Parliamentary questions
Jackie Baillie
9,397 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
13 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which companies in receipt of Regional Selective Assistance do not pay their employees the living wage.
Answer · Keith Brown: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise (SE). I have asked the Chief Executive of SE to contact you with the information you have requested and my understanding is that this will be with you soon.
13 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much has been paid to Amazon in (a) Regional Selective Assistance and (b) other grants for each year since 2007.
Answer · Keith Brown: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise (SE). I have asked the Chief Executive of SE to contact you with the information you have requested and my understanding is that this will be with you soon.
13 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it requires recipients of (a) Regional Selective Assistance and (b) other grants to (i) adopt fair work practices and (ii) pay the living wage.
Answer · Keith Brown: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise (SE). I have asked the Chief Executive of SE to contact you with the information you have requested and my understanding is that this will be with you soon.
12 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many additional support for learning teachers there are, also broken down by each year since 2007.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-05579 on 30 December 2016. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusines…
12 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of children with learning disabilities are being taught in special schools, also broken down by each year since 2007.
Answer · John Swinney: The percentage of children with learning disabilities being taught in special schools broken down by each year since 2007 is as follows. Pupils in Scotland with a Learning Disability - 2007-2016 Learning Disability 2007 2008 2009 2010 201…
12 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on each of the 22 recommendations in the Enable Scotland report, #IncludED in the Main?!, and how it will implement them.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government will consider the recommendations of the Enable Scotland Report #Included In the Main?! In conjunction with the Advisory Group for Additional Support for Learning and other key stakeholders. The Scottish Government is in the process …
12 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5O-00356 by Keith Brown on 17 November 2016, (Official Report, c. 2), when the agencies involved in developing the business case for the national manufacturing institute (a) have met and (b) will publish the case; what locations are being considered fo…
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government is working closely with Scottish Enterprise, the Scottish Funding Council, Skills Development Scotland and Highlands & Islands Enterprise to develop the business case for the national manufacturing institute for Scotland. Officials mee…
12 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the key criteria are for Scottish Futures Trust growth accelerator projects.
Answer · Keith Brown: The key objective of the Growth Accelerator funding mechanism is the delivery of public sector enabling infrastructure which stimulates private sector investment and the wider economy. The model establishes a payment-by-results approach based on achieving key…
12 Dec 2016 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what financial support is available from Scottish Water for first-time connections.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Where new water infrastructure is installed to connect new or existing properties to public supplies, Scottish Water will pay a Reasonable Cost Contribution in respect of the infrastructure that it adopts. The maximum contribution, some £1500 per household, i…
7 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase productivity at a regional level.
Answer · Keith Brown: Improving productivity and competitiveness across Scotland is an important part of Scotland’s Economic Strategy. The Programme for Government 2016-17 sets out a range of initiatives including investment in transport and digital infrastructure, which will supp…
7 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to fill the vacancy of chief executive of (a) Highlands and Islands Enterprise and (b) the Scottish Funding Council.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Highlands and Islands Enterprise will proceed to recruit a permanent Chief Executive as soon as is practicable in the New Year. A decision on the recruitment of the Scottish Funding Council's Chief Executive will be taken as phase 2 of the Enterprise and Skil…
7 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has achieved its target of being in the top quartile of OECD countries for productivity by 2017 and, if not, what level has been achieved.
Answer · Keith Brown: Performance against the Productivity Purpose Target is reported on Scotland Performs. The most recent internationally comparable data on Scotland’s productivity performance covers the years up to and including 2014. In 2014, Scotland would have ranked 19th of…
7 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans for there to be four chief executives covering each of the skills and enterprise agencies following the implementation of the recommendations of its enterprise review.
Answer · Keith Brown: Our intention is that the bodies involved in enterprise and skills delivery will each retain their separate legal status and chief executive. We will consult on potential governance options as part of taking forward phase two.
7 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what additional senior management staff will be required for the proposed statutory board that will oversee skills and enterprise agencies.
Answer · Keith Brown: This will be considered as part of the detail that will be developed and consulted on as part of the in-depth operational planning for the new Scotland-wide statutory board that is being taken forward as part of phase two of the review and is due to last six …
7 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has achieved its target of increasing exports by 50% by 2017 and, if not, what levels have been achieved.
