Margaret McDougall

Answer · Marco Biagi · 23 Mar 2016

The Scottish Government recognises the role advice services play across Scottish society, in particular, to support the most vulnerable in our communities. That is why the Scottish Government is providing funding of over £2.6 million this year to support a wide range of projects delivered by citizens advice bureaux and Citizens Advice Scotland in areas such as welfare, health care and financial management.

Answer · Keith Brown · 16 Nov 2015

Since November 2013 the Scottish Government has provided Glasgow Prestwick Airport with £15.8 million in loan funding. We believe that the airport can be returned to profitability although this will take a long-term investment.

Answer · Keith Brown · 16 Nov 2015

The management team continues to pursue route development opportunities for passenger services. Although no new routes have been added since November 2013 some existing passenger services have seen frequencies increased. For example, Ryanair recently announced it will be providing 25 additional flights to Pisa in summer 2016. However, the future success of Glasgow Prestwick Airport is not solely predicated on scheduled passenger services. The airport’s management team are taking forward all potential business opportunities including developing freight, maintenance, repair and overhaul, fixed base operations, property and a proposal for locating the UK spaceport at Prestwick.

Answer · Keith Brown · 16 Nov 2015

Since the new board was put in place, substantial progress has been made in moving all the employees onto the living wage. Currently 41 employees are paid at below the living wage and by April 2016 all the employees of Glasgow Prestwick Airport will be paid at the living wage. While eight employees are on variable hours contracts, none are on zero-hour contracts. Glasgow Prestwick Airport currently employs 298 members of staff compared to 325 in November 2013.

Answer · Keith Brown · 16 Nov 2015

Since November 2013 Glasgow Prestwick Airport has hired three consultants at a cost of £205,150 in support of the bid to locate the UK spaceport at Prestwick. It should be noted that £150,000 of this cost was met by South Ayrshire Council.
The airport has also engaged the services of an executive search agency to assist with the selection and recruitment of a new senior management team at a cost of £90,000.
They have hired 12 other consultants to support various business needs.
Excluding the financial support provided by South Ayrshire Council, the total cost of all consultancy work since 2013 is £362,163.

Answer · Angela Constance · 7 Oct 2015

Attainment Advisors for the seven local authorities in phase one of the Attainment Challenge are in post. The recruitment of individuals and assignment of Education Scotland staff as Attainment Advisors to the remaining local authorities is ongoing and all 32 will be in place by the end of November 2015.