Parliamentary questions
Kezia Dugdale
1,684 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
21 Feb 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive (a) when and (b) which ministers (i) last met and (ii) will next meet representatives of the Edinburgh Tenant’s Federation.
Answer · Keith Brown: Alex Neil as Minister for Housing and Communities, last met with Edinburgh Tenant’s Federation on 13 January 2010. As Minister for Housing and Transport I regularly meet with Registered Tenant Organisations’ Regional Network representatives from across Scotla…
17 Feb 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason its Draft Youth Employment Strategy does not refer to the contribution of youth work.
Answer · Angela Constance: This Draft Youth Employment Strategy outlines an all-Scotland approach to supporting young people toward and into work. Youth work is recognised as part of this, especially for young people in Stages 1 and 2 of the skills and employability pipeline. As the Y…
16 Feb 2012 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it plans to review the role of the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman and, if so, whether this will include considering (a) the introduction of panel investigations similar to those operated by the UK Parliamentary Ombudsman and (b) extending the avenue for appe…
Answer · Liam McArthur: The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body has no plans to review the role of the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman.
15 Feb 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the relationship is between its proposed Rights of Children and Young People Bill and support for UNICEF’s Rights Respecting Schools programme.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: UNICEF’s Rights Respecting Schools Programme is a further tool to promote and advance children’s rights in Scotland and is complementary to Scottish Government wider policy and legislative activity on this issue.
15 Feb 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it supports UNICEF’s Rights Respecting Schools programme.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: Curriculum for Excellence provides the framework for schools and local authorities to explore opportunities such as UNICEF’s Rights Respecting Schools Award (RRSA) to provide active and engaging opportunities for Scotland’s learners. Education Scotland is wo…
15 Feb 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the list of offences in the Children’s Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011 meets the serious offences test that was outlined in its document, The Police Act 1997 (Criminal Record Certificates - Children's Hearings) (Scotland) Order 2012 Consultation.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: There is no list of offences set out in the Children’s Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011. The act provides Scottish ministers with the power to make an order which will, in effect, limit the offences Disclosure Scotland can access whilst discharging their function…
15 Feb 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of NHS employees disclosed a disability to their employer in 2011-12 and how this compares with each of the last two years for which information is available.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Information on the proportion of NHSScotland staff that have disclosed a disability to their employer can be found by following the link below to the Equality and Diversity table on the ISD website: www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Workforce/Publications/20…
15 Feb 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to legislate to end or curtail train engine idling.
Answer · Keith Brown: We are concerned that noise emanating from railways may cause nuisance. We remain unconvinced for the need for legislation at this stage and are pursuing non-legislative means to address potential issues. Accordingly, we have met with the rail industry to dis…
2 Feb 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review the law on protected trust deeds.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Protected Trust Deed – Improving the Process Consultation was made available to the public on 17 October 2011. The purpose of this consultation was to review and decide on the future of Protected Trust Deeds. The closing date for responses from the public…
2 Feb 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Accountant in Bankruptcy is equipped to support individuals on completion of a protected trust deed.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: A Protected Trust Deed is a formal arrangement between an individual and an insolvency practitioner who becomes their trustee. The Accountant in Bankruptcy does not act as a trustee in Protected Trust Deeds but does take on a supervisory role. In accordance …
2 Feb 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review the role and functions of the Accountant in Bankruptcy.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: This government has a broad and ambitious agenda for reform which focuses on outcomes and improvements to the bankruptcy, and the insolvency system which includes Protected Trust Deeds. The current five year term of office provides the opportunity to develop …
31 Jan 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed Rights of Children and Young People Bill will be implemented before the proposed Children's Services Bill commences and whether it foresees any inconsistencies if not.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government seeks to reflect the principles of the UNCRC in the development of national policy and legislation wherever possible in order to promote and strengthen the rights of its children and young people. We believe that the proposed children’…
31 Jan 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has the power to fully incorporate the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into Scots law.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is an international treaty and, as things stand, it applies to Scotland by virtue of the fact that the United Kingdom is a signatory to it. Under the current devolution settlement, international relatio…
18 Jan 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who attended the National Economic Forum meeting on 1 February 2012.
Answer · John Swinney: The list of those organisations that attended the National Economic Forum on the 1 February 2012 will be published on the National Economic Forum website soon after the event.
18 Jan 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the invitation list for the National Economic Forum meeting on 1 February 2012.
