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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: S5W-18449

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 13 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason SEPA has suspended its policy on lochs that are impacted by high levels of phosphorous.

SEPA has not suspended or withdrawn its policy on lochs that are impacted by high levels of phosphorus.

SEPA has changed its approach to planning guidance and, where a loch is a priority for action under the Water Framework Directive, will now work with authorities on a case by case basis going forward.

SEPA’s policies relevant to phosphorus discharges to freshwater lochs are predominantly through the following documents:

WAT-RM-37: Regulation of phosphorus discharges to freshwater lochs

WAT-RM-21: Allocation of capacity and protection of the water environment

WAT -SG-91: Decision framework for addressing risks posed by excess inputs of nutrients

These documents were issued in July 2014, May 2016 and August 2017 respectively. They are are still in use and available on SEPA's website.

Question reference: S5W-18414

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by James Wolffe QC on 13 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what steps the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service has taken to keep families informed about the process in relation to fire at Cameron House, Loch Lomond.

Police Scotland appointed Family Liaison Officers (FLO) to keep the families informed about the progress of the investigation. A FLO is an experienced police officer who has been specially trained to provide information to bereaved family members. At an appropriate stage in the investigation, this role will be transferred to COPFS staff.

In the meantime COPFS have ensured that the nearest relatives have been kept advised of significant developments in accordance with the Family Liaison Charter which the Lord Advocate laid before the Scottish Parliament in September 2016.

Question reference: S5W-18448

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 13 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government when SEPA’s policy on lochs impacted by high levels of phosphorous will be reinstated or changed.

SEPA’s policies relevant to phosphorus discharges to freshwater lochs are set out in following documents issued in July 2014, May 2016 and August 2017 respectively:

WAT-RM-37: Regulation of phosphorus discharges to freshwater lochs

WAT-RM-21: Allocation of capacity and protection of the water environment

WAT -SG-91: Decision framework for addressing risks posed by excess inputs of nutrients

SEPA has advised that these documents have been in use since their inception and there are no current plans to change them. They will be applied in association with planning guidance, which will be carried out on a case by case basis.

Question reference: S5W-18415

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by James Wolffe QC on 13 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government when the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service received reports from (a) Police Scotland and (b) the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service regarding the fire at Cameron House, Loch Lomond.

The Lord Advocate is responsible for the investigation of all sudden, suspicious and unexplained deaths which occur in Scotland. Where a death requires investigation Police Scotland will submit a death report to COPFS containing the background information of the deceased and a summary of the events leading up to the death. On receiving this information the Procurator Fiscal will decide what further investigation, if any, is required.

In relation to this incident, COPFS received two death reports from Police Scotland on 19 December 2017.

The investigation by Police Scotland and other agencies continues; and COPFS has not yet received final reports from them.

Question reference: S5W-18416

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by James Wolffe QC on 13 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government when the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service will determine whether there is to be any prosecution in relation to the fire at Cameron House, Loch Lomond.

The Lord Advocate is responsible for the investigation of all sudden, suspicious and unexplained deaths which occur in Scotland. Where a death requires investigation, this is undertaken by COPFS on behalf of the Lord Advocate.

The Crown provides advice, support and direction to investigators from Police Scotland, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Local Authorities and other regulatory agencies throughout the course of an investigation.

The investigations led by COPFS into this incident are continuing under the direction of a Senior Advocate Depute. Incidents of this nature mean that detailed and lengthy investigations are required, often involving complex technical issues which require expert opinion.

A decision as to whether there should be a prosecution can be made only when the investigations are complete and final reports have been submitted by Police Scotland and others to the Crown.

Officials continue to keep the families of the deceased updated in accordance with the Family Liaison Charter which the Lord Advocate laid before the Scottish Parliament in September 2016.

Question reference: S5F-02583

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 10 September 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 September 2018

To ask the First Minister, in light of the David Hume Institute report, Wealth of the Nation, what action the Scottish Government will take to improve productivity.

Question reference: S5W-18321

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 5 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether phase 2 funding from the European Social Fund will be provided to West Dunbartonshire Council to support the continuation of its Working 4U programme.

The Scottish Government invited applications for both new operations or for phase 2 extensions to existing activity in February 2018. Officials met with West Dunbartonshire on 22 August 2018 on their proposals for phase 2 funding of the Working 4U programme. It is for West Dunbartonshire Council to submit an application for funding which will be considered in line with the European Social Fund programme rules.

Question reference: S5W-18320

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 5 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to supplement the loss of funding for local authorities from the European Social Fund following Brexit.

Leaving the EU was not Scotland’s choice; the Scottish Government continues to try and engage meaningfully with the UK Government to avoid and mitigate the worst effects of exit on Scotland. This includes ensuring that powers repatriated from the EU on devolved matters are transferred to the Scottish Parliament immediately. The European Social Fund is reserved and the HM Treasury has guaranteed the Fund in the case of a no-deal exit. In the case of a deal being struck, the Fund will continue to be paid from the EU until the end of the current programme. The UK has announced a UK Shared Prosperity Fund to replace the funding from the European Social Fund. The Scottish Government continues to press the UK for details on both the size and scope of this Fund.

Question reference: S5W-18083

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 27 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications to the Workplace Equality Fund had a focus on race and ethnicity, and how many of these applications were successful.

In Round 1 of the Workplace Equality Fund there were 19 applications that had a focus on race and ethnicity. One of these applications was successful in securing funding. Voluntary Action Fund (VAF), who manage the Workplace Equality Fund on behalf of the Scottish Government, have provided detailed feedback and offered support to the unsuccessful applicants to submit improved bids for Round 2 funding. They are currently working with interested applicants to support them with their bids for Round 2 funding and will continue to support organisations to submit applications before the close of Round 2 on
‎ 31 August 2018.

Question reference: S5W-18081

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 27 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government which employability services and projects that it funds monitor users by ethnicity, and whether such information is collated and published.

The following employability services and projects monitor users by ethnicity:

Fair Start Scotland
Work First
Work Able
Health and Work Support Pilot
Employability Fund
Community Jobs Scotland
PACE (Partnership Action for Continuing Employment)

The following programmes have published, or plan to publish, statistics on the ethnicity of service users:

Work First Scotland and Work Able Scotland, published by the Scottish Government
Employability Fund, published by Skills Development Scotland
Fair Start Scotland statistics, published by the Scottish Government publication is planned for November 2018.