Ash Regan

22 Aug 2017 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the recent appointments to positions heading its overseas offices in Beijing and Washington DC.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: New appointments have been made to the positions of Scottish Affairs Counsellor to North America and First Secretary of Scottish Affairs in Beijing Joni Smith has been appointed to the position of Scottish Affairs Counsellor to North America. Joni has worked…

1 Aug 2017 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Registrar General will publish his annual report for 2016.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Scotland’s Population 2016: the Registrar General’s Annual Review of Demographic Trends will be published on 2 August 2017. The Report contains information about births, deaths and marriages during the year, together with other demographic information. A copy…

14 Jun 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on setting a cap on midmarket rents to achieve more affordable housing.

7 Jun 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made with the gender segregation aspect of Skills Development Scotland's Equalities Action Plan for Modern Apprenticeships in Scotland.

31 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many women were murdered by their (a) partner and (b) ex-partner in each of the last five years.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The number of female victims of homicide who were killed by either a partner or an ex-partner in Scotland between 2011-12 and 2015-16 are shown in the following table. The National Statistics for 2016-17 will be published in October this year. The number of …

19 Apr 2017 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it can provide regarding the most recent visit to the United States by the First Minister.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The First Minister visited the United States between the 2nd and 7th April attending events and meetings in California and New York. The visit focused on promoting trade and investment, boosting tourism, sharing best practice across the public and private s…

3 Apr 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much trade Scotland has with (a) Indonesia, (b) Singapore and (c) the rest of South East Asia, and what action it is taking to develop trade and investment opportunities.

Answer · Keith Brown: The latest statistics from the Export Statistics Scotland 2015 publication estimate (a) Scottish exports to Indonesia at £70 million; (b) Scottish exports to Singapore at £525 million; and (c) Scottish exports to Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines a…

27 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the opportunities for Scotland-based companies to benefit from contracts associated with HS2.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Keith Brown MSP, the then Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities, opened the first of a series of UK-wide HS2 Supply Chain Conferences in Edinburgh on 5 November 2015 to inform Scotland-based companies of the forthcoming opportunities to …

9 Mar 2017 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it can provide regarding the visit by the Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs to Japan in February 2017.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I travelled to Japan from 12 to 17 February, where I undertook a programme of activity to strengthen links in business, trade, tourism, education and culture. I met Mr Yukio Takano, the mayor of Toshima Ward, one of Tokyo’s most diverse cultural centres, w…

7 Mar 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the business rates review will consider the potential of charging properties marketed through platforms such as AirBnB.

28 Feb 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the UK Government introduced emergency legislation to prevent the expansion of personal independence payments to 160,000 claimants, and how it will ensure that there is a fair assessment process once responsibility for this benefit is devolved.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: I am very concerned about the impact on people’s lives that will result from the recently announced amendments being made to the Personal Independence Payment regulations by the UK Government. I have already written to the UK Minister responsible for this pol…

13 Feb 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to calls for a bottle deposit return scheme to be introduced.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government is considering the benefits and drawbacks of a deposit return scheme. Such a scheme has the potential to reduce litter and improve recycling, but other factors must be taken into consideration. These include the impact on small stores …

8 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase the number of women on private sector boards.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government is committed to improving the representation of women in senior and decision making positions. Gender balanced boards are clearly important as a matter of equality and moral principle, but evidence shows that there is a strong economic…

6 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to the life sciences sector.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Since 2010 the life sciences sector has seen a 29% growth in turnover and 24% growth in gross value added (GVA), with current turnover in excess of £4.2 billion. A package of support is available through the Scottish Government and our agencies to stimulate…

6 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what role life sciences play in its plans to grow the economy.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Scotland has a thriving life sciences community which is recognised for the distinctive capabilities of our business base and research institutions, international reputation and potential for significant growth and creation of high value jobs. The Scottish G…

26 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response it to the recent report showing an increase in the number of tourists visiting Scotland and what action it is taking to promote the country to the world.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government welcomes the recent figures that show a 6% increase in overseas tourism expenditure in the twelve months to September 2016 and that the number of North American visitors and their spending increased notably during this period with incr…

25 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the action it is taking to promote inward investment.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise are working together through Scottish Development International to attract inward investment to Scotland. Over the last year 55 inward investment projects have been attracted to…

25 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Governmentwhether it will provide an update on the action it is taking to increase productivity in the economy.

