Keith Brown

23 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether, as part of the economic recovery phase from the COVID-19 outbreak, it will consider an approach similar to that being planned by Bavaria regarding the temporary re-purposing of some public sector jobs, in consultation with the trade unions, and the creation of new job opportunit…

Answer · Ben Macpherson: The Scottish Government and other public bodies, in consultation with the trade unions, have already temporarily repurposed many public sector jobs to address the issues arising from the coronavirus pandemic. Health Boards are currently looking at where they…

12 Feb 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is engaging with interested parties, such as Families Need Fathers, during stage 1 of the Children (Scotland) Bill.

29 Jan 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how its proposed Scottish visa could impact on the rural economy.

18 Dec 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal.

4 Dec 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting veterans, including those who are homeless, to find accommodation.

27 Nov 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that schemes to help improve the environment are given long-term certainty over their future.

12 Nov 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact will be on Scotland's local authorities of the increase in the interest rate charged by the Public Works Loan Board.

6 Nov 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its no-deal Brexit planning.

23 Oct 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the negotiations between Stirling Council and the agents of the Park of Keir development.

17 Sep 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the four-year delay to, and £2 billion cost increase of, the smart meter roll-out will impact on consumers in Scotland.

28 Aug 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the glass sector regarding its proposed deposit return scheme.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Scottish Government officials most recently met with representatives of the glass sector on 27 and 28 August to discuss our proposals for a Deposit Return Scheme. Those discussions followed a meeting I undertook with representatives of the sector on 26 June. …

1 Jul 2019 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre, which is in the Clackmannanshire and Dunblane constituency, has delivered to support the Farmed Fish Health Framework.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Since its inception in 2014, the Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre has made a major contribution to applied research and development into fish health and welfare. Today I issued a letter on behalf of the Farmed Fish Health Steering Group to the Convenors…

5 Jun 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have used the Alloa-Stirling rail service since it opened in 2008.

29 May 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding the progress being made with the Review of Intra-UK Allocation of Domestic Farm Funding that is being led by Lord Bew.

1 May 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its assessment is of the impact of Brexit on the hospitality industry.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The impact of Brexit on Scotland’s hospitality industry could be extremely damaging, particularly in relation to the movement of people. EU nationals form a significant, and highly valued, part of our tourism sector’s workforce. It is established that 24000 o…

17 Apr 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the decision by the DWP to reject the recommendation of the Work and Pensions Committee to set the default rate for recovery of universal credit hardship payments at 5% of the Standard Allowance.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Earlier this week this chamber discussed the damaging impact that Universal Credit is having on people and the clear evidence that it is pushing people into hardship and poverty. Refusing to consider lowering the repayment rate for hardship payments to a mor…

3 Apr 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how the inflation rate is calculated and whether there are any factors in Scotland that could result in a different level from that of the rest of the UK.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Consumer price inflation is the rate at which the prices of goods and services bought by households rise and fall; it is estimated using consumer price indices. As of 21 March 2017, the Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers’ housing costs (CPIH) bec…

6 Mar 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many of the prison population are veterans.

4 Mar 2019 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the UK Government's Stronger Towns Fund.

12 Feb 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on the Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government and its agencies are in ongoing and constructive engagement with regional partners as we seek to progress the Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal towards a final deal signing.

23 Jan 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much (a) Clackmannanshire and (b) Stirling Council pays on an annual basis towards PPP schools, and how much this annual payment is estimated to be by the end of the contract.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The following table includes information relating to Clackmannanshire Council and Stirling Council school PFI contracts and the associated unitary charge payments as at 31 March 2017. Local Authority PFI Contract Estimated Unitary Charge Payment for 2017-1…

23 Jan 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of (a) Clackmannanshire and (b) Stirling Council's annual education budget is used to cover PPP school payments.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The following table includes information relating to Clackmannanshire Council and Stirling Council school PFI contracts and the associated unitary charge payments as at 31 March 2017 together with their respective net revenue expenditure provisional outturn f…

7 Jan 2019 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to reports that the UK Government plans to halt the full roll-out of universal credit.

18 Sep 2018 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it anticipates the economy will perform in 2019.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government is focused on building on Scotland's strong economic foundations, supporting businesses to stimulate growth, jobs and investment. The latest economic data show the Scottish economy has grown 0.8% in the first half of 2018, outpacing b…

15 Jan 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers the compensation arrangements for small businesses in the event of electricity supply interruptions to be adequate.

Answer · Jim Mather: <i > This PQ was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0115-01.htm">http://www.scottish.p…

15 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many national entitlement plus one card holders there are, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The issuing of National Entitlement Cards is the responsibility of each local authority.</p> <p >Based on the information available to Transport Scotland, the number of valid National Entitlement Cards with companion entitlement in circulation at 3 December …

15 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide information on the destination, purpose and costs of all ministerial visits overseas from 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2008. 

Answer · Linda Fabiani: The information requested is set out in the following table.</p> <p >The cost given for each visit includes all flight, accommodation and other expenses.</p> <p >Engagements marked * were at zero cost to the Scottish Government. Before any overseas engageme…

20 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that the Sheriffmuir battlefield in Stirlingshire (a) is associated with historical events or figures of national significance, (b) has significant physical remains or archaeological potential, (c) has a clear landscape context that allows the events of the battle to b…

Answer · Linda Fabiani: Ministers have yet to finalise the criteria for inclusion of a battlefield on any Inventory and to develop guidance for assessing a battlefield against the criteria. At that stage, it will be possible to consider how well individual sites meet the criteria in…

13 Nov 2008 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on how the fiscal fines system is working.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Fiscal fines are now widely used across the country.</p> <p >They provide a proportionate and swift response to certain types of offending, which spares victims and witnesses from appearing in court, and allows court time to be focussed on more serious offen…

5 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for each language for which there is a recognised secondary school teaching qualification how many (a) higher education institutions offer the qualification in that language and (b) people graduated with the qualification, in each year between 1999 and 2007.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The first table shows the number of teacher education institutions offering teaching qualifications in the languages shown.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=278 valign=top > <p align=center >Language Te…