Parliamentary questions
Jeremy Balfour
489 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
10 Jun 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to mitigate against crop damage over the coming months.
31 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will implement a Scottish version of the UK Government's national school breakfast club programme, specifically with a view to tackling child poverty.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government is committed to developing plans to deliver free breakfasts to all primary and special school children. Breakfasts are being provided across Scotland by a range of service providers including public, private and third sector. We are w…
22 May 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to restart the GP Sustainability Loan Scheme, including by what date it expects to restart the scheme.
9 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it still plans to add the data from 134,000 children gathered in the Health and Wellbeing Census to the Administrative Data Research Scotland system; what its position is on whether the data was captured ethically and legally, and whether it will implement measures to mitigate an…
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government is fully committed to making best use its data, including making this available for further statistical analysis and research, subject to data protection legislation. The 2021-22 Health and Wellbeing Census data was added to Administra…
9 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what date its Statistics Public Benefit and Privacy Panel (SPBPP) reportedly granted a request by the University of Strathclyde to access data gathered from 134,0000 children in the Health and Wellbeing Census, and whether it will provide any documentation that shows for what reason a…
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government has a robust process in place when it receives access requests to its data for statistics and research purposes: Scottish Government statistics: request our data - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) . This web page includes a list of projects …
8 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to (a) reviewing and (b) deleting, if found to be infringing UK GDPR and/or ethical standards for health research, the data gathered from 134,000 children who participated in the Health and Wellbeing Census survey in 2022 reportedly without being informed of what t…
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The HWB Census underwent an Ethics Peer Review in line with the Scottish Government social research: protocols and guidance. Scottish Government social research: protocols and guidance - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) In light of the ICO's recommendations, the Sc…
24 Apr 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to reopening a Scottish Development International office in Taiwan.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Scottish Development International has over 100 staff in 30 international offices in 23 countries. SDI regularly reviews its overseas footprint to ensure it aligns with Scotland’s trade and investment priorities. There are currently no plans to reopen SDI’s o…
23 Apr 2024 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has followed the advice issued by the Information Commissioner's Office regarding appropriate governance and controls for the use of children’s Scottish Candidate Numbers for research in the education system.
16 Apr 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will utilise the Medium Term Financial Strategy to progress its commitment to Fairer Funding by 2026, beyond multi-year funding.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-26878 on? 29 April 2024. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committe…
16 Apr 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to use the Medium Term Financial Strategy to provide clarity on its commitment to introduce multi-year funding for the voluntary sector in Scotland.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-26878 on? 29 April 2024. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committe…
16 Apr 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to use the Medium Term Financial Strategy to ensure greater certainty and security for the voluntary sector in Scotland.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) sets out the Scottish Government’s strategy for delivering fiscal sustainability, the economic and fiscal outlooks for the next five years and key fiscal risks over the medium term. The 2024 Medium-Term Financial Stra…
21 Mar 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that its new Renters' Rights Campaign reaches older private renters, in light of the recently published report, Homing in: How to improve the lives of older renters in Scotland, by Independent Age, which found that only 30% of older renters feel fully i…
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Scottish Government's Renters' Rights campaign ran from 27 February to 26 March 2024, aiming to increase awareness of both new and existing rights for all private tenants in Scotland. We worked collaboratively with public and third sector partners to dis…
6 Mar 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the policy proposal to remove the Disclosure Scotland fee waiver for volunteers in qualifying voluntary organisations and replace this with a fee discount, what its position is on whether such a proposal reflects its commitment to volunteering through the Volunteering Action…
Answer · Natalie Don: I have asked Gerard Hart, Chief Executive of Disclosure Scotland to respond. His response is as follows: Disclosure Scotland is consulting on how disclosure fees could be discounted in future. No decisions have been made on this. The consultation response fr…
20 Feb 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to provide access to life skills programmes for disabled young people.
