Parliamentary questions
Kezia Dugdale
1,684 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
12 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when Skills Development Scotland will publish the findings of the modern apprenticeship employer survey.
Answer · Angela Constance: This is an operational matter for Skills Development Scotland. I will ask the chief executive to write to you with the information you have requested.
12 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Skills Development Scotland report, Modern Apprenticeship Outcomes 2012, includes a disclaimer concerning the accuracy of the commissioned research.
Answer · Angela Constance: This is an operational matter for Skills Development Scotland. I will ask the chief executive to write to you with the information you have requested.
12 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to people who do not complete modern apprenticeships, in terms of (a) access to other programmes and (b) funding.
Answer · Angela Constance: This is an operational matter for Skills Development Scotland. I will ask the Chief Executive to write to you with the information you have requested.
12 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what youth employment programmes it operates, broken down by (a) budget (i) allocated, (ii) spent and (iii) remaining and (b) the time period covered by programme budget.
Answer · Angela Constance: The level 4 budgets for 2012-13 were tabled at the Education Committee and published by SPICE on the Scottish Parliament website and describes the budget allocated to each programme. Actual programme spend and actual outturn at budget level 3 is published, w…
12 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Minister for Youth Employment will meet the UK Minister for Employment to discuss the European Commission’s proposed youth guarantee.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Minister for Youth Employment had a telephone discussion with Mark Hoban MP, Minister for Employment on 31 January to discuss the European Commission’s proposed youth guarantee.
12 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many young people are unemployed and how long they have been unemployed, broken down by level of qualification.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Annual Population Survey (APS) is the official source for detailed analysis of unemployment by age. The latest data covers October 2011 to September 2012. Unemployment amongst 16-24 year olds, by duration of unemployment and highest qualification, Scotla…
12 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how Skills Development Scotland monitors the (a) employment and (b) training status of people who (i) complete and (ii) do not complete modern apprenticeships and how this differs from other training programmes.
Answer · Angela Constance: This is an operational matter for Skills Development Scotland. I will ask the chief executive to write to you with the information you have requested.
6 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it offers to (a) redundant apprentices and (b) employers facing apprenticeship redundancies.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Adopt an Apprentice Initiative was launched in June 2009. This scheme offers employers a £2,000 incentive to employ a redundant apprentice to allow the apprentice the opportunity to complete their training. Since the scheme began it has supported over 1,…
6 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to publish its response to the Skills Development Scotland report, Modern Apprenticeship Outcomes 2012.
Answer · Angela Constance: The evaluation of the Modern Apprenticeship programme, Modern Apprenticeship Outcomes 2012, is an operational matter for Skills Development Scotland. They will use the findings to inform their continuous improvement plan for the Modern Apprenticeship Programm…
30 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to allow pedestrian or cycling access on the Forth Replacement Crossing and, if so, how it will compare with current provision.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Forth Replacement Crossing will be constructed to motorway standard and will not have pedestrian or cyclist facilities. The current Forth Road Bridge will be retained as a public transport corridor and will maintain the current provision for pedestrians a…
30 Jan 2013 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to support credit unions in light of the reported rapid expansion of high interest short-term lending.
29 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what dialogue it has had with each of the six local authorities that received £9 million in 2012 to tackle youth unemployment regarding the success of their programmes.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government has agreed with each local authority that they will report on progress against target on a bi monthly basis. Scottish Government officials liaise with the local authorities in question on a regular basis providing support and maintaini…
29 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the six local authorities that received £9 million in 2012 to tackle youth unemployment will each produce a report on the success of its programmes when completed in September 2013.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government has agreed with each local authority that a report on progress against target will be provided on a bi monthly basis. This will capture both qualitative and quantitative monitoring information to help assess the impact of this addition…
29 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when Skills Development Scotland’s employer services team was (a) set up and (b) available to engage with businesses.
Answer · Angela Constance: The employer services team is an operational matter for Skills Development Scotland. I have asked the chief executive to write to the member.
29 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the remit of Skills Development Scotland’s employer services team is and whether it operates via a hotline or visits businesses.
Answer · Angela Constance: The employer services team is an operational matter for Skills Development Scotland. I have asked the chief executive to write to the member.
