Jackie Baillie

13 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide the international evidence, which it refers to in its Labour Market Strategy, which shows that countries with more equal societies typically enjoy stronger and more sutainble growth.

Answer · Keith Brown: The international evidence is clear - promoting competitiveness and addressing inequality are interdependent. Reducing inequality is not only important in itself, but is vital to creating the conditions to deliver sustainable economic growth over the long ter…

13 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken on the proposed work quality indicators, referred to in its Labour Market Strategy.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: We have published extensive analysis of the Labour Market alongside our strategy and this includes aspects of work quality indicators. We have also provided support to a range of work to increase our understanding of this area, such as the Fair Work Conventio…

13 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what new labour market indicators it plans to adopt and what external bodies it has consulted.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-02704 on 28 September 2016 which is available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

13 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Strategic Labour Market Group will be established; what its membership will be; what its remit will be, and when it will first meet.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: This Group will be established as soon as possible. We are speaking to key stakeholders about the potential membership which will be drawn from a range of sectors as indicated in the Labour Market Strategy. The remit will be finalised once the Group is establ…

13 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken on new labour market indicators for Scotland.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-02707 on 28 September 2016 which is available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

9 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to (a) consult on and (b) publish an updated energy strategy.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government is currently developing a draft Energy Strategy to be published in early 2017, alongside the Climate Change Plan. A public consultation on the draft Energy Strategy will take place thereafter, seeking the views and insight of industry,…

9 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when ministers last met Scottish Renewables and what was discussed.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: In my capacity as Energy Minister I have met with Scottish Renewables on a number of occasions in the context of my role, but last met formally on 22 August 2016. This was an introductory meeting between myself and the organisation. In this meeting we discuss…

9 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the annual budget has been for the Employability Fund and how many people have received support from it each year.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government allocates funding to Skills Development Scotland (SDS) on an annual basis for delivery of training programmes and other activities, including the Employability Fund (EF). In the Budget Bill 2016-17, published on 29 January 2016, SDS wa…

9 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the annual budget has been for its Opportunities for All initiative and how many people have received support from it each year.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Opportunities for All is a commitment to an offer of an appropriate place in education or training to all 16 to 19 years olds who need one. In delivering the commitment the Scottish Government contributes to a range of opportunities including: Staying on at …

9 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government who will be eligible for support from the workplace equality fund that is referred to in the 2016-17 Programme for Government; what the fund's budget will be, and when it will be established.

Answer · Keith Brown: In Scotland’s Economic Strategy we said we would address long-standing barriers in the labour market so that everyone has the opportunity to fulfil their potential. Fairer working practices can help utilise more effectively the skills and talents of groups wh…

9 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many jobs will be supported by the £100 million of funding it announced following the EU referendum, and what contribution this will make to economic growth in 2016-17, expressed as a percentage.

Answer · Derek Mackay: It is estimated that the capital stimulus package funding of £100 million will support around 800 full time equivalent Scottish jobs, with just over half of those in construction. The impact on economic growth in 2016-17 will not be known until the projects …

9 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government who will be eligible for support from the £23 million of funding to support the maintenance of the higher education estate referred to in the 2016-17 Programme for Government; what the application process will be, and from what date the support will be made available.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: This is an operational matter for the Scottish Funding Council. I have asked the Chief Executive to respond.

9 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it is providing to the Transition Training Fund in 2016-17.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government launched the Transition Training Fund (TTF), on1 February, to support individuals and help the sector retain talent. The £12 million training fund, currently in its eight month will be available over a three year period.

9 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Scottish Energy Advisory Board last met and what was discussed.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Energy Advisory Board last met on 1 March 2016. There was a substantive discussion in the future direction of energy policy in Scotland which was followed by a discussion on the oil and gas sector that included update on the work of the Energy Jo…

9 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will introduce the package of measures for the labour market referred to in the 2016-17 Programme for Government and what this will consist of.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The 2016-17 Programme for Government sets out a package of measures to support a resilient and fair labour market. This includes all of the actions set out in Scotland’s Labour Market Strategy which was published on 26 August 2016, meeting the commitment to b…

9 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its news release of 15 February 2016, A Manufacturing Future for Scotland, what progress is being made in establishing a centre for manufacturing excellence and skills academy; where it will be located; what its budget will be, and how many staff it will employ.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: As stated in A Plan for Scotland: The Scottish Government’s Programme for Government 2016-17, a key action for this year will be developing the business case for a new manufacturing centre of excellence and skills academy. We are currently developing this bus…

9 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government who will be eligible for support from the £1.3 million of funding to support higher education research referred to in the 2016-17 Programme for Government; what the application process will be, and from what date the support will be made available.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: This is an operational matter for the Scottish Funding Council. I have asked the Chief Executive to respond.

