Liam McArthur

5 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when ministers last met the board of Highlands and Islands Enterprise to discuss the restructuring of the board.

Answer · Keith Brown: Fergus Ewing MSP, the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Connectivity, met with the Chair and Board of Highlands and Island Enterprise on 2 December 2016.

5 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comment made by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work on 1 December 2016 (Official Report, c.7) regarding the future of the Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) board, how HIE’s board members will be involved and “lead” discussions about future governanc…

Answer · Keith Brown: This Government has made it clear that we will maintain the dedicated support including HIE’s strengthening communities remit which is locally based, managed and directed by HIE and protects the unique services that HIE delivers for our Highlands and Islands …

5 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its policies on animal welfare, what its position is on a complete ban on trade in ivory products being introduced and whether it has discussed this with the UK Government; what information it has regarding trade involving ivory in Scotland over the last 10 years, and whethe…

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The trade in endangered species, including ivory and ivory products, is controlled under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES). CITES aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of animals and plants d…

5 Dec 2016 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to reduce the number of “near misses” that are being recorded by police control rooms.

29 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5O-00370 by John Swinney on 23 November 2016 (Official Report, c. 6), who will be responsible for appraising, monitoring and evaluating a range of performance measures of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) following the abolition of the HIE board.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-05194 on 15 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/parliamentarybusine…

29 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5O-00370 by John Swinney on 23 November 2016 (Official Report, c. 6), what impact the abolition of the Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) board will have on HIE's budget, and whether savings will be made.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-05194 on 15 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/parliamentarybusine…

29 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5O-00370 by John Swinney on 23 November 2016 (Official Report, c. 6), what impact the abolition of the board of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) will have on (a) businesses, (b) Business Gateway, (c) local authorities, (d) local HIE offices, (e) …

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-05194 on 15 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…

29 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5O-00370 by John Swinney on 23 November 2016 (Official Report, c. 6), whether Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) will retain its strengthening communities remit and, if so, what action it will take to ensure that HIE will continue to exercise this …

Answer · Fergus Ewing: This Government has made it clear that we will maintain the dedicated support including HIE’s strengthening communities remit which is locally based, managed and directed by HIE and protects the unique services that HIE delivers for our Highlands and Islands …

29 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5O-00370 by John Swinney on 23 November 2016 (Official Report, c. 6), how Highlands and Islands Enterprise's (HIE) operating plan will be approved following the abolition of the HIE board.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-05194 on 15 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/parliamentarybusine…

29 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5O-00370 by John Swinney on 23 November 2016 (Official Report, c. 6), to what body the senior management of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) will report following the abolition of the HIE board.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-05194 on 15 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/parliamentarybusine…

29 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5O-00370 by John Swinney on 23 November 2016 (Official Report, c. 6), what will happen to the functions of Highlands and Islands Enterprise's (HIE) (a) Remuneration Committee and (b) Risk and Assurance Committee following the abolition of the HIE board.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-05194 on 15 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/parliamentarybusine…

24 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what risks for Scotland's (a) legal system, (b) police service and (c) (i) role in international and judicial cooperation and (ii) intelligence sharing post-Brexit were identified at its EU justice summit on 24 November 2016.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Summit focused discussion around 4 high level themes of Law Enforcement and Criminal Law; Civil Law and its impact on participation in the Single Market; EU law and the Role of the Court of Justice of the EU; and engagement with the UK government as oppos…

24 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what matters were discussed at its EU justice summit on 24 November 2016; what new information from experts it obtained, and whether it will publish the minutes.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The discussion followed 4 high level themes of Law Enforcement and Criminal Law; Civil Law and its impact on participation in the Single Market; EU law and the Role of the Court of Justice of the EU; and engagement with the UK government. Contributions were …

22 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to enable prisoners to participate in outdoor education programmes, such as the John Muir Award.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: SPS delivers an outdoor education programme in conjunction with the John Muir Trust at HMP Open Estate, Castle Huntly. Over the last 5 years…

22 Nov 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide additional support to help develop innovation in the tidal and wave energy sectors.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government has a long and proud history of supporting the development of marine energy technologies and we remain strongly committed to the wave and tidal energy sectors. In a year when the marine energy sector has made outstanding progress, it …

21 Nov 2016 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that the Chinese company, SinoFortone, is willing to reopen investment discussions, what steps it will take to ensure that any investment is transparent.

