Parliamentary questions
Jackie Baillie
9,397 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
19 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to end its ownership of Glasgow Prestwick Airport.
Answer · Keith Brown: As we have made clear since acquiring the airport in 2013, it is the Scottish Government’s intention to return the airport to the private sector when the time is right. No timescale has been set.
19 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-03811 by Keith Brown on 16 November 2016, when it expects Glasgow Prestwick Airport to repay the money provided in loan support.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government has not set a time limit for Glasgow Prestwick Airport to repay the loan support provided.
19 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the current contract between Ryanair and Glasgow Prestwick Airport ends.
Answer · Keith Brown: Glasgow Prestwick Airport operates on a wholly commercial basis and at arm’s length from the Scottish Government. Details of commercial contracts – including end dates – are commercially sensitive.
19 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what milestones were set out in the business plan for Glasgow Prestwick Airport when it took ownership in 2013.
Answer · Keith Brown: Glasgow Prestwick Airport published their Strategic Vision in October 2014. This built upon a business plan that was developed by a senior adviser and included as much of his work as possible without impinging on commercial confidentiality and the airport’s a…
19 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any repair work that is required for Prestwick International Airport railway station.
Answer · Keith Brown: Any repair work or potential upgrades to Prestwick Station are the responsibility of the owner, Glasgow Prestwick Airport, who operate on a wholly commercial basis.
19 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it expected Glasgow Prestwick Airport to borrow in the original business plan.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government budgeted £25.2 million in loan support to the end of March 2016 for Glasgow Prestwick Airport. We have made it clear throughout the process that additional loan funding, beyond that initially set out, may be required to turn the busin…
19 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many scheduled flights Ryanair provides (a) to and (b) from Glasgow Prestwick Airport, broken down by month.
Answer · Keith Brown: The following table provides the number of Ryanair scheduled flights by month until October 2017. The schedule for winter 2017-18 has yet to be confirmed. Month (2017) Inbound flights Outbound flights January 83 83 February 76 76 March 84 84 Apri…
19 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-06110 by Keith Brown on 17 January 2017, what the value is of the 55 inward investment projects that have been confirmed since April 2016.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Scottish Development International does not routinely record the value of inward investment. Data collated refers to the number of jobs and projects and those details are provided in the responses to S5W-06373 and S5W-06374 on 1 February 2017. All answers to …
19 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-06110 by Keith Brown on 17 January 2017, how many of the 55 inward investment projects that have been confirmed since April 2016 are (a) new, (b) safeguarded and (c) expansions.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Of the 55 inward investment projects confirmed since April 2016, 16 are new projects, nine are safeguarded projects and 30 are expansion projects.
19 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-06110 by Keith Brown on 17 January 2017, how many (a) new, (b) safeguarded and (c) expanded jobs have been secured as a result of the 55 inward investment projects that have been confirmed since April 2016.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: There have been 601 new jobs, 1,577 safeguarded jobs and 1,241 expansion jobs secured as a result of the 55 inward investment projects confirmed since April 2016.
19 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-05228 by Shona Robison on 15 December 2016, whether the cabinet secretary will meet local campaigners and West Dunbartonshire Council to listen to concerns about the proposal by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to close the birthing unit at the Vale of…
Answer · Shona Robison: The board of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has been clear that they first need to take full account of the recommendations of the National Review of Maternity and Neonatal Services, which was published on 20 January. Should the Board then wish to pursue the s…
19 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will (a) undertake a review of Scottish Office Circular 4/1998: The Use of Conditions in Planning Permission and its addendum and (b) publish up-to-date guidance on planning conditions.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: We have no immediate plans to review this circular and addendum; however, we are currently consulting widely on proposals for changes to the planning system. We will consider future options in light of the results of the consultation.
12 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it considers that small business confidence in Scotland has dropped from -18.8 in quarter 3 to -28.9 in quarter 4, according to the FSB Small Business Confidence Index, while the figure for the rest of the UK has risen to +8.5, and what action it will take to close the ga…
Answer · Keith Brown: On 11 January, Andy Willox, FSB’s Scottish policy convenor, said: “The reasons for this divergence aren’t immediately clear".Brexit is by far the biggest threat to Scotland’s jobs, prosperity and economy. That is why the Scottish Government have always been c…
12 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what trade delegations are planned for 2017, broken down by country.
Answer · Keith Brown: Scottish Development International (SDI) is a tripartite arrangement between Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. SDI provides support for companies to establish and grow their businesses in Scotland and help companie…
12 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many inward investment projects have been confirmed since April 2016.
