Parliamentary questions
Kezia Dugdale
1,684 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
2 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to conduct a longitudinal study of youth transitions.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government currently has no plans to conduct a longitudinal survey of youth transitions in Scotland.
2 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that it collects sufficient data regarding the employment status of people aged between 24 and 30.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Labour Force Survey (LFS), conducted by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), provides the official measures of employment and unemployment. The LFS is a survey of the employment situation of the UK population and is the largest household survey in …
2 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many unemployed people aged between 24 and 30 there have been in each of the last three years.
Answer · Angela Constance: Unemployment levels for 25 to 34 year olds in Scotland are published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on a monthly basis, covering rolling quarters. The latest monthly figures, published on 20 June, cover the period February to April 2012. Estimat…
2 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides for unemployed people aged between 24 and 30.
Answer · Angela Constance: While many unemployed adults will be mandated to DWP programmes, the Scottish Government provides significant support to unemployed people aged 24 to 30 and indeed beyond. Since the start of 2007, more than half of those accessing European Social Fund employa…
2 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on ScotCen’s report, A Stalled Generation? Transitions to adulthood in Scotland today.
Answer · Angela Constance: The report highlights statistical data of which the Scottish Government is aware. It highlights that while unemployment rates for people aged 25 to 29 are rising, the rates for those aged 16 to 24 are considerably higher. When considered alongside the long-t…
2 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people had downloaded its Jubilee app, Queen of Scots, as at 1 July 2012.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Queen of Scots mobile app had been downloaded 1,756 times by 1 July 2012.
28 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many apprenticeship starts there were in engineering in 2011-12 and how many were connected to the renewables industry.
Answer · Angela Constance: Please see the table, below, detailing Modern Apprenticeship starts in engineering and related rameworks in 2011-12. Framework 2011-12 Automotive 850 Electrotechnical Services 501 Engineering 1,209 Engineering Construction 111 Land-based Engineerin…
28 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to introduce randomised ordering of candidates for NHS board elections.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The London School of Economics in association with the University of St Andrews is conducting the independent evaluation of the Pilot Health Board Elections. Their report is due to be completed and laid before the Parliament during the autumn of 2012. The Sc…
28 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to introduce randomised ordering of candidates for local government elections.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Electoral Commission and the Electoral Management Board are due to submit reports in the autumn on the running of the local government elections held in May 2012. The Scottish Government will consider these reports and any other representations made about…
28 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to publish a strategy to tackle long-term youth unemployment.
Answer · Angela Constance: Supporting Young Scots Into Work – Scotland’s Youth Employment Strategy was published on 29 June. This covers short, medium and long-term youth unemployment. The strategy is available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/06/9210.
28 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much is spent on skills projects across the country and how much of it is allocated for long-term youth unemployment.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government invests £1.5 billion a year in post-16 education and training, to help all young people get the learning and skills they need to get a job addressing short, medium and long-term youth unemployment. This is supplemented by £30 million …
28 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what skills training there is specifically for long-term unemployed people.
Answer · John Swinney: Depending on age and length of time unemployed, a range of skills training is available through UK, Scottish and locally funded routes. Those claiming Jobseekers Allowance will be mandated to the DWP Work Programme at the nine months unemployed stage for tho…
25 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4O-00967 by Fergus Ewing on 2 May 2012, whether it has taken action to discourage people from taking out pay day loans.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Further to my letter to UK Minister Norman Lamb regarding greater regulation of Payday Lenders, the UK Government has gained agreement with the industry’s four main trade associations to strengthen industry codes of practice. This includes significant improve…
25 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps the Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism has taken to engage with (a) civic Scotland and (b) COSLA to discuss pay day loans.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: I have met with key stakeholders including Susan McPhee, Acting Chief Executive of CAS, Yvonne MacDermid, Chief Executive of MAS and Rod Ashley, Chief Executive of Scotwest Credit Union. I intend to bring together a wider audience, in a roundtable discussion…
25 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism has met Citizens Advice Scotland, Money Advice Scotland and Scotwest Credit Union to discuss pay day loans and, if so, what (a) the outcome was and (b) what subsequent meetings with stakeholders (i) have taken place and (ii) are plan…
Answer · Fergus Ewing: I can confirm that I met with Susan McPhee, Acting Chief Executive of CAS, Yvonne MacDermid, Chief Executive of MAS and Rod Ashley, Chief Executive of Scotwest Credit Union on Tuesday 17 January 2012. Following the meeting a number of action points were agre…
22 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) discussions it has had with and (b) representations it has made to the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills regarding the implications for employment in Scotland of the Beecroft report on employment law.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government wrote to the UK Government Employment Minister in April and made clear that while we support efforts to streamline processes for employees and employers we remain to be convinced of the merits of encroaching on the existing rights of e…
20 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-07685 by Angela Constance on 20 June 2012, how many people on Individual Learning Account (ILA)-funded courses in each of the last three years were considered to be in a positive destination.
