Parliamentary questions
Daniel Johnson
1,103 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
20 Nov 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to boost the rural economy.
15 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on which meeting dates its representatives (a) have and (b) have not attended meetings of the Digital Economy Skills Group.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The information requested is not held centrally. This request should be directed to Skills Development Scotland.
15 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many Scottish Digital Academy courses have been completed by employees in the third sector in each year since it was launched in January 2018.
Answer · Ivan McKee: Since the Scottish Digital Academy was established in 2018, there have been 206 registrations from the third sector.2018 (0)2019 (10)2020 (12)2021 (8)2022 (63)2023 (54)2024 to October end (59)
15 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many of its employees have completed courses through the Scottish Digital Academy in each year since it was launched in January 2018.
Answer · Ivan McKee: Since the Scottish Digital Academy was established in 2018, the total number of employees completing courses is 9,452 which is 49 per cent of the total number of course registrations (19,209).2018 (162)2019 (400)2020 (477)2021 (771)2022 (1712)2023 (3307)2024 …
15 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many Scottish Digital Academy courses have been completed by employees of Scottish public bodies, other than the Scottish Government, in each year since it was launched in January 2018, broken down by public body.
Answer · Ivan McKee: Since the Scottish Digital Academy was established in 2018, there have been 1,348 employee registrations from Scottish public bodies. This includes recognised Advisory and Executive Non Department Public Bodies.Broken down by year:2018 (51)2019 (39)2020 (33)2…
13 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of Skills Development Scotland's current staff costs are attributable to the delivery of apprenticeships.
Answer · Graeme Dey: This is an operational matter for Skills Development Scotland. I have asked the Chief Executive of SDS, Damien Yeates to write to you outlining these costs.
13 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much Skills Development Scotland has spent on delivering Modern Apprenticeships in each year since 2017-18.
Answer · Graeme Dey: This is an operational matter for Skills Development Scotland. I have asked the Chief Executive of SDS, Damien Yeates to write to you outlining these costs.
13 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the average length is of courses delivered by the Scottish Digital Academy.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The professional learning offer (courses) delivered via the Scottish Digital Academy is varied and multi-faceted, as it has been designed to meet the needs of a diverse audience.Taught courses are broadly defined into three categories with an average duration…
13 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comment by the Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise when giving evidence to the Economy and Fair Work Committee on 25 September 2024 that there is “a return of £25 of gross value added for every £1” that the agency has invested, whether it will c…
Answer · Kate Forbes: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I have asked their Chief Executive, Adrian Gillespie, to contact you directly with a response.
30 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many full-time equivalent account managers are currently employed by Scottish Enterprise.
Answer · Kate Forbes: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I have asked their Chief Executive, Adrian Gillespie, to contact you directly with a response.
30 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many full-time equivalent account managers have been employed by Scottish Enterprise in each year since 2021-22.
Answer · Kate Forbes: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I have asked their Chief Executive, Adrian Gillespie, to contact you directly with a response.
30 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many businesses in the creative industries have been supported by Scottish Enterprise in each year since 2021-22.
Answer · Kate Forbes: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I have asked their Chief Executive, Adrian Gillespie, to contact you directly with a response.
30 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many grants have been awarded to businesses in the creative industries by Scottish Enterprise in each year since 2021-22.
Answer · Kate Forbes: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I have asked their Chief Executive, Adrian Gillespie, to contact you directly with a response.
29 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) online and (b) in-person courses have been completed by Scottish Government employees through the Scottish Digital Academy since it was launched in January 2018.
Answer · Ivan McKee: In total, there are 7,710 registrations from Scottish Government employees, which represents 40 percent of all registrations over time.Scottish Government employees have registered for a) 124 online courses and, b) 42 in-person courses since the Scottish Digi…
29 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the cost has been of delivering the Scottish Digital Academy in each year since it was launched in January 2018.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The total cost of the Scottish Digital Academy since its commencement in January 2018 to September 2024 is £4,320,722. This includes staff and programme delivery costs.2018 to 2019 (£288,564)2019 to 2020 (£513,548)2020 to 2021 (£765,44…
29 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people have registered with the Scottish Digital Academy in each year since it was launched in January 2018.
