Parliamentary questions
Claire Baker
1,724 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
14 Jun 2023 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is promoting and encouraging an increase in employee-owned and co-operative models of businesses as part of the shift to a wellbeing economy.
8 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what evaluation it has undertaken of the appropriateness of the legal age of 16 for marriage, in light of reported concerns regarding forced marriage and coercion.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: We recognise that points have been made around the minimum age of marriage and civil partnership and whether young people need more protection. This is why we have been meeting with interested stakeholders. There are a range of views here. Increasing the mi…
8 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S6W-16048 by Siobhian Brown on 5 April 2023 and S6F-02208 by Humza Yousaf on 8 June 2023, whether it will provide an updated list of stakeholders that it has consulted regarding potentially raising the legal age of marriage to 18, in line with the rec…
Answer · Siobhian Brown: Since my response to S6W-16048 was issued, my officials have met with representatives from the following organisations: The Church of Scotland The Free Church of Scotland Sikhs in Scotland The United Free Church of Scotland We have additionally receive…
7 Jun 2023 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is on track to meet its target of halving the child obesity rate by 2030.
5 Jun 2023 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to the position set out by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, in its Concluding Observations on the combined sixth and seventh reports of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, regarding the legal minimum age …
24 May 2023 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the continuation of the independent contractor model in general practice.
23 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the New Deal for Business Group will (a) engage with and (b) represent the views of Scotland’s creative industries.
Answer · Christina McKelvie: The New Deal for Business Group will include business leaders, along with representatives from organisations including the Scottish Retail Consortium, Scottish Tourism Alliance and Fraser of Allander Institute. The membership for the New Deal Business Group h…
23 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Creative Industries Leadership Group last met, and when it next plans to meet.
Answer · Christina McKelvie: The Creative Industries Leadership Group (CILG) last met on 8 June 2022. As of Summer 2022, the work of CILG has been paused and will be addressed as part of a wider strategic review of stakeholder engagement that is being undertaken by culture officials.
22 May 2023 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to reports of world-leading dementia expert, Craig Ritchie, leaving the NHS and his comments referring to problems with infrastructure and blockages in the system.
10 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what independent assessment will take place of the Wellbeing Economy Monitor.
Answer · Neil Gray: On 4 April I held the first meeting of a group of experts in wellbeing economy, which includes the Carnegie UK Trust, Wellbeing Economy Alliance, and other stakeholders. I have committed to working further with this group as we transition to a Wellbeing Econo…
26 Apr 2023 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to the recommendations of the independent review into women in entrepreneurship in Scotland.
20 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made towards meeting its Programme for Government 2021-22 commitment to increase the number of employee-owned businesses to 500 by 2030, and what funding is being provided to increase this number.
Answer · Tom Arthur: The latest census on employee owned businesses was undertaken in March 2022. At that time there were 146 Scottish-registered employee-owned businesses and worker co-operatives and 49 non-Scottish registered employee-owned businesses. Co-Operative Development…
20 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether its Programme for Government 2021-22 commitment to increase the number of employee-owned businesses to 500 by 2030 relates to businesses operating in Scotland, or businesses based in Scotland.
Answer · Tom Arthur: Research has shown that employee-owned businesses and other inclusive ownership models are fairer, more inclusive places to work and as a result enjoy greater financial and social resilience. The Scottish Government’s commitment to increase the number of emp…
20 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when updated figures will be available on the number of employee-owned businesses that are (a) based and (b) operating in Scotland.
Answer · Tom Arthur: Figures on employee owned businesses in Scotland are collated every two years in a census exercise commissioned by Co-operative Development Scotland and published shortly thereafter. The last census was undertaken in February and March 2022 At that time ther…
19 Apr 2023 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the Scottish Law Commission regarding its review of the law on homicide, in relation to culpable homicide.
29 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its commitment to increase the national school clothing grant by inflation each year as part of its Covid Recovery Strategy, what the current grant levels are for eligible (a) primary and (b) secondary pupils; when the most recent increase took place, and when the next incre…
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: In 2021, the Scottish Government reached a joint agreement with local authorities to increase the national minimum school clothing grant to £120 for each eligible primary school pupil, and £150 for each eligible secondary school pupil. This was an increase fr…
29 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in developing plans to deliver free breakfasts for all (a) primary and (b) special school children.
