Mark McDonald

25 Feb 2016 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the options for establishing a Scottish business development bank.

Answer · John Swinney: I have considered the context and opportunities for establishing a Scottish business development bank. The case for action, and identification of areas for progress, was described in our report, The Market for SME Finance in Scotland, published in August 2015…

23 Feb 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what training is available for health professionals to provide healthcare to people on the autistic spectrum.

1 Feb 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to support the Aberdeen economy. 

25 Jan 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the progress of the Scottish Strategy for Autism.

25 Jan 2016 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent research by Pinsent Masons regarding the North Sea oil and gas industry.

20 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many accredited living wage employers there have been in each local authority area in each year since accreditation was introduced.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has provided over £280,000 in funding to the Poverty Alliance to administer the Scottish Living Wage Accreditation Initiative. As a result of this work there are now (as at 28 January 2016) 460 Scots-based living wage accredited employ…

20 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many companies in each local authority area have signed up to the Scottish Business Pledge.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The information requested is given in the table entitled Business Pledge – Statistical overview – January 2016, a copy of which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 57653).

11 Jan 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve cultural opportunities for people from deprived areas.

11 Jan 2016 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what recent discussions the Scottish Government has had with the UK Government regarding the future of renewables.

5 Jan 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the presumption of mainstream education.

9 Nov 2015 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on plans for publishing the 2016-17 draft budget.

Answer · John Swinney: The Chancellor of the Exchequer confirmed his intention to publish the UK Spending Review on 25 November 2015. Given that around 80% of the Scottish budget continues to be directly determined by decisions taken in Westminster and the application of the Barn…

9 Nov 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance is provided to NHS boards on providing appropriate training to enable doctors and midwives to support parents affected by miscarriage or stillbirth.

Answer · Maureen Watt: We fully expect health professionals to provide tailored care and support to people who have sadly experienced miscarriage or stillbirth and there are a number of measures in place to help boards provide appropriate training to enable doctors and midwives to …

9 Nov 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how many people are employed by organisations that have signed the Scottish Business Pledge.

Answer · John Swinney: Statistical data from the Inter-Departmental Business Register indicates that the 151 businesses that have made a commitment to the Scottish Business Pledge have approximately 38,230 employees. This analysis will be updated quarterly and published on the Scot…

19 Oct 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its plans are for carers allowance when it is devolved.

7 Oct 2015 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to implement the Renewable Heat Action Plan in order to deliver its target to meet 11% of heat demand from renewable sources by 2020.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I am pleased to announce that I laid a report in Parliament today (9 October 2015) which provides an update on actions the Scottish Government is taking to help us towards our renewable heat target. Copies of the report are available on the Scottish Governmen…

28 Sep 2015 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what steps the Scottish Government is taking to increase business innovation.

22 Sep 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

16 Sep 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting primary care in Aberdeen.

3 Sep 2015 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the cost was of the referendum on independence.

Answer · John Swinney: The cost of running the Scottish independence referendum which took place on 18 September 2014 was £15.8 million. A breakdown of this total cost is set out in the following table: Financial Memorandum (£,000) Actual outturn (£,000) Chief Counting Office…

3 Sep 2015 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of counting officers’ costs for running the poll at the referendum on independence.

Answer · John Swinney: The agreed claims from counting officers, including the counting officers’ services, incurred in running the poll in individual local government areas were as follows: Local government area Total agree claim (£) Aberdeen City 495,002 Aberdeenshire 572,6…

27 Aug 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether there are any requirements on charities that no longer fulfil the purposes for which they were founded to dispose of assets.

Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-27243 on 22 September 2015. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentar…

27 Aug 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it can take in relation to charities that no longer fulfil the purposes for which they were founded.

Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-27243 on 22 September 2015. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamenta…

27 Aug 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what checks it makes to ensure that registered charities continue to fulfil the purposes for which they were founded.

Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-27243 on 22 September 2015. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentar…

27 Aug 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what requirements exist for registered charities to fulfil the purposes for which they were founded.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, the Act is the statutory framework for charities operating in Scotland. The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) are the independent regulator and registrar for over 23,500 Scottish charitie…

26 Aug 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many living wage-accredited employers there have been in each year since 2013.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Since the Living Wage accreditation scheme started, and up until 31 March 2014, there were 24 Accredited Living Wage Employers in Scotland. From April 2014 to 31 March 2015, there were 133, and since the start of April 2015, there have been 159 these figures …

26 Aug 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many living wage-accredited employers there are, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: There are currently 318 Accredited Living Wage Employers in Scotland (correct as of 9th September 2015), details of which can be found at http://scottishlivingwage.org/accredited. Local Authority No. of Accredited Living Wage Employers Aberdeen 11 Aberd…

17 Aug 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether abandoned vehicles must be left in place for a set period before being uplifted and removed.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The procedures and time limits depend on the circumstances in which the vehicle has been abandoned, and are set out in the Removal and Disposal of Vehicles Regulations 1986. Where local authorities are subject to the duty in section 3 of the Refuse Disposal A…

17 Aug 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which bodies are responsible for the removal of abandoned vehicles and whether there is a maximum time limit for such action to be taken.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Section 3 of the Refuse Disposal Amenity Act 1978 places a duty on local authorities to remove abandoned vehicles on certain land. Where a vehicle is causing an obstruction or is dangerous, removal is principally the responsibility of the police. There is no …

17 Aug 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it issues to the relevant bodies regarding the removal of abandoned vehicles.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Removal of abandoned vehicles is a matter for local authorities and the police. The Scottish Government has not issued guidance. Keep Scotland Beautiful has published guidance on the relevant legislation, which can be found at http://www.keepscotlandbeautiful…

13 Aug 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the number of people in Scotland employed by living wage accredited businesses.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Research published by KPMG in October 2014, indicated that Scotland has a higher proportion of employees paid the Living Wage compared to both the UK as a whole and each devolved UK nation. The report estimated that approximately 81% of earners in Scotland we…