Answer · Ivan McKee: Since the Scottish Digital Academy was established in 2018, it has recorded 19,209 registrations from people working across the public or third sector.2018 (504)2019 (769)2020 (601)2021 (1,239)2022 (3,429)2023 (6,061)2024 to October end (6,606)This excludes d…
29 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many online courses have been completed through the Scottish Digital Academy since it was launched in January 2018.
Answer · Ivan McKee: There have been 1,116 courses delivered since 2018. By the end of October 2024, 92 percent (1,030) were delivered fully or in part online. This does not include non-course events such as workshops, symposia or other types of professional learning.
29 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many organisations currently use the payments platform, ScotPayments.
Answer · Ivan McKee: ScotPayments is currently in the private Beta phase of delivery, with the first Beta partner fully transitioned onto the platform (including a new fund launched in June 2024). Feasibility assessments with three additional public bodies responsible for large v…
29 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people have signed up to ScotAccount since it was launched in February 2023.
Answer · Ivan McKee: ScotAccount launched in private beta with Disclosure Scotland in February 2023, and with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service Witness Gateway in February 2024. As at 4 November 2024, there are 95,000 accounts across these services.
29 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many ScotAccounts are currently active.
Answer · Ivan McKee: As stated in the answer to question S6W-30954 on 7 November 2024, there are 95,000 accounts, as at 4 November 2024. All of these are active. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for whic…
29 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Creative Industries Leadership Group's "working group reports", which are referenced in the minutes of the meeting on 8 June 2022, will be published.
Answer · Angus Robertson: The Scottish Government committed to publishing a summary of discussions and action points from the working groups which can be found in the published minutes of the group on https://www.gov.scot/groups/creative-industries-leadership-group/ However, due to th…
29 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Creative Industries Leadership Group has been disbanded, and, if so, for what reason.
Answer · Angus Robertson: The Creative Industries Leadership Group (CILG) was paused pending the outcome of a strategic stakeholder review. This work will now be considered as part of the Scottish Government’s review of how the culture and creative industries sector can be best …
29 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Creative Industries Leadership Group has met since its meeting on 8 June 2022.
Answer · Angus Robertson: The Creative Industries Leadership Group (CILG) has not been convened by The Scottish Government since its meeting on 8 June 2022. However, the Scottish Government carries out regular engagement with key stakeholders across the Creative Industries sector, inc…
29 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recommendations from the Creative Industries Leadership Group it has adopted.
Answer · Angus Robertson: The Creative Industries Leadership Group (CILG) recommendations have helped to inform many of the actions included in the Culture Strategy Action Plan, published in 2023. The Action Plan sets out current and planned activity and is available at A Culture Stra…
28 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Graduate Apprenticeship Enhancement Group, specifically in relation to its workstreams; what the timescale is for the work of the group, and whether as part of its work the group plans to consult more widely with employer and industry representati…
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Graduate Apprenticeship Enhancement Group was established in spring 2024 to make recommendations on the development of future policy and a delivery model for GAs in line with Scotland’s economic growth opportunities, skills need, and the wider refor…
28 Oct 2024 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that Young Enterprise Scotland faces closure due to it withdrawing its support.
24 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will list any meetings held with Ofcom, mobile phone, or internet providers to discuss access to social tariffs since 2022.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Across government, particularly in the Digital Directorate, a number of teams meet regularly with OfCom and mobile phone providers to discuss a wide range of issues. As social tariffs remain a reserved matter for the UK Government, the majority of these discu…
24 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will outline the key achievements of the Digital Citizen Division since its creation in 2022.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Digital Citizen Unit (DCU) was created in 2022 with the Digital Citizen Division (DCD) forming in 2023. DCD is the team within Scottish Government that manage the Connecting Scotland Programme; Ethical Digital Nation; Unlocking the Value of Data; and the …
24 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will share examples of coordinated approaches to digital inclusion across government since 2022.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government is committed to taking a joined-up approach to digital inclusion. We engage across government and with the UK and the other devolved nations to understand and share good practice. We will continue to work in this way and aim to continu…
24 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it remains its position to establish a Digital Inclusion Alliance.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Digital Inclusion Alliance is the proposed national delivery mechanism to bring together the public, private and third sectors to jointly agree how to tackle digital exclusion through long-term, sustainable approaches.The work to establish the Alliance co…