Jenny Gilruth

15 Nov 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it expects the duties of headteachers to include recruitment administration.

13 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Governance for Railway Investment Projects (GRIP) process with regard to the Levenmouth Rail Link will (a) commence and (b) be completed.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-11613 on 16 October 2017. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness…

13 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Transport Scotland plans to meet Fife Council to discuss the Governance for Railway Investment Projects (GRIP) process with regard to the Levenmouth Rail Link and, if so, (a) when and (b) where this will take place.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Transport Scotland met with Fife Council in Glasgow on 21 November 2017 to discuss progressing the transport appraisal work undertaken to date for the Levenmouth Sustainable Transport Study. It has been agreed that there will be regular progress meetings with…

30 Oct 2017 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to strengthen quality in early learning and childcare.

Answer · Mark McDonald: Quality is already and will continue to be at the very heart of our commitment to near double the funded provision of early learning and childcare. Actions already underway include: Our commitment to provide an additional graduate in nurseries in Scotland’s …

24 Oct 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to stimulate business growth in areas with high unemployment.

21 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that, across 105 local authorities in the UK, half of all council tenants in receipt of universal credit are in housing arrears, and what information it has regarding tenants in Scotland.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: We are aware of reports that half of all council tenants across 105 local authorities who receive the housing element of universal credit(UC) are at least a month behind on their rent, with 30% two months behind. Similar concerns have been raised by Local Aut…

19 Sep 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it gives to young carers.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: This government recognises the vital role that carers, including young carers, play in supporting their loved ones and has always been strongly committed to enhancing carers’ rights. That is why, last week the First Minister announced a package of new measur…

13 Sep 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much from the CashBack for Communities programme has been distributed to groups in the Mid Fife and Glenrothes constituency since 2012.

Answer · Michael Matheson: This Government introduced the Cashback for Communities programme in 2008 as a way to reinvest monies attributed to proceeds of crime directly back into our young people living in areas most affected by crime. Since 2008 we have committed £92 million to CashB…

10 Aug 2017 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to go ahead with the current timings of October 2017 to amend the registration requirement to the SCQF level 9 qualification in Residential Child Care.

Answer · Mark McDonald: The Scottish Government is committed to this piece of work and would encourage all staff who have already embarked on current learning and development routes to achieving (SCQF) level 9 to continue. I am however mindful of the need to give the independent Car…

24 Jul 2017 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review foster and kinship care allowances.

Answer · Mark McDonald: The Scottish Government will gather a group of experts to carry out a review of foster care allowances, kinship care allowances and adoption allowances this autumn. The review group will consider the feasibility of introducing national allowances. This will …

20 Jun 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to raise awareness among young carers of welfare support that they may be entitled to.

5 Jun 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many secondary school principal teachers and faculty heads there are.

24 May 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met Fife Council and what issues were discussed.

26 Apr 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting schools in Fife to close the attainment gap.

Answer · John Swinney: £9.5 million of Pupil Equity Funding in 2017-18. Headteachers have flexibility to target resources at interventions they know will help close the attainment gap and they are currently preparing their plans for use of this funding.

15 Mar 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to raise awareness of how people can claim benefits that they are entitled to, in light of reports that there could be over 500,000 individuals and families that are not doing so.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: We recently launched the first phase of our benefits take up campaign aimed at ensuring that people receive the benefits and support to which they are entitled. This involved working with Citizens Advice Scotland to provide information and signposting for pe…

8 Mar 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met Transport Scotland.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: As Transport Scotland is part of the Scottish Government, meetings with Ministers occur regularly in the normal course of business.

22 Feb 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to close the attainment gap.

7 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many households have received support in each year since 2007 from the energy efficiency measures that it has introduced.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Analysis of Scottish Government programmes is only available since 2009 and annual breakdowns are published on the Energy saving Trusts website here. Overall these figures demonstrate that, as of the end of March 2015, over 245,000 households have received en…

27 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the recruitment of nursery teachers in deprived areas.

Answer · John Swinney: We are committed to ensuring that by 2018 nurseries in the most deprived areas will benefit from an additional graduate – either a teacher with early years expertise or a graduate practitioner with the BA Childhood Practice award. In order to support delive…

21 Dec 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will next meet Fife Council.

19 Dec 2016 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government how its Draft Budget will support its commitment to an enhanced Education Maintenance Allowance programme.

Answer · John Swinney: The Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is an entitlement in Scotland. This means that any applicant who meets the eligibility criteria will be entitled to receive EMA support. The budget change will therefore not impact on those who are about to apply nor …

15 Dec 2016 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-04857 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 5 December 2016, whether it will provide an update on what progress there has been on the appointment of a Commissioner for Fair Access.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: I am pleased to report that Professor Peter Scott, a former university principal, distinguished academic and experienced journalist, will take up the role in January 2017. Professor Scott brings an exceptional range of skills and expertise as well as a stron…

14 Dec 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress of the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband programme in meeting its target of delivering access to fibre broadband to at least 95% of premises by the end of 2017.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government’s Digital Scotland Superfast Programme met its interim target of 85% coverage six months early and continues to make good progress to meeting its overall target of 95% fibre broadband coverage by the end of 2017. As at 30 November 20…

13 Dec 2016 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in reducing youth unemployment through the Developing the Young Workforce Programme.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The second Developing the Young Workforce annual progress report (Developing the Young Workforce Scotland's Youth Employment Strategy 2nd Annual Report 2015/2016), covering academic year 2015-16, was published on 14 December 2016. The report highlights signif…

13 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in reducing youth unemployment through the Developing the Young Workforce Programme.

8 Nov 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is marking Inter Faith Week 2016.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government is pleased to support Scottish Interfaith Week and is providing £145,000 to Interfaith Scotland in 2016-17 to help support its work to develop interfaith dialogue. The First Minister hosted the second Interfaith Summit on 8 November 2…

31 Oct 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met Fife Council.

28 Oct 2016 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the findings of the independent review of its recent consultation on the UK Government’s Apprenticeship Levy.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: A report of an independent analysis of the responses received to our recent consultation will be published today. This will be available at: https://consult.scotland.gov.uk/employability-and-training/apprenticeship-levy

7 Sep 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the US Department of Agriculture regarding relaxing the import restrictions on Scottish beef and lamb.

5 Sep 2016 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will provide an update following the first meeting of the International Council of Education Advisers.