Parliamentary questions
Drew Smith
636 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
12 Feb 2014 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to comments by the European Commissioner for Education that any attempt to treat Scottish and non-Scottish students differently could be regarded as "a covert form of discrimination on grounds of nationality".
6 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what publications have been produced by (a) its agencies and (b) non-departmental public bodies to (i) promote or (ii) explain Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland; what the cost was, and whether it was met by (A) Scottish Government spending on the referendum or (B) …
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19655 on 4 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybus…
6 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what events have been organised by (a) its agencies and (b) non-departmental public bodies to (i) promote or (ii) explain Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland; what the cost was, and whether this was met by (A) Scottish Government spending on the referendum or (B) the…
Answer · John Swinney: In relation to non-departmental public bodies, this is a matter for the bodies. The information requested is not held centrally. The publication has been discussed in routine staff and board meetings and with key external stakeholders at no additional cost to…
6 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what role (a) its agencies and (b) non-departmental public bodies have had in (i) promoting or (ii) explaining Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland.
Answer · John Swinney: Scotland’s Future is a comprehensive guide to an independent Scotland and what it means for the people of Scotland. Executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies are engaging with their stakeholders on the guide in the same way as they would for any a…
13 Jan 2014 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its national litter strategy.
8 Jan 2014 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the recent Financial Times survey on how a vote for independence would affect the Scottish economy and the rest of the UK in 2014.
18 Dec 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the EU regarding objective justification for charging UK students tuition fees but not students from other EU countries in the event of Scotland becoming independent.
11 Dec 2013 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the costs of promoting the white paper on independence.
27 Nov 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the World Forum on Natural Capital that was held in Edinburgh recently.
11 Nov 2013 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister whether he will provide an update on the Scottish Government's discussions regarding the future of the Clyde shipyards.
6 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to organisations that help women who have experienced (a) miscarriages, (b) stillbirths and (c) neonatal losses.
Answer · Michael Matheson: During 2013, the Scottish Government has provided the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death charity (SANDS), Scottish Care and Information in Miscarriage (SCIM) and the neonatal charity BLISS with total funding of £95,125, to help support parents at this vulnerable t…
6 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what section 16b grants it has awarded in 2013-14.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The following Section 16b grants were awarded to organisations for 2013-14. Organisation Name Amount Action for ME £5,000 Action on Depression £40,000 Action on Pre-eclampsia £9,200 Age Concern £42,235 Alzheimer Scotland £9,240 Antenatal Result…
5 Nov 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to make transport accessible, affordable and available for disabled people.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government is committed to equality and inclusiveness across Scotland’s entire transport network and regularly brings together a number of key transport stakeholders and representatives of disability organisations to discuss the accessibility, af…
2 Oct 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has with the UK Government regarding economic development programmes.
17 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it collates regarding the use of so-called zero-hours contracts.
Answer · John Swinney: Employment law is a reserved matter and statistics on zero-hours contracts are currently produced by the UK Government using the Labour Force Survey. Estimates for Scotland are not available due to the size of the sample. The Scottish Government welcomes the…
17 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will encourage further and higher education institutions not to use so-called zero-hours contracts.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-17083 on 25 September 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliament…
17 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the effect of so-called zero-hours contracts in colleges and universities on (a) educational outcomes and (b) student satisfaction.
Answer · Michael Russell: Employment law is a reserved matter and we have not made an assessment of the effects of zero hours contracts in colleges and universities. However, we are urging employers in all sectors to carefully consider their use of such contracts.
10 Sep 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde regarding the filling of vacant positions.
4 Sep 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government which police stations are being considered for closure or a reduction in counter opening hours in Police Scotland’s review of police station service delivery.
29 Aug 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its plans are for a provisional constitution should Scotland separate from the rest of the UK; who would (a) draft and (b) approve this; whether it would be in place on the day of secession, and how long it would take for the so-called people's constitution to come into force.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government’s plans for a constitutional platform to come into force from Scotland’s independence day are set out in the Scottish Government publication Scotland’s Future: from the Referendum to Independence and a Written Constitution:# http://ww…
28 Aug 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason its website now states that its white paper on its plans to separate Scotland from the rest of the UK will be published in "autumn 2013" when it previously said "November".
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The white paper will be published in November 2013.
28 Aug 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what companies will (a) design, (b) print and (c) distribute its white paper and associated material on its plans to separate Scotland from the rest of the UK, and what the cost will be.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The white paper will be designed, printed and published in Scotland, in line with the Scottish Government Design, Printing, Publishing and Associated Services Framework which is used to produce all Scottish Government documents. Its distribution will reflect …
28 Aug 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many copies of its white paper on its plans to separate Scotland from the rest of the UK will be printed and how these will be circulated.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The white paper will be widely available. Final details of print run and circulation will be confirmed on publication.
28 Aug 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of how much it will cost to (a) produce and (b) distribute its white paper on its plans to separate Scotland from the rest of the UK.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Parliament will be updated on the costs of production and distribution of the white paper following its production and publication.
28 Aug 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether a ministerial statement will be made on the day that it publishes its white paper on its plans to separate Scotland from the rest of the UK.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The white paper will be published in November 2013. Final plans for the launch of the document will be confirmed in due course.
28 Aug 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what date it will publish its white paper on its plans to separate Scotland from the rest of the UK and whether this will be on a sitting day of the Scottish and UK parliaments.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The white paper will be published in November 2013. The precise date will be confirmed in due course.
26 Aug 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government in what year it anticipates an oil fund could be set up in an independent Scotland.
19 Jun 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on college mergers in Glasgow.
14 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on producing guidance regarding setting up foodbanks and how they should operate.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: The Scottish Government does not provide guidance regarding the set-up or the operation of food banks.
14 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many foodbanks there are in each local authority area.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-15751 on 27 June 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybu…