Parliamentary questions
Liam McArthur
3,644 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
19 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many officials in Transport Scotland use an electric vehicle in carrying out their duties.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Transport Scotland operates two electric vehicles (a Renault Fluence and a Nissan Leaf) which represent 50% of its own fleet. The vehicles are available to all officials when carrying out their duties.
16 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in incorporating the UN Sustainable Development Goals initiative into the National Performance Framework.
Answer · Derek Mackay: Scotland’s aims and ambitions– such as tackling inequality, ensuring access to high quality education, and healthcare – are already a key part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through the National Outcomes, these aims and ambitions are enshrined i…
16 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making toward implementing the Scottish National Action Plan for Human Rights, and what resources it has provided for this.
Answer · Angela Constance: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-05525 on 9 January 2017. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/…
16 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors human rights protection and its implementation through the National Performance Framework.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The National Performance Framework (NPF) uses broad measures of national wellbeing to reflect how Scotland performs against a range of economic, social, health and environmental indicators. Existing NPF outcomes include matters of direct relevance to the rea…
16 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has with stakeholders to determine whether its human rights legislation and monitoring is effective.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government has regular discussions with stakeholders from across the whole of Scottish civil society. Those discussions address the full spectrum of international human rights obligations – civil, political, economic, social and cultural – as wel…
14 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many complaints of sexual exploitation against Police Scotland have been (a) reviewed and (b) investigated by (i) the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner and (ii) the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in each year since 2013-14.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally. Any complaint should be referred to the Chief Constable in the first instance. If there are allegations of a criminal nature then the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service may direct the P…
14 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many police officers have been removed from duty as a result of an accusation of sexual exploitation since 2013-14.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government does not hold this information.
14 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many complaints of sexual exploitation have been made against Police Scotland in each year since 2013-14.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government does not hold the requested information.
14 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of complaints of sexual exploitation by police officers has been (a) reviewed and (b) investigated by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner in each year since 2013-14.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally.
14 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many businesses Highlands and Islands Enterprise has supported in each of the last 10 years, broken down by the (a) amount of support provided and (b) percentage still operating.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: This is an operational matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). I have asked the Interim Chief Executive of HIE to contact you with the information you have requested and my understanding is that this will be with you soon.
13 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has provided to Highlands and Islands Enterprise in each of the last 10 years.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Since 2006-2007 Highlands and Islands Enterprise draft budget has been made available on SPICe and full details of income and expenditure are included in HIE’s Annual Report and Accounts, published on HIE’s website. Scottish Government funding and activities …
13 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to introduce new models of supporting mental health in primary care.
Answer · Maureen Watt: On 18 February 2016, the Cabinet Secretary announced the creation of the Primary Care Mental Health Fund alongside the Primary Care Transformation Fund, which Boards – working with their partners, which may include third sector organisations – can submit prop…
13 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what safeguards are in place to ensure that places of detention provide adequate mental health services and comply with international human rights laws.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government expects that places of detention will ensure that mental health care and treatment is delivered in a person-centred manner to meet each individual’s needs. Scotland has a robust model of inspection and participation in international me…
13 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to strengthen the Scottish National Action Plan on Human Rights and how it ensures that international human rights treaties are enforced in Scotland.
Answer · Angela Constance: Scotland’s National Action Plan for Human Rights (SNAP) is a co-produced initiative which pursues the shared vision of a Scotland where everyone is able to live with human dignity. SNAP was launched jointly in 2013 by the Chair of the Scottish Human Rights Co…
13 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to (a) increase and (b) promote the use of alternatives to (i) detention, (ii) rehabilitation and (iii) reintegration of offenders.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government is committed to reducing reoffending in Scotland which has significant costs to individuals, families and our communities. Delivery of this commitment includes a focus on reducing the use of imprisonment, in particular short-term impri…
13 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to strengthen (a) monitoring, (b) data collection, (c) reporting and (d) staff training with regard to (i) human trafficking and (ii) hate crime.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government's Trafficking and Exploitation Strategy will be published by 31 May 2017 as required by the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Act 2015. This will set out the Scottish Government’s plans to address human trafficking in Scotl…
13 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to establish a national independent commission on social care funding.
