Kezia Dugdale

22 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-10695 by Fergus Ewing on 14 November 2012, whether the credit union stakeholder group that first met on 9 November 2012 plans to meet again and, if so, when.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I am keen to engage with stakeholders further to discuss these issues and further roundtable events are currently being set up. Although no dates are confirmed at present, officials at Accountant in Bankruptcy will contact stakeholders in the near future to …

22 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-10695 by Fergus Ewing on 14 November 2012, what was decided at the credit union stakeholder meeting of 9 November 2012.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I am keen to keep momentum and will continue to work with officials and stakeholders to look into these important issues and the possible solutions. Following the roundtable event on high interest credit, a number of steps were agreed for how we will engage o…

22 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-10695 by Fergus Ewing on 14 November 2012, what was discussed at the credit union stakeholder meeting of 9 November 2012.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The remit of the roundtable stakeholder event on 09 November 2012 was to discuss what action can be taken by the Scottish Government to assist those who are suffering from financial difficulty due, in whole or part, to high interest credit, particularly pay d…

22 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-10695 by Fergus Ewing on 14 November 2012, who attended the credit union stakeholder meeting of 9 November 2012.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I can confirm that on 09 November 2012 I met with a number of stakeholders, including a representative from Association of British Credit Unions Ltd (ABCUL), to discuss high interest credit, particularly pay day loans. The attendees were as follows: Yvonne M…

22 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-10891 by Nicola Sturgeon on 15 November 2012, what the membership is of the universal credit and welfare reform stakeholder group, both individuals and organisations, and when it will next meet.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: This stakeholder group was established by the Scottish Government to provide input, advice and expertise on the related subjects of financial inclusion, financial capability, personal budgeting support, financial product development, payment exceptions, digit…

22 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-10699 by Fergus Ewing on 14 November 2012, what organisational support programmes are expected to become available to third sector organisations in the current parliamentary session.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government is considering options for further funding support for third sector organisational development. Announcements about any future programmes will be made in due course.

22 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-10699 by Fergus Ewing on 14 November 2012, whether it will list for each of its organisational support programmes for third sector organisations (a) the amount of funding allocated, (b) what has been spent, (c) what further spending has been committ…

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Since 2008 we have allocated £31.8 million to the Scottish Investment Fund, this will all be spent by 31 March 2013. There are currently no plans to commit further spending to the fund. In 2011, we launched the Just Enterprise business support programme. W…

20 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the 2013-14 budget will address child poverty.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: This Government’s approach is to tackle the long term drivers of poverty through early intervention and prevention. As outlined in the Equality Statement published alongside the budget, much of the spending is targeted at people who are vulnerable to poverty …

20 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what investment it has made to support parents to engage in their child's early learning and education.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government considers that parents play a vital role in supporting their children’s early learning and education. We are investing £1 million per year until 2014-15 in our highly successful PlayTalkRead campaign which aims to encourage parents and…

20 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to tackle the gap in educational attainment between children living in poverty and their wealthier peers.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: Raising attainment for all and closing the attainment gap between children who are most and least advantaged are key priorities for the Scottish Government. International and inspection evidence shows that the most telling conditions for raising attainment ar…

20 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the measures in the Child Poverty Act 2010 and the proposed changes to these set out in the UK Government's consultation, Measuring Child Poverty: A consultation on better measures of child poverty, in light of the potential impact on its child poverty strategy.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: The Scottish Government’s approach is to tackle the long term drivers of poverty through early intervention and prevention. The solidarity target reflects the importance we attach to reducing income inequality and we are therefore strongly committed to the cu…

20 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on Save the Children's publication, Thrive at Five: Comparative Child Development at School Entry Age, and its implications for how it measures child wellbeing in the early years.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: This Government is clear that improving the early years experience in Scotland is key to improving outcomes for children and their families. The Save the Children's publication, Thrive at Five: Comparative Child Development at School Entry Age reinforces the …

12 Nov 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its estimate is of the value to the Edinburgh economy of the winter festival season.

1 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that new EU funding will provide additional benefit to communities in most need.

Answer · John Swinney: The European Commission’s proposals for the 2014-20 period are strongly focused on achieving Europe 2020 targets for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. This is strongly aligned with the Government’s Economic Strategy, including a focus on low carbon eco…

1 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to involve community planning partnerships and the voluntary sector in the governance of funds arising from the new EU funding programmes.

Answer · John Swinney: We will be considering how to ensure robust and proportionate governance of the programmes involving a range of key stakeholders and will consult on our plans in due course. COSLA, individual local authorities and other CPP partners, and the third sector, are…

1 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) discussions and (b) consultation it has had with statutory or voluntary organisations about the new EU funding programmes.