Answer · Angela Constance: Statistics on the positive destinations of young people are collected through a survey of leavers run by Skills Development Scotland. This identifies the destination of a young person, including whether they are participating in education or training. However…
20 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-07685 by Angela Constance on 20 June 2012, what criteria it uses to determine whether an Individual Learning Account (ILA)-funded course constitutes a positive destination.
Answer · Angela Constance: Statistics on the positive destinations of young people are collected through a survey of leavers run by Skills Development Scotland. Individuals identified to be participating in higher education, further education, training, employment, voluntary work or on…
20 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, following the end of the contract for delivery of the audit function of the Scottish National Standards for Information and Advice Providers, how long the break in the audit service will be and how long agencies due to be re-accredited can maintain accredited status.
Answer · Keith Brown: As per the answer to question S4W-08148 on 27 July 2012, the Making Justice Work Programme will be looking at various aspects of advice provision as part of its Access to Justice project. Stakeholders will be kept fully informed about our decisions when they …
20 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the Scottish National Standards for Information and Advice Providers.
Answer · Keith Brown: The standards have seen a large number of agencies, including almost all of the Citizens Advice Bureaux, improve the quality of their housing, money and welfare benefits information and advice services. The standards have also encouraged local authorities to …
20 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many reviews of the provision of advice have been carried out since 1999 and by which directorates.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: In 2001, a review was conducted into legal information and advice provision in Scotland. In 2004, a strategic review was conducted into publicly funded legal assistance, which was followed by a consultation in 2005 entitled Advice for All, and led to legislat…
20 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, following the announcement that there is to be a review of the provision of advice, who will carry out the review; what the duration is; when it will report; to which minister, and what engagement with stakeholders is planned.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Making Justice Work Programme will be looking at various aspects of advice provision, as part of its Access to Justice project. The programme is managed by the Justice Directorate of the Scottish Government, and falls within my justice portfiolio. The pro…
20 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which minister has responsibility for the Scottish National Standards for Information and Advice Providers.
Answer · Keith Brown: As Minister for Housing and Transport, I am responsible for the Scottish National Standards for Information and Advice Providers.
15 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when its self-directed support proposals for those who misuse drugs and alcohol will be made available.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government has no proposals for self-directed support that are specific to people who misuse drugs and alcohol. The Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Bill places duties on local authorities around how care and support is planned and …
15 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures that GPs are fully aware of the drug and alcohol treatment services available in their area.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The provision of services is for each local area to consider, taking account of local needs, circumstances and resources. It is for individual Alcohol and Drug Partnerships, to ensure that person-centred prevention, support and treatment services are provided…
11 Jun 2012 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister how many new jobs have been created as a result of the modern apprenticeship programme.
6 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many opportunities for vulnerable young people have been (a) created and (b) filled by the £1.5 million that it allocated to support young carers into employment.
Answer · Angela Constance: In December 2011, the government announced it would support 1,000 of the most disadvantaged young people, including care leavers and young carers, to enter the labour market. The £1.5 million will be split over three years and will create around 330 opportuni…
6 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many opportunities for young people have been (a) created and (b) filled by its £2.5 million challenge fund.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Social Enterprise and Third Sector Challenge Fund will open for applications from social enterprises and third sector organisations on 21 June. It is expected that announcements of awards of funding will be made at the end of August, once the assessment p…
6 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish details of its Marketing Unit advertising spend for 2011-12 on its website.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government Marketing Unit advertising spend for 2011-12 has recently been published on the Scottish Government website, for which the link is: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/People/Directorates/Communications/advertising-marketing/spend.
6 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason details of its Marketing Unit public relations spend for (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12 have not been published on its website.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government’s expenditure on public relations is a relatively small part of the overall expenditure on advertising which it supports, and has been published in recent years on the government’s website on request. The expenditure for 2010-11 and 20…