Parliamentary questions
Ross Greer
616 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
22 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how its agencies support location scouting for the film and television sectors.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Creative Scotland is the public body which supports Scotland’s screen, arts and creative industries on behalf of the Scottish Government, along the ‘arms-length’ principle. The Screen Commission within Creative Scotland works directly with production companie…
16 May 2018 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the responses to the three consultations informing its Education Governance Review.
9 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of reports of delays of up to several years in the distribution of EU funding to voluntary organisations and, if so, what steps it has taken to (a) address this and (b) support the organisations affected.
Answer · Keith Brown: Over £395 million of funding has now been approved under the 2014-20 European Social Fund and European Regional Development Fund programmes with the first projects approved December 2015. The Scottish Government awards grants to lead partners (Local Authoriti…
2 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been eligible for Educational Maintenance Allowance in each year since 2006-07; how many claimed it, and what analysis it has made of the reasons why people who were eligible did not make a claim.
Answer · John Swinney: The Education Maintenance Allowance is an entitlement in Scotland and is available to all eligible young people, but there is no comprehensive data which allows the Scottish Government to record who is eligible for Education Maintenance Allowance. Young peop…
1 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to questions S5W-07573 and S5W-07574 by John Swinney on 8 March 2017, whether its policy regarding the expansion of cadet forces in schools remains the same.
Answer · John Swinney: There has been no change in policy. The Scottish Government continues to support a distinct Scottish approach to developing cadet forces, with the syllabus integrated into Curriculum for Excellence, rather than following the UK Government model with the schoo…
1 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-07576 by John Swinney on 8 March 2017, what its response is to the announcement by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on 27 April 2018 that it plans to include a school in Scotland in its expansion of cadet forces, and what discussions it has had or plan…
Answer · John Swinney: The announcement by the Ministry of Defence on 27 April 2018 refers to Albyn School, an independent school in Aberdeen. Independent schools are free to decide the approach they take to Cadets. Education Scotland was notified of this proposal. Scottish Govern…
1 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it differentiates between school cadet unit/forces and linked detachment unit/forces.
Answer · John Swinney: The Army Cadet Force has developed a distinct Scottish approach where community-based Cadet Linked Detachments are working in partnership with a number of state schools to deliver elective learning opportunities which support Curriculum for Excellence. This d…
1 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on integrating peace education into the curriculum for excellence.
Answer · John Swinney: One of the benefits of curriculum for excellence is the flexibility which enables practitioners to tailor their curriculum to the needs of the learners in their own local circumstances. For example, there are opportunities to teach about peace education with…
25 Apr 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the research published in the Oxford Review of Education by Jerrim et al, PISA 2015: how big is the ‘mode effect’ and what has been done about it?, which suggests that computer-based assessments have a negative impact on pupil performance when compared with paper-based asses…
Answer · John Swinney: As noted in the answer to S5W-16171 on 10 May 2018 the research published in the Oxford Review of Education by Jerrim et al, PISA 2015: how big is the ‘mode effect’ and what has been done about it? refers specifically to a PISA assessment that was available i…
25 Apr 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the research published in the Oxford Review of Education by Jerrim et al, PISA 2015: how big is the ‘mode effect’ and what has been done about it?, which suggests that computer-based assessments have a negative impact on pupil performance when compared with paper-…
Answer · John Swinney: The research published in the Oxford Review of Education by Jerrim et al, PISA 2015: how big is the ‘mode effect’ and what has been done about it? refers specifically to a PISA assessment that was available in both paper and computer-based formats. The learne…
23 Apr 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason students studying dentistry or medicine as a second degree are only eligible for Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) support in their final year of study, while those studying for second degrees in other courses can receive up to two years additional support.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Under the current arrangements, students can apply to the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) for full funding for one full undergraduate degree. Students who undertake a second degree are eligible for living-cost loans and, where applicable, additional liv…
20 Apr 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14270 by Paul Wheelhouse on 23 February 2018, in light of the minister's comment that "our enterprise agencies do not systematically track or report on all the potential markets companies might export to", what action it takes to ensure that its (a)…
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: We are fully committed to our International Framework and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The Scottish Government and its enterprise agencies do not provide funding for the manufacture of munitions. Rather, our agencies’ support is focused on helping f…
18 Apr 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the number of people in Scotland paying the immigration health surcharge each year.
Answer · Shona Robison: As the immigration health surcharge is a requirement under UK immigration legislation and is paid as part of Home Office immigration applications, the Scottish Government does not hold this information. I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-16054 …
18 Apr 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to mitigate the cost of the immigration health surcharge for workers in Scotland.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-16054 on 1 May 2018. 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/28…
18 Apr 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people employed by the NHS in Scotland pay the immigration health surcharge.
