Parliamentary questions
Mark Griffin
2,186 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
10 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce legislation to place a duty on public bodies to prevent homelessness in its proposed Housing Bill, and whether that bill will be Introduced in 2021-22.
Answer · Shona Robison: The recommendations we received from the Prevention Review Group are comprehensive and are likely to require significant updates to existing legislation as well as the development of new duties for the public sector. We are currently considering the most appr…
10 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to reintroduce the pre-action requirements that private landlords must undertake before evicting a tenant with rent arrears in place, before they are made permanent in 2022, as it has committed to in Housing to 2040.
Answer · Shona Robison: In response to the pandemic the Scottish Government brought in a number of emergency legislative changes including the pre-action requirements that private landlords must undertake before applying to the First-tier Tribunal (Housing and Property Chamber) to e…
10 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to each of the recommendations made by the Scotland Prevention Review Group.
Answer · Shona Robison: We commissioned this work in response to the recommendations the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Group made for ending homelessness. We very much welcome the Prevention Review Group recommendations and we are grateful for the commitment Crisis and othe…
10 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it conducted a consultation on the use of the term "No Designation" when it prescribed the marriage notice application (M10) for same-sex male couples; if so, what responses were received, and where any such responses are published.
Answer · Angus Robertson: The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 made a number of changes to the law on marriage and civil partnership, including in particular to allow same sex couples to marry. The marriage notice form and other registration forms were amended by the…
10 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to amend the prescribed marriage notice application (M10) to allow same-sex male couples to be legally referred to as "groom".
Answer · Angus Robertson: The marriage notice (M10 form), or notice of intention to marry, is set out in a statutory instrument made by the Registrar General for Scotland, or their deputy, with the consent of the Scottish Ministers. Each party to the intended marriage can select in th…
10 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to consult on providing same-sex married couples with a right to modify previously issued wedding schedules and certificates to use the term "groom" in place of "no designation".
9 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what is its response to the Association of Local Authority Chief Housing Officers’ report, The Right To Adequate Housing: Are We Focusing On What Matters?,which estimates that 547,000 households fall short of being adequately housed for two or more reasons
Answer · Shona Robison: We welcome this report and will review its findings in detail. We are absolutely committed to working with local government to support the realisation of the right to adequate housing. In March 2021, the National Taskforce for Human Rights Leadership publish…
9 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Construction Industry Training Board paper, Construction Skills Network Labour Market Intelligence Report, which estimates that 26,250 construction workers will be needed in Scotland by 2025, and what support it can provide to that sector to identify and train…
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Construction is a core sector of the Scottish economy which supports 143,000 jobs across Scotland. The report shows this is projected to continue to grow and recognises the need for a skilled workforce to support the sector. Scottish Government is already ta…
9 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any workforce shortages in the housebuilding sector that is impacting on the construction of affordable homes, and what support it can provide to that sector to identify and train new staff.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: We are aware of the current shortages of both labour and materials facing parts of the construction sector. We are working with Construction Scotland and others to understand and address the factors behind this, which include the impacts of Covid and EU Exit.…
11 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the evaluation of its Workplace Equality Funds 2018/19 and 2019/20.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The evaluation of the Workplace Equality Fund for the years 2018-19 and 2019-20 is underway. The outcome of this work will be publicly available early in the next parliament.
11 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) (a) are still to complete their transition to the relaunched Scottish Business Pledge and (b) have indicated they will not be transitioning.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Information about the size of business for Scottish Business Pledge members was not recorded prior to May 2018 and the total number of Business Pledge members that are a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) is therefore not available. Of the 698 Business P…
11 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) have (a) membership of and (b) transitioned to the relaunched Scottish Business Pledge, broken down by (i) public and (ii) private sector status.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Information about the size of businesses which are Scottish Business Pledge members was not recorded prior to May 2018 and the total number of Business Pledge members that are a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) is not available. Since May 2018, 175 SME…
10 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) score and (b) evaluation was of each the 72 Scottish Enterprise suppliers that were asked to demonstrate fair work practice in line with the Fair Work First criteria and were awarded regulated contracts worth a total of £23.8 million in 2019-20.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Scottish Enterprise undertook a regulated procurement process for 72 separate contracts in FY 2019/2020, resulting in the appointment of 60 unique suppliers. The application of Fair Work First was considered for all tenders, and was applied and scored on 17. …
10 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the statement is that it requests recipients of the South of Scotland Enterprise fund to commit to when outlining their commitment to Fair Work First.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) promotes Fair Work to the businesses that it works with. Applicants for SOSE funds are required to evidence how they are addressing the Fair Work Agenda. In assessing this evidence, SOSE identifies where improvements can be…
10 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what monitoring it undertakes to determine the outcome of asking employers to adopt the Fair Work First criteria in relation to grants, funding and procurement.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Fair Work First milestones are agreed as part of the grant application and will be monitored as part of standard grant monitoring processes. In Scottish Government contracts Fair Work First is applied and monitored, on a case-by-case basis taking into accoun…
