- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 November 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 3 December 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what business expansion grants are available for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Answer
Scottish Government provides expansion grants to SMEs primarily through our 3 Enterprise Agencies (Scottish Enterprise, Highlands & Islands Enterprise, and South of Scotland Enterprise) and the Local Authorities. These can be found in detail – including how to apply – on the ‘FindBusinessSupport’ portal which also provides information about what advice, grants and other forms of finance are available to help SMEs. SMEs can also access free business advice – including on the availability of expansion grants - access to market intelligence, and an extensive network of contacts, from Business Gateway which has local offices all over Scotland.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 18 November 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Lorna Slater on 1 December 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how many businesses have undertaken the training developed by Keep Scotland Beautiful since the publication of the Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan 2020-2025 in December 2020.
Answer
The Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan (CESAP) published in December 2020 sets the Scottish Government’s approach to ensuring our workforce has the skills to support Scotland’s transition to net zero. This approach includes raising awareness amongst employers of all sizes of the need to change behaviours and workplace practices to contribute to the transition to net zero and of the options available for upskilling and retraining.
The implementation of the CESAP requires a collaborative approach to action and investment across employers, local and national government, and its skills agencies.
The Scottish Government does not however hold information on the number of businesses that have undertaken training developed by Keep Scotland Beautiful.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 18 November 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 30 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been notified by Test and Protect after coming into contact, in a vaccination centre, with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
Answer
The information requested is not available. As with any other setting, it is not possible to infer whether a specific setting or an event indicates where the Covid19 transmission took place. This is because cases may have attended multiple settings or events within a short space of time.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 18 November 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 30 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how many people have contracted COVID-19 whilst in a vaccination centre.
Answer
The information requested is not available. As with any other setting, it is not possible to infer whether a specific setting or an event indicates where the Covid19 transmission took place. This is because cases may have attended multiple settings or events within a short space of time.
Local NHS Boards are responsible for putting the appropriate public health measures in place at vaccination centres to help minimise the transmission of Covid19 including physical distancing and the use of face coverings.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 18 November 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 29 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how many individuals have received funding through an Individual Training Account since 1 January 2020.
Answer
Since 1 January 2020 19,378 individuals have successfully applied to the Individual Training Account programme and have claimed and used their funding entitlement to access training opportunities.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 18 November 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 29 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how many businesses have been supported through the North East Economic Recovery and Skills Fund since 1 January 2021.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-04485 on 29 November 2021 2021. 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-committees/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 18 November 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 29 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how many employees have been (a) trained and (b) retrained through the North East Economic Recovery and Skills Fund.
Answer
The North East Economic Recovery and Skills Fund (NEERSF) launched in August 2021. The first performance reporting from the delivery partnership is due to be received in mid to late December.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 November 2021
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 1 December 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ensure transparency in Scotland's public finances.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 1 December 2021
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 18 November 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 24 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how many farmers have received support through the Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme since 2018.
Answer
To ask the Scottish Government how many farmers have received support through the Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme since 2018
Claim year | Number of businesses that received a LFASS payment in an individual claim year |
2018 | 11,057 |
2019 | 10,890 |
2020 | 10,827 |
Between 2018 and 2020, 11,654 unique businesses received a payment
The Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS) provides essential income support to farming businesses in remote and constrained rural areas.
Funding is used to:
- allow farmers and crofters to continue to operate as viable businesses
- avoid the risk of land abandonment
- help maintain the countryside by ensuring continued agricultural land use
- maintain and promote sustainable farming systems
- Applications are submitted yearly via the Single Application Form
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 15 November 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 24 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what the estimated spend per student will be on the Saltire Scholarship scheme for EU students.
Answer
Scotland welcomes international students and recognises the important and valuable contribution they make to institutions, the economy and Scottish society. Hundreds of EU students will be supported to study in Scotland through the new £2.25 million scholarship programme.
A total of 290 places have been allocated to institutions, with an estimated average spend of £7,759 per student. This is based on a split of £4,000 per college place and £8,000 per university place.