Parliamentary questions

Jamie Greene

1,978 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

16 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve transport links (a) to and (b) between (i) Glasgow Airport and (ii) Glasgow Prestwick Airport.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government has committed to invest £500million into the £1.13 billion Glasgow City Region Deal. As part of this Deal, detailed options to improve surface access to Glasgow Airport are being progressed by Glasgow City and Renfrewshire Councils A…

16 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the availability of affordable housing on the Isle of Arran.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Our commitment to invest over £3 billion to deliver at least 50,000 affordable homes over the lifetime of this Parliament – 35,000 of which will be for social rent – presents a huge opportunity to meet the housing needs of communities across Scotland. Fundin…

16 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact it believes that a reduction of overall revenue funding by £4.6 million to North Ayrshire Council will have on its ability to deliver of public services.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Taking next year’s local government finance settlement, including the extra £160 million announced on 2 February, plus the other sources of support available through actual and potential increases in council tax income and the support through Health and Socia…

13 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-06360 by Michael Matheson on 31 January 2017, what the timetable is for the evaluation.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-06120 on 24 January 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…

10 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide copies of any emails or notifications from (a) ministers and (b) special advisers to its officials informing them of the prospect of a second independence referendum and/or instructing them on the readiness of legislation that may enable it; how many of its offici…

Answer · Derek Mackay: On 24 June 2016, following the result of the EU referendum, the First Minister made it clear that she would respond to the democratic decision taken by the people of Scotland and explore all options to protect Scotland’s vital national interests. This include…

7 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent Scottish Funding Council statistics that recorded a 0.4% decrease in the number of full-time university applications from young people in the 20% most disadvantaged communities in 2015-16.

Answer · John Swinney: These figures are for 2015-16 entry to university and predate the work carried out by the Commission on Widening Access. More recent UCAS figures show clear progress on access, with a record entry rate of 10.9% in 2016 for 18 year olds from the 20% most depri…

7 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to attract (a) investors and (b) entrepreneurs from (i) the rest of the UK and (ii) overseas.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise are working together through Scottish Development International to attract inward investment to Scotland. Over the last year 55 inward investment projects have been attracted to…

7 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the use of small wind turbines on lampposts as a source of renewable energy and what support it can provide to local authorities that want to invest in this.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: As set out in our draft Energy Strategy innovation is key to underpinning a stable, managed energy transition in ways that are capable of reaching all communities and to drive the local energy system. Local authorities are best placed to understand what innov…

7 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress Transport Scotland has made with its plans to assume responsibility for the Gourock – Kilcreggan ferry route, and what its position is on the long-term viability of the service.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government’s Ferries Plan 2013-2022, stated that we are willing to assume responsibility for all lifeline ferry services in Scotland, should the authority currently responsible wish to transfer and subject to agreement being reached on the terms …

7 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had since 2011 with private operators regarding the potential of a privately-operated, non-subsidised ferry service between Gourock and Dunoon.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: In advance of the 2016 procurement process, discussions took place, including telephone and written correspondence, at the request of a private operator regarding the potential of a privately-operated, non-subsidised ferry service between Gourock and Dunoon.

2 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent comment by the Director-General of the British Chambers of Commerce that “it is businesses that trade, not governments…businesses still see Europe as a primary market for both selling and sourcing inputs – even after the UK leaves the EU”.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Following the EU Referendum result the Scottish Government embarked on an extensive programme of engagement with businesses in order to listen to concerns and offer reassurance. One of the prevailing messages received from businesses was to emphasise the cont…

1 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the comments by Esteban González Pons MEP, at a meeting that was attended by the Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs, that “If the UK leaves the single market, then Scotland will also be outside of the single market” and “if once [the] UK l…

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government believes that the best option for Scotland is to become a full member of the EU as an independent country. As Jacqueline Minor, head of representation for the European Commission in the UK, said earlier this month, not only is there, n…

1 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how many (a) residential and (b) commercial premises have access to superfast broadband.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Ofcom’s Connected Nations Report 2016 indicates that speeds of 30 Mbps or above are now available to 83% of premises in Scotland, up from 73% in 2015. Superfast coverage for SMEs is currently 72%, up from 55% in 2015 A link to the report is provided below: …

1 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle online homophobic bullying and to ensure that (a) it can be adequately reported and (b) perpetrators are brought to justice.

Answer · John Swinney: Bullying of any kind, including homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying, wherever it takes place, is unacceptable and must be addressed swiftly and effectively whenever it arises. The National Approach to Anti-bullying for Scotland’s Children and Young…

1 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5O-00613 by Angela Constance on 1 February 2017 (Official Report, c. 7), whether it or its agencies record incidents of bullying in schools and if so, whether it will publish the statistics gathered.

Answer · John Swinney: This Government wants every child and young person in Scotland to grow up free from bullying and to develop respectful, responsible and confident relationships. Bullying of any kind is unacceptable and must be addressed quickly, whenever it arises. Incident…

25 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the impact on Scotland of the proposals in the UK Digital Economy Bill.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The UK Digital Economy Bill covers a wide range of areas. With a few exceptions, the Bill extends to Scotland. It mainly relates to reserved matters but the Scottish Government, after extensive discussion on the detail of the devolved provisions in the Bill, …

25 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To as the Scottish Government, in light of the reported concerns regarding risks to safety and security, what its response is to the reports that body and bag searching is being stopped at Barra, Tiree and Campbeltown airports.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Aviation security is reserved to the UK Parliament. Following an in-depth review of the security measures at airports in the Scottish Highlands and Islands, passenger screening at airports at Campbeltown and Tiree has been streamlined for customers flying to …

25 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the value is of Scotland's trade with (a) Australia, (b) New Zealand, (c) Canada and (d) the rest of the Commonwealth, and what consideration it has given to improving these links.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government produce estimates of international exports in the Export Statistics Scotland publication. The latest figures, for 2015, show Scottish exports to Australia were worth £555 million; to New Zealand were worth £55 million; to Canada were w…

25 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the impact on Scotland of the proposals in the UK Government Green Paper, Building our Industrial Strategy.

Answer · Keith Brown: The UK Government published their 132-page consultation document on 23 January 2017. The consultation is grouped around ten ‘pillars’: investing in science, research & innovation; upgrading infrastructure; improving procurement; delivering affordable energy &…

25 Jan 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent figures suggesting that Scottish exports to the rest of the UK were four times that of exports to the EU.