10 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the practical application is of the Fair Work First criteria for grants, funding and contracts.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Fair Work First is the key mechanism for embedding fair work practices in workplaces across Scotland. Fair Work First criteria is being applied to public sector grants, other funding and contracts where it is relevant to do so, and asks employers to commit to…
10 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of procurements for public contracts it has not considered (a) relevant and (b) proportionate to apply Fair Work First criteria.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government include Fair Work criteria wherever it is relevant and proportionate to do so. A Scottish Procurement Policy Note 03/2021, was published on 15 March 2021 on the implementation of the Fair Work First criteria within procurement process…
10 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which public bodies have not yet adopted Fair Work agreements with the relevant trade unions.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government Fair Work agreement covers the following bodies:Accountant in BankruptcyDisclosure ScotlandEducation ScotlandSocial Security ScotlandScottish Public Pensions AgencyStudent Award Agency for ScotlandTransport ScotlandCrown Office and Pro…
10 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many employers have (a) registered for, (b) used and received feedback, advice and actions from, and (c) updated their progress in, the Fair Work Assessment Tool.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Fair Work Employer Support Tool was launched on 29 January. Less than 2 months post launch, 107 employers have registered to use the tool and 98 have started assessment. Fifty-five employers have completed, received feedback and accessed the online advice…
10 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government who sits on the Fair Work and Gender Ministerial Working Group; on what dates it has met, and whether it will publish the minutes of its meetings.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Ministerial Working Group for Fair Work Action Plans is chaired by me and the remainder of the current membership of the group is as follows :Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and ScienceCabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Governmen…
3 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that the devolution of employment injuries assistance will help advance gender equality and non-discrimination.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: In line with the Scottish Government’s duty to advance equality of opportunity and eliminate unlawful discrimination under the Equality Act (2010), an Equalities Impact Assessment will be undertaken specifically for Employment Injury Assistance (EIA). The Sco…
3 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what data is being collected on exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace, and whether this is disaggregated by protected characteristics.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Public Health Scotland host a Case Management System which holds the contact details of every person who has tested positively for COVID-19. The information collected will include contact details for the person who has tested positive, information on workplac…
3 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the reasons behind the take-up rate by women of claims for industrial injuries disablement benefit, in light of figures suggesting that, since the publication of the Equality Impact Assessment for the Social Security (Scotland) Bill in June 2016, this …
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government has undertaken engagement with stakeholders, including experts in occupational health, to begin to understand the reasons behind low take-up rates of Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit by women. Further engagement will be carried …
3 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what work has been carried out regarding the impact of gender on long-COVID symptoms and healthcare.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government supported the development of a rapid clinical guideline on the long-term effects of COVID-19, often described as ‘long COVID’. The guideline was produced jointly by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN), the National I…
1 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-35095 by Michael Matheson on 25 February 2021, how much has been (a) spent on each operator of last resort contingency plan for both franchises and (b) paid to (i) MacRoberts, (ii) Ove Arup and Partners Ltd and (iii) Bramble Hub.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government has a statutory duty under Section 30 of the Railways Act 1993 to ensure that rail services continue to operate. The cost associated with the contingency planning work for the Operator of Last Resort (OLR) for both franchises has cost,…
23 Feb 2021 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many Scottish Child Payment claims it has received for individual children and households, and how many have now been accepted and paid.
22 Feb 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what work it is undertaking to restore face-to-face GP services to the same level as before the COVID-19 restrictions.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-31293 on 4 September 2020. 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…
22 Feb 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-34866 by Jeane Freeman on 11 February 2021, what involvement ministers had in agreeing and publishing the guidance to GPs that advises practices should make every effort to triage all patients by telephone to avoid patients presenting at the practic…
Answer · Jeane Freeman: Scottish Ministers have accepted Public Health Scotland’s clinical advice that practices should make every effort to triage all patients by telephone to avoid patients presenting at the practice unnecessarily. The published guidance is consistent with Scottis…
9 Feb 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will make further emergency funding available until the end of the financial year 2020-21 to support hospices throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, in light of reports of the Welsh Government making an additional £3 million available for this purpose on top of previously announced…
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government is committed to supporting the vital role of Scottish Hospices. In June 2020, we provided £10.1m in emergency funding to hospices to meet in full their funding requests for loss of income during the first lockdown period. On the 24 Ma…
8 Feb 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much the operator of last resort for the ScotRail franchise has cost to date, also broken down by budget line.
Answer · Michael Matheson: An operator of last resort has not been deployed for either of the Scottish Government rail franchises, and therefore there has been no cost incurred by an operator of last resort to date.