Ross Greer

29 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S5F-02258 by Nicola Sturgeon on 26 April 2018 (Official Report, c. 20) and S5W-26884 by Jamie Hepburn on 16 January 2020, what the nature is of the support provided by Scottish Enterprise to Leonardo regarding the development of the radar system used …

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Information regarding account management support provided by Scottish Enterprise is an operational matter for that agency and is not held by the Scottish Government. I have asked the agency’s Chief Executive to respond to you directly.

28 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have come to Scotland under the Erasmus+ programme in each of the last five years.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Erasmus+ UK National Agency reports on the total number of individuals coming to the UK as a whole and does not provide a breakdown of the number of individuals undertaking ERASMUS+ related activities for the devolved nations separately. The available sta…

24 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-19849 by John Swinney on 20 November 2018, how many local authority staff have been trained under the funding it provides for mental health first aid training, broken down by local authority.

Answer · John Swinney: The information requested is not held centrally. Education Scotland produce annual reports on the funding we provide. As part of this, local authorities are asked to provide a summary of the implementation and a brief evaluation of the initial impact of the …

24 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many counsellors are employed in schools on a (a) permanent and (b) temporary contract, also broken down by local authority.

Answer · John Swinney: We are continuing to have ongoing conversations with COSLA regarding the delivery of this programme. At present neither the Scottish Government nor COSLA collect data on the number of counselling posts currently funded by education authorities. We are workin…

21 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the missile defence system referenced in the answer to question S5F-02258 by the First Minister on 26 April 2018 is the same product as the "radar system for use by the Norwegian search and rescue service", which was referred to in the answer to question S5W-26884 by the Minister…

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Information regarding account management support provided by Scottish Enterprise is an operational matter for that agency and is not held by the Scottish Government. I have asked the agency’s Chief Executive to respond to you directly.

20 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-26884 by Jamie Hepburn on 16 January 2020, what the nature of Scottish Enterprise’s support was to the company, Leonardo, regarding the missile defence system, and whether this was for research and development, production, or sales.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Information regarding account management support provided by Scottish Enterprise is an operational matter for that agency and is not held by the Scottish Government. I have asked the agency’s Chief Executive to respond to you directly.

20 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers the term "defensive technology", used in the answer to question S5W-26884 by Jamie Hepburn on 16 January 2020, to have the same definition as "non-military", the term used in the answer to question S5O-03882 by Derek Mackay on 5 December 2019, and, in light of this, …

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Defensive technologies can have applications in both the military and non-military markets. As an example, missile countermeasure systems can be deployed in civil aircraft.

8 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government who will lead the review of co-ordinated support plans for children with additional support needs.

Answer · John Swinney: We have committed to review the use of Co-ordinated Support Plans to ensure that children and young people with the most significant additional support needs are receiving the support that they need to reach their full learning potential. Scottish Government …

8 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5O-03882 by Derek Mackay on 5 December 2019, in light of the cabinet secretary's comment that funding to companies involved in the arms trade is focused "toward helping [them] diversify into non-military and civilian applications", whether it considers…

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: I refer the member to the full exchange in response to question S5F-02258, where the First Minister made clear that the system discussed is a defensive, not offensive use of technology and that round of funding was to assist the development of a radar system …

7 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of the consultation that it undertook to establish appropriate measures on the poverty-related attainment gap, and for what reason it has not included achievement of fourth level at S3 among the measures.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government consultation on measuring the attainment gap ran from 4 October 2017 until 20 November 2017. 102 responses were received from stakeholders with a range of interests, including 10 local authorities and 38 individuals. Responses to the…

9 Dec 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the review of coordinated support plans for children with additional needs will be conducted as part of or subsequent to the Morgan review of additional support needs.

9 Dec 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the climate emergency, what steps it is taking to ensure that public authority board meetings are accessible by public transport, and encourage the board members attending to travel using this.

Answer · Kate Forbes: Public Sector Bodies are legally required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support Scotland’s adaptation to a changing climate. Scottish Ministers, in turn, are legally required to provide guidance to Public Sector Bodies to help them with this. It is …

4 Dec 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, what action it is taking to support doctoral students, and what its position is on introducing doctoral loans similar to those being established in England and Wales.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Students studying at the doctorate level will typically receive their funding from the UK Research Councils; research charities and Higher Education Institutions themselves. Funding is provided primarily through UK Research Councils such as the Medical Resear…

3 Dec 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that young people are properly equipped to protect their workplace rights.

27 Nov 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that public funding does not support the manufacture of munitions.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government provides support, through our enterprise agencies, to companies operating in the defence sector. That support is focussed toward helping companies diversify into non-military and civilian applications. I am assured by our enterprise …

25 Nov 2019 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to members of the University and College Union who are striking over pay, working conditions and pensions.

