Daniel Johnson

12 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the proposed introduction of a non-domestic rates public health supplement on retailers, as set out in its Budget for 2024-25, for how long such a levy would apply.

Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24444 on 22 January 2024. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committ…

12 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the proposed introduction of a non-domestic rates public health supplement on retailers, as set out in its Budget for 2024-25, how much revenue it expects to generate from such a levy.

Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24444 on 22 January 2024. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committ…

12 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the proposed introduction of a non-domestic rates public health supplement on retailers, as set out in its Budget for 2024-25, what assessment it has made of any potential implications of the introduction of such a levy for retailers' investment plans.

Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24498 on 23 January 2024. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committ…

11 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what additional support for training it is considering providing to UK Apprenticeship Levy payers and SMEs.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The UK Government Apprenticeship Levy is a reserved tax on employers of which Scotland receives a proportionate share of tax revenues via the block grant as per the Fiscal Framework agreement with UK Treasury. Scottish Government do not receive a specific all…

11 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of any impact that its reported decision to cancel the Flexible Workforce Development Fund will have on college financing.

Answer · Graeme Dey: It is too early to determine the impact of the withdrawal of Flexible Workforce Development Fund on college financing. However, the Scottish Government and the Scottish Funding Council will continue to support colleges to understand and minimise any negative …

11 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has modelled any impact of its reported decision to end the Flexible Workforce Development Fund, and any effect that it will have on job-related training.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The decision to halt the Flexible Workforce Development Fund was not taken lightly but in an extremely challenging budget environment. It is too early to tell the impact of this decision on the overall job-related training across Scotland. It is hoped that ma…

10 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the proposed introduction of a non-domestic rates public health supplement on retailers, as set out in its Budget for 2024-25, whether it undertook any analysis of the previous iteration of the supplement, which was in place from 2012 to 2015.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The announcement in the Scottish Budget 2024-25 signalled the Scottish Government’s intent to explore the reintroduction of a Public Health Supplement. The impact and effectiveness of the previous Public Health Supplement which was levied in Scotland between …

10 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it had with its economic development agencies, including Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Development International, regarding the proposed introduction of a non-domestic rates public health supplement on retailers, prior to the announcement in its Budget for 2024-25.

Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24110 on 18 January 2024. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committ…

10 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the proposed introduction of a non-domestic rates public health supplement on retailers, as set out in its Budget for 2024-25, whether this supplement will come on top of, or instead of, any higher property rate that may be levied on a retail property.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The announcement in the Scottish Budget 2024-25 signalled the Scottish Government’s intent to explore the reintroduction of a Public Health Supplement. The exploratory work will include considering options for the design of any such supplement.

20 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the £66.9 million investment in offshore wind, announced in its Budget 2024-25, will be delivered; what the investment priorities will be, and what the (a) timeline and (b) process will be for releasing the funds.

Answer · Neil Gray: We are initiating our commitment of up to £500 million to anchor our offshore wind supply chain in Scotland with investment of £67 million in 2024-2025. This commercial and grant investment will stimulate and support private investment in the infrastructure …

19 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a timetable for the publication of its Green Industrial Strategy, as set out in its Programme for Government 2023-24.

Answer · Neil Gray: The global transition to net zero offers enormous economic opportunities for Scotland. We have strengths and potential in sectors ranging from offshore wind, hydrogen, and advanced manufacturing to data and finance. Across the country, Scottish firms have the…

6 Dec 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its progress in implementing the recommendations made by the New Deal for Business Group on reforming non-domestic rates.

27 Nov 2023 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the public sector workforce reductions predicted by the finance secretary on Sunday.

22 Nov 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the delivery of Scotland's food and drink strategy.

16 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it reportedly refused proposals by (a) the Scottish Building Apprenticeship and Training Council, (b) the Scottish Painting and Decorating Apprenticeship Council and (c) Unite the Union to use Professional Development Awards to alleviate the backlog in construction appren…

Answer · Graeme Dey: The challenges experienced by construction apprentices completing their apprenticeships continue to be closely monitored. The backlog of those who started in 2017 and 2018 has largely been cleared due to considerable support from all stakeholders. Scottish Go…

14 Nov 2023 · Portfolio Question

Withdrawn.

7 Nov 2023 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the ADHD medication shortages, as referred to in the National Patient Safety Alert of 27 September.

