Parliamentary questions
Jackie Baillie
9,397 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
3 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent labour market statistics suggesting that there has been a rise in economic inactivity, particularly among women.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Scotland has lower female inactivity and unemployment rates and a higher female employment rate than the UK as a whole. However, we recognise more can be done. Through our Labour Market Strategy we are continuing to support and encourage people into the labo…
1 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the value of exports has been (a) in each year since 2011-12 and (b) since April 2016.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government produces a National Statistics publication, Export Statistics Scotland, which estimates the nominal value of Scottish exports for calendar years. The latest data is for 2014. Estimates of Scottish international and rest of UK exports f…
1 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding (a) how many and (b) which companies in Scotland export goods or services.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Office of National Statistics estimate that in 2015 there were 11,500 companies in Scotland exporting goods or services. Scotland’s Global Connections Survey and other survey and administrative sources provide the Scottish Government with information on …
1 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how many companies that export goods or services are owned outwith Scotland.
Answer · Keith Brown: Data on the number of companies owned outwith Scotland that export goods or services is not held centrally.
1 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much direct foreign investment there has been (a) in each year since 2011-12 and (b) since April 2016.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Ernst & Young (EY) Attractiveness Surveys provide data on the number of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) projects and associated planned jobs, note that the investment value is not reported. Table 1 provides the FDI projects and planned jobs figures for 20…
1 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that proximity is a key driver of exporting levels and, if so, what action it is taking to increase exports to the rest of the UK.
Answer · Keith Brown: The latest published figures for 2014 estimate that Scottish exports to the rest of the UK are worth £48.5 billion making it Scotland’s largest export market. We are therefore well aware of the importance of this market to the Scottish economy. Our trade and …
1 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what additional staff and resources it has provided to Scottish Development International to help increase the level of exports to the rest of the UK.
Answer · Keith Brown: Our trade and investment strategy published in March this year set out a comprehensive action plan to boost Scotland’s export activity and to make it clear that Scotland is open for business, including with the rest of the UK. Scottish Development Internation…
1 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which sectors have seen the highest levels of direct foreign investment in each year since 2011-12.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Ernst & Young (EY) Attractiveness Surveys provide data on the number of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) projects by sector. Table 1 provides detail on the top sectors in terms of the number of FDI projects into Scotland for 2012 to 2015. Information is …
1 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which countries have been the largest investors in Scotland in each year since 2011-12.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Ernst & Young (EY) Attractiveness Surveys provide data on the number of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) projects by country of origin. Table 1 provides detail on the top 5 countries in terms of the number of FDI projects into Scotland for 2012 to 2015. T…
31 Oct 2016 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the new living wage rate.
26 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will review Scotland's Economic Strategy.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government refreshes the economic strategy periodically, in light of changing economic circumstances. The latest version of Scotland’s Economic Strategy was published in March 2015. There are currently no plans to review the published strategy. H…
26 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken on developing opportunities for decommissioning in the oil and gas sector.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government has been clear in our approach to decommissioning and the opportunities that are available within our refreshed Oil and Gas Strategy and the recently published Programme for Government. Scottish Enterprise are developing a Decommission…
26 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) deaths and (b) injuries in road traffics accidents there have been since the drink drive limit was reduced in December 2014, and on how many occasions the driver was above the new, but below the old, limit.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: 'Reported Road Casualties in Scotland 2015' reports that in 2015, the first full year in which the reduced limit has been in force, there were 168 fatalities and 1,596 people seriously injured in road accidents. These figures are compiled from Police data w…
26 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) deaths and (b) injuries in road traffic accidents it estimates have been prevented since the drink drive limit was reduced in December 2014.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The North Report of the Review of Drink and Drug Driving Law, published by the then UK Government in 2010, indicated that a drink limit of 50mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood would save lives. A range of studies are mentioned in the North Report and an analysis…
24 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take in response to the Audit Scotland report, Supporting Scotland’s economic growth: The role of the Scottish Government and its economic development agencies.
Answer · Keith Brown: We welcomed the Audit Scotland report Supporting Scotland’s Economic Growth: The role of the Scottish Government and its Economic Development Agencies’, which formed part of the evidence base considered during phase 1 of the Enterprise and Skills review. The…
24 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures in the National Performance Framework relate to its economic strategy.
