Gordon Lindhurst

28 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what contribution foundation apprenticeships could make towards Edinburgh achieving its ambition to become the data capital of Europe.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government is supporting Edinburgh’s ambitions to become the data capital of Europe, including through the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Partnership (ESESCRP). Skills Development Scotland are also key partners in this work, and a…

28 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that foundation apprenticeships are offered by every school by 2020.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: This Government is making significant progress on expanding the reach and number of opportunities within our Foundation Apprenticeship (FA) programme. Despite the relatively recent introduction o f FAs in 2016, in a short period of time we have rapidly grown…

7 Mar 2018 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce antisocial behaviour.

5 Mar 2018 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its response to the recent severe weather.

21 Feb 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the criminal justice social work statistics that were published on 6 February 2018.

9 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to recent figures, which reportedly highlight that 42 health and safety "near misses" have taken place in Edinburgh schools and other council buildings since 2014, and what help it can provide The City of Edinburgh Council to improve building maintenance to avoid suc…

Answer · John Swinney: The health and safety of all Scotland's people is of paramount importance to us. However, health and safety legislation is not devolved to Scottish Government. The Health and Safety Executive has UK wide responsibility for enforcement of the related legislati…

9 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work it has undertaken to learn from other European countries, such as Finland and Germany, regarding export finance, particularly for SMEs, and how this is informing the future work of the Scottish National Investment Bank.

Answer · Keith Brown: Benny Higgins, CEO of Tesco Bank, was invited by the First Minister to develop plans for the Scottish National Investment Bank. To inform this work the University College London Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose were commissioned to produce a compre…

9 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to develop public sector business support, such as fostering greater peer-to-peer business mentoring and development.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government is delivering a ‘public sector business support’ network that is responsive to and driven by the real needs of our business community. In June 2017 we published Phase 2 of the Enterprise & Skills Review and we are, by working with and …

31 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the role that the Tailor Ed Foundation plays in aiming to empower autistic children and their families and, in light of reports that the foundation is facing a funding gap, what funding or assistance it can offer.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government is committed to improving the lives of autistic people, their families and carers through our ten-year Scottish Strategy for Autism. We want every child, young person and family to have access to the appropriate autism services and sup…

30 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5O-01687 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 17 January 2018, for what reason there are some current Post Graduate Diploma of Education courses relating to STEM subjects where reportedly only half the places available are being filled.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government recognises that there are challenges in relation to teacher recruitment, particularly in the STEM subjects, in which graduates have a wide range of well-paid employment opportunities. We are taking a range of actions to help increase t…

30 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5O-01687 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 17 January 2018, when applications for the £20,000 career changers bursary will go live.

Answer · John Swinney: It is our intention that the scheme supports recruitment to initial teacher education programmes starting in August 2018. An announcement on the scheme will be made very shortly.

30 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5O-01687 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 17 January 2018, what measures are being taken to raise awareness of the £20,000 career changers bursary within sectors where potential applicants are currently working, such as in engineering.

Answer · John Swinney: A marketing strategy that aligns with the Scottish Government’s “Teaching Makes People” recruitment campaign is currently being developed. This will target appropriate people in business and industry.

30 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5O-01687 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 17 January 2018, whether the criteria for qualifying for the £20,000 career changers bursary have been set and made publicly available.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The criteria is still being finalised and I aim to announce this very shortly.

26 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether section 1 of the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012 applies to matches (a) organised by the Scottish Junior Football Association and (b) between teams from football associations outwith Scotland.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: An offence can only be committed under section 1 of the 2012 Act if it is committed in relation to a “regulated football match”. A match played in Scotland is a regulated football match where one, or both, participating teams is (i) a national football team; …

26 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications have been made by each local authority for rent pressure zones since 1 December 2017.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government has not received any applications for rent pressure zone designation.

26 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what legal certainty exists under the Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016, where a landlord agrees a date on which the tenant wishes to leave in advance of formal statutory notice being given.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Notice to end a private residential tenancy (PRT) must be given in writing. A PRT cannot be brought to an end by the landlord, tenant, nor any agreement between them except in accordance with Part 5 of the Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016. Ther…

24 Jan 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work of the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Group.

9 Jan 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the reported shortage of teachers in STEM subjects.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: We have taken a series of actions to address STEM teacher recruitment. Our 'Teaching Makes People' recruitment campaign targets STEM undergraduates and career changers to consider teaching as a career. We have increased student intake targets for the STEM…

20 Dec 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what effect the amalgamation of schools can have on communities that lose their local school as a result.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government recognises that a school closure is a significant and disruptive event for pupils, families, staff, and communities. That is why if a local authority proposes to close a school they must carry out a statutory consultation under the Sch…

18 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the Welsh Government’s evaluation of the Human Transplantation (Wales) Act 2013, published on 30 November 2017, which reportedly shows lower rates of donation since the change in the law, will have on its policy on this issue.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Human Transplantation (Wales) Act 2013 has been in operation since 1 December 2015 and the Evaluation of the Human Transplantation (Wales) Act: Impact Evaluation Report suggests that a longer period of time is needed to draw firmer conclusions around the …

18 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to respond to reports that the black-legged kittiwake has joined the Atlantic puffin as a threatened species on the IUCN Red List.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government is presently considering the IUCN global report on the black-legged kittiwake. A national indicator of breeding success of black-legged kittiwake is presently being prepared for the assessment of Good Environmental Status under the EU …

13 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the Architecture and Design Scotland good practice guide, School renewal by refurbishment, which says that “where they are feasible, re-imagined old schools can deliver new education benefits, bridging the best of the old school building and modern settings for le…

Answer · John Swinney: The 2015 'School Renewal by Refurbishment - a Good Practice Guide' was developed by Architecture & Design Scotland in collaboration with local authorities, ADES, COSLA, Education Scotland and Scottish Futures Trust. This formed part of the 2014-15 A&DS School…

13 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the role that schools can play within the wider community, for adults as well as pupils.

Answer · John Swinney: Schools can be considered one of the partners in the process of identifying and documenting local needs for community learning and development and inform CLD plans. As recently announced in the 2018 National Improvement Framework and Improvement Plan, the abi…

13 Dec 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce overcrowding on trains.

29 Nov 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that the non-domestic rates system is fair to businesses.

22 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much money it will spend on the drink-drive awareness campaign over Christmas 2017.

Answer · Michael Matheson: A budget of £55,000 has been allocated to the Scottish Government and Road Safety Scotland's annual Drink Drive marketing campaign, which will run from 1 December 2017 to 2 January 2018.

22 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans additional investment for transport links between cities and suburbs and, if so, how much.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government has invested almost £20 billion in transport infrastructure and services across Scotland since 2007. Our investment in public transport extends to £2.8 billion support for bus and £7.6 billion for rail infrastructure and services. The …

22 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of research suggesting that, between 2011-12 and 2015-16, 800,000 bus journeys were lost to bikes, whether it will give greater consideration of the needs of the cycling infrastructure in towns and cities.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: In September, our Programme for Government stated that we would double investment in Active Travel from £40 million to £80 million from 2018-19 to make our towns and cities friendlier and safer spaces for pedestrians and cyclists. Earlier this year, I ann…

22 Nov 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact engaging in sport and leisure activities has on mental health.

15 Nov 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that school buildings are safe and meet pupils' educational needs.

Answer · John Swinney: All children and young people should feel safe and secure in their schools in order to learn and to achieve their full potential. It is for the education authorities to ensure all their schools comply with the relevant Building Standards and health and safety…