Ben Macpherson

13 Jun 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any implications for refugees from Ukraine, whether it will provide an update on the disembarkation of the MS Victoria, prior to the ship’s planned departure from the port of Leith on 11 July 2023.

30 May 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting City of Edinburgh Council with the Trinity Academy redevelopment.

25 Apr 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the regeneration and development of Granton Waterfront.

18 Apr 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it and its agencies have had with Leith Theatre. 

18 Jun 2018 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support the delivery of more affordable housing.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Today, I will announce the positive outcome of the Mid-Market Rent (MMR) Invitation, a further innovative initiative designed to expand the supply of affordable homes through long term loan investment. £47.5m of Scottish Government loan funding is being prov…

7 Jun 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-09168 by Joe Fitzpatrick on 22 May 2017, to what extent the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 applies to private companies.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: As set out in my answer to S5W-09168, the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 ('the Act') covers private companies if they are wholly-owned by a public authority listed in schedule 1 of the Act. The Act can also be extended to organisations, including…

29 May 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-06577 by Kevin Stewart on 2 February 2017, what the average (a) Housing Association Grant (HAG) and (b) non-HAG subsidy level per unit was expressed as a percentage of total costs for housing association new development tender approval activity in (…

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The following table sets out the average Housing Association Grant (HAG) and non (HAG) subsidy level expressed as a percentage of total costs for housing association new development tender approval activity in Edinburgh and Glasgow in each of the last three …

27 May 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-04448 by Kevin Stewart on 15 November 2016, whether it will outline the average Housing Association Grant (HAG) subsidy levels approved for housing association new development tender approval activity in Edinburgh and Glasgow over the last three yea…

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The following table sets out the average Housing Association Grant (HAG) subsidy levels approved for housing association new development tender approval activity in Edinburgh and Glasgow over the last three years, broken down by type of tenure: Grant per uni…

26 Apr 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to provide meals to children outwith school term times.

Answer · Angela Constance: Local authorities have the flexibility to provide meals and activities for children during school holidays where they think this is needed. We know that some local authorities such as East Renfrewshire and North Ayrshire are already doing good work to support…

25 Apr 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what role the Education Maintenance Allowance plays in encouraging young people to stay on at school.

16 Apr 2018 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister how many Syrian refugees have been resettled in Scotland.

21 Mar 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the renewable energy industry.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The ambitious targets set out in our new Energy Strategy show how seriously we take our commitment to supporting and growing Scotland’s renewable energy potential. We have pioneered unique legislative changes and made funding available to support the growth …

2 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that all patients diagnosed with bowel cancer are tested for Lynch syndrome, in light of evidence suggesting that the condition can dramatically increase a person’s chance of developing bowel cancer by up to 80%.

Answer · Shona Robison: It is current protocol for all NHS Scotland Health Boards to ensure appropriate referral and testing for Lynch syndrome, for all patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer before the age of 60. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) have…

21 Feb 2018 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what proposals the Scottish Law Commission has for future law reform projects.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: I have agreed with the Scottish Law Commission its Tenth Programme of Law Reform, which covers the work to be undertaken by the Commission for the five year period from 2018 until the end of 2022. The Programme was presented to Parliament today and is also be…

7 Feb 2018 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the First Minister plans to publish a new edition of the Scottish Ministerial Code.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The 2018 edition of the Scottish Ministerial Code will be published today. The Code, which was last revised in August 2016, provides a code of conduct and guidance on procedures for members of the Scottish Government and Junior Scottish Ministers. A copy of t…

31 Jan 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the finance secretary will ensure that the Budget supports local businesses.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Budget delivers the most attractive system of business rates in the UK, a new £150 million Building Scotland Fund and investment of over £4 billion of infrastructure. We will be allocating £600 million of investment in our R100 programme to extend superfa…

24 Jan 2018 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its position on electronic training devices for dogs.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government intends to ensure electronic training devices cannot be used to cause pain to animals. We will consult with animal welfare organisations to develop specific Guidance under Article 38 of the Animal Health and Welfare Scotland Act (2006)…

23 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its position on electronic training devices for dogs.

12 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reports that recent figures published by the Department of Work and Pensions on the performance of assessment providers Capita and Independent Assessment Services show that neither are meeting contractual targets of 97% of assessments conforming to standards, and …

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government has noted the supporting statistics published by the Department for Work and Pensions, and remains concerned about many aspects of the UK Government's current social security system. We continue to hear from individuals who have experi…

12 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the supporting statistics published on 4 December 2017 by the Department for Work and Pensions in aid of the UK Parliament Work and Pensions Select Committee PIP and ESA assessments inquiry, given that the Scottish Government is in the process of receiving powers …

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government believe that the statistics published by the UK Government in response to the review could have been clearer. For example, they report that the proportion of all Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Employment Support Allowance (ESA…

4 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the average level of grant funding is for each affordable housing unit in Scotland, and how this compares with England.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: In 2016-17, affordable housing units in Scotland were supported by an average grant input of £58,889. According to the 2017 UK Housing Review, the average grant provided by the UK Government’s 2015-2018 Affordable Homes Programme in England, relating to offer…

4 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many homes have been delivered since 2007 for social rent, and how the supply of homes for social rent compares with that in England.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Since 2007, 48,813 affordable homes for social rent have been delivered in Scotland (from April 2007 to September 2017). Over the period from 2007-08 to 2016-17 financial years, this government’s supply of social rent affordable housing per capita has been 1…

4 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many affordable homes have been delivered since 2007, and how the supply of affordable housing per head of population in Scotland compares with that in England.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Since 2007, 70,861 affordable homes have been delivered in Scotland (from April 2007 to September 2017). Over the 2007-08 to 2016-17 financial years, this government’s supply of affordable housing per capita has been 33% higher than the UK government’s suppl…

13 Dec 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact UK Government welfare reform is having on homelessness in Scotland.

6 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures are being taken to (a) treat and (b) support people with cystic fibrosis.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that everyone living in Scotland with long term conditions such as cystic fibrosis, are able to access the best possible care and support, and benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective and put t…

29 Nov 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is communicating with landlords and tenants regarding the new private residential tenancy, which was introduced on 1 December 2017.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government is working in partnership with Shelter Scotland and the Scottish Association of Landlords on a comprehensive awareness raising campaign to ensure everyone involved in private renting, from tenants and landlords to letting agents and ho…

22 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking in the next 12 months to tackle violence against women and girls.

Answer · Angela Constance: Equally Safe is the national strategy to prevent and eradicate violence against women and girls, which was developed by the Scottish Government and COSLA. A delivery plan for this strategy over 2017-21 was published on Friday 24 November and sets out our plan…

20 Nov 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the power in the Private Housing Tenancies (Scotland) Act 2016 to designate Rent Pressure Zones will come into force.

15 Nov 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how its Draft Budget proposals will take account of Edinburgh’s needs, opportunities and population growth.

1 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many parliamentary questions it has answered regarding exempting (a) Police Scotland and (b) the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service from VAT, and returning the money paid; how many letters it has sent to the UK Government on the matter; how many times it has asked to meet UK ministers …

Answer · Michael Matheson: Scottish Ministers have raised the unfair treatment of police and fire VAT with their UK counterparts on numerous occasions face to face. The amount of unrecovered VAT incurred by the Scottish Police Authority and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service between…