Stuart McMillan

16 Nov 2016 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it can provide regarding the Minister for International Development and Europe’s visit to Malawi in October 2016.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: I visited Malawi from 7-12 October to deepen the close relationship and partnership between Scotland and Malawi, including reaffirming ties with the Government of Malawi as part of the Programme for Government commitment to renew our historic Cooperation Agre…

8 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the ending of the Erasmus exchange programme would have in Scotland.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Scotland’s participation in Erasmus+, the EU’s 2014-2020 Education, Training, Youth and Sport Programme, is in line with our aims to promote Scotland as a learning nation and to increase student and staff mobility, and brings strong educational, employability…

27 Oct 2016 · SPCB Oral Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what it does with unsold food from eating facilities in the building.

24 Oct 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the Treasury and what matters were discussed.

19 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how many players of non-EU origin in the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) in each last five years used EU citizenship for ease of access to sign for teams.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: This information is not held centrally.

19 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it had had with the Scottish (a) footballing authorities, (b) Rugby Union and (c) Sports Association regarding the implications of the UK exiting the EU.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: Officials have had informal discussions with a range of stakeholders to understand any concerns Scottish Governing Bodies have over the UK existing the EU.

19 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how many players in the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) in each last five years were nationals of other EU member states.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: This information is not held centrally.

5 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with stakeholders regarding the current maximum stake of £100 per spin on fixed-odds betting terminals.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The power to legislate on the maximum stake permitted on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals is reserved to the UK Government. I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-03497 on 27 October 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available o…

5 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last corresponded with the UK Government regarding the devolution of limited powers over fixed-odds betting terminals and what the outcome was.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government last corresponded with the UK Government prior to the passing of the Scotland Act 2016. The Scottish Government called for the full responsibility for the law on gambling to be devolved to Scotland. The Scotland Act 2016 however only …

5 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reducing the maximum stake per spin of fixed-odds betting terminals from £100 to (a) £50, (b) £10 and (c) £2.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The power to legislate on the maximum stake permitted on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals is reserved to the UK Government. On 24 October 2016 the UK Government announced a review of gaming machines and social responsibility measures. The review covers a number…

5 Oct 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many times police officers have been called to attend incidents at licensed betting shops in each of the last five years and how many (a) had a female lone worker on duty at the time, (b) incidents involved assault on a member of staff, (c) incidents involved assault on a customer, (…

Answer · Michael Matheson: The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.

30 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will confirm the difference between classroom music lessons and instrumental music tuition in terms of what local authorities can charge for in schools.

Answer · John Swinney: It is the duty of every education authority to provide adequate and efficient provision of school education without payment of fees. This covers class music lessons, including when any instrument is taught on a whole class basis, regardless of who is teaching…

21 Sep 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that schools have enough teachers.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government remains fully committed to maintaining teacher numbers nationally. We are committed to ensuring we have the right number of teachers, with the right skills, in the right places to educate our young people. All 32 local authorities acc…

13 Sep 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that people given community payback orders complete the hours they are sentenced to.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: Ensuring that people on Community Payback Orders (CPOs) complete the hours that they are sentenced to is the responsibility of the relevant supervising local authority. The National Outcomes and Standards for Social Work Services in the Criminal Justice Syst…

12 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting international development organisations to expand their work (a) at home and (b) overseas.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government's International Development Fund (IDF) began in 2005, with a budget of £3 million for Malawi. Now standing at £9 million per annum, the IDF currently supports projects in our seven priority overseas countries of: Malawi, Zambia, Rwanda…

29 Aug 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the Trussell Trust opening its 50th foodbank in Scotland.

21 Jun 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to facilitate the growth of marine tourism in Inverclyde.

8 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether there are rules in place that can prevent children from playing ball games at school play-time and, if so, what these are and what its position is on them.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government recognises the positive impact that daily physical activity can have on children’s health and wellbeing and strongly encourages physical activity during the school day. The use of ball games should be in line with schools' health and s…

8 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the proposed airport access project, which is being funded by the Glasgow and Clyde Valley City Deal, will have on the (a) number and (b) frequency of rail services in Inverclyde.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Glasgow Airport Access project is being taken forward by Glasgow City Council and Renfrewshire Council as part of the Glasgow City Region Deal. We understand that a number of options are being considered to address the challenges of delivering this projec…

1 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the drug-driving limits.

Answer · Michael Matheson: There is long-standing legislation in place that makes it an offence to drive while impaired through the use of drugs. The Scottish Government published in 2015 an analysis of responses received to a consultation on introducing drug driving limits and we are …

18 May 2016 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the outcome is of the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services tender.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Following an independently verified “fair, open and transparent” tender, I can today confirm that the “preferred bidder” to operate the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services and Harbour Operating Agreements is CalMac Ferries Ltd. The new contract starts on 1 Octo…

14 Mar 2016 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the UK Budget.

7 Mar 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many properties in Inverclyde would be affected by the proposed reforms to the top four council tax bands.

15 Feb 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to improve the prison estate.

4 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how Education Scotland measures the effectiveness of habilitation provision for pupils with a visual impairment.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: In the course of inspections, Education Scotland evaluates provision for children and young people with additional support needs, including children with visual impairment. Models of habilitation support vary within each education authority or school. In some…

4 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans there are to support the provision of habilitation training for children and young people with a visual impairment in (a) specialist and (b) mainstream schools.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-29728 on 29 February 2016. 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/parliamen…

4 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that every child and young person with a visual impairment receives the habilitation training that they require.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: Curriculum for Excellence has the express aim of ensuring children and young people have the skills for learning, life and work. Young people’s entitlements in Curriculum for Excellence provide ways for habilitation skills to be part of personalising learning…

1 Feb 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in finding an agreement on the fiscal framework.

25 Jan 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many local authorities have outstanding equal pay claims.

5 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many students studying for (a) one Higher, (b) two Highers, (c) more than two Highers and (d) no Highers who qualify for the education maintenance allowance receive each of the payment bands.

Answer · Angela Constance: Data on the number of students who qualify for the Education Maintenance Allowance and the qualifications they are studying for are not held centrally. Data on the number of students who received Education Maintenance Allowance is available in the Scottish G…