Jamie Greene

18 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether schools that are currently open for children of key workers will remain open during the scheduled summer break.

Answer · John Swinney: As I said in my Statement to Parliament on 26 May and as set out in the Strategic Framework for the reopening of schools, early learning and childcare provision published on 21 May, critical childcare provision for key worker and vulnerable children will cont…

18 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish details of the appeals process in respect of pupil grades in the current academic year.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Qualifications Authority set out in their letter to the Education and Skills Committee of 21 May that they will provide further guidance to the system on the approach and evidence requirements of their appeals process in early June.  

18 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what weighting will be given to a learning centre’s predictions for the grading of pupils.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Qualifications Authority has set out in their letter to the Education and Skills Committee of 21 May, that they expect to publish details of the process which they will have undertaken and the resulting awards that they will have made on Results …

18 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how its alternative grading arrangements will ensure fairness for every pupil.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) is responsible for awarding qualifications. The SQA has set out that their approach is based on three core principles of fairness to all learners; safe and secure certification of their qualifications; and maintaini…

18 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has done of the impact that alternative grading arrangements in schools will have on attainment gap.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) has set out that their approach is based on three core principles of fairness to all learners; safe and secure certification of their qualifications; and maintaining the integrity and credibility of the system, ensu…

18 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reasons it is asking teachers to rank their pupils in order of attainment.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) have asked teachers and lecturers to provide ranking information for candidates to provide more differentiated data to inform the awarding process. Guidance was provided to schools and colleges on 20 April and can …

18 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reasons it is expanding the predicted grade bands for teachers.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) has set out that an expanded scale will allow for a finer level of detail on the bands and to support the awarding process this year. Guidance was provided to schools and colleges on 20 April and can be found on th…

18 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to issue further guidance to teachers on issuing grade bands.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Qualifications Authority has published detailed guidance and an online course to support schools and colleges with the estimation process. The deadline for submission of grade estimates and rankings to the Scottish Qualifications Authority was 2…

18 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that qualifications obtained during the current academic year hold the same weight and status as those obtained in previous years, in light of changes in grading structures due to the cancellation of exams.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Qualifications Authority has set out that the approach being taken is based on three core principles of fairness to all learners; safe and secure certification of their qualifications; and maintaining the integrity and credibility of the system, …

18 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what preparatory work it has undertaken on how schools could be reopened, and whether it envisages this would be done in different stages.

Answer · John Swinney: The Education Recovery Group was formed in April for the purpose of advising government on how to re-open schools and ELC settings once it is safe to do so. Formed of representatives from across the education and ELC sectors, and supported by ten workstreams,…

18 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what contingency plans are in place should universities be unable to open in September 2020.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I will not be recommending to universities that they delay their term times - that is a decision for each university. Some universities may stagger certain parts of their operations for a few weeks or a few months. I am confident that most, if not all, of our…

18 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what contingency plans and support measures are in place for parents and pupils should school closures and lockdown measures remain in place, or be restarted, in September 2020.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government will do its best to avoid a second wave of COVID-19. However, if the scientific evidence tells us that we are unable to contain the virus, it is possible that we may need to re-impose lockdown restrictions for schools and other educati…

18 May 2020 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has taken a decision regarding reopening schools in the current academic year, in light of the plans in other parts of the UK.

18 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to help ensure that merchant navy staff from Scotland who are currently unable to return home because of the COVID-19 outbreak will be able to do so.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government recognises the hugely important work of the shipping sector, and the skilled workforce who ensure vital goods and essential travel can continue throughout this critical situation. We are aware of the difficulties caused by global restr…

17 Mar 2020 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to IAM RoadSmart’s survey, which found that 90% of motorists in Scotland have been affected by potholes in the last year.

Answer · Michael Matheson: We appreciate the challenges facing road maintenance across Scotland and the importance of a safe, well performing road network. The Scottish Government expects to invest £471 million in managing, maintaining and safely operating the trunk road network in 202…

10 Mar 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the firefighter pay negotiations.

10 Mar 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) fares will be applied to the Gourock to Kilcreggan ferry route when the service is transferred to CalMac Ferries Limited.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The existing timetable and fare structure will apply when the service is transferred to CalMac Ferries Limited. Our over-riding priority has been to ensure the continuity of an important service for the communities it serves and this has seen Scottish Minist…

10 Mar 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the cost is of the existing annual subsidy for the Gourock to Kilcreggan ferry service, which is provided by Clyde Marine Services Limited, under contract with SPT, and what the projected annual subsidy cost is when it is transferred to CalMac Ferries Limited.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: In the 12 months to end March 2020 the total subsidy cost of operating the Gourock to Kilcreggan ferry service (operated by Clyde Marine Services Limited under contract to SPT) was £504,500. This figure includes a contribution from Transport Scotland for the …

4 Mar 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the Agriculture Transformation Programme will spend its 2020-21 Budget allocation.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Agricultural Transformation Programme funding will be used to deliver the actions relating to the Programme as set out in Programme for Government 2019-20. This will include, for example, developing pilot schemes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from a…

17 Feb 2020 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking in response to reports that the number of people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes has risen by 40% in the last 10 years.

11 Feb 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether all existing commitments from current and previous ministers to give evidence to parliamentary committees will be met.

29 Jan 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much time and money it plans to spend producing an alternative to the GERS figures.

22 Jan 2020 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has undertaken regarding the reported rise in student debt.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Student Loans Company statistics show average student loan debt in Scotland is £13,800. This compares with £35,950 in England, £22,920 in Wales and £23,550 in Northern Ireland. Scottish students continue to have the lowest debt in the UK and since 2010, have…

22 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) social and (b) affordable houses have been built in the Cunninghame North constituency in each year since 2007.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: This information is not held by constituency areas. The following table shows the number of (a) social and (b) affordable homes delivered in each year since 2007 in the North Ayrshire council area. Of the 1640 homes delivered, 1400 are new build homes, with …

6 Jan 2020 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the ferry cancellations that have led to visitors being stranded on the Isle of Arran.

10 Dec 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is tackling social inequalities within communities.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: In 2018-19 we invested over £1.4 billion on support directed at low income families. This includes key investment to deliver more affordable homes, tackle fuel poverty, support our Attainment Scotland Fund and over £100 million to mitigate the worst impacts o…

9 Dec 2019 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what assistance the Scottish Government is providing to public services and the third sector to address the issue of loneliness among older people over the festive period.

4 Dec 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many gritters and winter salt treatment vehicles there are, and how this compares with each year since 2007.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government through Transport Scotland is responsible for Winter Service on trunk roads and motorways. The number of gritters and winter salt treatment vehicles in service each year is shown in the following table.   Year Number of Gritters 20…

4 Dec 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent on trunk road maintenance, inclusive of all roads under its, and its agencies', financial or statutory responsibility in each year since 2007.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The following table summarises Trunk Road maintenance and operation investment by financial year. The totals include road and bridge maintenance, routine/cyclic maintenance, minor improvements, winter service and road safety improvements. The totals also incl…

4 Dec 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what actions it has taken in response to the Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs Committee 2018 report, Making Scotland a Screen Leader; what support it is currently providing the Scottish screen sector; what progress has been made since the publication of the report to address…

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government remains focused on strengthening our screen sector and creating the conditions for continued growth across production, development, talent and skills. Since the publication of the Making Scotland a Screen Leader report, a dedicated scr…