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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-15474

Asked by: Tom Arthur, MSP for Renfrewshire South, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 March 2018
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made by the Independent Advisory Group on the Use of Biometric Data in Scotland.

In June 2017, the Scottish Government appointed John Scott QC to chair the independent advisory group tasked with considering the recommendations contained in HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland’s Audit and Assurance Review of the Use of the Facial Search functionality within the UK Police National Database (PND) by Police Scotland report.

The group held eight meetings between June 2017 and January 2018 and consulted with a range of organisations and individuals with an interest in biometrics including privacy and human rights bodies, research institutes and leading academics. A sub-group was also established to consider the particular issues in relation to the retention and use of biometric data from children and young people.

The Scottish Government has today published the group’s report and a response to the recommendations contained within it. The report can be found on the Scottish Government website at http://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781788516006 and the associated Scottish government response at http://www.gov.scot/About/Review/biometric-data .

As the biometrics field continues to evolve, Scottish Ministers are committed to ensuring that biometric data and associated technologies are used within a clear framework which incorporates human rights and ethical considerations.

Question reference: S5O-01907

Asked by: Tom Arthur, MSP for Renfrewshire South, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 March 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how many households in the Renfrewshire South constituency have been assisted by the Scottish Welfare Fund since 2013.

Question reference: S5O-01903

Asked by: Tom Arthur, MSP for Renfrewshire South, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 14 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to carers in the Renfrewshire South constituency.

From 2007-08 to 2017-18 the Scottish Government has invested nearly £143 million towards a range of programmes and initiatives, and to the National Carer Organisations. This funding provides information, advice, and support to carers in communities across Scotland, including in Renfrewshire South.

The majority of social care support is delivered by local authorities and Integration Authorities. From next month the Carers (Scotland) Act will extend and enhance the rights of carers to support. This includes a duty for each local authority and health board to jointly prepare a local carer strategy, as a means of planning appropriate services and identification of carers in their local area.

In addition we are introducing the Carer’s Allowance Supplement this year, increasing payments to carers to the same level as Jobseeker’s Allowance. This is an investment of more than £30 million per year.

Question reference: S5O-01670

Asked by: Tom Arthur, MSP for Renfrewshire South, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 18 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports community empowerment in the Renfrewshire South constituency.

We are supporting community empowerment in a number of ways.

Renfrewshire Council received an award of £800,000 from the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund to support Linwood Community Development Trust to develop the Mossedge Village Project.

Our £20million Empowering Communities Fund enables community empowerment at a local level across Scotland.

Examples of this in Renfrewshire South include

organisational capacity building support for the Linwood Community Development Trust
funding of a key staff post at the Neilston Development Trust
DRC Generations’ mentoring support programme for young people and their families
Linstone Housing Association’s health and well-being initiative for older people
the Wheatley Group’s training and employment support programme

In addition, the Community Choices Fund this year has supported Renfrewshire Council, East Renfrewshire Council and the Barrhead Housing Association on participatory budgeting. This will help ensure that local people have a real say in funding decisions in their areas.

Question reference: S5O-01625

Asked by: Tom Arthur, MSP for Renfrewshire South, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 December 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve rail services in the Renfrewshire South constituency.

Question reference: S5O-01430

Asked by: Tom Arthur, MSP for Renfrewshire South, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 November 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the impact that Brexit could have on climate change policy in Scotland.

Question reference: S5O-01395

Asked by: Tom Arthur, MSP for Renfrewshire South, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 October 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government when the finance secretary last met the UK Government and what was discussed.

Question reference: S5O-01308

Asked by: Tom Arthur, MSP for Renfrewshire South, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 September 2017
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports the live music sector.

Question reference: S5O-00975

Asked by: Tom Arthur, MSP for Renfrewshire South, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 May 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any assessment it has made of the potential impact of automation and artificial intelligence on the economy.

Question reference: S5O-00890

Asked by: Tom Arthur, MSP for Renfrewshire South, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 April 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that police stations are resourced to support people with mental health problems.