Mark McDonald

30 Jul 2015 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the non-profit distributing (NPD) pipeline of infrastructure investment.

Answer · John Swinney: I advised Parliament in February that recent updates to relevant Eurostat technical guidance on Statistical Accounts (the European System of Accounts – ESA 10), which came into effect in September 2014, could have implications for the non-profit distributing…

9 Jul 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the average saving has been for band D homes since the introduction of the council tax freeze, also broken down by local authority area.

Answer · John Swinney: The cumulative savings for an average Band D household across Scotland as a result of the council tax freeze over the period 2008-16 has been around £1,200. The impact for each local authority area is set out in the following table. This is based on the addit…

2 Jul 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the small business bonus scheme has had on employment.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of Scotland’s small businesses as employers, and accordingly business rates relief is targeted under the small business bonus scheme to offer them significant support. The small business bonus scheme is est…

2 Jul 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many women have registered as self-employed in each year since 2008, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The statistics available are provided in the following table. The statistics are sourced from the Annual Population Survey. Female Self-Employment Level by Local Authority Area, aged 16+, Scotland, 2008 to 2014 Local Authority Area (Residence Based) 2008…

11 Jun 2015 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has for further extension of the coverage of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: In line with the government’s commitment to openness and transparency I have launched today (12 June 2015) a public consultation on further extension of coverage of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 to organisations which the Scottish Government …

8 Jun 2015 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the impact of the Chancellor's in-year budget revisions will be on Scotland.

1 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it offers to mothers who feed their babies by bottle rather than breastfeeding.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The support we offer to mothers who feed their babies by bottle rather than breastfeeding consists of: Information giving and demonstration of the techniques associated with formula feeding through maternity and health visiting services via the Scottish An…

1 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to recent reports suggesting that some mothers who feed their babies by bottle rather than breastfeeding consider that they have been subject to intolerant attitudes.

Answer · Maureen Watt: We are aware of the recent reports. Our efforts are focused on providing all pregnant women and mothers with information to help them decide on the right feeding choice for them and their babies. Where individuals feel that they have not been supported well i…

1 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that there is adequate support provided to mothers who feed their babies by bottle rather than breastfeeding, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Answer · Maureen Watt: We do consider that there is adequate support provided to all pregnant women to help them decide on the feeding choice that is right for them and their babies. That support is set out in the answer to question S4W-25884 on 11 June 2015. All answers to written…

18 May 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it spends per head of population on enterprise and economic development and how this compares with the UK Government.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Spending by the Scottish Government, associated bodies and agencies, and Scottish local government on enterprise and economic development in 2013-14 is estimated at £834 million. This is equivalent to approximately £160 per person. Spending by the UK Governm…

13 May 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people in each local authority area have received Partnership Action for Continuing Employment support in each month since April 2014.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The information requested in respect of how many people in each local authority area have received Partnership Action for Continuing Employment support in each month since April 2014 is available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 56…

11 May 2015 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the implications for Scotland would be of the abolition of the Human Rights Act by the UK Government.

13 Apr 2015 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact on the lowest-income households in Scotland of the spending reductions required to achieve the targets laid out in the Charter for Budget Responsibility.

29 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has issued to NHS boards on how to respond to parental refusal to have a child vaccinated.

Answer · Maureen Watt: Staff involved in vaccination programmes are trained to answer any questions that parents may have. The Scottish Immunisation Programme also provides a range of materials and information sources which can enable informed discussion/decisions about whether or …

29 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has issued to NHS boards on promoting the importance of childhood vaccinations.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Immunisation Programme is supported by a range of materials and literature (leaflets, posters, educational packs), resources (DVDs, stickers for children), marketing campaigns (eg TV and radio adverts) which highlight the seriousness of the vario…

29 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the uptake of the MMR vaccination has been in each NHS board area in each of last 10 years, expressed as a percentage.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The first dose of MMR vaccine is routinely given at 12 to 13 months of age and the second dose at around three years four months to five years of age. Uptake rates of one dose of MMR vaccine by 24 months of age and five years of age are shown in Table 1 and T…

25 Mar 2015 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to consult on legislation to put the Scottish Fiscal Commission on a statutory footing.

Answer · John Swinney: I have published a consultation paper today inviting comments on a draft Scottish Fiscal Commission Bill.

16 Mar 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has issued to planning authorities regarding the provision or expansion of primary healthcare facilities as a consequence of residential development.

2 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much public money would be available for (a) Scotland and (b) the rest of the UK from 2015 to 2020 if UK departmental spending was increased by 0.5% each year, and what information it has regarding how this compares with the spending plans (i) announced by the UK Government and (ii) …

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government proposed that UK public spending on day-to-day public services is increased in real terms by 0.5% from 2016-17 to 2019-20. Using Office for Budgetary Responsibility forecasts of the UK economy, it was estimated that this would provide…

2 Mar 2015 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will update the Government Economic Strategy.

Answer · John Swinney: Scotland’s Economic Strategy was published today and is available at www.gov.scot/economicstrategy. The strategy sets out how the Scottish Government and its partners will deliver on its vision to make Scotland a more successful country, with opportunities …

18 Feb 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the effectiveness of the single use carrier bag charge.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Early reports from some major retailers indicate reductions in bag use of up to 90% since the introduction of the charge. This indicates that the charge has been very effective and, encouragingly, many shoppers are now in the habit of reusing bags. We expect …

9 Feb 2015 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the average length of time taken to process applications for Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme membership for people seeking employment in the care sector.

30 Jan 2015 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the non-profit distributing (NPD) pipeline of infrastructure investment.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government has placed infrastructure investment at the heart of its economic strategy, delivering jobs, increased economic activity and assets of benefit to the people of Scotland. Through our programme of revenue-financed NPD/hub projects, we ha…

26 Jan 2015 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will provide an update on the work of the Energy Jobs Taskforce.

19 Jan 2015 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to assist people with autistic spectrum disorder to gain employment.

6 Jan 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with local authorities that have yet to submit a draft or completed autism strategy.

17 Dec 2014 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the public information costs associated with Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland.

Answer · John Swinney: Information on costs of public information activity related to Scotland’s Future was released in answer to parliamentary questions S4W-21283 on 22 May 2014 and S4W-22236 on 20 August 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Pa…

17 Dec 2014 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the costs of events associated with Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland.

Answer · John Swinney: Information relating to costs of events held in 2013-14 was included in answer to parliamentary question S4W-21284 on 22 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be f…

17 Dec 2014 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the distribution of and costs associated with Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland.

Answer · John Swinney: Information relating to the distribution and costs associated with Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland was released in answer to parliamentary question S4W-20080 on 11 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availab…

9 Dec 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government to what extent small businesses in Aberdeen have benefitted from the small business bonus scheme.