Parliamentary questions
Katy Clark
746 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
15 Oct 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on whether it still plans to sell Glasgow Prestwick Airport to the private sector.
Answer · Kate Forbes: The process to return Glasgow Prestwick Airport to the private sector continues and decisions have still to be taken in relation to the prospective sale of the business. We have committed to updating Parliament on the sale process at the appropriate stage.
13 Oct 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of five of the 15 potential sites being in Scotland, what its position is on the proposed prototype fusion energy plant being considered by the UK Government for one of these sites.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The UK Atomic Energy Authority’s (UKAEA) has identified five potential site for the UK’s first prototype nuclear fusion reactor. This includes one location in Scotland at Ardeer. The Scottish energy strategy, published in December 2017, confirmed the Scottish…
13 Oct 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on building new nuclear fusion plants.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-03786 on 12 November 2021. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-commit…
12 Oct 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether a digital sales tax will be included in its forthcoming Retail Strategy.
Answer · Tom Arthur: Exploring the introduction of a digital sales tax in Scotland will be progressed in line with the Scottish Government’s fiscal and tax policy making cycle and will monitor closely the UK Government’s planned forthcoming consultation on the arguments for and a…
12 Oct 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what communication it has had with the UK Government regarding the introduction of a digital sales tax in Scotland.
Answer · Tom Arthur: There has been no discussion between the UK and Scottish Governments over the introduction of a digital sales tax in Scotland. The Scottish Government is closely monitoring the UK Government’s planned forthcoming consultation on the arguments for and against …
12 Oct 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government within what timeframe it anticipates its Retail Strategy will be published.
Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government is working with retail businesses, trade unions, academia, public sector and trade organisations to develop a Retail Strategy that will enable the retail sector in Scotland to play its part in creating a fairer, greener and stronger Sc…
12 Oct 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the introduction of a digital sales tax.
Answer · Tom Arthur: As set out in the draft Framework for Tax, which only recently closed for consultation on 26 October, the Scottish Government is committed to exploring the introduction of a digital sales tax in Scotland.
11 Oct 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address vitamin D deficiency in (a) general and (b) relation to levels of deprivation, in light of reports that nearly half the population in the most deprived areas had suboptimal vitamin D levels compared with a quarter of the population in the least deprive…
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government continues to work closely with Food Standards Scotland and other partners to raise awareness of the importance of vitamin D, particularly amongst those at highest risk of deficiency. On 11 October, Food Standards Scotland (FSS) launch…
11 Oct 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what research it is undertaking to assess levels of vitamin D deficiency in (a) general and (b) relation to levels of deprivation, in light of the most recent survey on this issue reportedly being undertaken in 2010-12.
Answer · Maree Todd: Vitamin D status is measured annually as part of the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS). The latest report is available at: NDNS: results from years 9 to 11 (2016 to 2017 and 2018 to 2019) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) The Scottish Government is not cur…
11 Oct 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what outcomes have been achieved by the Clyde 2020 initiative since its inception in 2014, including in relation to the commitment by ministers to a process to identify a programme of measures, and to test and implement practical actions, to contribute to the renewal of the Clyde marine …
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Clyde 2020 initiative has brought together both scientific research and practical measures to improve the marine ecosystem of the Clyde. It has achieved a range of outputs and outcomes since 2014, for example to improve the public and stakeholder understa…
11 Oct 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the new remit of the Clyde 2020 initiative will be, and over what timeframe.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Clyde 2020 initiative is currently considering their remit moving forward. As a sub-group of the Clyde Marine Planning Partnership, the partnership are drafting a proposal on how Clyde 2020 will evolve, contribute and support the Clyde marine planning pro…
11 Oct 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) financial and (b) administrative support it will give to the Clyde 2020 initiative, and over what timeframe.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: Once the Clyde 2020 initiative’s remit is agreed then the appropriate level of financial and administrative support will be identified along with the associated timeframe for this support.
6 Oct 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to address the reported shortage of bus drivers.
Answer · Graeme Dey: We are aware that bus operators are reporting increasing shortages of bus drivers which is affecting bus services in some areas. These shortages are linked to wider workforce pressures such as high demand for drivers in the HGV and other sectors as well as on…
6 Oct 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what subsidised training schemes are in place for people seeking to train as (a) HGV and (b) bus drivers.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: There are a number of subsidised training schemes provided by Scottish Government in regards to HGV and Bus Driver training:Employability Fund - offers employability and skills training for unemployed individuals across Scotland. HGV driver training is availa…
6 Oct 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has access to Scotland and sub-Scotland level data on current pension credit take-up.