Answer · Natalie Don: The Scottish Government is committed to funding the expansion of free school meals to all pupils in primary and special schools, as well as introducing free year round breakfast and lunch provision to support eligible children and young people outside of the …
29 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has been provided with any evaluation reports of the specialist domestic abuse courts in Glasgow and Edinburgh, and, if so, whether it will publish these.
Answer · Angela Constance: An independent Evaluation of the Pilot Domestic Abuse Court in Glasgow was undertaken by Reid Howie Associates and published on the Scottish Government’s website at the time. It is available; at; https://web.archive.org/web/20130205035916/http:/www.scotland.…
29 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to roll out domestic abuse courts across Scotland.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008, which was passed unanimously by this Parliament, provides that it is the responsibility of the Lord President as Head of the independent judiciary and of Sheriffs Principal, to ensure the efficient disposal of bus…
29 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has evaluated the outcomes of the specialist domestic abuse courts in Glasgow and Edinburgh, and, if not, whether it has any plans to do so.
Answer · Angela Constance: Responsibility for evaluation lies with The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, and there is no requirement for the involvement or approval of the Scottish Ministers or the Scottish Parliament. This is in line with the principles outlined in the Judiciary…
22 Mar 2023 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is progressing its Covid Recovery Strategy commitments to improve financial security for low-income households.
20 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many Drug Treatment and Testing Orders have been imposed on people in each local authority area in each year since 2011-12.
Answer · Angela Constance: Information about national and local numbers of Drug Treatment and Testing Orders (DTTOs) is published annually. The relevant spreadsheet can be accessed directly online via this link: justice social work local authority tables up to 2021-22 for drug treatme…
15 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting leisure centres and swimming pools with any increased energy bills.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government understand the challenging financial circumstances that leisure centres and swimming pools are facing and are fully aware that rising energy costs are a significant issue. We have repeatedly called on the UK Government to use all the …
15 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it supports the use of data centres as “digital boilers” to heat swimming pools, and, if so, how it is encouraging such use in Scotland.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Scottish Government supports the recovery of surplus heat from data centres and any other sites where heat can be recovered and supplied cost effectively. As we transition to a net-zero economy it will become increasingly important that we use resources e…
15 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what research it has undertaken into the use of data centres as “digital boilers”.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: In September 2020, ClimateXChange published a study titled “Potential sources of waste heat for heat networks in Scotland”. The report examined a variety of potential waste heat sources, including data centres. The study identified nine commercial data centr…
13 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what research it is undertaking into the potential normalisation of violence in sexual activity.
Answer · Christina McKelvie: The Scottish Government has and continues to undertake, and commission, a significant amount of research in our efforts to deliver the key objectives within Equally Safe, Scotland’s strategy to prevent and eradicate violence against women and girls. We also l…
13 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey includes questions on the potential normalisation of violence in sexual activity.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (SCJS) is an annual, large-scale social survey which asks people about their experiences and perceptions of crime in Scotland. It includes a module on sexual victimisation, which produces estimates of adults’ experience…
22 Feb 2023 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the nationwide programme of inspection to assess the condition of, and the impact of climate change on, some of Scotland's most significant heritage sites, being undertaken by Historic Environment Scotland, is expected to be completed.
15 Feb 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the employment rate was for people with learning disabilities in each of the last four financial years.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Estimates for the employment rate for people 16-64 years who reported a severe or specific learning difficulty (lasting 12 months or more) are shown in the following table for each of the last 4 financial years. Employment rate for people aged 16 to 64 with…
15 Feb 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to establish a full population estimate of the number of adults living in Scotland with a learning disability, in light of the Fraser of Allander Institute report, Invisible no more, which stated that current data is not fit for purpose.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: Evidence about the number of people with learning disabilities in Scotland is collected through the Learning Disability Statistics Scotland publication. The most recent publication, published in 2019, found there were 23,584 adults with learning disabilities …