Gordon MacDonald

9 May 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Equalities and Human Rights Commission regarding whether the recent and proposed bank closures contravene the Equalities Act 2010.

2 May 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support (a) it and (b) Scottish Enterprise has provided to the Scottish brewing industry in each year since 2008.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Since 2008, the following support has been provided to the Scottish Brewing Sector: Year Scottish Government – Food Processing, Marketing and Co-operation Grant Awards* Scottish Enterprise Total 2008 - - - 2009 - - - 2010 - - - 2011 - - - …

2 May 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many brewing industry (a) local units and (b) enterprises there have been in each year since 2008.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The latest figures held by the Scottish Government show that: Manufacture of Beer, Local Units and Enterprises, Scotland March 2008-2017  2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Local Unit Count 40 45 40 45 55 60 75 80 100 110…

21 Mar 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to help Edinburgh achieve its ambition to become the data capital of Europe.

7 Mar 2018 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has invested in the Schools for the Future programme since 2011.

24 Jan 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it meets the housing demand of older tenants with mobility issues.

19 Jun 2017 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Queensferry Crossing will open to traffic.

Answer · Keith Brown: Thanks to a dedicated workforce, work has continued to make very good progress in all areas of the Queensferry Crossing and its approach roads over the past three months, in spite of the challenges that the weather has presented. This has allowed the contract…

12 Jun 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it promotes creative learning among children and young people, including encouraging their participation in music, dance, film and the arts.

24 Apr 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have appeared before the Children’s Hearing System in the last year as a result of youth disorder in the Edinburgh area.

Answer · Mark McDonald: In calendar year 2016, Scottish Children's Reporter Administration information shows that 199 Edinburgh children under 18 were referred to the Reporter on offence grounds. 19 appeared before a children’s hearing in the period. The other cases were either alre…

20 Mar 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact EU funding has on Scottish public finances.

Answer · Derek Mackay: EU funding benefits Scotland significantly, supporting jobs, delivering infrastructure, sustaining rural communities, providing valuable support for the farming and fishing industries and delivering research funding for universities. The current EU funding …

3 Mar 2017 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will respond to the Scottish Veterans Commissioner’s report, The Veterans Community - Employability, Skills and Learning, which was published on 3 November 2016.

Answer · Keith Brown: I have written today to the Scottish Veterans Commissioner in response to his third report published on 3 November 2016, The Veterans Community - Employability, Skills and Learning. A copy of the response is available in the Scottish Parliament’s Reference …

27 Feb 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on protecting additional places for widening access and articulation schemes to ensure that targets set by the Commission on Widening Access are not missed.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government has already invested £128 million over 4 years in widening access and articulation places and will continue to invest more than £51 million each year to support these places going forward. The Scottish Funding Council has made clear …

18 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has made of the impact of Brexit on Scotland’s economy, in light of the value of the pound falling to its lowest level in three months.

Answer · Keith Brown: The vote to leave the European Union has, in the short run, resulted a weakening in the value of Sterling, which is now starting to feed through to both consumer and producer price inflation. The lower value of Sterling is providing a boost for export orders…

9 Jan 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on RBS branch closures scheduled to take place by summer 2017 and the impact that these may have on vulnerable members of affected communities.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Royal Bank of Scotland’s' decision to close further branches, including the Juniper Green branch in Mr MacDonald's constituency, will have an undoubted impact on the local community. The Scottish Government is of the firm view that it is essential that b…

7 Nov 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to tackle traffic congestion in the west of Edinburgh.

31 Oct 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many homes have exchange-only lines and no access to superfast broadband.

17 Oct 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the annual value is of EU research programmes undertaken at universities in the Edinburgh area.

19 Sep 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to help and support students from Scotland who want to study elsewhere in the EU.

5 Sep 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making toward compiling an open, transparent and comprehensive land register.

26 May 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what noise level monitoring it carries out on the trunk road network.

14 Mar 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it provides to veterans seeking accommodation.

29 Feb 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what actions it is taking to increase active travel.

24 Feb 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it seeks to identify and acknowledge outstanding practice and contribution in the NHS.

15 Feb 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many responses it received to its consultation on the comprehensive review of the planning system, which closed on 1 December 2015.

14 Dec 2015 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the value is of projects under construction or development in the Edinburgh area under the Hub South East Scotland Programme.

8 Dec 2015 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making with implementation of the plans set out in Developing the Young Workforce – Scotland’s Youth Employment Strategy.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has today (9 December 2015) published the first Developing the Young Workforce annual progress report. This report highlights great progress in preparing young people for work, as was set out in our youth employment strategy published…

9 Nov 2015 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what impact the proposals in the Trade Union Bill could have on the Scottish Government’s commitment to fair work.

21 Sep 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to encourage rail freight transport.

2 Sep 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many brownfield sites have been brought back into use for housing developments since 2007.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: Scottish Planning Policy defines brownfield land as: “Land which has previously been developed”. The term may cover vacant or derelict land, land occupied by redundant or unused buildings and developed land within the settlement boundary where further intensi…

26 Aug 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how the risk in Scotland of being paid below the living wage compares with the rest of the UK.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: More people in Scotland are paid the Living Wage than in any country in the UK. Background statistics in the following table: Proportion Earning less than the living wage, 2014 Earning less than the Living Wage Scotland 18.4% Wales 23.9% Northern Irel…