9 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people it will provide assistance to following the devolution of powers regarding employment support in spring 2017.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-02375 on 8 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…

9 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it will cost to appoint the new (a) trade envoys and (b) Global Scots referred to in the 2016-17 Programme for Government and how many appointments it plans.

Answer · Keith Brown: Further information about Trade Envoys will be made available in due course. Operational costs for supporting the Global Scots network will continue to be around £200k per year. This includes plans to recruit Global Scots in 2016-17 to support activities such…

9 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the use of collective switching models for energy consumption.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government recognises that switching energy tariff or supplier can provide significant savings for consumers. However, the Competition and Markets Authority’s recent energy market investigation has highlighted that consumers in Scotland are less …

9 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government who will be eligible for support from the £10 million of funding for domestic energy efficiency measures referred to in the 2016-17 Programme for Government; what the application process will be, and from what date the support will be made available.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: We are working with local government to determine how best to utilise the £10m funding for domestic energy efficiency and will provide further information in due course.

9 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the fund to support young people who have been in care into work, training or education, which is referred to in the 2016-17 Programme for Government, will be established; how much funding it will allocate in its first year, and how many people it anticipates will receive support.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government is working with stakeholders on the development of options to deliver a new fund for young people who have been in care, to support them into appropriate work, training or educational opportunities. We aim to announce further detail of…

9 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the annual budget has been for the Inspiring Scotland 14:19 Fund and how many people have received support from it each year.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: A breakdown of the Scottish Government’s funding to the Inspiring Scotland 14:19 Fund and numbers of young people who have been supported is provided in the following table. Year Funding Number of Young People Supported 2009-2010 £5.44million 3,157 201…

9 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what date the £3.5 million for refurbishment of Inverclyde Hospital and Glasgow Royal Infirmary referred to in the 2016-17 Programme for Government will be made available.

Answer · Shona Robison: The additional capital budget of £3.5 million will be included in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde's next allocation letter, due to be issued at the beginning of October 2016.

9 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government who will be eligible for support from the £10 million of funding to support maintenance of the further education estate referred to in the 2016-17 Programme for Government; what the application process will be, and from what date the support will be made available.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: This is an operational matter for the Scottish Funding Council. I have asked the Chief Executive to respond.

9 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the business case for the proposed national manufacturing institute.

Answer · Keith Brown: We intend to publish a detailed business plan in Spring 2017.

9 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the £650 million in partner funding in relation to European structural funds that is referred to in the 2016-17 Programme for Government.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government has published a full list of all approved operations, including details of match funding arrangements, on its website at: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Business-Industry/support/17404/esifoperations. The £650 million refers to the total…

9 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government who will be eligible for support from the £10 million of funding to support the delivery of capital projects for local economic development referred to in the 2016-17 Programme for Government; what the application process will be, and from what date the support will be made available.

Answer · Keith Brown: The First Minister announced on 10 August measures to support and stimulate the economy in the wake of the EU referendum and highlighted that capital spending on projects to support and create employment would be accelerated, with an additional £100 million o…

9 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government who will be eligible for support from the £10 million of funding for energy efficiency of public sector buildings referred to in the 2016-17 Programme for Government; what the application process will be, and from what date the support will be made available.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The details for how this funding will be directed is currently being finalised. However, any projects will have to meet the following criteria: Spend to save – a demonstration that investment in energy efficiency measures will generate reduced energy bills i…

9 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will establish the ministerial trade board referred to in the 2016-17 Programme for Government; what its (a) budget, (b) remit and (c) membership will be, and when it will first meet.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: As stated in ‘Global Scotland’, Scotland’s Trade and Investment Strategy 2016-21, published in March this year, the Scottish Government is committed to establishing a Ministerial-led Trade Board. We are currently discussing with public and private sector part…