Ivan McKee

15 Nov 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the provision, availability and student financial support in Scotland for higher education courses in BSL.

15 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will bring forward legislation to tackle obstructive and inconsiderate parking.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: A Public Consultation entitled "Improving Parking in Scotland" was launched on 31 March and closed on 30 June to the general public and 31 August to local authorities and Regional Transport Partnerships. We are currently analysing 661 responses to the consu…

8 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will activate the provisions of the Legal Services (Scotland) Act 2010 to allow communities, charities and other groups to establish their own legal practices.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The Legal Services (Scotland) Act 2010 (the 2010 Act) put in place provisions for solicitors to establish businesses with other professions, creating alternative business structures. Solicitors and/or other regulated professionals i.e. non-solicitor professi…

8 Nov 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government  what its position is on the view that a reliable emergency mobile communications system is vital for the emergency services.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: A reliable mobile communications system is vital for our emergency services and is a core part of operational delivery. This is currently provided primarily by the Airwave network. Airwave is due to be replaced by the Emergency Services Network in the coming …

25 Oct 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to extend the electric vehicle loan scheme beyond 2018.

6 Sep 2017 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it can help organisations in Scotland that will be subject to introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy by the UK Government.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Last year, the Scottish Government consulted with organisations across Scotland on the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy. In line with the responses we received, the Scottish Government is funding a range of support for Scottish Levy payers, including t…

6 Sep 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact will be on its climate change targets of its plan to decarbonise road transport by 2032.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: As announced in the Programme for Government, we will increase efforts to support and promote electric vehicles to ensure that by 2032 there will be no need to purchase a petrol or diesel car or van. We will take the lead in decarbonising road transport to en…

24 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will make known its intentions regarding the future provision of bus passes for people over 60, so that those approaching this age can plan for their future travel needs.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government launched its Consultation on Free Bus Travel for Older and Disabled People and Modern Apprentices on Friday 25 August. The Consultation will run for 12 weeks, closing on Friday 17 November 2017. The consultation is just that, a consul…

16 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the social equalities legacy from the Commonwealth Games in 2014, in the form of funding support being allocated to proven, individual, elite athletes from areas of multiple deprivation, is not being applied to weightlifters.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Active Scotland Outcomes Framework sets out our ambitions for a more active Scotland, and is underpinned by a commitment to equality. A range of actions are already in place to support participation in sport and physical activity, including those aimed at…

2 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considered offering reusable alternatives as part of its free feminine sanitary products pilot scheme; what the reasons were for not taking this approach, and whether it plans to keep this issue under review.

Answer · Angela Constance: Our pilot to provide free sanitary products to those from low income homes in Aberdeen offers an excellent opportunity to test which approaches are best able to reach those in greatest need in as dignified and sensitive a way as possible. A range of tampons, …

15 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the view that, by the time they are 16, all school pupils should be able to (a) provide at least a basic definition of democracy, (b) identify the different levels of government in Scotland and the UK, including the different voting systems, and (c) show awareness…

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government believes that Political Literacy is central to citizenship education. It is the particular combination of attributes and capabilities, skills, knowledge and understanding that helps learners to become responsible citizens and to partic…

14 Jun 2017 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on plans to better integrate and align employability provision following the £1 million of funding announced in December 2016.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The devolution of certain employability powers provides the opportunity for better integration and alignment of employability services with other provision. We know that those furthest removed from the labour market face a range of barriers to accessing susta…

13 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the revised funding eligibility criteria for language courses that will be required following the introduction of individual training accounts.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government is consulting with training providers and Skills Development Scotland on a Definition of Eligible Learning for the Individual Training Accounts (ITA) scheme which will ensure that every ITA is used towards courses that either help peop…

17 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether language courses will be eligible for funding through Individual Training Accounts when these replace Individual Learning Accounts in October 2017.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: A revised set of course criteria will be introduced to improve the quality and outcomes of courses on offer. Language courses which meet the revised criteria would be eligible for funding.

