Parliamentary questions
Ross Greer
616 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
17 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the outcomes were of the Small Business Bonus Scheme Evaluation Short-Term Working Group, which met in June and September 2022.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The Small Business Bonus Scheme Evaluation Short-Term Working Group was established to inform advice to Scottish Ministers in respect the recommendations made in the Evaluation of the Small Business Bonus Scheme Report , and in particular “that the Scottish…
17 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-27196 by Tom Arthur on 13 May 2024, by what date the 4 Day Working Week Public Sector Pilot (a) will be completed and (b) evaluation report will be published.
Answer · Tom Arthur: We anticipate that the Four Day Working Week Public Sector pilot and the accompanying Shorter Working Week evaluation report will be concluded and published in Spring 2025.
17 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to calls for it to set up a body equivalent to the Stòrlann Nàiseanta na Gàidhlig for the provision of Scots language teaching resources.
Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government supports several small bodies that provide Scots language teaching resources for use in schools. Education Scotland and the Open University also make an important contribution to this. In addition, the Scottish Languages Bill, currentl…
15 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its policy is regarding the provision of public support for entities registered as Scottish limited partnerships.
Answer · Kate Forbes: Any application for public support from our enterprise agencies is subject to robust appraisal and appropriate due diligence.
15 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will list any entities registered as Scottish limited partnerships to which (a) Scottish Enterprise, (b) South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE), (c) Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and (d) Scottish Development International (SDI) have provided (i) grants, (ii) account mana…
Answer · Kate Forbes: This is an operational matter for the agencies referred to. I have asked the agencies’ Chief Executives to respond directly to you with the information requested.
12 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to reduce food waste on the Caledonian Sleeper.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: This is an operational matter for Caledonian Sleeper, the Member may wish to contact Caledonian Sleeper Ltd directly.
12 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the total value of any food waste on the Caledonian Sleeper has been in each month since June 2023.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: This is an operational matter for Caledonian Sleeper, the Member may wish to contact Caledonian Sleeper Ltd directly.
12 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its policy is regarding food waste on the Caledonian Sleeper.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: This is an operational matter for Caledonian Sleeper, the Member may wish to contact Caledonian Sleeper Ltd directly.
12 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Scottish Funding Council has taken any formal action as a result of any college failing to meet the fair work criteria set out in its outcome agreement, in the period since the Post-16 Education (Scotland) Act 2013 came into force.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) has not taken any formal action as a result of a college failing to meet Fair Work criteria since the Post-16 Education (Scotland) Act 2013 came into force. Fair Work requirements are a condition of SFC funding. SFC will mo…
5 Jun 2024 · SPCB Oral Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will review the opening hours of the Scottish Parliament creche to cover non-business days.
Answer · Claire Baker (on behalf of the SPCB): The creche service is available 3 days per week. The opening hours reflect that the core purpose of the creche is to facilitate public engagement with parliamentary business. We recently successfully negotiated with the Care Inspectorate to increase the num…
5 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether carbon budgeting or compatibility with its emissions targets and wider climate and nature ambitions will form part of the criteria for awarding Scottish Government support to start-up businesses, as recently announced by the Deputy First Minister.
Answer · Kate Forbes: The first £5m of the £15m Enterprise Package was announced on 20 May. Exact details and criteria for the interventions are still being developed and are yet to be confirmed. Further details about the allocation of this initial £5m will be provided in due cour…
5 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the availability of liquified petroleum gas as a vehicle fuel in Scotland.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Supply of LPG fuel in the UK is a matter reserved for UK Government. It is the responsibility of individual LPG retailers to ensure that the availability of LPG is actively monitored, and managed to prevent shortages, which can occur during periods of peak de…
5 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what its position is on the addition of medicinal cannabis to NHS Scotland formularies.
Answer · Jenni Minto: There are three licensed Cannabis Based Products for Medicinal use (CBPMs) available on the NHS in Scotland to treat specific conditions. These are:nabilone, a synthetic cannabinoid, as an add-on treatment for adults with chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomit…
3 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to introduce regulations under section 74 of the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill, as passed.
Answer · Tom Arthur: The Government plans to commence the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill within three months of the Bill receiving Royal Assent.
21 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it anticipates that an implementation and engagement plan for the mental health and wellbeing whole school approach framework, which was published in August 2021, will be developed, and whether it anticipates that an update to the framework will …
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Mental Health in Schools Working Group will consider whether any updates or engagement is required to support the Whole School Approach Framework. The Group is expected to reconvene in Autumn 2024.