Answer · Shona Robison: Our draft Budget for 2017-18 provides for an additional £107m, bringing the total support available from the NHS through Integration Authorities to protect social care to £357m. In addition, we have committed to work with local authorities, providers, disable…
13 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on each of the 24 recommendations in the Scottish Human Rights Commission report, Universal Periodic Review of Human Rights, and what progress it is making in implementing these.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government participates actively in international human rights monitoring mechanisms, including the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), and welcomes the engagement of both national human rights institutions and civil society organisations. The Sco…
7 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in the last six months to protect and enhance Scottish consumers’ interests, and what progress it has made in establishing a new statutory organisation that will act on behalf of, and support, consumers in Scotland.
Answer · Keith Brown: It is vital that we create a system of consumer protection, competition and regulation in Scotland that is fully aligned with the needs of our citizens and businesses and which improves people's lives. We have newly devolved, although limited, consumer and co…
7 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the finding in the Scottish Consumer Insight Report 2016 from Which? that 21% of consumers do not take action with their energy provider when they experience problems.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government believe that consumers must be empowered to take action when things go wrong and that is why we are committed to using new powers on consumer advocacy and advice to ensure the interests of Scotland’s consumers are protected, including …
7 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the finding in the Scottish Consumer Insight Report 2016 from Which?, that 44% of households experienced broadband service problems in the last two years, and that two in five said that they took no action to try to resolve these.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government is committed to using its new powers on consumer advocacy and advice to ensure the interests of Scotland's consumers are protected, and we welcome Which's continued work to champion and protect those interests. Earlier this year, Ofco…
6 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the statement in the Council of Economic Advisers: Annual Report 2015-16 that the Scottish Government could do more to incentivise greater participation in the Scottish Business Pledge.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government welcomes the advice from the Council of Economic Advisers. A Plan For Scotland: The Scottish Government's Programme For Scotland 2016-17 makes clear that in the year ahead we will continue to raise awareness of the Pledge, and encourag…
6 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the recommendation in its publication, Enterprise and Skills Review: Report on Phase 1, which states that “it may be reasonable to seek certain attributions or contributions from companies seeking and receiving public sector [enterprise] support”, what attributes and contribu…
Answer · Keith Brown: These issues will be considered as part of phase two of the review, and as part of this process we will consider how our aspirations for inclusive growth are best supported.
6 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its assessment is of how effectively Section 122 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, regarding forced marriage, is operating.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government believes that everyone in Scotland who can marry or enter into a civil partnership has the right to do so freely and without coercion and the legislation in Scotland is there to ensure choice, safety and protection. Section 122 of th…
6 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) charges and (b) prosecutions there have been in Scotland for offences of forced marriage under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, broken down by year, including the current year to date, and how this compares with the use of forced marriage protection or…
Answer · Angela Constance: No charges have been reported to COPFS under s122 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 and there has therefore been no prosecutions. Police Scotland has advised that since 28 March 2012 there have been 16 applications for Forced Marriage…
6 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-27438, S4W-29576 and S5W-00415 by Michael Matheson on 22 September 2015, 10 February 2016 and 14 June 2016 respectively, whether it will provide an update on the progress of developing guidance on the use of restorative justice, and when the guida…
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government is committed to publishing guidance relating to restorative justice as soon as possible. We are developing this guidance in collaboration with restorative justice experts and those with expertise in dealing with victims issues to ensur…
6 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) criminal offences, (b) circumstances and (c) descriptions of offender it anticipates will cause a victim surcharge to be imposed.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-05385 on 16 December 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusin…
6 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered using alternative providers for the victim surcharge fund.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-05385 on 16 December 2016. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusines…
6 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in establishing the victim surcharge fund, and when it expects the fund to (a) be operational and (b) issue its first payment.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Work continues to finalise arrangements for the establishment and administration of the victim surcharge fund. This work has included further detailed consideration of viable options for delivery and the potential role of third sector or other organisations i…
6 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what date it advised local authorities of its plan to abolish the board of Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
Answer · Keith Brown: The report on Phase 1 of the Scottish Government's Enterprise and Skills Review, which outlined Ministers' decisions to create closer alignment between enterprise and skills support services was published on 25 October.