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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-09680

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 June 2017
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 21 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent EIS survey, in which 86% of respondees said that they believed that their burden has increased in the last year, with 19% saying that they would not recommend teaching as a profession.

The Scottish Government takes the views of teachers extremely seriously and we have announced concrete proposals to address teacher workload issues.

On 29 August last year, Education Scotland published clear, practical advice for teachers and practitioners on what they should and should not be expected to do when planning learning, teaching and assessment. Definitive benchmark guidance has been published for all the curriculum areas to support teachers’ judgement when assessing learner progress from pre-school through to S3. The report of Education Scotland’s review of the Curriculum for Excellence demands placed on schools by local authorities was published on 19 September 2016 and its findings should empower teachers to challenge unnecessary workload demands.

We have also taken concrete steps to reduce workload related to the National Qualifications. In September last year, I announced the removal of mandatory unit assessments from National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher qualifications. The removal of the units will free up time for teachers to spend with their students. Teachers will not have to undertake the formal unit assessments except under exceptional circumstances. This is what the EIS and others told us was significantly contributing to workload, and was welcomed by the EIS when announced.

I also meet with the Chief Executive of SQA every month to consider what action can be taken to improve the position on teacher workload yet further.

Question reference: S5W-09515

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 14 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the quality of rivers.

Question reference: S5O-01083

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 May 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work to prevent violent crime.

Question reference: S5W-08766

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 23 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to figures from the Local Data Company suggesting that, in the last year, more shops closed in Scotland than in any other part of the UK.

We are aware of the report from the Local Data Company and whilst the figures on shop closures are of concern it is encouraging to note that Scotland fares particularly well in terms of stores opening. The report shows that the average retail vacancy rates in towns across Scotland is decreasing – 13.5% in 2013 compared to 12.6% in 2016. Matthew Hopkinson, Director at LDC, comments: "Overall, the data shows that Scotland is making good progress in responding to the challenges of modern place management.

Scotland’s Town Centre First Principle agreed with COSLA, together with the range of measures in the Town Centre Action Plan, set the conditions and underpin activity designed to tackle key issues such as empty shops, diversify the town centre offer and thereby attract a range of businesses and services to locate there. The Scottish Government will continue to work closely with the retail sector to maximise its potential in relation to the town centre agenda.

We also deliver the most competitive business tax environment in the UK, with two in five properties in Scotland paying zero or reduced rates under the Scottish Government’s Small Business Bonus Scheme and relief is also available under Fresh Start, offering businesses occupying certain long term empty properties a business rates discount for their first year in those premises.

Question reference: S5W-09191

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 16 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-08027 by Roseanna Cunningham on 22 March 2017, whether it will include local authorities as stakeholders as part of the review.

Question reference: S5W-09192

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 16 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-08026 by Roseanna Cunningham on 22 March 2017, what discussions it (a) has had and (b) plans with local authorities regarding the standardisation of licence fees for pet shops or dog breeding establishments.

The Pet Animals Act 1951 and the Breeding of Dogs Act 1973, as amended, empower local authorities to charge reasonable fees for the licensing, respectively, of pet shops and dog breeding establishments. Representatives of local authorities participated in a meeting on the breeding and sale of pets on 3 June 2016 at which license fees and other related topics were discussed.

The possible standardisation of licence fees will be considered as part of the ongoing review of pet welfare, and local authorities will be involved at all stages.

Question reference: S5W-09190

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 16 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the findings of the Blue Cross report, Unpicking the Knots.

Question reference: S5W-09125

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 16 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the number of students seeking counselling has increased in recent years; what assistance it provides to the students seeking this, and how it supports colleges and universities in providing adequate facilities.

The Scottish Government would encourage everyone in society, including our students, to come forward to seek help with mental health issues. We want to create a Scotland where all stigma and discrimination related to mental health is challenged, and our collective understanding of how to prevent and treat mental health problems is increased.

We support institutions and individual students in a number of ways. For example, we provide direct funding to colleges and universities, including through the Extended Learning Support fund and the Disabled Students Premium, to help them support students with a range of mental health issues, disabilities and additional learning needs.

Individual students in Higher Education, experiencing mental health difficulties, who require additional support can also apply to the Student Awards Agency Scotland for funding through the Disabled Students' Allowance.

The Scottish Government currently funds the National Union of Students Scotland’s, 'Think Positive' campaign to bring student associations and their institutions together in a formal agreement to work jointly on mental health issues on campus.

Our Mental Health Strategy, which was launched recently, contains an action to support the further development of ‘Think Positive’ and ensure consistent support for students across Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-09122

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 15 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that 17 out of 20 colleges recorded a technical deficit in 2015-16, and what action it is taking to insure that the institutions receive adequate funding.

The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) is working directly with those colleges that need support because of their particular circumstances. The 2015-16 accounts are the first year that colleges reported under the new FRS 102 accounting standard. This means there are significant changes to how some income, expenditure, assets and liabilities are reported in the financial statements.

FRS 102 has also resulted in increased volatility from one year to the next - principally for non-government grants, which are no longer deferred but (when performance conditions are met) recognised in full in the Statement of Comprehensive Income and Expenditure.

SFC’s focus is on the underlying operating position. It is therefore important to take account of FRS 102-based adjustments for non-government grants and non-cash pension adjustments, along with exceptional items and spend of depreciation funds in calculating colleges’ underlying operating position. For example, a college may report a substantial operating deficit in its 2015-16 financial statements but the underlying position may be a surplus after taking account of these adjustments.

Against this background, the vast majority of colleges reported a near break-even underlying operating position.

SFC continues to work closely with colleges and Audit Scotland in agreeing underlying adjustments and ensuring consistency of approach in Audit Scotland’s forthcoming sector overview report.

Question reference: S5W-08929

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 21 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 8 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its assessment is of the recent Fraser of Allander Institute study that suggests that more than 500,000 jobs in Scotland are supported by exports to the rest of the UK compared with 125,000 that are supported by exports to the EU.

The study estimates the number of jobs supported by exports from Scotland to the rest of the UK. Trade is two way: the rest of the UK exports to Scotland and this trade supports over 500,000 jobs in the UK economy.

Scotland does not face a choice between exporting to the UK or EU. It can, and does, do both.

The biggest threat to the Scottish economy is the hard Brexit being pursued by the UK Government that the Fraser of Allander Institute estimates could cost the country 80,000 jobs over a decade