Parliamentary questions
Jackie Baillie
9,397 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
30 Apr 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will monitor the implementation of See Hear: A strategic framework for meeting the needs of people with a sensory impairment in Scotland.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20941 on 8 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusi…
30 Apr 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will implement See Hear: A strategic framework for meeting the needs of people with a sensory impairment in Scotland.
Answer · Michael Matheson: An additional £2 million has been made available over two years for the implementation of the Sensory Impairment Strategy which was launched on 24 April 2014. Implementation will be led by local partnerships and driven by local partnership leads with support…
24 Apr 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to change its definition of fuel poverty.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There are no plans to change the definition of fuel poverty in Scotland. In its final report on the Scottish Government’s fuel poverty strategy, published in March 2014, the independent Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum recommended “that the definition currently us…
24 Apr 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17748 by Nicola Sturgeon on 1 November 2013, whether it will publish the (a) monthly and (a) quarterly data collected by the local authorities.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Data collected from local authorities on a monthly and quarterly basis is used to monitor HEEPS: ABS delivery by Scottish Government officials. This monitoring process provides assurances that projects are proceeding on the basis agreed between the Scottish G…
14 Apr 2014 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures Police Scotland is taking to ensure that women face no barriers in joining and staying in the police force.
11 Apr 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the comments in The Scotsman on 11 April 2014 by the former chair of the Scottish Women's Development Forum that Police Scotland’s recruitment policy was "unfair and discriminatory" and that it "has created additional barriers to some underrepresented groups joini…
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The recruitment and promotion of police officers is an operational matter for Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority. Police Scotland has set out in its recently published Corporate Strategy, plans to diversify its workforce through the promotion …
11 Apr 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how Police Scotland encourages officers from underrepresented groups to remain in the force.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The retention of police officers is a matter for Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority. Police Scotland has set out in its recently published Corporate Strategy, plans to diversify its workforce through the promotion of attractive, inclusive and…
10 Apr 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how Police Scotland tackles the barriers that might prevent people from underrepresented groups from joining the force.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The recruitment of police officers is a matter for Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority. Police Scotland has set out in its recently published Corporate Strategy, plans to diversify its workforce through the promotion of attractive, inclusive an…
8 Apr 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to amend the regulations on the implementation of the Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013 to allow carers of people with profound and multiple learning disabilities to be both legal guardians and paid personal assistants.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Self-directed Support (Direct Payments) (Scotland) Regulations 2014 detail circumstances where a family member may provide support. There are two exceptions to this family members rule: a) Where the local authority determines that either the family membe…
3 Apr 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19448 by John Swinney on 20 February 2014, whether it will provide the information that was requested on whether it has measured the level of awareness of public bodies and the appointments process and, if so, what the result was and whether the 45%…
Answer · John Swinney: Awareness raising work and its impact on increasing diversity on public boards is being considered as part of the programme of activity being developed by the Public Boards and Corporate Diversity Programme board. Options for this will be considered in conjun…
3 Apr 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government further to the answer to question S4W-19438 by John Swinney on 20 February 2014, whether everybody who is engaged in the public appointments process has received diversity training.
Answer · John Swinney: The Public Appointments Centre of Expertise are currently considering options on raising awareness of diversity issues by delivering training to selection panel members on unconscious bias. This is part of the on-going continuous improvement work currently un…
3 Apr 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19438 by John Swinney on 20 February 2014, whether it will publish the key findings of the research conducted in 2012 and 2013, and what changes have been made to the appointment process as a result.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20617 on 30 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at; http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentaryb…
3 Apr 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19435 by John Swinney on 20 February 2014, whether it will publish the formal evaluation that it has carried out of its different application and selection methods in public appointments.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government is committed to understanding the experience of applicants for public appointments, and to using different application and selection methods to enhance the diversity of our public bodies. We have fully supported and worked in collabor…
3 Apr 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19435 by John Swinney on 20 February 2014, whether it has established reference groups to support the work of the Public Boards and Corporate Diversity Programme Board to improve public appointments.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20607 on 30 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentaryb…
3 Apr 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19435 by John Swinney on 20 February 2014, whether the Public Boards and Corporate Diversity Programme Board has produced targets and action plans to improve public appointments and, if so, whether these have been published.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20607 on 30 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentaryb…
3 Apr 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19435 by John Swinney on 20 February 2014, what programme of activity is planned by the Public Boards and Corporate Diversity Programme Board.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20607 on 30 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentaryb…
3 Apr 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19435 by John Swinney on 20 February 2014, how many copies of the DVD on public appointments were ordered and when; what the total cost was and how many have been distributed.