Answer · John Swinney: Details of the organisations invited to the National Economic Forum on the 1 February are available on the National Economic Forum website.
18 Jan 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to accredit all training offered through an opportunities for all programme.
Answer · Angela Constance: Provision delivered through Opportunities for All will be accredited where that is appropriate to the needs of the young person.
18 Jan 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to introduce a minimum waiting time guarantee for young people to go into an opportunities for all programme.
Answer · Angela Constance: We will ensure that the support available through Opportunities for All is sufficiently flexible to take account of the needs of individuals. Those working with young people will be made aware of the full range of opportunities available in their local area …
18 Jan 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it identifies and counts young people between 16 and 19 who have not entered employment, education or training on leaving school and have not presented at Jobcentre Plus.
Answer · Angela Constance: To enable us to deliver opportunities for all it is essential that Scottish Government and partners are able to identify and track all young people aged between 16 and 19 in Scotland. By utilising and supplementing data supplied by local authorities, Skills …
22 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much of its £30 million youth employment budget will be spent equipping young people with the skills to become self-employed.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government is currently consulting with a range of partners on the best use of the additional funding. Opportunities to support young people into self-employment are likely to feature in these discussions.
22 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much of its £30 million youth employment budget will be spent creating jobs in the (a) public, (b) private and (c) third sector.
Answer · Angela Constance: It is for employers, not government, to create permanent jobs. This government will continue to work with employers from businesses of all sizes and across all sectors to encourage them to employ more young people. The Scottish Government is convening a spec…
22 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much of its £30 million youth employment budget will be spent creating job opportunities in small and medium-sized enterprises.
Answer · Angela Constance: It is for employers, not government, to create permanent jobs. This government will continue to work with employers from businesses of all sizes and across all sectors to encourage them to employ more young people. As part of the continuing work to better al…
22 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings the Minister for Youth Employment has had with (a) the STUC and (b) specific trade unions regarding the £30 million youth employment budget.
Answer · Angela Constance: On 15 December, I hosted a strategic roundtable discussion with representatives of local authorities, the third sector, college sector and private sector employers to consider how to maximise the effectiveness of this new resource. The STUC also attended this…
22 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings the Minister for Youth Employment has had with large-scale employers.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government is convening a special session of the National Economic Forum on 1 February to explore with a wide range of partners and stakeholders what more we need to do to support young people into employment. I will also be meeting with a wide r…
22 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much of its £30 million budget for youth employment will be spent creating graduate jobs.
Answer · Angela Constance: It is for employers, not government, to create permanent jobs. This government will continue to work with employers from businesses of all sizes and across all sectors to encourage them to employ more young people, including young graduates.
22 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what safeguards it will put in place to ensure that the £2,000 grant to employers who take on a young person from a disadvantaged background achieves its intended goal.
Answer · Angela Constance: I presume this question refers to my announcement on 22 December of £1.5 million to support young people, including care leavers and young carers, access employment. Skills Development Scotland (SDS) will establish appropriate measures and safeguards to ensur…
22 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria will be attached to its offer of £2,000 for employers who take on a young person from a disadvantaged background.
Answer · Angela Constance: I presume this question refers to my announcement on 22 December of £1.5 million to support young people, including care leavers and young carers, access employment. Skills Development Scotland (SDS) will work between now and the end of this financial year to…
22 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it defines disadvantaged backgrounds in the context of its recent announcement of £1.5 million for Skills Development Scotland to tackle youth unemployment.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government recognises that young people from disadvantaged backgrounds find it more difficult to secure and sustain employment. That is why this funding will initially be targeted towards care leavers and young carers aged between 16 and 24, and …
22 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers underemployment to be a major barrier to tackling youth unemployment.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government recognises that in the short term underemployment may inhibit opportunities for young people to gain employment where employers offer existing staff full employment rather than recruiting new employees. That is why we are focussed on i…
22 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people under the age of 24 it considers to be underemployed.
Answer · Angela Constance: Based on the latest available Labour Force Survey (LFS) quarterly data (July to September 2011), it is estimated that 82,000 people aged 16 to 24 in Scotland were underemployed. This was comprised of: 58,000 people who were looking for additional hours withi…
22 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the Minister for Youth Employment will match future skills demand with the plans to spend the £30 million youth employment budget.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government is currently consulting with a range of partners on the best use of the additional funding. Future skills demand will feature in these discussions.