29 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many full-time equivalent staff there are in Skills Development Scotland’s employer services team.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Employer Services Team is an operational matter for Skills Development Scotland. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the member.
24 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people have used individual learning accounts to undertake beginners IT courses since 2007, broken down by (a) gender, (b) age, (c) level of educational attainment and (d) amount of financial support.
Answer · Angela Constance: This information is not held centrally. I will ask the chief executive of Skills Development Scotland to write to you on this matter.
24 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether individual learning accounts can be used to cover the cost of obtaining a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence.
Answer · Keith Brown: Individual Learning Account (ILA) funding cannot be used to support training, which is a statutory requirement for the individual’s particular employment. Existing drivers will not therefore be able to draw down ILA funding in relation to Certificate of Profe…
24 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide training to ensure that large goods vehicle (LGV) and passenger carrying vehicle (PCV) drivers in employment who are required to obtain a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence before the September 2014 deadline can do so, given that employers have no oblig…
Answer · Keith Brown: The Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) is a reserved and commercial matter. Operators and owners have an obligation to ensure their drivers complete the 35 hours training. Commercial training is available; and all such training and individua…
24 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the United Road Transport Union regarding reported difficulties in complying with the Vehicle Drivers (Certificates of Professional Competence) Regulations 2007.
Answer · Keith Brown: My officials met with the United Road Transport Union on 18 August 2011 to discuss a range of issues, including Driver Certificates of Professional Competence (CPC). At this meeting, the union agreed to join the Scottish Freight and Logistics Advisory Group (…
24 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) support and (b) financial assistance it provides for large goods vehicle (LGV) and passenger carrying vehicle (PCV) drivers to obtain a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence.
Answer · Keith Brown: Driver Certificate of Professional Competence is reserved, derived from an EU Directive introduced in 2009 (2003/59). Drivers must undertake periodic training and operators have a responsibility to ensure their drivers are on track to complete their training.…
24 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in formulating its next generation broadband plans for (a) Scotland and (b) Midlothian, how it has taken into account the need for internet connectivity for claiming benefits following the introduction of universal credit.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government’s Digital Strategy seeks to address the digital divide in all sectors of society by extending the infrastructure needed to deliver next generation broadband to those areas where the market will currently not go in Midlothian and throug…
24 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its plans are to deliver next generation broadband to households in areas where telecoms companies will not upgrade the relevant infrastructure for commercial reasons.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The focus of the Scottish Government’s Step Change 2015 Programme is to address the digital divide by extending the infrastructure needed to deliver next generation broadband to those areas where the market will currently not go. The area covered by the Step …
24 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide greater detail of its plan to deliver next generation broadband to the Midlothian area.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government published the Step Change 2015 procurement plan in May 2012 setting out our plans for delivering the infrastructure required to deliver a step change in broadband connectivity for the rest of Scotland area. Midlothian falls within the …
24 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its plan to deliver world-class digital connectivity.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government will outline the options for delivering world-class digital connectivity shortly. Our intention is to stimulate debate and test our ideas through widespread discussion and engagement throughout the early part of this year. This engagem…
23 Jan 2013 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action the Minister for Public Health is taking following his meeting with SANDS Lothian regarding Mortonhall Crematorium.
22 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the work of the Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce will feed into the Post-16 Education (Scotland) Bill.
Answer · Angela Constance: The work of the Commission is currently at an early planning stage with final recommendations due to be published in the second quarter of 2014. Subject to the approval of Parliament, the consideration of the Post-16 Education (Scotland) Bill is expected to b…
22 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the remit is of the Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce.
Answer · Angela Constance: Building on the platforms of Curriculum for Excellence, careers services modernisation, Post-16 education reform and Scotland’s successful Modern Apprenticeship programme, the remit of the Commission is to develop proposals designed to enhance Scotland’s voca…
22 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce will publish its work programme and reports on progress until publishing its final report.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Commission does not at this stage plan to publish its work programme or to publish reports on progress. However it will engage closely with a wide range of stakeholders including the main political parties as its work progresses.
22 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce will (a) first meet and (b) report its findings.
Answer · Angela Constance: The first meeting of the Commission will take place on Friday 8 February 2013. The Commission will produce its recommendations in the second quarter of 2014. These will be published in full.