Answer · John Swinney: The initial costs of the DVD production including 1,000 copies was £2,705 in June 2009. Since then a further two reprints have been ordered of 200 copies each time costing £994.92. The total costs for DVDs production and reprint to date is £3,699.92. We have …
3 Apr 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19435 by John Swinney on 20 February 2014, what events have been held to raise awareness and promote understanding of public appointments from (a) 2008 to 2011 and (b) 2012 to date and are planned for the future.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government is fully committed to raising awareness and promoting understanding of public appointments with all groups in Scottish society through conferences, meeting and other events. A comprehensive list of awareness events was not held centra…
3 Apr 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19435 by John Swinney on 20 February 2014, whether disabled people are represented on the Public Boards and Corporate Diversity Programme Board.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20607 on 30 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentaryb…
3 Apr 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19435 by John Swinney on 20 February 2014, whether the (a) agenda and (b) minutes of the Public Boards and Corporate Diversity Programme Board will be published online.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20607 on 30 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentaryb…
3 Apr 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19435 by John Swinney on 20 February 2014, what the remit is of the Public Boards and Corporate Diversity Programme Board.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20607 on 30 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentaryb…
3 Apr 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19435 by John Swinney on 20 February 2014, what the membership is of the Public Boards and Corporate Diversity Programme Board.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20607 on 30 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentaryb…
3 Apr 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19435 by John Swinney on 20 February 2014, when the Public Boards and Corporate Diversity Programme Board was established.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government is fully committed to a programme of activity to enhance the diversity of Scotland’s public boards and the Scottish Government staff body. To drive forward this agenda, the Public Boards and Corporate Diversity Programme Board was esta…
3 Apr 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the cost is to the economy of occupational segregation.
Answer · Angela Constance: Occupational segregation contributes to the gender pay gap, restricts women's employment opportunities and prevents them from achieving their fullest potential in the labour market. We know that the causes are complex and include issues relating to gender st…
3 Apr 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications have been made to the Scottish Welfare Fund by (a) men and (b) women, and how many of these were successful.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: The Scottish Welfare Fund comprises of community care grants and crisis grants. The table below shows the total number of community care grants and crisis grants decided between 1 April and 31 December 2013, broken down by the gender of the main applicant an…
3 Apr 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has provided funding for gender sensitive advice and support services for women’s organisations dealing with welfare reform.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: The Scottish Government contributed £5.1 million to the £7.45 million making advice work fund, the remainder being contributed by money advice services. Stream three of this funding was focussed on tackling barriers in accessing advice for priority groups, on…
3 Apr 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it collects data on the Scottish Welfare Fund disaggregated by gender.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: For every application to the Scottish Welfare Fund, we ask for the gender of each person in the household, including the main applicant, their partner, children and any other person living with them. Whilst this question is completed for 94% of people overall…
3 Apr 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how gender issues are mainstreamed in the Scottish Welfare Fund and related guidance.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: The Scottish Welfare Fund (SWF) is intended to help vulnerable people across Scotland, regardless of gender. An equality impact assessment (EQIA) on the differences between the Discretionary Social Fund and SWF was published in April 2013. It did not find an…
3 Apr 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many apprenticeships there have been in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) gender and (b) occupation.
Answer · Angela Constance: Skills Development Scotland (SDS) publishes management information on government supported training programme, including modern apprenticeships on a quarterly basis. The published data is broken down by gender, age, framework followed (which relates to the a…
3 Apr 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle occupational segregation (a) in apprenticeships and (b) more generally.
Answer · Angela Constance: When the Scottish Government and the STUC held the Women’s Employment Summit in September 2012, discussion covered a wide range of areas. Since that time, a ministerial strategic group on women and work has met regularly to consider actions underway and what …