Parliamentary questions

Ross Greer

616 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

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, which referred the question to Scottish Enterprise to provide a substantive answer, which reads “Scottish Enterprise does not provide financial support for the manufacture of munitions from Scotland. Our work …

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: As this is an operational matter relating to account management information, I have asked the Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise to respond to you directly.

4 Jul 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of its review into the use of co-ordinated support plans for children, including the parameters of the review, who will be consulted, when the review will begin, and when the outcome is expected to be published.

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 have begun to tak…

27 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has met representatives of the US Department of Defense in the last year and, if so, (a) on what dates and (b) what was discussed.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Affairs Office based in Washington DC co-hosted an event on the 4 th June 2019 with the Deputy Head of Mission for the British Embassy, to support wounded US Veterans who were due to visit Scotland as part of the Cateran Yomp. The Yomp takes US V…

26 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the airport being publicly-owned, whether it is has been made aware of the purposes of the 644 orders for fuelling from the US military at Glasgow Prestwick Airport and, if so, whether it will provide a breakdown of these, including how many were for frontline combat operati…

Answer · Michael Matheson: Glasgow Prestwick Airport is operated on a commercial basis and at arm’s length from the Scottish Government in compliance with European Union State Aid rules. The Scottish Government does not hold information on the purpose of any flight using Scottish airpo…

20 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-22963 by John Swinney on 14 May 2019, when the audit being carried out by Education Scotland will conclude, and whether it will publish the findings.

Answer · John Swinney: We take child and adolescent mental health very seriously. Since 2014, Education Scotland has supported delivery of mental health first aid training by offering a grant to local authorities to undertake the Scottish Mental Health First Aid Training programme.…

20 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of research by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, which suggests that 94% of Raytheon’s sales are arms, what action it has taken to ensure that the £91,009 in public funding that it provided to Raytheon in 2017 to support facilities management has not contrib…

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: As this is an operational matter relating to account management information, I have asked the Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise to respond to you directly.

19 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it defines the blue light sector with regard to its enterprise funding.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Blue light services can be defined as police, fire services, and emergency responders, in the UK and elsewhere, which, in case of an emergency, are allowed to turn on flashing blue lights indicating traffic priority over other motorists.

19 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by which criteria a decision is taken on whether a product or service meets its definition of munitions and is therefore ineligible for business support from government agencies, and whether it will provide a summary of the criteria used.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Our enterprise agencies have advised that they have not supported any project to develop or produce munitions. New guidelines have led to the introduction of additional human rights checks that are being applied to all requests for support. Those checks will …

19 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether rocket motors, rocket motors igniters, electro-explosive devices, solid-propellant gas generators, power cartridges, demolition detonators or ignition cord, as identified in the Scottish Enterprise company report on Chemring Energetics, meet its definition of munitions.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: As previously stated in the answer to question S5W-19766 on 15 November 2018, our definition of munitions includes parts or technology which form an integral and essential component of the munition. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available…

17 Jun 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the comments in its China engagement strategy regarding respect for human rights and the rule of law, what discussions it has had with the Chinese consulate regarding the recent protests in Hong Kong.

14 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to hold the next meeting of the Scottish Nuclear Sites Group.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The next meeting of the group is scheduled for 31 October 2019. Members have been made aware of this date.

10 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions Scottish Enterprise has had with train manufacturers regarding a potential development at Hunterston Port and Resource Centre.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Scottish Enterprise has worked closely with Peel Group, Hunterston Port owners, in relation to interest in the site from two train manufacturers. In both cases, though Hunterston was shortlisted by each manufacturer, the site was not chosen by either manufact…

10 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether expanding the proportion of energy generated in Scotland from liquefied natural gas is compatible with a climate emergency.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The production of natural gas from the North Sea is declining, but remains important for energy system security and flexibility. While Scotland is currently more than self-sufficient in natural gas production, by 2025, the UK is expected to be importing 67% o…

10 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment Scottish Enterprise has made of the suitability of a liquefied natural gas facility at Hunterston Port and Resource Centre.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I have passed your query on to Steve Dunlop, the Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise, and asked him to respond to you directly.

10 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many and (b) what proportion of (i) secondary and (ii) primary schools in each year since 2007 have had an additional support needs unit attached to them.

