Willie Rennie

21 Mar 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported ongoing shortage of social housing since 2007.

21 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made an assessment of the level and nature of financial investment from China in universities in Scotland.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government does not hold data on the level and nature of financial investment from China in universities in Scotland as they are autonomous bodies.

21 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the current overall level of financial investment from China in Scotland.

Answer · Ivan McKee: Information on the value of Chinese inward investments into Scotland can be found in the publicly available report Businesses in Scotland, which shows that there are currently 20 Chinese owned businesses in Scotland, with an estimated employment of 3,910 and …

21 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made an assessment of Scotland’s foreign direct investment in China since the establishment of the Scottish Parliament in 1999.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government does not hold data on the level of foreign direct investment from Scotland into China, or any other market.  

21 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it (a) can take and (b) is taking to ensure that the Consul General of China does not have any undue influence over local or national politics in Scotland.

Answer · Angus Robertson: Safeguarding our democracy is of upmost importance to the Scottish Government. This includes being an open, accessible and transparent government. Public officials, including Ministers, MSPs and councillors, are subject to Code of Conducts which provide a cle…

21 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many Confucius Institute branches are active in universities in Scotland.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: There are currently five Confucius Institutes hosted by universities in Scotland.

21 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of reported concerns that Confucius Institutes may represent a threat to academic freedoms and freedom of expression.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: We are concerned by suggestions of foreign interference in Scottish universities. Our universities are autonomous institutions and the alliances they forge across global academic networks are a matter for them and their governing bodies. However, we expect a…

21 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to determine how many universities in Scotland provide financial support to Confucius Institute branches.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-07563 on 22 April 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committee…

21 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of any reported allegations that the Chinese Communist Party, through student groups on university campuses in Scotland, is seeking to deter certain events from taking place, and, if so, what action has been taken to address this.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-07562 on 19 April 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committee…

21 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any Chinese state influence or interference in universities in Scotland.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-07562 on? 19 April 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committe…

21 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made and action it has taken to ensure that former Hong Kong residents who resettle in Scotland are not subjected to racism or discrimination.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-07510 on 19 April 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committee…

21 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to ensure that former Hong Kong residents who resettle in Scotland are successfully integrated into local communities.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is committed to supporting integration of former Hong Kong residents into our communities. We have published a dedicated British National (Overseas) welcome pack, in both English and Cantonese, on our website. On 9 February, we wrote w…

21 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the economic value that Chinese students who come to Scotland to study bring to (a) universities and (b) the national economy.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: HESA statistics show that Chinese student enrolment in Scottish universities was 18,555 in AY 2020/21. Tuition fee estimates are calculated using HESA Finance data and are based on the average tuition fee paid by all non-EU students. The estimated tuition f…

21 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to meet with former Hong Kong residents who have resettled in Scotland in order to collect feedback on their experiences.

Answer · Shona Robison: As part of our ongoing stakeholder engagement Scottish Government officials have spoken with individuals with lived experience of relocating to Scotland from Hong Kong to inform ongoing policy development on promoting Scotland as an attractive place to live.

21 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it has supported former Hong Kong residents who have resettled in Scotland.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-07557 on 19 April 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committee…

21 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-07058 by Neil Gray on 14 March 2022, whether it will provide further details of the steps that it has taken to ensure that Hong Kong residents coming to the UK through the British National (Overseas) visa scheme are encouraged to resettle in Scotlan…

Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-07513 on 12 April 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committee…

2 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether a public register of all businesses operating within Scottish freeports will be published.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The Green Freeport governance body will need to maintain a record of all the businesses operating, or applying to operate, within the tax site. That record must be kept up-to-date, contain information about the beneficial owner of the business, and be readily…

2 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures are being put in place to prevent Scottish freeports from being used as hubs for money laundering and illicit trade.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The applicant prospectus states that Green Freeport operators must adhere to the OECD Code of Conduct for Clean Free Trade Zones – and the specific anti-illicit trade and security measures therein. In addition they must meet the current obligations set out in…

