Parliamentary questions
Jamie Greene
1,978 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
20 Jun 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to expand the number of aviation routes from Scottish airports.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Whilst the introduction of new air routes at Scotland's airports is primarily the responsibility of the airports, the Scottish Government and its agencies work closely with the airports to maximise route development opportunities. In the pursuit of routes whi…
20 Jun 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to help develop the video game industry.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The development of the video games sector in Scotland is led by Creative Scotland and Scottish Enterprise. Creative Scotland is developing the video games industry through two main routes - firstly through support for projects that fit the criteria of its Op…
13 Jun 2017 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce hospital waiting times in the West Scotland parliamentary region.
12 Jun 2017 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the final cost will be of the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme.
7 Jun 2017 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce class sizes.
Answer · John Swinney: In 2010 we introduced legislation to reduce the maximum class size in P1 to its lowest ever level of 25, and we have committed £88 million to local authorities to maintain pupil-teacher ratios. Our investment in teacher numbers will allow local authorities t…
5 Jun 2017 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to comply with freedom of information requests.
1 Jun 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in light of it being fined following the deaths in 2012 of two patients by suicide at Stobhill Hospital.
Answer · Maureen Watt: It would be inappropriate for Ministers to comment in detail on individual patient care or on individual tragic deaths. However we would expect NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to implement any appropriate safety improvements which might be required in light of …
1 Jun 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport on 16 May 2017 (Official Report, c. 4), what support it has offered to NHS Ayrshire and Arran following the cyber-attack.
Answer · Shona Robison: Scottish Government is working not only with Ayrshire and Arran, but with all NHS boards to review the circumstances that led to the attack, the multi-agency responses and steps that should be taken to enhance future resilience.
1 Jun 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to help prevent young people being bullied on internet gaming platforms.
Answer · Mark McDonald: Internet safety is a reserved matter. However, Scottish Ministers do have significant scope to develop and implement policy relating to child internet safety as a direct result of devolved responsibility for education, policing and child protection. The Scot…
31 May 2017 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to protect low- and middle-income earners from negative growth.
9 May 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to tackle so-called fake news and its impact on people in Scotland.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: It is important that all news organisations do all they can to ensure that their reporting is as accurate as possible. Platforms through which news is accessed - including print, broadcast and online media - should consider how they can ensure that intentiona…
9 May 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent review by the property adviser, Ryden, which suggests that the possibility of a second independence referendum is undermining investor confidence in the housing market.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government routinely monitors housing market activity and the perspective and views from market participants and experts, including Ryden. Ryden's 80th Scottish Property Review covers commercial property and investments, rather than the housing …
9 May 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it (a) has taken and (b) will take to respect purdah rules for the 2017 (i) Local Government Elections and (ii) General Election.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government published guidance for civil servants on their role and conduct during the local government election campaign on 18 January 2017. This guidance was in operation between 13 April and 4 May 2017. Similar guidance on the UK general electi…
1 May 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its latest projection is of the outlook for the oil and gas industry.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: During what has been a challenging time for the industry, the recent Oil and Gas UK Business Outlook and Scottish Chambers of Commerce reports demonstrate that confidence is slowing returning to the sector. We have seen first oil from the Flyndre field come o…
1 May 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what long-term sustainable deficit it considers that Scotland can run.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Fiscal Framework, agreed with the UK Government in February 2016, sets out the Scottish Government's statutory limits on borrowing as a maximum of £3 billion for capital expenditure and £1.75 billion for resource expenditure, the latter being subject to s…
1 May 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that 8% of people with cancer live in the NHS North Ayrshire and Arran area, whether it will provide the NHS board with additional support.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Resource Allocation Formula (known as NRAC) is used to assess NHS boards’ relative need for funding to promote equity of access to services across Scotland. One of the main components of the formula is the morbidity and life circumstances adjustm…
1 May 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the economic impact would be of a so-called hard border between Scotland and England.
Answer · Keith Brown: Maintaining a frictionless border between Scotland and the rest of the UK is in the economic interests of everyone. The rest of the UK exports more to Scotland than it exports to any other country in Europe, and to any other country in the world, bar the US. …
1 May 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact membership of the common fisheries policy has on Scotland's GDP.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Common Fisheries Policy provides a framework for managing and supporting Scotland’s sea fisheries, aquaculture and fish processing sectors. Together these sectors contributed £952 million in GVA in 2014.
25 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out on the impact of the common fisheries policy on the sector in Scotland.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: An independent review, entitled “The Future of Fisheries Management in Scotland”, was undertaken in 2010. The recommendations from this review have used to inform the Scottish Government’s subsequent approach to promoting reform of the Common Fisheries Policy…
24 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to increase levels of bilingualism.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring all of Scotland’s children and young people are equipped with the skills they need for life and work. This includes language skills and we are committed to the successful implemention of the 1+2 language learni…
24 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take in light of analysis from Ernst and Young, which suggests that company profit warnings have increased since the previous quarter.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-08954 on 8 May 2017 for detail on key actions that the Scottish Government is taking to support Scotland’s economy. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the …
24 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to increase transparency in its handling of freedom of information requests in light of recent concerns raised by the Scottish Information Commissioner.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-08935 on 8 May 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.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusine…
24 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to mitigate the impact of a possible recession in Scotland.
Answer · Keith Brown: Scotland’s economy has remained resilient over the past year, growing by 0.4% in 2016. This is despite the continued challenges posed by the slowdown in the oil and gas sector and the uncertainty created by the EU referendum result. There is a clear consensus…
24 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will release the next set of the Government Expenditure and Revenue Figures (Scotland) (GERS).
Answer · Derek Mackay: Details of the date for the next Government Expenditure & Revenue Scotland (GERS) publication are provided on the Scottish Government's 'Official Statistics - Forthcoming Publications' webpage, available at: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Forthcoming…
18 Apr 2017 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to promote tourism in island communities.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Scotland’s islands are a key draw to tourists, with their varied and evocative landscapes and rich cultures and traditions. Recognising this, VisitScotland continues to promote the islands, through marketing campaigns, social media, trade and press familiaris…
18 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports suggesting that NHS Ayrshire and Arran staff recorded around 200,000 hours of sick leave in 2016.
Answer · Shona Robison: We are clear that the wellbeing of all NHS staff in Scotland is critically important. The Scottish Government continues to actively support all health boards to address the challenge of sickness absence which has fallen under this administration. Every healt…
18 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the accuracy of the Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) figures.
Answer · Derek Mackay: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-08517 on 19 April 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/2…
18 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the International Energy Agency’s recent analysis of the oil industry, which suggested that growth had slowed for a second year, and what impact this reduction in growth will have on Scotland's national deficit.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Scotland does not have a 'national deficit' as Scotland is not, yet, an independent nation in its own right. Government Expenditure and Revenues Scotland (GERS) present estimates of both the income and expenditure of Scotland while still part of the UK and in…
12 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to tackle unemployment.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Labour market statistics published this month show that between December 2016 and February 2017 the unemployment rate in Scotland fell to 4.5%. Scotland outperforms the UK on youth employment, unemployment and inactivity rates Scotland’s youth unemployment …
12 Apr 2017 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it engaged with stakeholders in developing its draft climate change plan.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: There was on-going engagement with stakeholders throughout the development of the draft Climate Change Plan, culminating in a major cross-sector stakeholder engagement event on 8 December 2016.