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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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S5W-24429

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 22 July 2019
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 6 August 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-23833 by Derek MacKay 2 July 2019, in light of the findings of the staff travel survey, what action it is taking to reduce levels of car use in areas with the highest rates of use.

We have a number of initiatives underway to encourage sustainable travel including:-

We have increased the amount of cycle parking at Saughton House, Victoria Quay and St Andrews House by installing new double height racks.
We have showers, lockers, changing facilities and drying cabinets for cyclists in all of our main buildings.
We hold cycle friendly employer status.
We run annual sustainable travel roadshows for staff and offer free bike maintenance sessions.
We offer personal travel plans for staff which show them the most sustainable ways to commute to work.
We have dedicated lift share spaces at Saughton House and Victoria Quay.
We offer a public transport season ticket scheme to help staff spread the cost of a season ticket over 12 months.
We operate a cycle to work salary sacrifice scheme. Staff can buy a bike to cycle to work and spread the payments over 12 months which are exempt from tax and national insurance.
We promote sustainable travel to visitors with our “Green Welcome” signage
We have live screens in our main Edinburgh offices displaying public transport information.

Question reference: S5W-24427

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 22 July 2019
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 6 August 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-23833 by Derek MacKay 2 July 2019, in light of the changes to (a) the public attitude to transport use, including the consideration given by people to the modes of transportation that they use, and (b) transport legislation since 2012, what plans it has to carry out a new staff travel survey.

Question reference: S5W-24426

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 22 July 2019
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 6 August 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-23830 by Derek MacKay on 15 July 2019, what the average use of the car parking spaces at each of the buildings has been in each month since June 2016.

Question reference: S5W-24407

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 19 July 2019
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 6 August 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how many workplace parking spaces there are in each of its 12 buildings.

The workplace parking spaces at the 12 buildings of the Scottish Government estate covered by the Travel Survey in 2012 are as follows:

Building	Parking spaces
5 Atlantic Quay (Glasgow)	65
Bothwell House (Hamilton)	5 *
Denholm House (Livingston)	118
Europa Building (Glasgow)	No longer part of the Scottish Government estate
Highlander House (Glasgow)	No longer part of the Scottish Government estate
Marine Laboratory (Aberdeen)	128
St Andrew’s House (Edinburgh)	103
Saughton House (Edinburgh)	346
Strathearn House (Perth)	85
Thainstone Court (Inverurie)	53
Tweedbank (Galashiels)	43
Victoria Quay (Edinburgh)	672
Total	1618

*We are now a minor occupier of Bothwell House and have 5 spaces allocated under the terms of the lease.

Question reference: S5W-24402

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 July 2019
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 6 August 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it requires those arranging national sporting events, such as the Scottish Open, to provide access for disabled people who are attending as spectators.

The Scottish Government believe that a fairer Scotland can only be realised when we secure equal rights for everyone: tackling inequality is one of the Scottish Government's three priorities. We are supporting the many ways people celebrate, express and enjoy national sporting events across Scotland.

The Equality Act 2010 protects the rights for disabled people, which includes having access to venues. Information on this can be found on the Equality and Human Rights Commission Scotland website. https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/advice-and-guidance . Organisations applying for EventScotland support are required to include information about accessibility for disabled people at the event on the application form.

In relation to the Scottish Open, accessibility is a priority of the European Tour who abide by their robust Accessibility Policy with a tailored approach for each event. For example the inaugural European Disabled Golf Championship were held at the Scottish Open in July 2019.

Question reference: S5W-24482

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 26 July 2019
Current Status: Answer expected on 23 August 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-23827 by Derek McKay on 15 July 2019, who it has met in the last 12 months to discuss the European Social Fund, and on what dates.

Question reference: S5W-23945

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 June 2019
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 18 July 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority regarding Brexit-related risks and what funding it has allocated to deal with these.

The Scottish Government is carefully considering the implications of leaving the EU with Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority. This includes discussion of risks relating to the possible loss of EU justice and home affairs tools and measures, and possible protests and civil unrest. The Scottish Government has informed the Scottish Police Authority that it will fund EU exit-related policing costs of up to £17 million in 2019-20. This funding is ringfenced to support the effects of a No Deal EU exit. In parallel, the Scottish Government continues to pursue the costs of EU exit with the UK Government.

Question reference: S5W-23912

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 June 2019
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 17 July 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-22790 by Aileen Campbell on 7 May 2019, when it will set out the next steps in determining changes to charity law.

The Scottish Government consultation on changes to charity law ran from 7 January – 1 April 2019. Responses to the consultation were published on the Scottish Government’s website where the respondent’s permission was granted.

The Scottish Government published the full consultation analysis report alongside a statement on next steps on 3 July 2019. A link to the release and supporting documents is available here.

Question reference: S5W-23971

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 June 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 15 July 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Department of Health to ensure that the medicines supply to Scotland will not be disrupted by a no deal Brexit.

Question reference: S5W-23827

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 17 June 2019
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 15 July 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will fill the funding gap that has arisen as a result of the suspension of European Social Funds, and, if so, when.