Kenneth Gibson

26 Jan 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its social security priorities are for the financial year 2021-22.

21 Jan 2021 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish the precarious and flexible work research.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: In response to discussions at the Education and Skills Committee in 2019, research was commissioned on young people’s experiences of precarious and flexible work. An independent report into Precarious and Flexible Working will be published on the Scottish Gov…

13 Jan 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the recommendations of Lord Bew’s agriculture funding review.

23 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to ensure that the training for people who work with people with epilepsy includes the administration of rescue training, meets industry standards and is safe.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-34019 on 5 January 2021. 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/parliamentarybusiness…

9 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which local authorities will have delivered the required spaces to ensure 1,140 hours of funded childcare by December 2020, and which it expects will have (a) done so by April 2021 and (b) not done so by August 2021.

Answer · Maree Todd: Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic local authorities and ELC providers have continued to work extremely hard to progress the expansion and ensure as many families as possible can benefit from increased hours of funded ELC ahead of the statutory implementation d…

2 Dec 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it considers the potential economic impact will be on rural and island economies of rewilding measures.

20 Nov 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions have taken place regarding a successor plan to the 2014 Heart Disease Improvement Plan, and when it will publish a successor plan.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Treating and preventing heart disease is a national clinical priority for Scotland. We continue to implement our Heart Disease Improvement Plan 2014, which sets out the priorities and actions to deliver improved prevention, diagnosis treatment and care for pe…

20 Nov 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the implementation of the 2014 Heart Disease Improvement Plan.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Treating and preventing heart disease is a national clinical priority for Scotland. We continue to implement our Heart Disease Improvement Plan 2014, which sets out the priorities and actions to deliver improved prevention, diagnosis treatment and care for pe…

20 Nov 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on activities and projects relating to the 2014 Heart Disease Improvement Plan, broken down by activity or project.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: We have spent over £1M since 2014 to support implementation on the Heart Disease Improvement Plan. This has included funding to improve heart failure care; support the work of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Champion; deliver a refresh of the HEARTe online learnin…

17 Nov 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact on Scotland might be of the UK health secretary not ruling out mandatory COVID-19 vaccination, and to what extent it considers that such a position could be exploited by conspiracy theorists and so-called anti-vaxxers.

9 Nov 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact of Brexit will be on the road haulage and logistics sector.

4 Nov 2020 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it still plans to return Glasgow Prestwick Airport to the private sector.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Since the Scottish Government bought Glasgow Prestwick Airport (GPA) in 2013, we have been clear that it is our intention to return the business to the private sector when the time is right. The senior management team at GPA has continued to engage with poten…

28 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is considering proposals such as a period of (a) free bus journeys for all, (b) off-peak rail travel all day and (c) free train travel at weekends to encourage people back into the habit of using transport services.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Supporting the resurgence of a vibrant public transport network will be a vital step in the COVID recovery. While physical distancing remains in place capacity will continue to be restricted, and the higher Tiers of the Strategic Framework discourage unnecess…

28 Oct 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that flu vaccines are available for those who need them.

26 Oct 2020 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what her response is to the report by the Scottish Children's Reporter Administration and Barnardo's Scotland, which confirms that child sexual exploitation is happening in island, rural and urban communities across the country, with cases being reported in 27 out of 32 local authority areas.

23 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, to help alleviate the reported parking problems in the town, what consideration it has given to the feasibility of building a new railway station with park and ride facilities at Largs Yacht Haven as part of its £24 billion infrastructure investment plan.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Investment decisions must be founded on robust evidence. There is an ongoing process to identify future transport investment, that is the second Strategic Transport Projects Review. During the option generation process, an option for a new station at Largs Ma…

9 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ban electric shock collars, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Before reaching a position on the need for legislation in this area, the Scottish Government will consider the results of the review of its Guidance on Dog Training Aids and any recommendations the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission may make on dog training a…

9 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the review of the guidance on dog training aids will be completed.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government expects to complete its review of the Guidance on Dog Training Aids before the end of this year.  

5 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to recent research, which confirmed that only 52% of invoices sent by businesses in Scotland are paid on time.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government recognises the negative impact that late payment can have on the cash flow of small businesses and we work closely with the office of the Small Business Commissioner, including to help promote the Prompt Payment Code. We encourage bus…

30 Sep 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Fraser of Allander Institute report, The Impact of Covid-19 on the Arran economy, including its comments on how this has affected tourism.

25 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider exempting island communities, including Arran, which have consistently recorded an extremely low number of COVID-19 cases, from its blanket ban on indoor social gatherings.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: As you will be aware, The Coronavirus (COVID-19): Scotland’s Strategic Framework was published on 23 October 2020. This document, which has been the foundation of the Government’s response since that date, set out our strategic approach to suppress the virus…

23 Sep 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has concerns that it could face a budget shortfall this financial year as a direct result of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

22 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to progress Article 17 of the common fisheries policy.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: In line with Article 17 of the Common Fisheries Policy, the Scottish Government is committed to managing our fisheries to ensure sustainability, promote inclusive economic growth and protect biological diversity and marine ecosystems. Article 17 states that …

22 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the UK Fisheries Bill as currently drafted will provide sufficient powers to Scottish ministers to allow the redistribution of fishing opportunities to those who deliver best social, economic and environmental benefit.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I am confident that the powers granted through the UK Fisheries Bill, in combination with the Scottish Government's existing powers in this area, will allow it to consider the distribution of fishing opportunities. As part of the development of our Future Fi…

2 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government where it proposes to locate its national network of tech scalers, in light of the commitment in its Programme for Government to multi-year, multi-million pound investment, as suggested in the Logan Review.

Answer · Kate Forbes: We have not yet taken decisions on the location of the tech scalers. Virtual access to Tech Scaler services will be provided to enable remote participation regardless of location.

19 Aug 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding using revenues raised from online retailers to support economic growth in Scotland.

31 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which locations it considers would be appropriate for the establishment of freeports.

Answer · Ivan McKee: We are aware of the UK Government’s proposals for Freeports to be established at 10 locations across the UK. I have engaged with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on this matter, setting out our concerns that any Freeport in Scotland should not cause advers…

31 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the UK Government’s consultation on its aim of creating up to 10 freeports across Britain and Northern Ireland, which closed on 13 July 2020, what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the establishment of freeports.

Answer · Ivan McKee: We are aware of the UK Government’s proposals for Freeports to be established at 10 locations across the UK. I have engaged with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on this matter, setting out our concerns that any Freeport in Scotland should not cause advers…

31 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with possible freeport locations in relation to how Scottish Ministers can support the establishment of prospective freeports and identify potential employment and investment opportunities.

Answer · Ivan McKee: We are aware of the UK Government’s proposals for Freeports to be established at 10 locations across the UK. I have engaged with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on this matter, setting out our concerns that any Freeport in Scotland should not cause advers…

29 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has conducted an assessment of biogenic habitats, and, if so, what the outcome was.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Marine Strategy assessment published in October 2019 includes an indicator for sublittoral rock and biogenic habitats. The assessment found that Good Environmental Status has not yet been achieved in either the Greater North Sea or the Celtic Seas. The re…