26 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is promoting traditional building practices training in Edinburgh, in light of reports that the City of Edinburgh Council considers that the Archorfield tenement on Lindsay Road "carries a high risk of structural failure that could pose significant health and safety risk to reside…
Answer · Graeme Dey: Historic Environment Scotland continues to champion traditional skills and is working with stakeholders across the country to address traditional skills gaps to help ensure Scotland’s historic buildings can thrive as part of the country’s sustainable future. …
16 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its progress on distributing any funds that it receives as result of the UK Government's Dormant Assets Scheme.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Since its launch in 2008, the Dormant Assets Scheme has released £892 million, around £75 million of which has been received in Scotland. This money is distributed by the National Lottery Community Fund through their Young Start programme which provides fund…
16 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it received in Barnett consequential funding as a result of the £100 million support package for the voluntary sector, which was announced by the UK Government in the Spring Statement 2023, and how much of this funding was passed on to voluntary organisations in Scotland.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government received approximately £8.5 million in consequentials from this Spring Statement announcement. Consequential funding is not ring-fenced and Scottish Ministers decide how to allocate this funding. These consequentials were used to suppo…
4 Dec 2023 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the work of the City Centre Recovery Task Force is helping to increase footfall in shops.
8 Nov 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19380 by Jenni Minto on 11 July 2023, what steps it is taking to review the conclusion of the National Services Division's National Specialist Services Committee assessment in 2018, which concluded there was insufficient evidence to support a formal…
Answer · Jenni Minto: Decisions on the national designation of services are considered by NHS National Services Division (NHS NSD) as part of NHS National Services Scotland. NHS NSD have encouraged the MRgFUS team in NHS Tayside to submit a formal application for national designa…
6 Nov 2023 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase the number of probationer teachers choosing the preference waiver scheme.
30 Oct 2023 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to support farmers to protect crops, including from future flood-related damage.
20 Oct 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it was decided who would be represented on task group that is considering the issue of a right to breaks for carers.
Answer · Maree Todd: Group membership has been identified through dialogue between Scottish Government officials and organisations representing carers, local carer centres and statutory organisations expected to be involved in implementing the proposed right to breaks from caring…
20 Oct 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the task group that is considering the issue of a right to breaks for carers will report back its recommendations, and how it will do so.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Right to Breaks Regulations and Guidance Working Group’s role is advisory, to help with the development of the statutory guidance and regulations that will be required to deliver the right to breaks for carers proposed by the National Care Service (Scotla…
20 Oct 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government who is on the task group that is considering the issue of a right to breaks for carers, and what organisations they represent.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Right to Breaks Regulations and Guidance Working Group is made up of representatives from:unpaid carersShared Care ScotlandCoalition of Carers in ScotlandMECOPPCarers Trust Scotland (representing young carers)Carer Centre Managers NetworkHealth and Social…
11 Oct 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates that payments for the Winter Heating Payment for 2023-24 will be made.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: I refer the member to my letter of 6 November 2023 to the Social Justice and Social Security Committee. Subject to the necessary client data being provided by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on the dates and to the quality standards agreed, Social …
12 Sep 2023 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to start accepting applications for the £10 million fund for Changing Places toilets that was announced in the 2021-22 Programme for Government.
4 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how policy commitments such as Fair Work are embedded into the grant-making processes for third sector organisations.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Scottish Government grant making is allocated across portfolios to various parts of the third sector to improve a wide range of outcomes. Some Scottish Government funding will also be issued through independent grant makers or intermediary organisations. Each…
4 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact assessment is undertaken when a decision on a third sector grant application has not been taken, or payments are not made, by the beginning of the relevant financial year.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Scottish Government grant making is allocated across portfolios to various parts of the third sector to improve a wide range of outcomes. Some Scottish Government funding will also be issued through independent grant makers or intermediary organisations. Any …
4 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which officials are responsible for designing the approaches taken in the processing of applications for grants and the allocation of grants to third sector organisations.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Scottish Government grant making is allocated across portfolios to various parts of the third sector to improve a wide range of outcomes. Some Scottish Government funding will also be issued through independent grant makers or intermediary organisations. Each…
4 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it provides guidance to officials and civil servants whose duties include the processing of applications for grants and the allocation of grants to third sector organisations, and, if so, what (a) formal and (b) informal guidance has been provided in the last five years, and whet…
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Scottish Government grant making is allocated across portfolios to various parts of the third sector to improve a wide range of outcomes. Some Scottish Government funding will also be issued through independent grant makers or intermediary organisations. Gene…