Michael Marra

28 Nov 2022 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will provide an urgent update on its discussions with the EIS after the announcement of new strike dates.

28 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it will receive as a result of the UK Government’s announcement on 21 November 2022 regarding an additional £484 million for research and innovation, and whether it will confirm whether this funding will be passed on in full to universities in Scotland.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Scotland will receive £24.6 million from within the £484 million package of support announced by the UK Government. This will be distributed to the sector via the Scottish Funding Council. Universities and research institutions may be eligible for other aspec…

10 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the Education Leaders' Forum, whether the group is still active and, if so, what its composition is; when the group last meet; how it measures the performance and outcomes of the group, and what (a) financial and (b) staffing resources it has allocated to the group.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Education Leaders’ Forum was paused in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It last met in April 2019. The Scottish Government decided not to re-establish the Education Leaders’ Forum due to the expanded membership of the re-established Scottish Educa…

10 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a full list of active groups and sub-groups within the Education and Skills portfolio.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: A list of the active groups and sub-groups within the Education and Skills portfolio is available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 63776).  

8 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported data showing that rural areas in the North East Scotland region continue to experience significantly worse broadband access than the Scotland and UK averages.

Answer · Ivan McKee: Despite the area of telecommunications being wholly reserved to the UK Parliament under the provisions of the Scotland Act 1998, the Scottish Government has already stepped in and taken the lead in addressing poor broadband coverage, given its economic import…

21 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider rolling out the use of the Rezum steam treatment to treat enlarged prostate.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government are not aware of plans to roll out the use of Rezum steam treatment throughout NHSScotland. This treatment is currently being offered by NHS Fife and has been since December 2020. It is ultimately for the 14 Territorial Health Boards …

19 Oct 2022 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether independent fiscal forecasts should be published alongside significant fiscal policy events.  

28 Sep 2022 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its policy is on whether to peg an independent Scottish currency to the pound.

30 Aug 2022 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had and has planned with the University of Dundee’s management team regarding the reported pensions dispute between the university and trade unions representing staff.

7 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it uses data from 2014 to estimate the number of pupils claiming free school meals in P1 to P3, and, if so, (a) for what reason and (b) what plans it has to use more up-to-date figures.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Data from the 2014 Healthy Living Survey was one of the components used to determine 2022-23 Pupil Equity Fund allocations for Primary 1 to 3 pupils. In 2015 the Scottish Government introduced free school meals for all Primary 1 to 3 pupils. The 2014 Healthy…

7 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it uses data from 2020 to apportion Pupil Equity Funding allocations, and, if so, (a) for what reason and (b) what plans it has to use more up-to-date figures.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Data from the 2020 Healthy Living Survey was one of the components used to determine 2022-23 Pupil Equity Fund allocations. Due to COVID-19 disruption, the full Healthy Living Survey could not take place in 2021. The previous year’s data was therefore used t…

31 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to issue benzodiazepine harm reduction guidance, following the issue of draft guidance in August 2021.

Answer · Angela Constance: Following the publication of the interim guidance in August 2021 by the Drug Deaths Taskforce, the Scottish Government published an evidence review on benzodiazepine use in March 2022 and convened an expert group to consider the interim guidance, the evidence…

25 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason no maximum bidding price has been stipulated within the awards process for floating offshore wind projects looking to progress through the Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas (INTOG) process, in light of a maximum bidding price being stipulated in the commercial-scale Sco…

Answer · Michael Matheson: It is for Crown Estate Scotland, As managers of Crown assets in Scotland, to set seabed leasing fees. The INTOG leasing round, due to be launched summer 2022, is a ‘first of its kind’ and there is no direct precedent to consider when finalising the design of…

25 May 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what role (a) ministers and (b) Crown Estate Scotland will have in finalising the scoring criteria and weighting for Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas (INTOG) leases for floating offshore wind projects.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Crown Estate Scotland have designed and are responsible for the leasing arrangements for the Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas (INTOG) process, this includes development of the weighting and evaluation criteria for applications. Crown Estate Scotland outlin…

23 Mar 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to improve audit procedures for local authorities.

21 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to promote the adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism among publicly funded bodies.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: The Scottish Government formally adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of antisemitism in June 2017. The Scottish Government and its agencies have been expected to adhere to the definition since June 2017. While it is n…

2 Mar 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Tayside in light of reports of the closure of GP practices.

28 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis has been done, or is planned, on whether any successful applicants to the ScotWind auction have Russian partnerships or financing arrangements in place.

Answer · Michael Matheson: ScotWind, the recent leasing round for commercial-scale offshore wind projects, is administered by Crown Estate Scotland who are responsible for completing the process of due diligence in line with relevant guidance. Crown Estate Scotland released a statemen…

28 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many Ukrainian students are estimated to be studying in Scotland and what support is being offered to them, in light of current international events.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: In 2020-21, based on recorded nationality, there were around 125 Ukrainian students at university and 45 Ukrainian students at college. However, further students will have close links of family members affected by the current crisis and we want to support the…

28 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what use has been made by the Russian Government or Russian-owned businesses of Prestwick Airport and any other Scottish Government-owned infrastructure during the last five years.

Answer · Kate Forbes: This information is not held centrally.

28 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been made of the implications of sanctions on Russia for any Scottish businesses that trade with Russia, and what support can be given to those businesses in order to best facilitate their rapid diversification in the face of such sanctions.

Answer · Ivan McKee: While international sanctions are reserved to the UK Government, we are exercising all possible levers at the disposal of the Scottish Government to ensure we reinforce the international response to Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. Export Statistics Sco…

16 Feb 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Dundee City Council regarding the local government funding settlement for 2022-23.

1 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what specifically the recently announced funding of up to £5 million allocated to local authorities to help with classroom ventilation has been spent on.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: All local authorities have been informed of their potential allocations from the up-to-£5 million fund. Our funding letter makes clear that remedial action should be undertaken in line with guidance on ventilation, with problematic spaces prioritised for acti…

1 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will confirm if it is the case that data on teacher absence due to COVID-19 has not been collected after April 2021, and, if it is the case, for what reason.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Data on teacher absence due to Covid-19 has been collected since September 2020 and is still being collected and published on a weekly basis. Data for the 2020-21 academic year can be found at this link in the 'School staff absence' tab: COVID19 - Schools a…

19 Jan 2022 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its plans are for service continuity for breast cancer oncology services in NHS Tayside, in light of reports of further resignations within the service.

12 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to receive the report on the consultation paper on the reform of Scottish Education, Education Scotland and the Scottish Qualifications Authority: Consultation.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Following the end of Professor Ken Muir’s ‘ consultation on the replacement of the Scottish Qualifications Authority and the reform of Education Scotland’ , on 26 November 2021, Professor Muir is preparing his report and recommendations, which the Scottish Go…

12 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the proportion of school pupils to whom it has (a) issued a free digital device and (b) provided free internet connection at home.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: In 2020-21, as a response to the pandemic and the closure of school buildings, we provided £25 million to councils across Scotland to tackle digital exclusion. This resulted in over 72,000 devices and 14,000 internet connectivity solutions being distributed t…

8 Dec 2021 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence Levels statistics.

7 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the reasoning was for the questions contained within the Health and Wellbeing Census for school pupils.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The information requested is available from https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/factsheet/2020/02/health-and-wellbeing-census/documents/health-and-wellbeing-census-frequently-asked-questions/health-and-wellbeing-census-frequen…

30 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which review boards are involved in the development of its education policy.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government has established a number of groups to advise Ministers on the development of education policy. These include the International Council of Education Advisers, the Scottish Education Council, the Curriculum and Assessment Board, the Teac…