Gordon MacDonald

18 Jun 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland’s Strategic review of the Scottish Police Authority, which was published earlier this month and sets out the progress made by the Scottish Police Authority in providing oversight and scrutiny of policing in Sc…

12 Jun 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of inflation on health and social care services in Scotland.

5 Jun 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to support entrepreneurs and start-up businesses.

20 May 2024 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the potential implications are for Scotland's economy of the UK Government's immigration policy changes for graduates.

23 Apr 2024 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress of the UK Government’s Project Gigabit programme in Scotland.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government will play a key role in delivering Project Gigabit procurements in Scotland. The Scottish Government will lead delivery of local (Type A) and regional (Type B) activity, providing opportunities for alternative network suppliers in Scot…

19 Mar 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact that stagnation has had on Scotland's public finances, in light of the final report of the Resolution Foundation's The Economy 2030 Inquiry, which found that the UK is a decade and a half into a period of stagnation.

23 Jan 2024 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has made to the UK Government regarding any medicine shortages in Scotland.

20 Dec 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how its Budget for 2024-25 will support Police Scotland.  

8 Nov 2023 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide further details of the timeline of requests made of it by the UK COVID-19 Inquiry in relation to informal communications.

Answer · Shona Robison: Further to the Deputy First Minister’s statement in Parliament on 31 October and the subsequent session of First Minister’s Questions on 2 November, this written answer sets out further clarification of the timeline of requests made for documentation relating…

26 Sep 2023 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its timeframe is for the implementation of the Strategic Framework for Scotland’s Early Learning and School Age Childcare Profession.

29 Jun 2023 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on proposals for Investment Zones in Scotland.

Answer · Neil Gray: Following detailed discussions between the Scottish and UK Governments, we have today announced that there will be two Investment Zones in Scotland, to be designed and delivered on the basis of a partnership approach alongside the successful Regional Economic…

6 Jun 2023 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many paramedic students have accessed the Paramedic, Nursing and Midwifery Student Bursary since its introduction in July 2021.

11 May 2023 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide an update to the Parliament on NHS Lothian’s escalated position in relation to the delivery of mental health services.

Answer · Michael Matheson: NHS Lothian has made significant progress in the area of Mental Health since it was escalated to Stage 3 of the NHS Board performance escalation framework in July 2019. The Scottish Government requested a formal recovery plan with clear milestones and has pr…

9 May 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many frontline police officers have been trained to use, and equipped with, naloxone.

24 Apr 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact it anticipates that the decision by the UK Government to withdraw the VAT Retail Export Scheme will have on international tourist spend in Scotland.

12 Apr 2023 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent analysis by the International Monetary Fund, which predicts that the UK economy's performance in 2023 will be the worst among the G20 economies, what assessment it has made of the potential impact of this in Scotland.

1 Feb 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to support that it can provide for households in Scotland, what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding energy affordability.

12 Jan 2023 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide an update on Green Freeports.

Answer · John Swinney: Having welcomed five very competitive bids in June, and following a rigorous assessment process, the Scottish Government can today confirm that the two Green Freeport locations selected jointly by Scottish and UK Ministers are Inverness and Cromarty Firth and…

21 Dec 2022 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

29 Nov 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to third sector organisations providing services to the education sector.

23 Nov 2022 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Supreme Court judgement on the reference by the Lord Advocate to the Supreme Court on whether the Scottish Parliament has the power to legislate for an independence referendum.

Answer · Angus Robertson: The Supreme Court has today handed down its judgment on the reference by the Lord Advocate. The Scottish Government will take time to reflect carefully on the Supreme Court’s judgment and our response to its contents. The Supreme Court judgment can be acces…

16 Nov 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of recently reported warnings by the Bank of England that the UK is about to enter the longest recession since the 1930s, what assessment it has made of the impact that this could have on its Covid Recovery Strategy.

19 Oct 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to tackle skills shortages.

30 Sep 2022 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to increase transparency regarding the Crown consent process and how bills apply to the Crown.

Answer · George Adam: Scottish Government policy is that legislation should apply to the Crown in the same way as any other person unless there is a legitimate reason for a different approach. It is the Scottish Government’s intention that we will make clear in a Bill’s accompanyi…

23 Aug 2022 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when details will be made available regarding year six of the Flexible Workforce Development Fund, and when it will commence.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Year Six of the Flexible Workforce Development Fund is ready to commence in line with the new 2022-23 academic year. An evaluation of FWDF is near completion and we expect to publish the report in the coming weeks. In advance of this, minor changes are being…

21 Jun 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recently reported views of Professor Catherine Barnard regarding the impact on Scotland’s food and drink exports of a potential trade war between the UK and the EU.

31 May 2022 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its rail decarbonisation programme and the rolling programme of rail electrification schemes.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The first phase of a rail decarbonisation scheme to electrify the Fife route (Haymarket to Dalmeny section), is moving to construction. Work on this estimated £55 million scheme will begin in June 2022 with the section between Haymarket and Dalmeny. It is du…

30 May 2022 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has acted on the recommendations of the Information Commissioner’s Office, following the reprimand issued on 25 February 2022.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Following receipt of the reprimand letter, the Scottish Government and NHS National Services Scotland immediately began addressing the recommendations set out by the ICO. Action was taken against every recommendation and the Permanent Secretary wrote to the I…

9 May 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures are available to stakeholders seeking to manage invasive species and mitigate their impact.

9 May 2022 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what legislative consent memorandums it anticipates lodging in the Parliament in connection with the legislative programme of the UK Government announced in the Queen’s Speech on 10 May 2022.

Answer · George Adam: In accordance with the Sewel Convention and in line with Rule 9B of Standing Orders, the UK Parliament should not legislate with regard to devolved matters – that is on matters within the legislative competence of the Parliament or which change the competence…