Richard Leonard

11 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the interim report of the IPPR Commission on Economic Justice, Time for Change: A New Vision for the British Economy.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government welcomes the recent IPPR Commission report on Economic Justice, which is closely aligned to the approach set out in Scotland’s Economic Strategy (SES), published in 2015. The SES sets out our mutually supportive ambitions of boosting …

6 Sep 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to address the reported decrease in labour productivity.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Scotland’s labour productivity growth has outstripped the UK’s in recent years. GDP per hour worked has increased by 7.6% in Scotland since 2007, compared to 0.6% for the UK as a whole. The Scottish Government is taking action to support the Scottish econom…

21 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it allocated to Scottish Enterprise to fund its Research and Development Grants (a) in each of the last five years and (b) for 2017-18.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government provides funding to Scottish Enterprise to carry out a range of economic development functions, along with guidance on expected outcomes, but it does not specify how the funding should be apportioned.

21 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report in The Sunday Times on 20 August 2017 that Scottish Enterprise has exhausted its Research and Development Grants budget for 2017-18.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Demand for support from all Scottish Enterprise's (SE) R&D schemes over the last few years has been hugely successful with business R&D funding increasing from £14m in 2014 to more than £22m in 2017. Despite the pressures this has placed on SE's resources all…

21 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many companies that are (a) based in and (b) planning to set up in Scotland that have applied for a 2017-18 Scottish Enterprise Research and Development Grants have been advised by the agency that it will not be able to make a payment award until May 2018, broken down by (i) sector, …

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I have asked Lena Wilson, Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise, to contact you directly with the information you have requested.

21 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many Scottish Enterprise Research and Development grants have been awarded to companies that are (a) based in and (b) planning to set up in Scotland (i) in each of the last five years and (ii) since April 2017, broken down by (A) sector, (B) location and (C) amount awarded.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I have asked Lena Wilson, Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise, to contact you directly with the information you have requested.

11 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of the (a) Highlands and Islands and (b) Scottish Enterprise (i) revenue and (ii) capital budget has supported (A) co-operatives, (B) employee-owned organisations and (C) mutuals in each of the last five financial years.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I have asked Lena Wilson, Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise, to contact you directly with the information you have requested.

11 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many communities have (a) registered an interest in and (b) acquired land each year under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, also broken down by how much funding it has made available to support these communities and how much of this was used.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The number of communities that have registered an interest under the Community Right to Buy legislation per year is shown in the following table: Calendar Year No. of communities bodies who registered an interest 2004 (from 15-6-04) 8 2005 14 2006 12 …

11 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been invested by the Scottish Co-investment Fund in each of the last five years in (a) PLCs, (b) companies limited by guarantee, (c) charities, (d) co-operatives, (e) mutual and (f) other designations.

Answer · Keith Brown: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I have asked Lena Wilson, Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise, to contact you directly with the information you have requested.

11 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) organisations and (b) people  have received financial support from Co-operative Development Scotland to help facilitate the transfer of a company or entity into an employee-owned or a co-operative venture in each of the last four years.

Answer · Keith Brown: Financial support to facilitate the transfer of businesses and other entities to employee owned is provided by Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise rather than from the budget of Co-operative Development Scotland. Therefore this is an op…

11 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what financial support has been provided by its agencies to establish (a) employee ownership and (b) community co-operatives in each of the last five years.

Answer · Keith Brown: Scottish Enterprise works in partnership with Highlands and Islands Enterprise to provide support to co-operative and employee ownership business models. Therefore this is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I have asked Lena Wilson, Chief Execut…

11 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the budget for Co-operative Development Scotland is for 2017-18 and has been in each of the last four years.

Answer · Keith Brown: Information relating to the budget for Co-operative Development Scotland for the 2017-18 and the last five years can be found in the following table: 2013-14 £000k 2014-15 £000k 2015-16 £000k 2016-17 £000k 2017-18 £000k TOTAL 676 666 …

11 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many companies have received advice from Co-operative Development Scotland in each of the last five years.

Answer · Keith Brown: Figures relating to the amount of companies that have received advice from Co-operative Development Scotland in each of the last five years can be found in the following table: 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 (YTD) TOTAL 199 141 …

11 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) co-operatives, (b) employee-owned organisations and (c) mutuals have received (i) advice and (ii) financial support from (A) Highlands and Islands and (B) Scottish Enterprise in each of the last five years.