18 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support is being provided to civilian staff working in Police Scotland control rooms, in light of reports that a third of them took long-term sick leave during 2015-16.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The overall absence rate for all civilian staff, as reported to the SPA Board in August 2016, was 4.8%, which is a 0.1% reduction in comparison with quarter one last year. The welfare of police staff and police officers is taken very seriously by Police Scot…

18 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many civilian jobs it expects to be lost as a result of Police Scotland's budget for 2016-17.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. The Policing 2026 project being led by the Scottish Police Authority and Police Scotland is looking to identify the future demands of Scottish policing, as well as the shape and size of the workforce ne…

18 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact “justifiable assault” has on children.

18 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to minimise the number of police officers and civilian staff experiencing mental ill-health.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The wellbeing of police officers and staff is a matter for Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority. Police Scotland are currently embarking on the delivery of its largest ever training programme for police officers and police staff which will be foc…

18 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on an independent review being undertaken into the cancellation of the Police Scotland i6 project.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The results of the independent review being undertaken by Audit Scotland into the cancellation of the Police Scotland i6 project will be a matter for the Scottish Police Authority. It is important that the Scottish Police Authority carefully considers how be…

17 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people in Scotland have been (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted each year under the Computer Misuse Act 1990.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The number of people prosecuted and convicted in Scotland under the Computer Misuse Act 1990 is shown in the following table People prosecuted under Computer Misuse Act 1990¹, 2007-08 to 2014-15 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 201…

17 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions for (i) cyber-enabled crimes (fraud and theft) and (ii) cybercrimes there have been in each year since 2010-11.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-04784 on 29 November 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…

17 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-02697 by Kevin Stewart on 21 September 2016, whether it will provide a breakdown of the amount provided each year expressed in real terms.

Answer · Angela Constance: A full breakdown of Scottish Government Equality Budget funding for violence against women is available online at: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/People/Equality/violence-women/VAWFund2012-15 (for years 2012-15) https://beta.gov.scot/publications/vaw-funding-15…

17 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) cyber-enabled crimes (fraud and theft) and (b) cybercrimes have been reported in each year since 2010-11.

Answer · Michael Matheson: This information is not held centrally although the Scottish Government recognises that work is required to improve the evidence base on cybercrime and we are working with Police Scotland on how best to clearly define, record and report on cyber-related and c…

17 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-03129 by Michael Matheson on 5 October 2016, whether it will provide (a) a breakdown of the funds that Police Scotland is investing and (b) further information on the progress of the hubs it is introducing in to tackle cybercrime.

Answer · Michael Matheson: This is an operational matter for Police Scotland and I have asked the Chief Constable to write to the member with the information requested.

17 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussion it has had with the UK Government regarding introducing legislation to update the Computer Misuse Act 1990.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government (SG) had discussions with the UK Government during 2014-15 regarding amendments to the Computer Misuse Act 1990 (CMA 1990) which were introduced under the UK Government’s Serious Crime Act 2015. SG liaised with the UK Home Office on t…

16 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of alcohol licence applications being lodged by online distributors that can distribute across the UK, what its position is on how locally-led licensing regimes can respond to online sales.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 makes provision for the licensing of premises in Scotland where alcohol is sold remotely, for example, by means of telephone, fax or internet and despatched from Scottish premises. For internet sales a premises licence is re…

8 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of its Public Wireless Programme investment by local authority area.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government launched its Public Wireless Programme in August 2015 with a remit to engage and collaborate with Scottish public bodies to develop best practice guidance on deploying wireless connectivity as well as making investment available for ne…

7 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government on the exemption from business rates of rooftop solar cells and panels, particularly self-supply and what the outcome was.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government has had no recent discussions with the UK Government on the existing plant and machinery exemptions relating to power generation relying on a solar power source.