Parliamentary questions
Lewis Macdonald
2,224 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
16 Jan 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many apprenticeships it estimates (a) to have been lost and (b) to be at risk as a result of the falling oil price over the last six months.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Skills Development Scotland (SDS) publishes quarterly statistics on the number of Modern Apprenticeship redundancies by Modern Apprenticeship framework grouping. Figures up to the end of quarter 2 for 2014-15 can be found at: http://www.skillsdevelopmentscot…
16 Jan 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many jobs it estimates (a) to have been lost and (b) to be at risk as a result of the falling oil price over the last six months.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government is aware that a number of oil and gas companies have recently announced job losses. In January 2015 we have seen Schlumberger announce that it expects to cut more than 100 jobs in the North East and offshore; Apache has announced it h…
14 Jan 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what date it will publish the criteria for employers in the oil and gas sector to obtain the additional assistance under the Adopt an Apprentice programme that the First Minister committed to offer in the news release of 14 January 2015, Taskforce set up to support oil & gas jobs.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The programme guidelines for Adopt an Apprentice, including details of how to apply are available on the Skills Development Scotland (SDS) website at: http://www.ourskillsforce.co.uk/funding-for-skills/adopt-an-apprentice/. We are working with SDS to develo…
14 Jan 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much money was allocated initially to the 2015-16 Adopt an Apprentice programme, and how much additional funding will be allocated in light of the First Minister's commitment in the news release of 14 January 2015, Taskforce set up to support oil & gas jobs.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government allocates funding to Skills Development Scotland (SDS) on an annual basis for delivery of employability and training support, including Adopt an Apprentice. It is up to SDS to determine how to allocate this funding between activities. …
14 Jan 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much additional money will be allocated to the Adopt an Apprentice programme in relation to the oil and gas sector in 2014-15 in order to meet the First Minister's commitment in the news release of 14 January 2015, Taskforce set up to support oil & gas jobs.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Adopt an Apprentice programme is demand-led. As such, it is the level of demand which will dictate the value of Skills Development Scotland (SDS) expenditure on Adopt an Apprentice. The need for additional funding will be monitored through existing SDS sp…
14 Jan 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many times financial incentives have been paid to companies in the oil and gas sector each year under the Adopt an Apprentice programme, and to how many different companies.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: This is an operational matter for Skills Development Scotland (SDS). I will ask the Chief Executive of SDS to write to you with the information you have requested.
14 Jan 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much money was allocated initially to the 2014-15 Adopt an Apprentice programme, and how much had been committed prior to 14 January 2015.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government allocates funding to Skills Development Scotland (SDS) on an annual basis for delivery of employability and training support, including the Adopt an Apprentice programme. It is up to SDS to determine how to allocate this funding betwee…
12 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many civil servants belong to its Defence Policy Unit and what its remit is.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government Defence Policy Unit was established in June 2011. Its remit is to provide support to ministers, to the Armed Forces, veterans and our communities across a range of defence activity in Scotland. This includes: ensuring that Armed Forces…
10 Dec 2014 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government where it foresees future jobs growth in the offshore energy sector in the North Sea.
2 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has given to local authorities regarding the fee charged for processing an application for a high hedges notice to be served.
Answer · Marco Biagi: The Scottish Government issued guidance on the High Hedges (Scotland) Act 2013 to all local authorities ahead of the Act’s commencement on 1 April 2014. The guidance document covers all aspects of the application and decision making process, including the set…
21 Nov 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it has taken to ensure effective coordination with other governments or public agencies, elsewhere in the UK or in other states, on cases of contraband goods, such as alcohol, tobacco or medical drugs, being advertised for sale, sold or delivered via the internet in which t…
Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23354 on 5 December 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/parliamentar…
21 Nov 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has issued to public agencies on cases of contraband goods, such as alcohol, tobacco or medical drugs, being advertised for sale, sold or delivered via the internet in which the actual or potential buyers live in Scotland.
Answer · Michael Matheson: This is a matter for HM Revenue and Customs.
21 Nov 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to tackle cases of contraband goods, such as alcohol, tobacco or medical drugs, being advertised for sale, sold or delivered via the internet in which the actual or potential buyers live in Scotland.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government is committed to disrupting all types of serious organised crime, and the unique partnership working between agencies in Scotland through the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce ensures a strategic and more sophisticated approach. The ne…
21 Nov 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which agency has responsibility for (a) investigating and (b) securing prosecutions in cases of contraband goods, such as alcohol, tobacco or medical drugs, being advertised for sale, sold or delivered via the internet in which the actual or potential buyers live in Scotland.