Answer · Keith Brown: Scottish Enterprise works in partnership with Highlands and Islands Enterprise through Co-operative Development Scotland to support co-operative and employee ownership business models. Therefore this is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I have a…

22 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its policy is on contractors used by public bodies, including the Scottish Police Authority, (a) having an equal pay policy and (b) paying their staff at least the living wage.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Contractors are expected to comply with social, environmental and labour laws and obligations including the Equality Act 2010.  Statutory Guidance on the selection of tenderers and award of contracts, ‘Addressing Fair Work Practices, including the Living Wag…

22 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its policy is on addressing gender pay gaps that may exist within contractors that are used by public bodies, including the Scottish Police Authority.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Contractors are expected to comply with social, environmental and labour laws and obligations including the Equality Act 2010. Statutory Guidance on the selection of tenderers and award of contracts, ‘Addressing Fair Work Practices, including the Living Wage,…

21 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it had with union representatives at Doosan Babcock regarding engaging or re-engaging former employees at the manufacturing centre being established at Westway in Renfrew.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-09844 on 4 July 2017. 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/parliamentarybusiness/288…

21 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) financial and (b) other support it has offered to Doosan Babcock in each year since 2015 to support the continuation of its manufacturing and other operations at its site at Westway, Renfrew; on what dates this was offered, and what the company's response was.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Doosan Babcock is account managed by Scottish Enterprise. Since 2015 Scottish Enterprise has been actively working with Doosan Babcock to explore sector and market opportunities, through the provision of market research and sector insights. Scottish Enterpr…

21 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many direct full-time equivalent jobs will be created at the manufacturing centre at the former Doosan Babcock factory at Westway, Renfrew, following the £8.9 million investment.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Lightweight Manufacturing Centre is expected to directly employ up to 20 FTE posts. The support provided by the Centre to companies across Scotland is expected to generate significant economic and employment opportunities at the local, regional and nation…

21 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much (a) it and (b) its agencies provided for the construction of the slipway at Westway Business Park, Renfrew; which organisations received this funding, and what the economic impact of the slipway has been.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Scottish Enterprise (SE) provided £556,384 towards the construction of the slipway at Westway Business Park, Renfrew. The funding was provided to Renfrewshire Council and WB Westway LP (Moorfield). The funding provided by SE leveraged £1,275,000 private secto…

21 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to engaging or re-engaging employees of Doosan Babcock at the manufacturing centre at the former Doosan Babcock factory at Westway, Renfrew.

Answer · Keith Brown: The creation of the Lightweight Manufacturing Centre responds to a valuable market opportunity for the development and manufacture of lightweight components and is expected to support significant economic and employment opportunities at the local, regional an…

21 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the £8.9 million being invested at the manufacturing centre at the former Doosan Babcock factory at Westway, Renfrew; which organisations will benefit from the investment; how much they will receive, and what they will use the support for.

Answer · Keith Brown: The £8.9m being invested in the Lightweight Manufacturing Centre over the period 2017-20 consists of £3.9m from the Scottish Government, £3.4m from Scottish Enterprise and £1.6m from the University of Strathclyde. This will support the University’s Advanced F…

14 Jun 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the temporary removal of orthopaedic services at Monklands General Hospital will come to an end, and when trauma and elective services will be restored.

Answer · Shona Robison: It is incorrect to suggest that all orthopaedic services have been removed from Monklands Hospital. Around 85% of all orthopaedic patient contacts are outpatients and these have continued to be seen at Monklands Hospital. NHS Lanarkshire’s interim model on …

7 Jun 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Police Scotland regarding its estates strategy.

1 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many appeals to the Scottish Information Commissioner there has been in each of the last five calendar years regarding its treatment of freedom of information requests.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The number of appeals to the Scottish Information Commissioner regarding the Scottish Government FOI responses in calendar years 2012 to 2015 is published in our FOI Annual Reports on the Scottish Government website at: http://www.gov.scot/About/Information/F…

1 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many responses to freedom of information requests it has made after the 20-working day deadline in each of the last five calendar years.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The number of responses to FOI requests which were issued after the deadline in calendar years 2012 to 2015 is published in our FOI Annual Reports on the Scottish Government website at: http://www.gov.scot/About/Information/FOI/Reporting. The number of late r…

30 May 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what issues were discussed during its recent meeting with the Ambassador of Israel to the UK.

24 May 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the retirement age for prison officers, and what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding this.

22 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what dates the Scottish Energy Advisory Board has met since 2015, and whether it will publish the minutes.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Energy Advisory Board (SEAB) met on 16 February 2015, and the minutes are available at the following link: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Business-Industry/Energy/resources/working-groups/energy-advisory-board/Minutes/Minutes16-Feb-15 SEAB also met …

22 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-05868 by Annabelle Ewing on 10 January 2017, whether it will provide an update on what progress it is making in facilitating the transfer of the administrative responsibilities.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The Scottish Government is continuing to discuss with key stakeholders the transfer of reserved tribunals to Scotland. We currently await confirmation from the UK Government on the proposed timings of the devolution of responsibilities relating to the first t…