Parliamentary questions
Jackie Baillie
9,397 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
29 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of Scottish exports is attributable to foreign-owned companies.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-04398 on 10 November 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…
29 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether, in light of Brexit, it will review (a) its trade and investment strategy and (b) Scotland’s Economic Strategy, given that both were published before Brexit.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer to my comments on these points in evidence to the Economy, Jobs and Fair Work Committee on 29 November 2016.
29 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings the (a) Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Constitution and (b) Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work has had with potential investors about infrastructure projects; (i) when and (ii) where these meetings were held, and who was present.
Answer · Keith Brown: Ministers meet and engage with potential investors on a regular basis to discuss a broad range of opportunities. It would be inappropriate to provide more detail as these meetings are private, often discussing commercially sensitive matters. Details of Minis…
29 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings the (a) Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Constitution and (b) Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work has had with inward investors; (i) when and (ii) where these meetings were held, and who was present.
Answer · Keith Brown: Ministers meet and engage with potential investors on a regular basis to discuss a broad range of opportunities. It would be inappropriate to provide more detail as these meetings are private, often discussing commercially sensitive matters. Details of Minis…
29 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government (a) when and (b) what visits have been undertaken by the (i) First Minister, (ii) Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland’s Place in Europe, (iii) Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work and (iv) Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Europe and External Affairs in relation to Brexit;…
Answer · Derek Mackay: The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate costs.
28 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the annual outturn has been for its Opportunities for All initiative, and how many people have received support from it each year.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-02564 on 28 September 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…
28 Nov 2016 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will set a new target to eradicate fuel poverty.
23 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the withdrawal of Scottish Enterprise from its satellite office in Paisley; whether it was consulted in advance about this decision, and whether Scottish Enterprise plans other office closures.
Answer · Keith Brown: SE has a specific remit to support economic growth across Scotland and part of that requires that they periodically review their property portfolio to ensure that this continues support their operations. While the current SE office will close in 2017 that do…
18 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to answer to question S5W-03759 by Paul Wheelhouse on 31 October 2016, whether it will publish the 44 performance measures for Scottish Enterprise.
Answer · Keith Brown: Scottish Enterprise is responsible for setting and publishing the performance measures that monitor the contribution it makes in terms of its economic impact. Their performance measures are set out in their Business Plan. SE’s 2015-18 Business Plan can be fou…
18 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of late payments of bills on businesses.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government is aware of a range of survey evidence on the issue of late payment. For example, the Small Business Survey Scotland (SBS) 2015 did not quantify the impact of late payment in financial terms, but found that late payment seemed to be le…
18 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of each of its directorate's invoices for goods and services supplied by (a) private companies and (b) small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is paid on time, and what proportion of the (i) number and (ii) value of contracts between each directorate and private compani…
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government does not hold this information broken down by supplier type. However, we have provided in the following table, the most recent figures available (October 2016) of our ten day payment performance, by Directorate General. We do not hold …
18 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of late payments in publicly-funded subcontract chains and the impact of these.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government does not hold details of every contract awarded by every public body in Scotland. We have taken steps, however, to reduce the impact of late payment in public contracts. In 2009, we introduced a standard clause into our contracts which…
18 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding the number of businesses that have been bankrupted as a result of the late payment of invoices in each year since 2011.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. The Accountant in Bankruptcy has a statutory function to maintain a Register of Insolvencies that contains particulars of those subject to personal insolvency proceedings and business associations subjec…
18 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of suppliers to each (a) of its directorates, (b) of its agencies and (c) non-departmental public body is a signatory to the Prompt Payment Code.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government does not hold centrally records of suppliers who are signatories to the prompt payment code for its Directorates, Agencies and Non-Departmental Public Bodies. It is a standard condition of Scottish Government contracts that suppliers a…
18 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of undisputed invoices to each (a) of its directorates, (b) of its agencies and (c) non-departmental public body was paid within five days in each year since 2011.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government does not hold this information broken down by directorate or agency, nor do we hold this information for non-departmental public bodies. However, we have provided in the following table, combined figures for The Scottish Government and…
18 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) companies in Scotland are signatories to the Prompt Payment Code (PPC) and (b) signatories there have been in each year since the PPC was introduced.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Prompt Payment Code is administered by the Chartered Institute of Credit Management on behalf of the UK Government. The voluntary Code covers businesses throughout Scotland and the rest of the UK. The Scottish Government does not hold the information requ…
14 Nov 2016 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport will meet campaigners and elected members in the Dumbarton constituency to discuss proposed reductions to NHS services.