20 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills on 23 January 2019 (Official Report, c.20), in light of the cabinet secretary's comments regarding workplace rights being adequately covered in its approach to implementing the recommendations of the review into …

Answer · John Swinney: Curriculum for Excellence provides significant flexibility, within broad national guidelines, for teachers to develop lessons which best meet the needs of individual learners, including advising young people about workplace rights. To support teachers, standa…

20 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-25389 by John Swinney on 26 September 2019, whether it will provide an update on progress with the review, including what its parameters will be; who will be consulted; when it will (a) begin and (b) conclude, and when its findings are expected to b…

Answer · John Swinney: We have committed to review the use of Co-ordinated Support Plans to ensure that children and young people with the most significant additional support needs are receiving the support that they need to reach their full learning potential. We are continuing to…

20 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the 2018-19 statistics on Disabled Students’ Allowance from the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS), which record an increase in the number of students with a visual impairment in receipt of the benefit, but a decrease in the total amount that they were awarded.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Students with disabilities who are studying a course of Higher Education can apply to the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) for the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA). This is a non-income assessed allowance to cover any additional costs or expenses that a…

20 Nov 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to support the training of pupil support assistants on working with pupils with additional needs.

10 Oct 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made in implementing the recommendations of the paper, Review of Personal and Social Education: preparing Scotland's children and young people for learning, work and life, and by what date all of the recommendations will be implemented.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of personal and social education in providing the foundations for successful learning. The recommendations of the Review of Personal and Social Education, published in January 2019, set out our plan to strengt…

25 Sep 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-03736 by Keith Brown on 31 October 2016, whether it will provide the information for 2018-19; what information it has regarding which companies received funding; how much they received, and the purpose of the awards.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: As this is an operational matter relating to grant information, I have asked the Chief Executives of both Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise to respond to you directly.

25 Sep 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-25320 by John Swinney on 23 September 2019, by what date it expects to reach a joint agreement with COSLA.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government expects to reach a joint agreement with COSLA by the end of the year.

25 Sep 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent meetings it has had with representatives of Turkey, and whether the issues of human rights and the rule of law in that country were raised.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: The Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs met with the Turkish Ambassador to the UK on 27 June 2019. I also met with the Turkish Consul General on 14 May 2019. I can confirm that human rights issues were raised during both of these meeti…

17 Sep 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-24236 by John Swinney on 18 July 2019, whether it will provide an update on progress with the review, including what its parameters will be; who will be consulted; when it will (a) begin and (b) conclude, and when its findings are expected to be pub…

Answer · John Swinney: We have committed to review the use of Co-ordinated Support Plans to ensure that children and young people with the most significant additional support needs are receiving the support that they need to reach their full learning potential. We are continuing to…

12 Sep 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its news release of 9 September 2019, Additional support for learning, which pledged the recruitment of 1,000 extra pupils support assistants to work with children with additional support needs, how it will it will measure the success of this policy in light of its decision i…

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government will invest an additional £15 million to improve implementation of additional support for learning across Scotland. We will engage with CoSLA to agree monitoring and reporting arrangements.

12 Sep 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its news release of 9 September 2019, Additional support for learning, which pledged the recruitment of 1,000 extra pupils support assistants to work with children with additional support needs, how the £15 million set aside for this will be administered.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government is currently working with CoSLA to reach a joint agreement about how the £15 million funding will be allocated.  

12 Sep 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its news release of 9 September 2019, Additional support for learning, which pledged the recruitment of 1,000 extra pupils support assistants to work with children with additional support needs, by what date it expects all 1,000 assistants to be (a) recruited, (b) fully-train…

Answer · John Swinney: £15 million will be made available in this academic year and Ministers expect that local authorities will move to recruit additional pupil support assistants. Decisions about the recruitment and training of these assistants will be made by individual local a…

12 Sep 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its news release of 9 September 2019, Additional support for learning, which pledged the recruitment of 1,000 extra pupils support assistants to work with children with additional support needs, what specialist training or qualifications in supporting pupils with additional n…

Answer · John Swinney: The Additional Support for Learning Act 2004 (as amended) places duties on education authorities to identify, provide for and review the additional support needs of their pupils. It is for individual authorities to determine the training and qualifications r…

25 Jul 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5M-23974 by Jamie Hepburn on 17 July 2019, for what reason some answers to parliamentary questions from its agencies are incorporated into substantive answers from ministers, which are then published by the Parliament, while others invite agencies to r…

Answer · Graeme Dey: Standing Orders require that questions to the Scottish Government must relate to a matter for which the First Minister, the Scottish Ministers or the Scottish Law Officers have general responsibility. Where questions raise matters falling within the day to d…