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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.

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Question reference: S5W-12084

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Mark McDonald on 1 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to encourage local authorities to work with the third sector to offer joint delivery of services for children and young people.

The Scottish Government believes that the best outcomes for children and young people can only be delivered when the planning of children’s services is fully inclusive, and reflects the views of a range of partners, including local authorities, health boards and national and local bodies, including the third sector. That is why we legislated and the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 (the "Act") was enacted. Part 3 of the Act places a duty on each local authority and relevant health board to jointly prepare a children's services plan covering a
3 year period. A range of other relevant national and local bodies, including the third sector, are expected to be either consulted with, or obliged to participate, at various stages of the development of the plan. The Statutory Guidance accompanying Part 3 clearly sets out the expectations with regards inclusion of the third sector. Children's services plans for all local authorities and relevant health boards are now in place for the period 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2020. In addition, the Scottish Government funds the National Third Sector GIRFEC Project, which focuses on delivering better outcomes for children and young people through supporting third sector involvement in the planning and delivery of children's services.

Question reference: S5W-12045

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 13 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 25 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will increase funding to Creative Scotland in response to the reduced funding that it is reported it will receive from the National Lottery.

The Scottish Government is discussing with Creative Scotland the impact of the forecast reductions in lottery income, which also affect lottery funding for the arts, film, heritage, sport, communities and charities across the UK. There are pressures on all areas of public expenditure with the UK Government’s budget decisions to be announced on 22 November. Creative Scotland’s grant funding will be included in the Scottish Government’s draft 2018-19 budget on 14 December.

Question reference: S5W-12044

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 13 October 2017
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 24 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to ensure that rural tourist areas will not be adversely impacted by the closure of VisitScotland hubs.

The deployment of VisitScotland resources is an operational matter for VisitScotland.

The Scottish Government understands that VisitScotland are actively working with the industry and others to ensure that information provision is very much available, and in the innovative and adaptable formats that we know visitors are looking for. VisitScotland has already recruited over 1,500 VisitScotland Information Partners nationally to ensure there is an information touchpoint in every single corner of the country. The two–year VisitScotland iCentre strategy will see a significant increase in the number of channels providing content on places to visit and stay, with a mix of industry partners and digital products sitting alongside 26 key VisitScotland iCentres in high impact locations right across Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-11912

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 09 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 24 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government which local authorities are meeting their recycling targets.

Question reference: S5W-11831

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 24 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how much (a) trade and (b) internal investment has been generated by its (i) London and (ii) Dublin trade hubs.

Our Innovation and Investment Hubs provide a platform that brings together Scottish Government and its agencies, with partners and businesses to promote Scotland's interests, increase exports and attract investment to Scotland. We are developing a framework to assess their contribution to trade, investment and other outcomes though it will be challenging to fully separate out the specific impact of each Hub from wider trade and investment activities.

Dublin has been fully operational since October 2016 and London became operational in May 2017. Figures on the specific trade and investment, economic and employment impacts of both Hubs since they became operational are not available.

Scottish Development International's full year annual performance figures are formally published in Scottish Enterprise's Annual Report and Accounts, which were laid before the Scottish Parliament this year on 2nd October 2017. Information on SDI's achievements for 2016-17 was also published on 26 June 2017, showing strong performance in a competitive global marketplace.

Question reference: S5O-01353

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 October 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that rural and urban communities receive equal support.

Question reference: S5W-11545

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 16 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to close the reported skills gap in the Scottish Borders.

Closing skills gaps is recognised by the Scottish Government as an important driver of economic growth, business growth, and ensuring that those in and entering the labour market fulfil their maximum potential. This is a priority for us and is fully reflected in our Economic Strategy and Labour Market Strategy. Complementing the actions being taken at the national level, in the Scottish Borders, amongst other initiatives, we are:

Encouraging Enterprise and Skills Agencies to work with Borders College to ensure learners develop the skills that lead to higher level study or employment.
Supporting and funding the Borders Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) regional group to improve opportunities for young people in the region.
Through Skills Development Scotland (SDS) targeting promotion of Apprenticeship opportunities in the Scottish Borders.
Through Skills Development Scotland (SDS) providing career information, advice and guidance in schools and centres.
Establishing the South of Scotland Enterprise Agency to further focus on the needs of the area and drive inclusive growth.

Question reference: S5W-11548

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 13 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to help the Scottish Borders transition to a more knowledge-based economy, as recommended in Regional Skills Assessment 2016, South Scotland.

The Scottish Government is working with Borders College through the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) to ensure that learners in the Scottish Borders are gaining the skills to work within a knowledge-based economy. Borders College has an acute focus on developing students’ employability skills and improving outcomes, and we will build on this strong foundation to equip learners with the skills they need to thrive within the regional economy.

Industry and Sector led Skills Investment Plans (SIPs) will highlight the priorities that need to be addressed to support future growth of the knowledge-based economy. Skills Development Scotland (SDS) will facilitate these SIPs, building upon their development of the Regional Skills Assessments. This complements the work SDS and Borders Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) already undertakes in the region to maximise the uptake of Work Based Learning and Apprenticeship opportunities.

Question reference: S5W-11371

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 28 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase the number of apprenticeships in the Scottish Borders.

Modern Apprenticeship Statistics published on 6 June 2017 showed a 22% rise in uptake of Modern Apprenticeship’s in the Scottish Borders with 472 starts in 2016-17 compared to 387 starts in 2016-17.

The Borders Developing the Young Workforce Regional Group has been working in partnership with Skills Development Scotland and the Local Authority to promote Scottish apprenticeship opportunities including Foundation, Modern and Graduate level to employers, young people, parents and teachers.

Question reference: S5W-11372

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 28 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government which areas in the Scottish Borders will next receive broadband improvements.

Over the next 6 months work will be on-going in 43 exchange areas across Scottish Borders, to connect more than 3700 additional premises to fibre enabling infrastructure.

We also have an online interactive map (www.scotlandsuperfast.com/where-when/) so that members of the public can directly access fibre broadband roll-out information for their area.

The current roll-out of DSSB programme has so far provided access to fibre broadband to 80.1% premises in the Scottish Borders, with 77.5% capable ofreceiving superfast speeds. Without the programme’s investment, commercial coverage in Scottish Borders would have reached only 39.3%. On top of this, even though telecoms is a reserved matter, the Scottish Government has chosen to act and made a commitment to deliver 100% superfast broadband access to every premise in Scotland by the end of 2021. No premises will be excluded from the Reaching 100% programme.