Answer · Shona Robison: As I have said before in this Chamber, no final decisions have been made about these proposals. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is now engaging with the local communities, staff and other stakeholders so they can carefully consider their views. It is important …
9 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-03813 by Keith Brown on 9 November 2016, how many cargo flights have there been per day in each year since 2011.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government does not hold this information broken down by day. However, since the Scottish Government took ownership of the airport in November 2013, the yearly figures for scheduled cargo, non-scheduled cargo and any freight diversions are: Nove…
9 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-03813 by Keith Brown on 9 November 2016, what information it has on how many Ryanair passenger flights have there been per day in each year since 2011.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government does not hold this information broken down by day. However, since the Scottish Government took ownership of the airport in November 2013, the yearly figures for the number of scheduled Ryanair flights are: November – December 2013: 80…
9 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-03816 by Keith Brown on 9 November 2016, how many military flights from (a) the UK and (b) other countries to Glasgow Prestwick Airport there have been per day in each year since 2011.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government does not hold this information broken down by day. However, since the Scottish Government took ownership of the airport in November 2013, the yearly figures for inbound military flights are: (a) from the UK November – December 2013: …
9 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-03816 by Keith Brown on 9 November 2016, what financial contribution is made by (a) the MoD and (b) other countries in respect of military flights from other countries.
Answer · Keith Brown: Glasgow Prestwick Airport operates on a wholly commercial basis and at arm’s length from the Scottish Government. As with any commercial airport, contracts and agreements between Prestwick Airport and the aircraft operators are commercially sensitive.
9 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what financial assistance is available to support community groups that are interested in purchasing the Clock Tower in Helensburgh.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Community Ownership Support Service (COSS) is being funded by the Scottish Government to support community-based groups in Scotland considering taking ownership of land or buildings. This adviser-based service is being delivered Scotland-wide and aims to…
9 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action VisitScotland has taken to encourage applications from community groups to purchase the Clock Tower in Helensburgh.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Helensburgh Clock Tower was put on the market at the beginning of August 2016. Whilst not within the scope of the Community Empowerment Act (Scotland) 2015 VisitScotland has already been engaging with a number of relevant community groups and Councillors…
8 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-02561 by Paul Wheelhouse on 21 September 2016, whether it will provide an update on the progress that it is making on establishing the ministerial trade board; what the board’s (a) budget, (b) remit and (c) membership will be, and when it will first…
Answer · Keith Brown: Plans to establish a ministerial trade board are currently being developed and details will be made available in due course.
4 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings ministers have had or plan with the RMT union regarding reports of staff on Northern Isles Seatruck ferry services being paid less than the national minimum or living wage.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Minister for Transport and the Islands most recently met with STUC and a number of transport unions, including the RMT, on Thursday 10 November 2016, where the issue was discussed. Work is being taken forward to try and resolve the current situation.
4 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to ensure that all staff engaged in public contracts, including those employed by subcontractors, are paid at least the living wage.
Answer · Derek Mackay: We have published statutory guidance “Addressing Fair Work Practices, including the Living Wage, in Procurement” which sets out how public bodies should encourage contractors to adopt fair work practices, including the Living Wage for workers engaged on deliv…
4 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that subcontractors on the Northern Isles Seatruck ferry services are being paid £3.66 per hour, which is less than the national minimum or living wage, and, in light of this being a public contract, what action it is taking.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Minister for Transport and the Islands recently met with the CEO of Seatruck to discuss the issues around staff pay on the freight vessels currently operating on the Northern Isles ferry service. Following a constructive meeting, further work will be unde…
3 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, what its response is to the comment by Professor Graeme Roy of the Fraser of Allander Institute to the Economy, Jobs and Fair Work Committee on 1 November 2016 (Official Report, c.45) that “although trade deals and access to the single market are important, proximity is one of the most …
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I refer the member to the answer to S5W-04404 on 10 November 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/parliamentarybusiness/28877.a…
3 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, what its response is to the comment by Dr Fabian Zuleeg of the European Policy Centre, and a member of the First Minister’s Standing Council on Europe, to the Economy, Jobs and Fair Work Committee on 1 November 2016 (Official Report, c.43) that “if the UK leaves the single market, I thi…
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government is exploring all options and will table specific proposals in the coming weeks to protect Scotland’s interests and keep us in the Single Market, even if the rest of the UK decides to leave.
3 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to encourage an increase in exports to the rest of the UK.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-04404 on 10 November 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…