Ben Macpherson

1 Nov 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve connectivity in the Edinburgh Northern and Leith constituency.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: In addition to the coverage provided by commercial suppliers, the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband programme has now provided fibre broadband access to 2,435 premises in the Edinburgh and Northern and Leith constituency, that would not otherwise have been…

18 Oct 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work of the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Group.

28 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it offers to local authorities to help development of autism (a) strategies and (b) action plans.

Answer · Shona Robison: The majority of the funding the Scottish Government provides to local government is by means of a block grant. It is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate the total financial resource available to it according to local needs and priorities. T…

13 Sep 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase social housing in Edinburgh.

12 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase social housing in Edinburgh.

16 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work of the Scottish Expert Advisory Panel on the Collaborative Economy and its potential to regulate short-term let properties marketed through platforms such as Airbnb.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Expert Advisory Panel on the Collaborative Economy is considering a number of themes including peer to peer accommodation, which was discussed at their meeting on 21 June 2017. The panel are due to present their conclusions and any recommendation…

2 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the power to implement rent pressure zones will come into force.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: It is intended that the Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016 will come into force on 1 December 2017. Local authorities will then have the ability to make an application to the Scottish Ministers for an area to be designated as a Rent Pressure Zone…

27 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have come to Scotland through the Syrian Resettlement Programme.

Answer · Angela Constance: Scotland has welcomed over 1,800 people under the UK Government's Syrian Resettlement Programme since October 2015. Official statistics for the Syrian Resettlement programme are published quarterly by the Home Office. The latest set of statistics was publis…

6 Jun 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to tackle Islamophobia in schools.

5 Jun 2017 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken in Scotland following the recent terrorist attack in London.

31 May 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle and prevent youth crime in north Edinburgh.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: We recognise the impact that offending behaviour can have on communities. Timely and effective interventions are needed to keep communities and young people safe from crime and disorder. A local partnership approach is the key to confronting the behaviour an…

30 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support refugees who enrol at university to complete an IELTS (International English Language Testing System) qualification during their first year, and whether additional support is provided through summer school places.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government recognises that having English language skills is key to enabling full civic participation, including in education, and we that is why we provide funding for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses via the Scottish Fundi…

30 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support refugees living in Scotland to enrol at university.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Students or prospective students living in Scotland who have been granted refugee status, or another form of asylum (such as Humanitarian Protection), are eligible to apply to the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) for payment of their tuition fees and fin…

24 May 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken and funding it has provided to promote the food and drink sector.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The delivery of the industry-led food and drink strategy (“Ambition 2030”) will be supported by a new three year £10million investment, with £7.5million from the public sector and, for the first time, an industry contribution of £2.5million. This builds on th…

17 May 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the UK Government’s benefit cap will have on individuals and families in Scotland.

8 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is considering extending the scope of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 to include private companies.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: 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 undertaking 'functions of a public nature' - such…

2 May 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to general practice.

19 Apr 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact cruise ships at Newhaven have had on tourism in the area and on Edinburgh as a whole.

11 Apr 2017 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made with Lord Bracadale’s review of hate crime legislation, and how people can take part in the process.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: I am delighted that Lord Bracadale is making good progress with his review. He has today published material at www.hatecrimelegislationreview.scot which sets out the process he will follow, the key timescales, the composition of his reference group and how he…

1 Feb 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to assist marine energy developers.

25 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-04448 by Kevin Stewart on 15 November 2016, 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: Details are as follows: Glasgow 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 HA Rent 42.70% 47.56% 53.27% 56.43% 63.79% HA Low Cost Home Ownership 27.56% 46.10% 39.07% 0.00% 0.00% Other Rent (Mid-Market Rent) 23.83% 25.86% 34.26% 29.00% 39.…

24 Jan 2017 · Written Question

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

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government undertakes a wide variety of activity which promotes, protects, respects and realises human rights. Further information can be found in the recent answers to questions S5W-05524, S5W-05525, S5W-05679 and S5W-05683 on 9 January 2017, S…

24 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on whether people on low incomes in Scotland are less likely to own a passport or driving licence.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government does not hold passport data. Nationality and citizenship are matters that are fully reserved to the United Kingdom Government under the Devolution Settlement. The responsibility for issuing passports sits with HM Passport Office, which…

24 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many people in Scotland do not own a (a) passport or (b) driving licence.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government does not hold passport data. Nationality and citizenship are matters that are fully reserved to the United Kingdom Government under the Devolution Settlement. The responsibility for issuing passports sits with HM Passport Office, which…

21 Dec 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any communication it has had with the UK Government regarding the publication of Scotland’s Place in Europe.

14 Dec 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how its budget will affect the people of Edinburgh.

5 Dec 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what was discussed at the recent meeting between the finance secretary and the chancellor.

30 Nov 2016 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-04449 by Joe FitzPatrick on 11 November 2016, whether it will provide an update on what plans it has to consult on extending coverage of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 to registered social landlords.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: I am pleased to confirm that in line with my commitment to consult on extending coverage of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 to registered social landlords, today marks the start of this consultation. The consultation paper is available on the S…

30 Nov 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people in Scotland it estimates would be impacted by the UK Government reducing employment and support allowance to claimants placed in the work-related activity group.

14 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it offers to encourage qualified nurses to practice midwifery, and what courses are available.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government's Nursing and Midwifery Student Intake Planning Group is considering options to increase access to conversion programmes for registered nurses. As part of its deliberations it will be considering whether the 18 month conversion program…