

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 21 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of any negative impact on pupil performance of computer-based assessments, such as those used in the new Scottish Standardised National Assessments.

The Scottish Government is currently preparing plans to seek pupil and teacher views on the SNSA which will be introduced following the first year of completed assessments. As part of the Scottish Survey of Literacy and Numeracy (SSLN), data was gathered on the use of computers in the classroom and for assessment, via the SSLN Pupil and Teacher Questionnaires. The following table shows responses from pupils and teachers that took part in the SSLN 2016.

SSLN 2016 Pupil Questionnaire results

How often do you use computers, tablets etc. to complete class tests?

P4 – 36% said “very often”
P7 – 24% said “very often”
S2 – 19% said “very often”

How much do you agree with the following?

I enjoy doing school work on a computer, tablet, etc.	P4 – 93% Agree a lot or agree a little P7 – 94% Agree a lot or agree a little S2 – 94% Agree a lot or agree a little
I usually do well in tasks in school when I use a computer, tablet etc.	P4 – 93% Agree a lot or agree a little P7 – 91% Agree a lot or agree a little S2 – 92% Agree a lot or agree a little
I find working on a computer, tablet etc, in school boring	P4 – 18% Agree a lot or agree a little P7 – 13% Agree a lot or agree a little S2 – 23% Agree a lot or agree a little
I find tasks using a computer, tablet etc. hard	P4 – 33% Agree a lot or agree a little P7 – 19% Agree a lot or agree a little S2 – 21% Agree a lot or agree a little

SSLN 2016 Teacher Questionnaire results

Using ICT has a positive impact on my pupil’s engagement in their learning

Primary Teachers

Secondary English teachers

Secondary non-English teachers

99% strongly agree or agree
91% strongly agree or agree
92% strongly agree or agree

Using ICT has a positive impact on pupils' literacy skills

Primary Teachers

Secondary English teachers

Secondary non-English teachers

94% strongly agree or agree
77% strongly agree or agree
75% strongly agree or agree

Question reference: S5W-14115

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 7 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the commitment in its Draft Budget 2018-19 that it will provide £10 million to organisations that provide support to children and young people with complex support needs, how it proposes to distribute this funding.

Question reference: S5W-14116

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 5 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its consultation paper on electoral reform of 19 December 2017, what its definition is of “legally resident”.

Question reference: S5O-01753

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 31 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to use existing medical and other evidence to determine entitlement to devolved disability benefits and reduce the need for in-person assessments.

We have made it clear from the start that we will make use of existing health and social care evidence to support better decision making. We will gather the right information at the initial stage of the process, utilising existing data to aid quality decision making and, consequently, reduce the need for face to face assessments.

A face-to-face assessment should only be required upon individual request or where evidence gathered is conflicting – and no-one will ever be forced in the Scottish system to undergo an assessment with a private company.