Answer · John Swinney : The Scottish Government has been consulting with a range of stakeholders as part of developing our approach to the new funding programmes, this has included local government, enterprise agencies, statutory bodies, the private sector and voluntary bodies. Dif…

1 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions (a) it and (b) officials have had with the European Commission about the new EU funding programmes.

Answer · John Swinney: Scottish Government officials have regular discussions with the European Commission on a range of issues, including European funding, and will continue to do so. Negotiations are underway in Europe about both budgets for the various Funds, and the precise re…

1 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work it has done to secure match funding partners for the new EU funding programmes.

Answer · John Swinney: In line with the Partnership approach required by new EU Regulations for 2014, discussions have started with stakeholders on the shape of the proposals and the opportunities these present. It is too early to identify the size of the match funding required and…

1 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) financial and (b) other benefit is to Scotland of the new EU funding programmes.

Answer · John Swinney: Scotland will receive approximately £1.5 bn between 2007 and 2013 directly for the Structural, Rural Development and Fisheries Funds. In addition it will receive direct support for farmers to the value of £500 million per annum. These funds support economic d…

1 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it has done to encourage high street and retail banks operating in Scotland to offer a free, basic bank account service.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-10891 on 15 November 2012. 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/parliamenta…

1 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work it or its agencies is undertaking with the retail and banking sectors to ensure that everyone who needs it has access to a bank account, ahead of the introduction of universal credit.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The UK Department of Work and Pensions will require universal credit claimants to have a bank account, and is working with a range of banking and financial product providers to make financial services accessible to potential universal credit recipients. The …

1 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with representatives of retail and high street banks since May 2011; on what date; which minister was involved; what issues were discussed, and who attended.

Answer · John Swinney: Details of all ministerial engagements are published on the Scottish Government website. The details from 1 May 2011 until 31 May 2012 can be accessed using the following link: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/People/14944/Events-Engagements/MinisterialEngag…

1 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people it estimates do not have a bank account.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: This information is published in the Scottish Household Survey Annual Report, Table 6.11 and can be accessed via the following link: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/08/5277/6 The latest available data shows that in 2011 an estimated 4% of the …

31 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to bring together the various teams involved in criminal justice drug treatment, including Drug Treatment and Testing Orders teams, for a conference to share experiences about practice.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has no current plans to hold such a conference, but dialogue with local criminal justice service providers, including those responsible for Drug Treatment and Testing Orders, continues on a regular basis.

31 Oct 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Lord Advocate or Solicitor General read the whole or any part of the three government documents referred to by Alex Salmond in his statement on 23 October 2012 before their publication and, if so, on what date; what was asked of them, and what their advice was.

31 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what programmes relating to the link between alcohol and mental health it has implemented in response to findings in the report, Societal Cost of Alcohol Misuse in Scotland for 2007, that the cost of alcohol on psychiatric health services in the city of Edinburgh is nearly £4 million, an…

Answer · Alex Neil: Excessive alcohol consumption is estimated to cost Scots £3.6 billion each year, which equates to £900 for every adult in Scotland. The estimate of £3.6 billion includes around £870 million in lost productivity, around £730 million in crime costs and around £…

31 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to implement any of the recommendations of the Scottish Youth Commission on Alcohol and, if so, which recommendations.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government welcomed the Youth Commissioner's report at the time it was published. There has been progress around a number of the recommendations such as an evaluation of the effectiveness of test purchasing, and other measures to enforce underage…

31 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken in response to the recommendations in the Review of Alcohol Sponsorship Guidelines for Scotland of March 2012.

Answer · Alex Neil: Alcohol Sponsorship Guidelines for Scotland were published in 2009 to ensure that sponsorship was carried out in a responsible way. In March 2012, the Scottish Government Alcohol Industry Partnership commissioned a review which concluded that the Guidelines, …

30 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what grant-based funding streams are open to credit unions for funds appropriate to their development.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: As they are part of the third sector, credit unions are encouraged to apply for support from Scottish Government organisational support programmes, including Just Enterprise. Credit unions will be able to apply to any future third sector organisational develo…

30 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what financial support has been given to credit unions, broken down by (a) provider and (b) the credit union in receipt of the support, in each of the last three years.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Between 2008 and 2010 the Scottish Government invested £12m in the Third Sector Enterprise Fund. 32 awards were made to credit unions as follows:- Organisation Award Local Authority Area Grampian Credit Union £66,704 Aberdeen North East Credit Union …