17 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether people who currently qualify for Individual Learning Accounts will be eligible for Individual Training Accounts when these replace the former in October 2017.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Learner eligibility criteria will remain largely unchanged under the new scheme, but it will require a declaration that applicants are either in work and earning £22,000 or less per annum or actively looking for work.

17 May 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the risks to Scotland's economy of businesses leaving the country if there is no access to the EU single market and a so-called hard Brexit strategy is pursued by the UK Government.

26 Apr 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to raise awareness among legal and paralegal professionals regarding parental alienation caused by divorce and separation.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: We will consider parental alienation, and a whole range of other issues, in our review of part 1 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995.

12 Apr 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006 is compliant with the European Convention on Human Rights regarding the rights of unmarried fathers and their children.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: Section 23 of the Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006, on parental responsibilities and parental rights of unmarried fathers, amended section 3 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995. The effect of the amendment was to give parental responsibilities and parental righ…

12 Apr 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS boards regarding the provision of hepatitis C treatment in prisons.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government engages in regular discussions with NHS Boards regarding the provision of hepatitis C treatment to all parts of the population, including prisoners, through the Hepatitis Clinicians, Coordinator and Executive Lead groups in the Scottis…

31 Mar 2017 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the transitional devolved employment services will go live and when it will set out its plans for the publication of statistics and the evaluation of performance.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: In one of the first exercises of devolved powers under the Scotland Act 2016, the Scottish Government will deliver new employment support services from today, Monday 3rd April 2017. Work Able Scotland and Work First Scotland will provide 12 month transitional…

29 Mar 2017 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what targets it expects Registers of Scotland to achieve in 2017-18.

Answer · Keith Brown: Scottish Ministers have set the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland the financial targets of achieving: A 3 per cent efficiency saving on their unit costs; and At least a 5 percent profit on their non-statutory products and services. In addition, the Keepe…

16 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the planned dates for the delivery of baby boxes to parents.

Answer · Mark McDonald: Baby Boxes will be available to families with children born in every local authority area, from Summer 2017.

16 Mar 2017 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide an update on the contract arrangements for delivery of April 2018 employment support services in the previously announced contract area (West) that has been reserved for supported businesses.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Further to the response to S5W-07802 on 8 March 2017, we will continue to move forward our Programme for Government 2016-17 commitment on employment support by issuing an Invitation to Tender (ITT), today, to deliver Fair Start Scotland from April 2018 in Wes…

7 Mar 2017 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide an update on the arrangements for the fully devolved programme of employment support that will commence from April 2018.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: We will move forward our Programme for Government 2016-17 commitment on employment support by issuing an Invitation to Tender (ITT), today, to deliver a new Scottish Employability Support Service from April 2018. The aim of this Service is to provide support …

15 Feb 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the value of Scotland’s natural environment is to the economy.

1 Feb 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that schools communicate with both resident and non-resident parents.

30 Jan 2017 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will confirm when the consultation on unconventional oil and gas will be launched.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I can confirm that the consultation on unconventional oil and gas has been published at the following link: https://consult.scotland.gov.uk/energy-and-climate-change-directorate/fracking-unconventional-oil-and-gas/ The future of unconventional oil and gas in…

25 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to encourage banks to speed up their processes for opening accounts for new customers, in light of the recent closure of the Airdrie Savings Bank and proposed closure of branches of other banks.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government encourages all banks, and other financial services providers, to ensure that their account opening processes meet the needs of their customers. However, account opening processes will vary from bank to bank. In the opening of accounts …

19 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it will provide to Clydesdale Bank employees following the announcement that 40 branches will be closed.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: We have contacted the Clydesdale Bank to offer support for any employees who may be facing redundancy through our Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) initiative. The Bank has advised there will be no requirement for PACE support as the Bank wi…

18 Jan 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that both parents can play an active role in their children's lives following divorce or separation.