Parliamentary questions
Ivan McKee
120 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
14 Dec 2016 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met Glasgow City Council and what issues were discussed.
6 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the outcome was of the recent meeting between the First Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Answer · Derek Mackay: I refer the member to the answer to question S5O-00462 on 14 December 2016. All answers to Oral parliamentary questions are available at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=10691&i=98173
5 Dec 2016 · Inspired Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its study on the pub sector.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The independent study by CGA Strategy into the pub sector in Scotland has been published today on the Scottish Government Website http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2016/12/8494 The Scottish Government will now engage with pub sector interests to discuss the f…
29 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it has allocated to the Mental Health First Aid Training Programme in each of the last three years, and how much it plans to allocate in each of the next three years.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government provides funding to NHS Health Scotland to deliver a number of mental health programmes including the Mental Health First Aid Training Programme for adults and young people. NHS Health Scotland’s costs to deliver training for trainer t…
29 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what role the Mental Health First Aid Training Programme is playing in its aim to deliver improved mental health, and what analysis it has carried out of the programme's effectiveness.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Mental Health First Aid Training Programme is part of a suite of evidenced informed resources that supports awareness of mental health and wellbeing and focuses on prevention and early intervention. Between 2005 and 2016, the 12 hour course has b…
23 Nov 2016 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that sportscotland delivers on its challenge to increase the levels of sporting activity among children.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: As Minister for Sport, I routinely meet with the Chair and Chief Executive of sportscotland where we discuss a range of issues. The Scottish Government issues sportscotland with an annual strategic guidance letter highlighting key areas on which we want sport…
16 Nov 2016 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it calculates the level of homelessness.
26 Oct 2016 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that its procurement policy delivers best value.
24 Oct 2016 · Inspired Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on the Enterprise and Skills Review that was announced by First Minister on 25 May 2016 (Official Report, c. 9).
Answer · Keith Brown: The first phase of the Enterprise and Skills Review has now concluded and I can confirm that I am publishing the report and recommendations today. Copies have been lodged with SPICe and will be made available online at http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Economy/Enta…
6 Oct 2016 · Inspired Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the actions that it is taking to deliver its target to meet 11% of non-electrical heat demand from renewable sources by 2020, as initially set in the Renewable Heat Action Plan and reaffirmed in the Heat Policy Statement, published in 2015.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I am pleased to announce I laid a report in Parliament today, which provides an update on the actions the Scottish Government is taking to help our renewable heat target is met. The report is now available on the Scottish Government web-site, at http://www.go…
26 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it supports disadvantaged young people in insecure employment who do not receive housing benefit or universal credit.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government supports young people who face additional hurdles in entering the jobs market through various schemes such as Community Jobs Scotland, Modern Apprenticeships, Flexible Support Fund and Employer Recruitment Incentive. In work benefits a…
26 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding minimising the impact on disadvantaged young people in Scotland of losing access to universal credit and housing benefit.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: Universal Credit is available for people 18 and over and includes a housing element which replaces Housing Benefit. The UK Government plans to end automatic entitlement to the housing element of Universal Credit for 18-21 year olds making new claims from Apri…
26 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of allowing universal credit recipients to match the frequency of their benefit payment with fluctuating (a) rates and (b) frequency that they receive in wages.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: Universal Credit is reserved to the UK Government. The Scottish Government will use the limited powers we will receive over Universal Credit to make it fairer by ensuring that all eligible claimants have the choice of receiving their UC payments twice monthly…
26 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact (a) zero-hours contracts and (b) other similar employment arrangements have on the ability of disadvantaged young people to access housing benefit and universal credit.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: Both Housing Benefit and Universal Credit are reserved to the UK Government.
26 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has been given by the UK Government regarding the future of financial services and how this will impact on Scotland following the UK’s vote to leave the EU.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government has received no information from the UK Government regarding the future of financial services and any resulting impact on Scotland following the EU referendum. The financial services sector is very important to Scotland, both for its …
22 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in establishing a taskforce on nuisance telephone calls, which was announced in June 2016.