Answer · Ben Macpherson: Pension Credit is reserved to the UK Government. The Department for Work and Pensions publishes an estimate of Pension Credit take-up, annually, at a UK-wide level only. The latest figures published (covering 2018/19) show that 76% of the maximum amount of …
6 Oct 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information Social Security Scotland holds on current pension credit uptake, and how many people who are currently entitled to pension credit do not claim it.
Answer · Ben Macpherson: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-03574 on ? 25 October 2021. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-commi…
6 Oct 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been supported through its training schemes to train as (a) HGV and (b) bus drivers in each month since the start of 2019.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: There are a number of subsidised training schemes provided by Scottish Government in regards to HGV and Bus Driver training including: Employability Fund, Modern Apprenticeships, National Transition Training Fund and Individual Training Accounts A summary ta…
6 Oct 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to Year One of the National Training Transition Fund, how many applications for training in the transport sector (a) have been (i) approved and (ii) rejected and (b) are yet to be processed, and whether it will provide an update on when the final delivery figures will be pub…
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The National Transition Training Fund (NTTF) is being delivered through various sector-based projects which will have different application procedures. The data below sets out information on course participants in Year One as far as it is currently available.…
6 Oct 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with (a) Stagecoach and (b) First Glasgow regarding the reported cancellation of bus services in the last month.
Answer · Graeme Dey: Transport Scotland officials meet bus stakeholders, including both Stagecoach and First, on a fortnightly basis. This has recently included discussion on the impact of driver shortages on service provision. Bus operators receiving emergency COVID-19 funding a…
6 Oct 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what correspondence it has had with local authorities and COSLA in relation to raising awareness about claiming pension credit and supporting people to do so.
Answer · Ben Macpherson: Pension Credit is reserved to the UK Government and, therefore, the Scottish Government has not corresponded with local authorities or COSLA in relation to raising awareness about claiming pension credit or supporting people to do so. The Scottish Government…
22 Sep 2021 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to raise awareness among the public and healthcare professionals of the symptoms of leukaemia.
20 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to raise awareness of the symptoms of leukaemia among (a) the public and (b) healthcare professionals.
19 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to establish the independent review to advise on the replacement for the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), and by what date the review will (a) commence, (b) conclude and (c) publish its findings.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Professor Ken Muir has been appointed as an independent advisor on education reform and formally started work on 2 August 2021, and is expected to take around 6 months to conclude. Professor Muir’s work will include designing the implementation of the OECD’s…
15 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has conducted a review or evaluation of its performance in fulfilling its non-punishment requirements in international human trafficking law (a) generally and (b) in terms of Scottish public authorities’ responsibilities in light of the decision by the European Court of Human …
Answer · Ash Denham: The circumstances which led to the case before the European Court of Human Rights preceded the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Act 2015. The 2015 Act introduced new protections for victims of human trafficking and exploitation offences in Scotla…
15 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what communication it has had with the UK Government regarding the decision by the European Court of Human Rights in February 2021 on the case, VCL and AN v UK.
Answer · Ash Denham: The Scottish Government has regular communication with the UK Government on a range of issues relating to human trafficking and exploitation, including the decision by the European Court of Human Rights in VCL and AN v UK. We continue to work with the UK Gov…
15 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it (a) has conducted and (b) plans to conduct a policy impact assessment for Scotland in relation to the UK Government's Nationality and Borders Bill.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has undertaken work to assess the impact of provisions in the Nationality and Borders Bill on communities in Scotland. Issues highlighted through this work are set out in my letter of 1 September to the Home Secretary, which is on the …
15 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, between 1 April 2016 and 30 June 2021, how many Vietnamese nationals have been (a) held on remand, (b) released on bail, (c) prosecuted, (d) convicted and sentenced, broken down by offence and (e) identified as presumed or confirmed trafficking survivors by the National Referral Mechani…
Answer · Keith Brown: The information requested is not held centrally. The Scottish Government does not hold information on offenders' or victims' nationality.
15 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review or evaluate the operation and impact of the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Act 2015.
Answer · Ash Denham: The 2015 Act requires Scottish Ministers to prepare a Trafficking and Exploitation Strategy and this was published in May 2017. The Scottish Government has established governance structures to take forward implementation of this Strategy and discussions inclu…
15 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government (a) whether and (b) by when it plans to prepare a legislative consent memorandum for the UK Government's Nationality and Borders Bill.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government’s assessment is that there is no requirement for a Legislative Consent Memorandum (LCM) in respect of the Nationality and Borders Bill as introduced to the UK Parliament. The Scottish Government is monitoring the Bill as it progresses …
15 Sep 2021 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what actions it is taking to measure the progress of its COVID-19 recovery policies.