Parliamentary questions
Tavish Scott
2,683 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
26 Jun 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) must pay a fee per car to the DVLA in order that it knows the ownership of any vehicle using the car parks at Sumburgh, Kirkwall and Stornoway airports after car parking charges are introduced.
Answer · Michael Matheson: No. HIAL has no such arrangements with the DVLA.
19 Jun 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the diversity in the teaching profession working group will present its final recommendations.
Answer · John Swinney: The report and recommendations of the Diversity in the Teaching Profession Working Group will be published in Autumn 2018.
18 Jun 2018 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that Highlands and Islands Airports Limited's decision not to consult regarding car parking charges at some island airports is consistent with the provisions of the Islands (Scotland) Bill.
13 Jun 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by the Minister for Parliamentary Business on 13 June 2018 (Official Report, c. 2), who created the definition of "sensitive information", and whether it will provide the information that was requested regarding (a) what its definition is of sensitive informatio…
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Scottish Government (and previously Scottish Executive) FOI guidance has consistently provided advice on the handling of requests involving sensitive information. As set out in the current - and publicly available - guidance, a decision on the sensitivity of …
5 Jun 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when an announcement on the future of the Air Discount Scheme, currently running until 31 March 2019, will be made.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government is committed to the continuation of the Air Discount Scheme and will make a formal announcement on the continuation of the scheme in due course. As the discount is applied at the point of purchase, it should be noted that scheme member…
4 Jun 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the ratio of pupils to school support staff has been in each year since 2008, broken down by local authority.
Answer · John Swinney: The number of school support staff, broken down by local authority, can be found in the results of the School Staff Census (Tables 7.11, 8.11, 9.9 and 10.3). These data only include support staff in the listed categories, other categories of support staff are…
4 Jun 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the ratio of pupils to school music teachers has been in each year since 2008, broken down by local authority.
Answer · John Swinney: The number of school music teachers, broken down by local authority, can be found in the results of the School Staff Census (Tables 7.9, 8.9, 9.8 and 10.2): (from 2010 onwards) http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/teachcenssuppdata …
4 Jun 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many school music teachers there have been in each year since 2008, broken down by local authority.
Answer · John Swinney: The number of school music teachers, broken down by local authority, can be found in the results of the School Staff Census (Tables 7.9, 8.9, 9.8 and 10.2): (from 2010 onwards) http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/teachcenssuppdata …
4 Jun 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many school librarians there have been in each year since 2008, broken down by local authority.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-13576 on 9 January 2018. 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…
30 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-16766 by Humza Yousaf on 29 May 2018, how much has been paid in subsidies to (a) Barra, (b) Benbecula, (c) Campbeltown, (d) Dundee, (e) Inverness, (f) Islay, (g) Kirkwall, (h) Stornoway, (i) Tiree and (j) Wick John O’Groats Airport in each of the la…
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Capital and revenue subsidy for the airports in each for the last 10 years is: Barra Airport Year Revenue Subsidy (£) Capital Subsidy (£) 2008-09 500,905 123,628 2009-10 502,342 36,814 2010-11 458,965 43,378 2011-12 468,189 141,036 2012-13 4…
30 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-16766 by Humza Yousaf on 29 May 2018, whether it will provide a breakdown of this information by capital and revenue spend.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Capital and revenue subsidy for Sumburgh Airport in each of the last 10 years is: Year Revenue Subsidy (£) Capital Subsidy (£) 2008-09 2,733,281 2,363,073 2009-10 3,380,702 596,736 2010-11 2,857,787 2,407,113 2011-12 2,322,297 549,352 2012-13 …
24 May 2018 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the promotion of Scotland as a destination for film, television and other productions is best achieved through Creative Scotland.
21 May 2018 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the introduction of car parking charges at some island airports will impact on the economies of those islands.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: We are supportive of all efforts to ensure the long term sustainability of aviation in the islands. The introduction of car parking charges at Sumburgh, Kirkwall and Stornoway Airports will improve the economies of the islands by creating a new commercial rev…
17 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much has been paid in subsidies to Sumburgh Airport, distinct from the rest of the Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd's (HIAL) operations, in each of the last 10 years.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Subsidy for Sumburgh Airport in each of the last 10 years is: Year Subsidy (£) 2008-09 5,096,354 2009-10 3,977,438 2010-11 5,264,900 2011-12 2,871,649 2012-13 3,613,571 2013-14 11,811,376 2014-15 7,287,249 2015-16 7,512,687 2016-17 5,159,1…
16 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on trialling a ferry service between Lerwick and Bergen that would operate at least once per week.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government would welcome a ferry service between Lerwick and Bergen. This would have to operate on a commercially viable basis and would be for ferry operators to consider. While we encourage ferry operators to keep the option of introducing new …
15 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to respond to negative and misleading reports about the impact of immigration on Scotland.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: Inward migration is vital to meeting Scotland’s economic, demographic and cultural needs. Population growth is the biggest driver of economic growth in Scotland today and all of our population growth over the next twenty-five years is projected to come from m…
15 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on running a public information campaign to highlight the economic impact of EU citizens working in Scotland.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-16673 on the 30 May 2018. 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/parliamentarybusines…
15 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding making it easier for qualified staff from overseas to take up hard-to-fill posts in the NHS in Scotland.