Answer · Keith Brown: Since 2010, international exports have increased by 17.3%, from £23.4 billion in 2010 to £27.5 billion in 2014. Data for 2017 will not be available until January 2019. While there are substantial challenges for Scottish exports as a result of difficult globa…
5 Dec 2016 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to grow the economy.
Answer · Keith Brown: We are taking a number of actions to support and strengthen Scotland’s economy, in keeping with the priorities identified in our Economic Strategy. We’ve taken action to support the economy’s resilience following the EU referendum result, including through o…
5 Dec 2016 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the recent growth forecast by the EY Scottish ITEM Club.
30 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5O-00393 by Shona Robison on 24 November 2016, whether the cabinet secretary will meet local councillors and hospital campaigners in West Dunbartonshire following the conclusion of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s engagement period on 9 December 2016 an…
Answer · Shona Robison: It is important not to pre-judge the outcome of the current engagement process as the proposals may change or not be pursued at all. Should NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde decide to proceed with their proposals, I will carefully consider their view and that of…
30 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the proposals from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde regarding the maternity units at the Vale of Leven and Inverclyde Royal hospitals, the Centre for Integrative Care and Lightburn Hospital will be designated as major service changes prior to the meeting on 20 December 2016 and, if …
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-05560 on 14 December 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusine…
30 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken towards its aim of securing equal representation for women on listed private sector boards by 2020.
Answer · Keith Brown: On 25 June 2015 the First Minister launched the Partnership for Change 50/50 by 2020 campaign, inviting private sector companies, voluntary sector organisations and public bodies to sign up to a voluntary commitment to work towards 50/50 gender balance on the…
30 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of members of listed private sector boards have been women in each year since 2011.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government does not gather data on women’s representation on listed private sector boards in Scotland. However, since 1999, the Cranfield School of Management has published an annual female FTSE benchmarking report providing a regular measure of …
30 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will designate the proposal to transfer birthing services away from the Vale of Leven Hospital as a major service change.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-05560 on 14 December 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusines…
30 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it met with the Scottish Health Council to discuss whether the proposals from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde regarding the maternity units at the Vale of Leven and Inverclyde Royal hospitals, the Centre for Integrative Care and Lightburn Hospital should be designated as major service…
Answer · Shona Robison: The SHC come to their own view as to whether Health board proposals are major or not. Ministers make the final determination on designation where necessary (Health boards often decide that proposals are major themselves and follow the appropriate process with…
30 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made towards its aim of securing equal representation for women on listed private sector boards by 2020.
Answer · Keith Brown: On 25 June 2015 the First Minister launched the Partnership for Change 50/50 by 2020 campaign, inviting private sector companies, voluntary sector organisations and public bodies to sign up to a voluntary commitment to work towards 50/50 gender balance on the…
30 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the criteria are for designating proposals as major service changes that are determined by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing.
Answer · Shona Robison: In such cases I take full account of the views of the Scottish Health Council and Health board before coming to a final decision. The Scottish Health Council published guidance entitled ‘identifying major service change’ (February 2010) to help inform the He…
29 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what additional resource will be provided to Scottish Development International to cover the increased cost of doubling staffing in its European offices, and what the source is of the funding.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government will provide additional resource to Scottish Development International to cover the cost of increasing the number of people it has working in Europe. The precise costs are currently being determined by SDI.
29 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to attract more new inward investment.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government, working closely with our Scottish Development International and our enterprise agencies, undertakes a broad range of activity to help attract investment to Scotland. Our trade and investment strategy published in March this year set o…
29 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many companies are generating (a) 100% and (b) 50% of Scotland's exports.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Exports Statistics Scotland publication estimated that 50% of international exports were attributable to around 70 businesses in 2014. Due to the methodology used, we are unable to say how many businesses account for all international exports.
29 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many staff are employed by Scottish Development International in the (a) Dublin, (b) Brussels, (c) Berlin and (d) London hub, and how many will be employed in future as a result of the First Minister's announcement to double staffing.
Answer · Keith Brown: There are currently no Scottish Development International staff employed in the Dublin, Brussels or Berlin hubs. When our London Hub opens in 2017, the eight people working for Scottish Development International in London will transfer there. SDI is currently…
29 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) repeated and (b) new inward investment has been achieved in each year from 2011-12 to 2015-16.
Answer · Keith Brown: Details of foreign direct investment activity supported by Scottish Development International is set out in the following tables: FDI Company projects supported by SDI 2011-12 Expansion 40 New 23 Safeguarding 6 2012-13 Expansion 42 New …