Bill Bowman

3 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has provided from all funding streams to groups and projects aimed at tackling loneliness and social isolation in each year since 2007.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: In seeking to support activity that addresses social isolation and loneliness, we have invested significant resources in local community based projects. Our Social Isolation and Loneliness Fund (£500K over 2016-17) supported a wide variety of local community …

3 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to expand and enhance the data available on loneliness and social isolation.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: As part of the development of our strategy to tackle social isolation and loneliness, we are considering carefully the appropriate data sources to measure progress in this area. This will be dependent to an extent on any agreed outcomes and indicators which a…

3 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that (a) small third sector organisations, (b) individual carers and (c) people affected by loneliness are represented in the consultation on its strategy to tackle social isolation.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government will launch a draft strategy to tackle social isolation and loneliness for consultation in the autumn. Prior to this, we hosted 120 representatives from stakeholder organisations at an event in April to explore what the Strategy should…

3 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what planning it has undertaken to offer additional business rates support between the publication of the Barclay Review of Business Rates and implementation of the report’s recommendations.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government is already funding around £660 million of rates relief this year, and has committed to respond swiftly to the Barclay review of non-domestic rates.

3 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many businesses in the north east it has met with in the last year to discuss business rates.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government has met with a wide range of businesses in the North East over the last year to discuss non-domestic rates, but does not hold confirmed attendance details for all engagements.

3 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out on the potential impact to businesses in the hospitality sector of not extending the present cap on business rates beyond the current financial year.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government is continuing to engage closely with the hospitality sector to inform our non-domestic rates policies in the context of the 2018-19 budget.

14 Jun 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to support NHS Scotland's recruitment of nurses and midwives.

6 Jun 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the action it is taking to close the attainment gap.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government has committed £750m during the course of this Parliament through the Attainment Scotland Fund to provide targeted support for children, schools and communities to close the poverty related attainment gap. In 2017-18 this includes £120m…

15 Feb 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with businesses regarding the implementation of the apprenticeship levy from April 2017.

Answer · Keith Brown: From the outset the Scottish Government has undertaken extensive engagement and consultation with employers to understand the impact that the UK Government's levy will have and how they would like Scottish Ministers to respond. As part of this process we ra…

31 Jan 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it can offer the employees of NCR in Dundee who are facing potential redundancy.