Answer · Shona Robison: The NHS Scotland workforce benefits enormously from the contribution made by staff from outwith the UK and health boards will always need to recruit internationally, in pursuit of the brightest and best staff from across the globe. Scottish Ministers have en…
15 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its potential impact on Scotland's economy, what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the arbitrary immigration cap, and whether it will publish details of these.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government does not agree with the UK Government’s target to reduce net migration to the tens of thousands. Restricting migration arbitrarily in this way takes no account of the need for skilled migrants in particular locations and occupations. I…
15 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on running a joint campaign with (a) the UK Government and (b) other stakeholders to promote the benefits of immigration.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-16673 on ? 30 May 2018. 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/…
15 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the impact of overseas workers in Scotland on (a) tax revenue, (b) economic growth, (c) the NHS and (d) other public services.
Answer · Keith Brown: The long term impact on the economy of lower EU migration was set out in our recent paper - Scotland’s population needs and migration policy: Discussion paper on evidence, policy and powers for the Scottish Parliament . The analysis presented in this paper e…
15 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the evidence given by witnesses to the Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Relations Committee on 19 April 2018, including the comment that "[the film] industry is very different from the other things that Creative Scotland does" (Official Report, c. 15), what its position…
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government is committed to increasing and improving support for the screen sector to help our film and television companies seize new opportunities. This is why we have committed an additional £10 million to screen development, production and gro…
9 May 2018 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it encourages non-departmental public bodies to promote and facilitate public participation in their decisions and activities.
9 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-16097 by John Swinney on 1 May 2018, how long plans on the use of the Scottish Survey of Literacy and Numeracy assessment materials have been under consideration and in what year it plans to make a decision.
Answer · John Swinney: Plans on the use of Scottish Survey of Literacy and Numeracy assessment materials have been under consideration since a short life working group was set up comprising representatives from SQA, Scottish Government, Education Scotland and local authorities in 2…
30 Apr 2018 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reported comments by the health secretary regarding cooperation between NHS boards that "there will be a regional structure in place", whether it will provide further details of this policy, and what the implications are for regional NHS boards.
26 Apr 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-15404 by Humza Yousaf on 26 April 2018, whether it will provide the information that was requested regarding what its response is to reports that a member of the Sumburgh Airport committee was made aware of HIAL's proposed parking charges at that ai…
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I noted reports that a member of the Sumburgh Airport Consultative Committee was made aware of the decision to extend parking charges through a company news release. This issue has been raised with HIAL.
26 Apr 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-15397 by Humza Yousaf on 26 April 2018, what its position is on whether the introduction of car parking charges at Sumburgh, Kirkwall and Stornoway airports without prior public consultation on the principle is consistent with the HIAL Strategic Pla…
Answer · Humza Yousaf: As a public body HIAL must operate efficiently and we expect the company to seek to reduce costs and increase commercial revenue. The financial situation means that car parking charges must be extended in order to fund the maintenance and improvement of facil…
26 Apr 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to investigate the options that are available to address the reported growing capacity problems on the lifeline ferry routes to Shetland, including considering whether new larger ferries should be provided.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Northern Isles Ferry Services (NIFS) Study report was published on the Transport Scotland website on 25 April. The Study assessed the potential impact of reduced passenger and car fares and considered supply-side options to provide additional capacity to …
26 Apr 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has asked Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) to assess the usefulness of using the MV (a) Hjaltland and (b) Hrossey on routes other than those to Shetland, should their reported lack of capacity to meet demand on the Shetland lifeline routes force their replacement.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The purchase of the 3 Ropax vessels (MV Hamnavoe, MV Hjaltland and the MV Hrossey) from the Royal Bank of Scotland by Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) secured the vessels for the Northern Isles ferry service contract. With the proposed reduction in fares…
26 Apr 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has asked Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) to assess the freight capacity of the freighters operating between Lerwick and Aberdeen.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) has a bareboat charter arrangement with the owners of the current freight vessels (MV Helliar and MV Hildasay) that are utilised on the Lerwick, Kirkwall and Aberdeen routes. These vessels are currently sub-chartered to S…