Answer · Keith Brown: Improving productivity and competitiveness of Scotland’s economy is a central aim of Scotland’s Economic Strategy (SES). Our approach is based on the twin objectives of boosting competitiveness and tackling inequality. The SES sets out four priority areas for…

18 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider and provide a response to the conclusions in the Ellen MacArthur Foundation report, The New Plastics Economy: Catalysing action.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I welcome the report and agree with its focus on collaborative action. The three key transition areas for plastics packaging identified by the report on redesign, reuse and optimising recycling are very much in line with the principles set out in our Circular…

18 Jan 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce health inequalities during pregnancy and in the postnatal period.

10 Jan 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding reports of potential asset stripping when the Edinburgh-based Green Investment Bank is transferred to the private sector.

21 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how its income tax proposals will change the tax bills for taxpayers in each of the tax bands.

Answer · Derek Mackay: We set out our income tax proposals in the Draft Budget 2017-18 and they are as follows. Proposed rates and bands Scottish income tax rates Scottish bands Scottish basic rate 20% Above £11,500* up to £43,430 Scottish Higher rate 40% Above £43,430…

20 Dec 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on vulnerable people in Scotland, what its position is on the UK Government's decision to abolish the Child Poverty Unit.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government is fully committed to tackling child poverty. That's why we fundamentally disagreed with the UK Government's decision to scrap the Child Poverty Act 2010 targets. It is regrettable but not surprising that the decision to abolish the Ch…

7 Dec 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much the screen sector spends on production in Scotland.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: As I announced on 8 December 2016, data collated by Creative Scotland tells us that the screen sector spent a record £52.7 million on film and television production in Scotland in 2015. This is an increase of almost £7 million on what was spent in 2014, and m…

6 Dec 2016 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will report on the outcome of the recent summit meeting of the British-Irish Council.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: On 25 November 2016, the Welsh Government hosted a summit meeting of the British-Irish Council in Cardiff. The meeting was attended by Ministers from all eight Member Administrations and was chaired by the Welsh First Minister. The Scottish Government was rep…

29 Nov 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the impact on Scotland's economy of the Institute for Fiscal Studies findings that suggest that Brexit could result in 13 years without growth in real wages.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government was disappointed by the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement and lack of measures to help households given the deterioration in the economic and fiscal outlook, primarily due to the UK Government's decision to leave the EU. As the Institute …

8 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact will be on Scotland of reports that, following the Brexit vote, the UK has experienced its first decrease in capital financing in five years.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Reports that UK businesses have experienced their first decrease in capital financing in five years following the EU Referendum indicates that the heightened uncertainty facing the UK economy is weighing on investment intentions. The economic uncertainty cau…

12 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the economic impact is of the Edinburgh festivals.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: According to the Edinburgh Festivals 2015 Impact Study the Edinburgh Festivals generate £313 million worth of additional tourism revenue for the Scottish economy each year. The Edinburgh Festivals attract audiences of more than 4.5 million annually - a simil…

12 Aug 2016 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when a report of the Scotland’s Census 2021 - Topic Consultation will be made available.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Registrar General for Scotland has published Scotland’s Census 2021 – Topic Consultation Report on 15 August 2016 and it is available from the Scotland's Census website: www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/consultation Scotland’s Census 2021 is being designed and…

8 Aug 2016 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Registrar General will publish his annual report for 2015.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Scotland’s Population 2015: the Registrar General’s Annual Review of Demographic Trends’ will be published at 9:30am. on 10 August 2016. The Report contains information about births, deaths and marriages during the year, together with other demographic inform…