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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S6W-08234

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 11 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) adherence to Fair Work First criteria and (b) commitments to supporting domestic supply chains are set out as conditions for applicants for offshore wind, wave and tidal energy licences.

In determining an application for a marine licence (under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 and Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009) the Scottish Ministers must have regard to protection of the environment and human health, prevention of interference with legitimate uses of the sea and such other matters as the Scottish Ministers consider relevant. Marine licences do not include conditions in relation to Fair Work First criteria and commitments to supporting domestic supply chains. Such conditions cannot be applied to s.36 consents issued under the Electricity Act 1989 for the construction, operation or extension of generating stations either.

ScotWind applicants were required to submit a Supply Chain Development Statement (SCDS) setting out the anticipated level and location of supply chain impact for their projects. We have now seen these statements yield commitments by developers to invest an average projection of £1.5bn in Scotland across each of the 17 ScotWind offshore wind projects. Developers can update their Statements throughout the development phase. Failure to deliver the commitments laid out in the final SCDS can trigger remedies ranging from financial penalties to an inability to progress to seabed lease.

Question reference: S6W-08235

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 11 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) Cerulean Winds and (b) NOV Inc regarding fair work and supporting domestic supply chains, in light of the reported Memorandum of Understanding signed with Lamprell to provide fabrication, assembly and outfitting for three 1GW floating windfarms off the west coast of Shetland and in the central North Sea.

The Scottish Government has not held discussions with Cerulean Winds nor NOV Inc as they do not have consented developments under construction. It is therefore premature to discuss contracts for projects which do not yet exist. Developers will be required to submit a Supply Chain Development Statement with bids for the Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas decarbonisation (INTOG) leasing rounds when it opens this year. Similarly to ScotWind, developers will need to outline the supply chain activity they commit to undertaking within Scotland, the UK and overseas.

Question reference: S6W-08236

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 11 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that offshore renewables jobs are created in Scotland.

The Scottish Government is determined to maximise the economic opportunity for the Scottish supply chain from our offshore wind potential.

We will drive forward offshore wind skills development – working with stakeholders to focus on the opportunities for diversification and skills transfer from our oil and gas sector, in line with our commitment to a Just Transition.

The introduction of ScotWind’s Supply Chain Development Statements demonstrates how serious the Scottish Government is about holding developers to account if they do not honour their supply chain commitments and create green jobs .

Question reference: S6W-08233

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 10 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on whether there are any roundtable forums for self-employed inventors to meet relevant stakeholders in Scotland.

The Scottish Government does not facilitate any forums or roundtables for self-employed inventors. We are working with industry and key stakeholders to develop a new innovation strategy to ensure businesses, people and institutions are ready to meet the challenges and opportunities we face over the next 10 years. We will ensure the support we provide is easy to access and focused on areas of greatest opportunity to meet our vision in becoming a world leading, innovation nation.

Question reference: S6O-01060

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 May 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve the effectiveness of fatal accident inquiries into deaths in custody.

Question reference: S6W-07859

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 4 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish any findings of Strathesk Resolutions as a result of its mediation processes between employers and trade unions in Scotland’s colleges.

The Scottish Government has not commissioned Strathesk Resolutions to undertake a mediation process between employers and trade unions.

The organisation has undertaken a Lessons Learned exercise to identify factors that have led to dispute in the college sector in recent years, and has provided recommendations on the future operations of national bargaining in Scotland.

The report, alongside the Scottish Government's response, will be published in due course.

Question reference: S6W-07984

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 29 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) Social Security Scotland and (b) the Department for Work and Pensions regarding redeployment of staff affected by the reported planned office cuts at (i) Ebury House, Aberdeen and (ii) Victoria Road, Kirkcaldy.

On 17 March Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) announced their plan to close a number of back-office sites across the UK and collocate others. The Scottish Government was not consulted prior to the announcement, however, have subsequently contacted DWP to gain an understanding of the impact of this change. DWP outlined they do not intend to reduce staff headcount through this change process. Should the situation change, the Scottish Government stands ready to provide the support necessary including through Partnership Action for Continuing Employment, (PACE), which provides individual skills development and employability support.

Question reference: S6W-07985

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 29 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) Social Security Scotland and (b) the Department for Work and Pensions regarding the relocation of staff affected by the reported planned office cuts at (i) Whitburn Road, Bathgate, (ii) Lindsay House, Dundee, (iii) Callendar Gate, Falkirk, (iv) Radnor House, Clydebank, (v) Springburn, Glasgow and (vi) St Ninians Road, Stirling.

Question reference: S6W-07986

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 29 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to hold any discussions with (a) Social Security Scotland and (b) the Department for Work and Pensions regarding redundancies, redeployment or relocation of staff affected by the reported planned office cuts at eight sites across Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-07907

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 28 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether any companies that currently deliver social care in Scotland will be permitted to bid under its National Care Service draft proposals.

Scottish Ministers are still considering the wealth of information provided through the recent National Care Service (NCS) public consultation.

In that consultation we sought views on a remit for the NCS to develop and manage a National Commissioning and Procurement Structure of Standards and Processes for ethical commissioning and procuring of social care services and supports. We will develop the approach to national and local level ethical commissioning and procurement with partners, stakeholders and those who deliver and receive care.