Answer · Michael Matheson: In 2011, HM Revenue and Customs launched a tobacco smuggling strategy, targeting organised crime groups and taking hard-hitting action against offenders to deter and punish those involved. The UK ‘tackling tobacco smuggling strategy’ aims to tackle smuggling …
21 Nov 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it has taken to ensure effective coordination with other governments or public agencies, elsewhere in the UK or in other states, on fraud, attempted fraud or conspiracy to defraud via the internet in which the actual or intended victims live in Scotland.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23350 on 5 December 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/parliamentar…
21 Nov 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has issued to public agencies on fraud, attempted fraud or conspiracy to defraud via the internet in which the actual or intended victims live in Scotland.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Public Finance Manual provides comprehensive guidance to all Scottish public bodies on the prevention, detection, reporting and handling of fraud. The guidance is equally applicable to all public sector organisations to which the Scottish Public …
21 Nov 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to tackle fraud, attempted fraud or conspiracy to defraud via the internet in which the actual or intended victims live in Scotland.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government is committed to disrupting all types of serious organised crime and has brought together law enforcement and public and private sector organisations to form the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce, whose intention is to disrupt and disma…
21 Nov 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which agency has responsibility for (a) investigating and (b) securing prosecutions in cases of fraud, attempted fraud or conspiracy to defraud via the internet in which the actual or intended victims live in Scotland.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government takes all crimes, including fraud, seriously, and all allegations of fraud, attempted fraud or conspiracy to fraud should be reported to the police. Ultimately, it is for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to decide whether…
13 Nov 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the (a) Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing and (b) First Minister first became aware of the possibility of Richard Carey taking early retirement as Chief Executive of NHS Grampian.
Answer · Shona Robison: The management and approval of early retirement is a matter for individual health boards. The possibility of Mr Carey seeking access to the early retirement scheme was first notified to Scottish Government officials on 22 October 2014 and the Cabinet Secretar…
13 Nov 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the (a) Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing and (b) First Minister first became aware of the possibility of Dr Roelf Dijkhuizen taking early retirement as Medical Director of NHS Grampian.
Answer · Shona Robison: The management and approval of early retirement is a matter for individual health boards. Dr Dijkhuizen’s decision to take early retirement was not discussed with the Scottish Government until agreement had been reached, at which point the Scottish Government…
13 Nov 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when representatives of the Scottish Government first discussed the possibility of Dr Roelf Dijkhuizen taking early retirement as Medical Director of NHS Grampian, and who was involved in those discussions.
Answer · Shona Robison: The management and approval of early retirement is a matter for individual health boards. Dr Dijkhuizen’s decision to take early retirement was not discussed with the Scottish Government until agreement had been reached, at which point the Scottish Government…
13 Nov 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when representatives of the Scottish Government first discussed the possibility of Richard Carey taking early retirement as Chief Executive of NHS Grampian, and who was involved in those discussions.
Answer · Shona Robison: The management and approval of early retirement is a matter for individual health boards. The possibility of Mr Carey seeking access to the early retirement scheme was first notified to Scottish Government officials on 22 October 2014. The officials who were …
5 Nov 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Health and Safety Executive or the UK Government regarding proposals to increase the number of offshore oil and gas workers sharing an accommodation cabin in North Sea installations and what assessment it has made of the impact that these changes will…
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has not had discussions with UK Ministers and officials in respect of this. I regularly meet with the unions representing offshore workers, and through doing so I am able to listen to any concerns raised, and I am committed to continui…
5 Nov 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will respond to the recent consultation on its proposed reforms to the fatal accident inquiry process.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government will shortly be publishing its analysis of the responses to the consultation on proposals to reform fatal accident inquiries (FAI) legislation. The government remains committed to introducing a Bill to implement Lord Cullen’s review of…
5 Nov 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding an independent public inquiry into commercial pressures on offshore helicopter operations and their impact on the safe transport of offshore workers in the oil and gas industry.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government has observer status on the governance body overseeing implementation of the recommendations in the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) review of offshore helicopter safety. Progress is being made on implementing these recommendations in con…
5 Nov 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding commercial pressures on offshore helicopter operations and their impact on the safe transport of offshore workers in the oil and gas industry.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government has observer status on the governance body overseeing implementation of the recommendations in the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) review of offshore helicopter safety. Progress is being made on implementing these recommendations in con…
5 Nov 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the safety inspection standards applied to helicopters used in the transport of offshore workers in the oil and gas industry.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government supports the implementation of the Civil Aviation Authority’s review of offshore helicopter safety which includes detailed consideration of inspection regimes and practices for aircraft. We have had no discussions with the UK Governmen…
5 Nov 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish a list of primary care providers that will receive funding from the £40 million primary care development fund that was announced on 4 November 2014, broken down by the amount to be allocated.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23017 on 13 November 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/parliamentary…
5 Nov 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what criteria it used to identify the primary care providers that will receive funding from the £40 million primary care development fund that was announced on 4 November 2014.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23017 on 13 November 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/parliament…
5 Nov 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £40 million primary care development fund that was announced on 4 November 2014 will be allocated to primary care providers in each (a) NHS board and (b) local authority area.
Answer · Alex Neil: The precise allocation of this funding will be announced in due course.