Ash Regan

28 May 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its negotiations with the EU, following the First Minister’s recent meeting with Michel Barnier.

16 May 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how its fiscal policy supports first-time buyers.

8 May 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is working to improve the lives of disabled people.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Delivering transformational change in the lives of disabled people is a top priority for this government as set out in detail in A Fairer Scotland for Disabled People which we published in December 2016. Since then some of the actions we have taken include t…

8 May 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many lapdancers have been (a) seriously harmed and (b) murdered in each year since 1999.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: Data of this type is not collected by the Scottish Government.

8 May 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many prostitutes have been (a) seriously harmed and (b) murdered in each year since 1999.    

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: Data of this type is not collected by the Scottish Government. The Scottish Government did however, commission research to consider the reliability of the evidence base internationally on the impacts of the criminalisation of the purchase of sex, and to expl…

2 May 2018 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the ongoing review of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995, what consideration it is giving to putting a professional system, such as the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service in England, in place for family courts in Scotland.

30 Apr 2018 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what process it will use to monitor the effectiveness of the pricing per unit of alcohol.

25 Apr 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what response it has had from universities regarding the announcement that every institution will be provided with a toolkit to challenge violence on campus.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government was pleased to fund the development of a Toolkit for higher education institutions to develop coherent responses to tackling and eradicating violence against women and girls. My Letter of Guidance to the Scottish Funding Council is cl…

23 Apr 2018 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister whether the UK Government’s EU Withdrawal Bill has been adequately amended to meet the approval of the Scottish Government.

19 Apr 2018 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it can provide regarding the recent visit to the United States by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work visited the United States between 4 and 7 April, attending events and meetings in New Jersey and New York. The visit focused on promoting trade and investment, culture, heritage, innovation and entrepreneu…

10 Apr 2018 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent publication of large companies' gender pay gaps, which show that there remains a large pay gap among many companies across the UK, including in Edinburgh.

14 Mar 2018 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support mental health in the workplace.

26 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much money Scottish Enterprise has invested in video games companies since 2008.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Over the past five years (2011-12 to 2016-17), Scottish Enterprise has invested over £11 million (£11.5 million) in 38 games companies. Just under half of this investment (£5.5 million) was through the Scottish Investment Bank and the remainder was largely sp…

21 Feb 2018 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Edinburgh part of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal.

Answer · Keith Brown: This deal aims to deliver benefit right across the region. Good progress has been made on the new Impact Centre for performing arts, as well as the regional elements such as the integrated regional skills programme, the research development and innovation pro…

14 Feb 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what actions it is taking to protect mobile marine species.

30 Jan 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact a hard Brexit will have on the Scottish economy.

10 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment (a) it and (b) its agencies has carried out of the impact of (i) the Research Excellence Grant and (ii) other higher education research funding provided since 2009-10.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Research Excellence Grant (REG) is allocated by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) and supports world-leading research in Scottish universities, ensuring Scotland remains globally competitive and attractive to the best researchers. In 2014, the then Cabi…

10 Jan 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that young people in the Edinburgh Eastern constituency, particularly in more deprived areas, will be able to participate in the Year of Young People 2018.

Answer · Maree Todd: Groups representing children and young people from all socio-economic backgrounds have been engaged from the outset of planning the Year. Young Scot, Children in Scotland and the Scottish Youth Parliament have recruited over 500 young people to be Year of Yo…

9 Jan 2018 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the recent appointment of the head of its newly-established Innovation and Investment Hub in Berlin.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Alexandra Stein has been appointed as Head of the Scottish Government’s Innovation and Investment Hub in Berlin, Germany. Alexandra has had experience across a broad range of senior policy and operational roles in the Scottish Government, many of which have f…

19 Dec 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is giving to creative industries and the arts.

7 Dec 2017 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the recent publication of the refreshed International Framework and International Policy Statement documents.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has recently refreshed the International Framework and International Policy Statement documents, last updated in March 2015 and first launched in 2008. These strategy documents set out how our international work supports the Government…

28 Nov 2017 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the outcome was of the most recent visit to North America by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work.

Answer · Keith Brown: My visit to North America presented a valuable opportunity to build relationships that attract investment into Scotland and help Scottish businesses pursue international growth opportunities which in turn contribute to Scotland’s international success and eco…

21 Nov 2017 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the outcome was of the recent summit meeting of the British-Irish Council.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: On 10 November 2017, the Jersey Government hosted a summit meeting of the British-Irish Council. The meeting was attended by Ministers from six of the Member Administrations and was chaired by the Jersey Chief Minister. The First Minister, the Minister for UK…

21 Nov 2017 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the recent publication of the refreshed International Framework and International Policy Statement documents.

20 Nov 2017 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the Autumn Budget.

8 Nov 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that there is transparency regarding lobbying when its International Development Fund offers humanitarian aid.

2 Nov 2017 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the ministerial visit to the Riga Conference 2017 and the progress that it is making with its Nordic Baltic strategy.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: Last month, I visited the Riga Conference 2017 in Latvia to undertake a series of meetings and events to both outline our position on Europe to an influential international audience and to promote stronger engagement with the Nordic and Baltic region. Durin…

1 Nov 2017 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the ministerial visits to Dublin and Belfast in October 2017 and information on the meetings and engagements undertaken.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The First Minister visited Dublin between the 5 and 6 October 2017 in order to build on Scotland’s bilateral relations with Ireland, promote Scotland’s strengths as a destination for Irish investors, build our links with the Irish business community and encou…

31 Oct 2017 · SPCB Oral Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will consider producing a code of conduct for MSPs and staff regarding their behaviour in relation to sexual harassment.

25 Oct 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has had sight of the economic analysis that has been carried out by the Department for Exiting the European Union.