Answer · Keith Brown: Scotland’s Economic Strategy (SES) is directed towards achieving the Scottish Government’s central Purpose of creating a more successful country, with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish, through increasing sustainable economic growth. Progress is m…
24 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) policies and (b) initiatives underpin its economic strategy and how are these measured.
Answer · Keith Brown: Scotland’s Economic Strategy (SES) is directed towards achieving the Scottish Government’s central Purpose of creating a more successful country, with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish, through increasing sustainable economic growth. The SES sets…
24 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government in which countries Scottish Development International has had a permanent base in each year since 2011-12.
Answer · Keith Brown: Details of Scottish Development International’s office locations in each year since 2011-12 to 2016-17 can be found in the following table: SDI Office Locations Year 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 Field Ops - Americas …
24 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much Scotland exports to the (a) rest of the UK, (b) EU, (c) USA and (d) rest of the world.
Answer · Keith Brown: The latest published figures for 2014 estimate that Scottish exports to the rest of the UK are worth £48.5 billion. Scottish international exports are estimated to be worth £27.5 billion with an estimated £11.6 billion of these exports destined for the EU and…
24 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many of Scottish Development International's staff are based in each of the investment hubs in Dublin, London and Brussels.
Answer · Keith Brown: There are currently no Scottish Development International staff in the Innovation and Investment Hub in Dublin. When our London Hub opens in 2017, the 8 people working for Scottish Development International and the 3 people working for Scottish Enterprise in …
24 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the announcement by the First Minister to increase Scottish Development International's representation in the EU, how many additional staff will be employed.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government proposes an increase in the number of people working for Scottish Development International in Europe from 20 to 40 over the next two years.
24 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been employed by Scottish Development International in each year since 2011-12, and how many of these covered the EU.
Answer · Keith Brown: Operational delivery of SDI is provided by Scottish Enterprise, with a contribution from Highlands & Islands Enterprise. Scottish Government staff are also embedded across SDI in a range of functions and provide operational trade and investment support workin…
24 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much additional funding will be provided to support the increase in Scottish Development International's representation in the EU that was announced by the First Minister.
Answer · Keith Brown: Detailed work is being undertaken to ensure that additional resources deliver maximum benefit for Scotland. Additional funding will be provided to reflect this.
24 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what Scottish Development International's budget has been in each year since 2011-12.
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…
24 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which companies have received Regional Selective Assistance in each year since 2011-12; how much was awarded and how many jobs were created.
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.
24 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) grant and (b) loan funds are provided by (i) Scottish Enterprise and (ii) Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and what the budget is for each fund.
Answer · Keith Brown: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise (SE) and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). I have asked the Chief Executives of both SE and HIE to contact you with the information you have requested and my understanding is that this will be with y…
24 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the budget has been for (a) Scottish Enterprise and (b) Highlands and Islands Enterprise for each year since 2011-12.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: A table containing Scottish Government grant funding for (a) Scottish Enterprise and (b) Highlands and Islands Enterprise is provided in the following tables: SE cash budget since 2011-12 (£m) 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 SG Grant…
24 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) land and (b) assets are owned by (i) Scottish Enterprise and (ii) Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
Answer · Keith Brown: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise (SE) and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). I have asked the Chief Executives of both SE and HIE to contact you with the information you have requested and my understanding is that this will be with y…
24 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government who is on the board of (a) Scottish Enterprise and (b) Highlands and Islands Enterprise; when each appointment started and what remuneration each member receives.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: All information on the Board Members of Scottish Enterprise is publically available on their website and can be found here: https://www.scottish-enterprise.com/about-us/our-leadership/board-members?usedevice=m Details of the remuneration of each Board Membe…
24 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many staff have been (a) directly employed and (b) employed on a consultancy basis by (i) Scottish Enterprise and (ii) Highlands and Islands Enterprise in each year since 2011-12.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise (SE) and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). I have asked the Chief Executives of both SE and HIE to contact you with the information you have requested and my understanding is that this will be with y…