2 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether there are any plans to create a register of beneficial ownership for firms involved in Scottish freeports to help prevent the freeports from becoming hubs for money laundering and illicit trade.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The governance body of a Green Freeport, which will need to be approved by the Scottish and UK Governments, will be required to maintain a record of all businesses operating, or applying to operate, within the tax site. That record must be kept up-to-date, co…

25 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) co-ordinated support plans, (b) individualised educational programmes and (c) child's plans are in place in each local authority area for children with additional support needs.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: This information is published in tables 6.10, 7.5 and 8.6 of the Pupil Census Supplementary Statistics. The 2021 statistics will be published on 15th March 2022. Statistics for previous years are available at the following link: Pupil census: supplementary s…

25 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it undertakes regular reviews of local authorities and the additional support for learning that they provide for children with additional support needs.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Education (Additional Support for Learning) Act 2004 (as amended) requires education authorities to identify, provide for and to review the additional support needs of their pupils. We support local authorities through the provision of statutory guidance …

24 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last spoke to the owners of the BiFab manufacturing yard.

Answer · Kate Forbes: Scottish Government officials were last in contact with Harland & Wolff, who lease the former BiFab yards of Methil and Arnish in January 2022.

22 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage rise in the financial support available to older people who are in relative or absolute poverty it estimates is required to lift them out of poverty.

Answer · Shona Robison: People who are experiencing financial hardship may be receiving, or be eligible for, a range of financial support services (both direct and in-kind), and the nature and amount of support will depend on individual circumstances. Therefore it is not possible to…

22 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it estimates the percentage rise in the cost of living has been in the last year for older people who are in relative or absolute poverty, including as a result of any increases in inflation, water charges and other costs of living.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government does not hold separate data on the percentage rise in the cost of living for older people who are in relative or absolute poverty. The information below provides an indication. Inflation, as measured by the Consumer Prices Index rose …

22 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many older people who are in relative or absolute poverty it estimates have applied for schemes such as Warmer Homes Scotland and similar government schemes in order to make it through this winter and afford basic needs such as heating and food.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: Eligibility for Warmer Homes Scotland (WHS) does not operate on an “application” basis, but on proxies which are used as an indication of the likelihood of the household living in or being at risk of fuel poverty. Eligible callers to Home Energy Scotland, lo…

22 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many older people who are in relative or absolute poverty have raised concerns with it regarding not being able to afford both heating and food this winter, and what information it has on how many such older people have raised such concerns to stakeholder organisations.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government does not hold information on how many older people who are in relative or absolute poverty have raised concerns about not being able to afford both heating and food this winter. The sources of information below provides indicators of l…

22 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it has taken to ensure that older people receive the £150 council tax rebate announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy on 10 February 2022.

Answer · Tom Arthur: Local authorities have discretion over whether they provide the £150 cost of living payment as a credit to the council tax accounts of eligible households or as a cash payment, with the overriding objective being that payments are made by the end of April 202…

22 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many older people it estimates are currently living in (a) relative and (b) absolute poverty.

Answer · Shona Robison: The information requested can be found in the publication Poverty and Income Inequality in Scotland 2017-20 . This is available online at Poverty and Income Inequality in Scotland 2017-20 (data.gov.scot).  

22 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide the information for 2021 regarding the number of additional support for learning (a) teachers and (b) classroom assistants that there were in each local authority.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: This information will be published on 15 March 2022 as part of the 'Supplementary Statistics on schools in Scotland' statistical release. Data on teachers will be published here Teacher census supplementary statistics - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) . Data on s…

8 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05791 by Clare Haughey on 3 February 2022, which of the suggestions made by the Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland in response to the consultation on the National Guidance for Child Protection were (a) taken into consideration and put…

Answer · Clare Haughey: The Scottish Government welcomed engagement with the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland during the revision of the National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland. The Commissioner’s Office provided permission to publish their response to th…