21 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Mental Health in Schools Working Group, which last met in August 2021, will be reconvened.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government is working with COSLA on arrangements to reconvene the Mental Health in Schools Working Group in Autumn 2024.
20 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when SEPA expects to receive an update on the ground investigation following the oil pipeline leak in Glen Fruin in January 2024.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: SEPA are in regular communication with Petroineos and their consultant Adler & Allen regarding the continued containment and monitoring of Glen Fruin, the Fruin Water, and its tributaries. Officers from SEPA were on site week commencing 20th May and have co…
20 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government (a) how and (b) in what timescale it plans to produce guidance on the transportation of children in secure care, as required by the recently passed Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill.
Answer · Natalie Don: Royal Assent is still awaited on the Bill, following its agreement by the Scottish Parliament on 25 April. Given the wide-ranging nature of the legislation, the Scottish Government is considering commencement schedules across different provisions rather than …
20 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the revised guidance on relationships, sexual health and parenthood education.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government consultation on the revised teaching guidance closed on 23 November 2023. Over 4,000 responses were received and officials are now in the process of writing up the consultation analysis report. Once that report is published, officials …
20 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider applying the chief executive pay framework element of its public sector pay policy to the principals of public colleges.
Answer · Graeme Dey: College Principals’ salaries are for individual colleges to determine. The Scottish Government does however, expect that pay arrangements for senior staff ensures value for money, affordability and sustainability in the longer term.
20 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made towards the creation of an infrastructure levy under the provisions of the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019.
Answer · Ivan McKee: We have committed to implementing new infrastructure-levy regulations under the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 by spring 2026. On 3 June a discussion paper was published setting out the research undertaken previously and seeking views on the various options f…
20 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the balance of the Scottish Funding Council has increased from £23.9 million in the financial year 2017-18 to £281.7 million in 2022-23, and how it plans to utilise any surplus, in light of the reported difficult financial circumstances of colleges.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The increase in the Scottish Funding Council’s (SFC) balance relates to Taxpayers’ equity, which represents SFC’s investment in the university sector through low cost loans (SFC’s Financial Transactions programme) issued to universities to support them with l…
16 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the next summary report on access to counsellors in secondary schools and children and young people’s community mental health services will be published.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The next summary report, for the period January to June 2023, will be published in the coming weeks at: Access to counsellors in secondary schools and children and young people’s community mental health services – summary reports - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .
1 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the four-day working week public sector pilot.
Answer · Tom Arthur: Work is continuing on the 4 Day Working Week Public Sector Pilot to assess the wellbeing, environmental and productivity benefits a 4 Day Working Week could bring. South of Scotland Enterprise are working closely with Autonomy as our expert partner on their …
1 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how it will explore the reintroduction of a public health supplement for large retailers, as announced in its 2024-25 Budget.
Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S6O-03144 on 29 February 2024 which is available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report/search-what-was-said-i…
17 Apr 2024 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking in response to reports of potential staff redundancies at the Thermo Fisher Scientific site in Paisley.
11 Apr 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on any potential risk posed to Scotland's energy security by energy infrastructure being either owned or manufactured by companies that are based in, or associated with, potentially hostile states, such as China.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The security of fuel supplies relates to a reserved policy area, however as a responsible government we frequently engage with key industry partners and the UK Government to continuously monitor any developments in the sector.
11 Apr 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its expectations are of the Scottish Funding Council regarding monitoring fair work practices through college outcome agreements; whether it expects such fair work practices to be developed in cooperation with workers and trade unions, and how it will act in any case where fair work…
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government expects the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) to support fair work practices, and to monitor adherence across the college sector. As recipients of SFC funding, in line with Scottish Government Fair Work First guidance - reflected in the…
8 Apr 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any potential impact of the UK Government’s Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill on the ability of Scottish Enterprise and other public bodies in Scotland to conduct human rights reputational risk management and other similar checks on…
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The UK Government’s Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill is currently at House of Lords Committee stage, and is therefore still subject to change. As it stands, it is clear that this disproportionate and unnecessary legislation is likely…
18 Mar 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to reduce waiting times at the Sandyford Gender Identity Clinic, and when it anticipates that waiting times will improve for patients.
Answer · Jenni Minto: We are supporting NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to improve existing service capacity in both the adult and young people’s services and recruit to their multidisciplinary teams. All gender identity clinics in Scotland are, however, working hard to reduce wait…