Answer · Keith Brown: The first meeting of the Scottish Government’s Nuisance Calls Commission will be held in November and membership will include regulators, consumer groups and industry. Invitations have been issued for the Commission and responses are currently being received…
22 Sep 2016 · Inspired Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve public transport links in the Robroyston area of Glasgow given the growth in new housing development.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government has approved an application for funding made to our Scottish Stations Fund (SSF) to support the construction of a new railway station at Robroyston. This is a significant landmark with Robroyston the first new station proposal to be aw…
21 Sep 2016 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on making it mandatory to train teachers about inclusive education.
12 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will seek to protect the £4 billion worth of trade from Scotland to the US, in light of the recent comments by President Obama regarding Brexit.
Answer · Keith Brown: Scotland’s vote in the EU referendum reflected Scotland’s international outlook and the importance of the single market to Scotland’s economy. In order to help stabilise and stimulate the Scottish economy we will step up delivery of our 2016-21 Trade and Inve…
8 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made towards achieving its aim of creating a smoke-free prison service.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The National Tobacco Strategy Workstream has recommended that all Scottish prisons should be smoke-free within a timescale of up to 5 years.…
7 Sep 2016 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the annual cost is to local authorities of sending disposable nappies to landfill.
7 Sep 2016 · Inspired Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will support unemployed people toward and into work when contracted employment services are devolved from 1 April 2017.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: As one of the first exercises of devolved powers under the Scotland Act 2016, we will deliver strong and effective continuity of employment support services for those who need it most, whilst building towards a full Scottish programme of support from April 20…
31 Aug 2016 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in implementing the recommendations of the Commission on the Future Delivery of Public Services, which was chaired by Campbell Christie, calling for the prioritisation of preventative spend and an outcomes focus in delivering more effective and efficient public…
23 Aug 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what date the new community hub at the Parkhead Hospital site will be fully functioning and able to provide services to patients currently served by Lightburn Hospital.
Answer · Shona Robison: Whilst it is right for health boards to keep services under review to ensure they remain of the highest quality, no final decisions have been made about the future of Lightburn Hospital. The board must now engage with the affected local communities, staff a…
11 Jul 2016 · Inspired Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by the First Minister on 25 May 2016 (Official Report, c. 2) when it will publish the membership and remit of the group that will oversee the enterprise and skills review.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Ministerial Review Group for the enterprise and skills review holds its first meeting today. The membership of the group is outlined below. Membership has been drawn from a wide range of key stakeholders, each of whom will bring an important level of pers…
23 Jun 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its news release of 18 March 2016, Extra £20 million for infected blood support, when the personal payments will start to be received.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: We are currently working with the UK Department of Health and HMRC on beginning the payment of the increased lump sums and annual payments via the existing UK support schemes (the Skipton Fund and MFET) as soon as possible. This requires extensive amendments …
21 Jun 2016 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how its proposed planning legislation will ensure that new housing developments comply with the aspirations of the Scottish Planning Policy.
8 Jun 2016 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ensure that spending on education is targeted at areas where the attainment gap is greatest.
Answer · John Swinney: We will allocate £750 million during the course of this Parliament through the Attainment Scotland Fund to tackle the attainment gap, targeting resources at those children, schools and communities most in need. The Scottish Government, through the Attainment …
1 Jun 2016 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that people in the east end of Glasgow continue to have access to local hospital services.
Answer · Shona Robison: In line with Nicola Sturgeon's decision to reject the proposals to close Lightburn Hospital in 2011, the government remains committed to ensuring that people in the east end of Glasgow continue to have access to high quality local services.
26 May 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many recipients there have been of the small business bonus scheme in each year since it was introduced.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The number of properties estimated to have benefited each year from the small business bonus scheme, since it began in 2008-09, is shown in the following table. Figures for 2016-17 are due to be published in October 2016. 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12…