Answer · Shona Robison: As the immigration health surcharge is a requirement under UK immigration legislation and is paid as part of Home Office immigration applications, the Scottish Government does not hold this information. I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-16054 …
18 Apr 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on doubling the immigration health surcharge for non-European Economic Area visa holders to £400 a year.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government strongly opposed the introduction of the immigration health surcharge, which does not take account of Scotland's very different needs with regards to migration. The charge constitutes an additional financial burden on those wanting to …
18 Apr 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of any additional revenues in the Scottish budget as a result of the immigration health surcharge for visa holders.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-16054 on? 1 May 2018. 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/28…
17 Apr 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact assessment it has undertaken on its commitment to phase-out the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2032, in light of its decision to end Electric Vehicle Loans after March 2019.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-16029 on? 1 May 2018. 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/28…
17 Apr 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has decided to end Electric Vehicle Loans after March 2019, and what communication it has had with those affected.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: On the contrary, our Switched on Scotland roadmap clearly states that we will provide loans until at least 2020. The level of funding is agreed on an annual basis subject to the overall Scottish Government budget.
16 Apr 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on establishing a separate public service ombudsman for canals and waterways, similar to that in England and Wales.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government has no plans to establish a separate public service ombudsman for canals and waterways. Scottish Canals is a public body with statutory obligations and is answerable to Scottish Ministers, rather than an independent charity as is the c…
26 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its answer to question S5W-13573 by John Swinney on 9 January 2018, whether it will provide the information for 2017 regarding the number of (a) teachers and (b) classroom assistants there were in each local authority.
Answer · John Swinney: (a) Additional Support Needs (ASN) Teachers* (whose main subject is ASN, English as an Additional Languages or primary teaching in special schools) Full Time Equivalents 2017 Aberdeen City 137 Aberdeenshire 262 Angus 77 Argyll & Bute 43 Clackmann…
9 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether Scotland participated in the 2015 Programme for International Student (PISA) field trials, in which pupils were randomly assigned computer- and paper-based PISA tests, and, if so, what data it holds regarding the outcome.
Answer · John Swinney: The field trial for PISA 2015 took place in March 2014. Scotland participated, along with all countries administering computer-based assessment in the PISA 2015 survey. The field trial involved assignment of students within participating schools to groups tak…
2 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14650 by Humza Yousaf on 28 February 2018, when the audit will be completed and when the information from it will be released.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The legacy audit is now complete. Charge Your Car, which manages the charge point back office function on Transport Scotland’s behalf, is currently reviewing the data for discrepancies. Information from the audit has been used to update charge point informati…
1 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has not yet published the Teacher Census Supplementary Data, which it believes is normally published each December, but which was not not published in December 2017, and when it proposes to do so.
Answer · John Swinney: Teacher census supplementary data provides a further breakdown of the headline statistics published in each edition of the statistics bulletin Summary Statistics for Schools in Scotland and they have previously been published at varying intervals in the month…
14 Feb 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has carried out of the accuracy of the information that is provided on electric car charging points by ChargePlace Scotland.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: As part of the Electric Vehicle charge point network operator services agreement awarded in 2016 to Charge Your Car (CYC) Limited, Transport Scotland tasked CYC with auditing each charge point site to ensure that the information provided on electric car charg…
12 Feb 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that there is adequate funding to expand the early years practitioner workforce to meet its commitment to expand free childcare to 1,140 hours by 2020.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government is committed to fully funding the almost doubling of funded early learning and childcare to 1140 hours by 2020. We are continuing to work with COSLA, and local authorities, and we are confident that we will agree a multi-year funding p…
9 Feb 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many members of school staff are employed using pupil equity funding, broken down by staff role.
Answer · John Swinney: The number of teachers funded through Pupil Equity Funding (PEF) was given in the answer to question S5W-13385 on 12 January 2018 . All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be …
6 Feb 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of any negative impact on pupil performance of computer-based assessments, such as those used in the new Scottish Standardised National Assessments.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government is currently preparing plans to seek pupil and teacher views on the SNSA which will be introduced following the first year of completed assessments. As part of the Scottish Survey of Literacy and Numeracy (SSLN), data was gathered on t…
31 Jan 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it has given to relief efforts in Yemen in each of the last 10 years.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government donated £250,000 to the Disasters Emergency Committee’s (DEC) Yemen Crisis Appeal when it was launched in December 2016. This funding helped DEC member charities to provide relief assistance to many of those impacted by the crisis, foc…
31 Jan 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S5W-03736 and S5W-11258 by Keith Brown on 31 October 2016 and 20 September 2017 respectively, what information it has regarding whether any companies that it provides financial support to have supplied weapons or equipment that might have been used in…
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government has not used public money to support the manufacture or export of munitions from Scotland and has made clear our expectation that the UK Government properly police the export of arms and investigate where concerns are raised.