2 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much of its Flexible Workforce Development Fund was spent on training in 2021-22.

Answer · Graeme Dey: In academic year 2021/22, £15.5 million was spent on the delivery of workforce training opportunities through the Flexible Workforce Delivery Fund.

2 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much of its Flexible Workforce Development Fund has been accessed in each year since it has been established, broken down by sector.

Answer · Graeme Dey: This information has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre under BiB No 64673. Data relating to colleges and the Open University in Scotland is based on bimonthly returns to the Scottish Funding Council from institutions delivering the Fl…

2 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much of its Flexible Workforce Development Fund has been spent on training in the current year.

Answer · Graeme Dey: For the current academic year 2023-2024, there has been no Flexible Workforce Development Fund (FWDF) spend to date. We hope to confirm the final decision on delivery soon. Academic year 2022-2023 is still in delivery with any contractually agreed training d…

2 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how much of its Flexible Workforce Development Fund has been accessed in each year since it was established by private sector organisations that contribute to the UK Apprenticeship Levy.

Answer · Graeme Dey: Data on employer type was not collected during the first year of the Flexible Workforce Development Fund (FWDF) which was academic year 2017-2018. Information on Levy Paying employer spend on the first four years of the Fund is available in the FWDF evaluatio…

1 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the shortages of ADHD medication, including what is causing these shortages, and what action it is taking, in conjunction with NHS boards, to mitigate the shortages.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government is aware that there are ongoing global supply issues affecting the availability of various products which are licensed for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It is anticipated that the shortages will be r…

25 Oct 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether Scotland’s infrastructure is equipped to deliver the current offshore wind pipeline of up to 42GW, including in relation to port infrastructure.

13 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent Zoopla figures showing that rent in Scotland is rising faster than any other nation in the UK, what evaluation it has carried out of the effectiveness of the Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act 2022.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: Zoopla published a report titled “ Rents for new lets rise 10.3% over the last year ” on 03 October 2023, covering changes in average rents for new tenancies over the latest year to September 2023. This report is based on newly advertised rental data and do…

4 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-21609 by Tom Arthur on 4 October 2023, whether it will provide details of any assessment that it carried out to determine the extent of any competitive disadvantage to Scottish ports as a result of freeports in the rest of the UK, and whether any eq…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government recognises that a diverse and successful ports and shipping sector contributes significantly to the national, regional and local economies in which they operate. Ports and harbours are crucial gateways to Scotland and Scottish Minister…

4 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-21604 by Neil Gray on 2 October 2023, whether it will provide updates on the three of the four key recommendations not referred to in its answer, and what funding has been allocated to implement the four key recommendations.

Answer · Neil Gray: As the Pathways report acknowledges, delivery of its recommendation and closing the gender gap in entrepreneurial participation is a long-term undertaking. In addition to the activity outlines in the answer to S6W-21604 on 2 October 2023:We are addressing the…

3 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how many green jobs have been created by the £100 million Green Jobs Fund, as referenced in its Programme for Government 2020-21, as a result of funding allocated by (a) Scottish Enterprise and (b) the Scottish Ministers.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Forecasts provided by the recipients of the Green Jobs Fund awards estimated projects will support up to 4,462 full time jobs over the life of the individual project. Scottish Enterprise 1446 Scottish Ministers 3016   For the purpose of calculating thes…

3 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how much of the £100 million Green Jobs Fund, as referenced in its Programme for Government 2020-21, has been allocated by (a) Scottish Enterprise and (b) the Scottish Ministers.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Between Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Ministers, grant funding of up to £20.1 million has been allocated through the Green Jobs Fund. Scottish Enterprise £13,796,559 Scottish Ministers £6,366,129

3 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of Scottish Industrial Energy Transformation Funding has been awarded to (a) micro, (b) small, (c) medium-sized and (d) large businesses to date.

Answer · Gillian Martin: Through the Scottish Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (SIETF), to date, The Scottish Government has awarded the following proportion of the SIETF; (a) micro 3%, (b) small 12% , (c) medium-sized 17% and (d) large 68%.  

3 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-21633 by Neil Gray on 27 September 2023, what the reason is for the delay to the publication of the recommendations of the Investor Panel.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Panel has made good progress since its inception and has concluded work on Workstreams 1 & 2 which focused on market intelligence and the policy environment. The Panel is progressing Workstream 3, the sector deep dive at pace and it is right that we provi…