John Mason

28 Aug 2017 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the revised indicative SRDP scheme budgets that are included in the latest SRDP modification are.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: We have taken a range of circumstances into account in determining whether to make any modifications to the Scottish Rural Development Programme between now and 2020. These include the expectation that Scotland’s overall discretionary budget is expected to be…

26 Jun 2017 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to close the gender pay gap.

20 Jun 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it can ensure that organisations in the third sector are able to have their voices heard.

Answer · Angela Constance: Hearing from the third sector is a vital part of our civic society and we value the experience and insight charities bring to public policy development as well as their willingness to speak truth to power. The third sector is making a real difference to the l…

7 Jun 2017 · SPCB Oral Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what consideration it has given to reducing the portion size of food served in the Garden Level Restaurant.

30 May 2017 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what recent discussions the Scottish Government has had with local authority directors of education concerning the quality of newly-qualified teachers.

10 May 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the outcome of the local government elections.

25 Apr 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how schools can encourage young people to select subjects in a way that is not along traditional gender lines.

Answer · John Swinney: The education system aims to provide all children and young people with a range of learning experiences that meet their individual needs and aspirations. Early careers information advice and guidance is in place to raise awareness of opportunities and support…

11 Apr 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact is of water charges on smaller organisations that operate in business centres in which they do not have their own water supply but share kitchens and toilets.

15 Mar 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle violence against women in prostitution.

6 Mar 2017 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the report by the chair of the Advisory Group on Tackling Sectarianism in Scotland.

27 Feb 2017 · SPCB Oral Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what plans it has to make the online payslip service more user-friendly and easier to access.

20 Feb 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how successful it considers Celtic Connections 2017 has been for Glasgow and Scotland.

20 Feb 2017 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the report by Macmillan Cancer Support, which highlights the disparity in cancer survival rates between people from more and less deprived areas.

31 Jan 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Economy, Jobs and Fair Work Committee's report on the economic impact of leaving the EU.

24 Jan 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the ability to make twice-monthly payments and pay the housing element of universal credit directly to landlords compares with the current monthly payment system.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: By making Universal Credit payments more flexible and adaptable we are giving people in Scotland more choice and control over how they manage their budget. During our social security consultation, DWP’s monthly payments were repeatedly raised as a problem. T…

16 Jan 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on GP practices in the most deprived areas receiving more resources per patient than those in less deprived areas.

10 Jan 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Glasgow Colleges’ Regional Board and the City of Glasgow College regarding their relationship with each other.

5 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many abortions were performed in Scotland in 2015 under section 37(1)(d) of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, also broken down by (a) how many and (b) what percentage of these procedures were carried out at 13 weeks or more of gestation.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: Section 37(1)(d) of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 refers to those abortions performed under Ground E of the Abortion Act, that is, there is substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormaliti…

21 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what volumes of cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco were sold in Scotland, which together generate the tobacco duty incomes set out in the GERS report, in each of the last five years.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Information on the volumes of cigarettes or hand-rolling tobacco sold in Scotland is not collected by the Scottish Government, and is not used in estimating tobacco duty in Government Expenditure & Revenue Scotland (GERS), which uses data on household expendi…

21 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many retailers in Scotland have been found to be selling illicit tobacco in each of the last five years.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The numbers of people found to be selling illicit tobacco in shops, markets, pubs and online over each of the last five years are 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 37 28 31 36 42 This information has been provided by Local Authority Trading…

19 Dec 2016 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what discussions the Scottish Government has had with the UK Government regarding the proposal by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government that holders of public office should swear an oath to uphold "British values".

28 Nov 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Glasgow City Council regarding the hostel for homeless men, the Bellgrove Hotel.

28 Nov 2016 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister, in light of comments by the Secretary of State for Scotland, what commitments the Scottish Government has received from the UK Government regarding the devolution of further powers.

14 Nov 2016 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to research carried out by Heriot-Watt University regarding ways to reduce income and other inequalities.

6 Sep 2016 · General Question

To ask Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the feasibility of a universal basic income.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Tackling poverty and inequality is a top priority for this Government, and we give serious consideration to all ideas that could help us to do so. The Universal Basic Income is an interesting concept and we will certainly pay attention to research being carri…

21 Jun 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the industrial action at ScotRail.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: RMT industrial action commenced on Tuesday 21 June 2016, the first of seven planned strikes involving ScotRail conductors over the extension of Driver Controlled Operation when new electric trains are introduced on the Edinburgh – Glasgow route. Safety is pa…

16 Mar 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to strengthening community councils.

9 Mar 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that its policy on children's attainment takes account of the impact of poverty.

16 Feb 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has made of the economic impact in Scotland of the recent flotation of the Clydesdale Bank.

3 Feb 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has made of the potential economic impact on Scotland of the Clydesdale Bank being floated on the stock market.

Answer · John Swinney: Clydesdale Bank has an established presence in Scotland, as a bank servicing personal and business customers and as a substantial employer. While no specific economic analysis has been undertaken, we would expect the Clydesdale Bank to continue to have a simi…