Answer · Keith Brown: There have been 55 inward investment projects confirmed since April 2016.
12 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact on current and planned foreign direct investment of leaving the Customs Union.
Answer · Keith Brown: European Union membership has been vitally important for attracting inward investment into Scotland as it allows companies free access to European markets. There are currently 1,000 EU-owned companies in Scotland employing 127,110 people. Ernst and Young esti…
12 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what trade delegations there have been since May 2016, broken down by country, and which of these have led to increased exporting.
Answer · Keith Brown: Scottish Development International (SDI) is a tripartite arrangement between Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. SDI provides support for companies to establish and grow their businesses in Scotland and help companie…
12 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the contribution skilled workers coming to the country make to industries that export.
Answer · Derek Mackay: Migrant workers make a valuable contribution to our country and are an important part of Scotland’s future. We consider immigration as a positive lever in contributing to the Scottish economy, society and population and the Scottish Government published two a…
12 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on mandating the use of the European Single Procurement Document as the standard questionnaire for all public sector construction procurements, including supply chain procurements.
Answer · Derek Mackay: European Directive 2014/24/EU on Public Procurement introduced the concept of a European Single Procurement Document (ESPD) for public procurements and this has been given effect in Scotland in the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015. When bidding fo…
12 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase the use of project bank accounts across public sector construction.
Answer · Derek Mackay: Scottish Government published Procurement Policy Note 10/2016 on 23 September 2016 requiring public bodies covered by the Scottish Public Finance Manual to include a Project Bank Account in tender documents for public works contracts with an estimated value o…
12 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on piloting integrated project insurance projects as a way of achieving potential savings on publicly-procured construction and infrastructure.
Answer · Keith Brown: Our research has indicated that integrated project insurance (IPI) can be a positive contributor to a successful public project and was considered as part of the Review of Scottish Public Sector Procurement in Construction which published in October 2013. We …
12 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to protect cash retentions in public sector construction and whether it has considered ringfencing these until they are due for release.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Review of Scottish Public Sector Procurement in Construction, published in October 2013, recommended that cash retentions should only be used after careful consideration by contracting authorities, and not as a default measure, and that more detailed guid…
9 Jan 2017 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it will take to improve business confidence in light of the latest FSB small business confidence index.
Answer · Keith Brown: Brexit is by far the biggest threat to Scotland’s jobs, prosperity and economy. That is why the Scottish Government has always been clear that remaining in Europe – and maintaining full access to the world’s largest single market of more than 500 million peop…
21 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to provide training on moving and handling for people who care for a relative, friend or neighbour.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government has provided nearly £39 million from 2008-09 – 2016-17 for NHS Board Carer Information Strategies. This is for direct support to Carers Centres, Young Carers Projects and voluntary sector programmes, including the provision of training…
21 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the timetable is for (a) NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde's public consultation on maternity services and (b) the ministerial decision on the birthing unit at the Vale of Leven Hospital.
Answer · Shona Robison: This is yet to be decided as the board of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has been clear that they first need to take full account of the recommendations of the National Review of Maternity and Neonatal Services, which we expect to be published in 2017.
21 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the national maternity and neonatal review will publish its report.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Chair of the Review, Jane Grant, has submitted her report to Scottish Ministers, and we intend publishing it shortly.
19 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-05069 by Keith Brown on 7 December 2016, when it will publish its response to the recommendations in the Veterans Commissioner's report.
Answer · Keith Brown: I warmly welcome the Scottish Veterans Commissioner’s report, “The Veterans Community – Employability, Skills and Learning”. This is an important subject and I am keen that we can respond positively to his recommendations. The report contained a wide-ranging …
19 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-05179 by Keith Brown on 13 December 2016, what the value is of the inward investment for expansion, new and safeguarding projects from 2011-12 up to and including 2015-16.
Answer · Keith Brown: The inward investment data collated by Scottish Development International relates to the number of jobs and projects. This information has been provided in the response to S5W-05179.
19 Dec 2016 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when the scaffolding will be removed from Dumbarton Castle.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Historic Environment Scotland are responsible for operations at Dumbarton Castle and at Scotland's other historic properties in care. I understand that Historic Environment Scotland wrote to the member on 22nd December detailing their forward plans for Dumbar…
19 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-04621 by Keith Brown on 29 November 2016, how much income was generated by inbound military flights to Glasgow Prestwick Airport in (a) November – December 2013, (b) 2014, (c) 2015 and (d) 2016.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government does not hold this information by calendar year. However, the gross revenue generated from all military flights by financial year is: 2013-14 - £796,657 2014-15 - £966,822 2015-16 - £1,058,727