Answer · John Swinney: A primary or secondary school is to be identified as having an integrated special unit or class if the sole or main purpose of any class or other unit forming part of the school is to provide education especially suited to the additional support needs of chil…

7 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which non-governmental organisations were consulted on the development of the operational guidance on human rights due diligence checks.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government's guidance on human rights due diligence on investments was developed following direct engagement with the Ethical Trading Initiative, a company which provides guidance and training on due diligence and with the UK Department for Inter…

6 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) Scottish Enterprise and (b) Highlands and Islands Enterprise can turn down the business support services that it provides following the outcome of a human rights due diligence check of the company under consideration for support.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise (SE) and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). I have passed your query on to Steve Dunlop and Carroll Buxton, the Chief Executives of SE and HIE respectively, and asked them to respond to you directly.…

6 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) Scottish Enterprise and (b) Highlands and Islands Enterprise can turn down an application for enterprise funding following the outcome of a human rights due diligence check of the company under consideration for support.

5 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what was discussed at the meeting between of the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity and representatives of East Dunbartonshire Council on 29 May 2019.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The meeting was arranged to discuss East Dunbartonshire Council concerns regarding performance on the Milngavie line. The historic performance issues were acknowledged, however it was confirmed that the PPM for the day, 29 May was 92%, resulting from the chan…

24 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what human rights and equality checks are carried out by the SQA prior to it entering a (a) commercial and (b) other relationship with an international partner; whether these were followed in relation to its partnership with the Micronet International College in Brunei, and, if so, what …

Answer · John Swinney: I have asked Dr Janet Brown, Chief Executive and Chief Examiner of SQA, to respond. Her response is as follows: "While the reported treatment of the LGBT community in Brunei is to be condemned, education is a positive force for change on wider society, as we…

8 May 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives from the fishing industry and what was discussed.

2 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the use of Applied Behavioural Analysis in schools for young people with autism.

Answer · John Swinney: The approaches used by schools in the provision of support for pupils with autism is a matter for local authorities and schools. They are empowered to decide how to best meet the needs of individual pupils. Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s SIGN Clinical Gui…

2 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the commitments made in the Programme for Government 2018-19, what progress has been made in relation to the rollout of school-based counselling; how many counsellors have been assessed as having the relevant counselling qualifications and experience to work with children and…

Answer · John Swinney: The investment in school counsellors is part of a package of measures to ensure that children and young people get the support that they require. As well as local authority partners, we are working with the professional registration bodies, training and qual…

2 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-19849 by John Swinney on 20 November 2018, whether it plans to carry out an evaluation of the money given to local authorities to provide mental health first aid training to school staff.

Answer · John Swinney: Delivery of the Mental Health First Aid Training programme is administered by NHS Health Scotland and Education Scotland and is a valuable and important element of the provision of mental health support for everyone who works with children and young people. …

5 Apr 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many human rights checks have been carried out on companies involved in the arms trade that receive funding and/or account management support from its enterprise agencies.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Information regarding account management support provided by both Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise is an operational matter for those agencies and is not held by the Scottish Government. I have asked their Chief Executives to respond t…

20 Mar 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of further delays in reopening Hunterston nuclear power station, what discussions it has had with the Office for Nuclear Regulation to ensure that it will not be allowed to reopen unless safety standards are met.

13 Mar 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-13573 by John Swinney on 9 January 2018 and to question S5W-15654 by John Swinney on 15 April 2018, whether it will provide the information for 2018 regarding the number of additional support for learning (a) teachers and (b) classroom assistants th…

Answer · John Swinney: (a) Additional Support Needs (ASN) Teachers - Full Time Equivalents The following table sets out the full time equivalent of additional support for learning teachers in each authority in 2018. This includes teachers with their main subject recorded as: Lear…

13 Mar 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to address patient access issues at GP practices.

7 Mar 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise or any other Scottish public bodies were present at the Home Office Security and Policing Event, which ran from 5 to 7 March 2019.

Answer · Ash Denham: No representatives from either Scottish Enterprise or Highlands and Island enterprise attended this event.

26 Feb 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the environment secretary has had with the energy minister regarding the environmental impact of the proposed decommissioning of oil rigs at Hunterston.