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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-18285

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 20 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 24 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) average and (b) most number of days has been for it to issue a full reply to a parliamentary question in each of the last three years.

Question reference: S5W-18286

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 20 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 24 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how many written parliamentary questions it has received in each of the last three years, and on how many occasions it issued a holding response in each year.

Question reference: S5W-17900

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 27 July 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 17 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the Federation of Small Businesses news release of 6 March 2018, Adult apprenticeship drive could help fill skills gaps, for what reason Skills Development Scotland provides up to £5,000 less towards the cost of apprenticeships for people aged over 25, and whether there are any plans to increase the funding available for businesses that want to train older apprentices.

Scottish Apprenticeships are well established and play a key part in delivery of both our Youth Employment and Economic strategies. In line with this, funding is prioritised towards 16-19 year olds and key and priority sectors of the economy. It is encouraging the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) report highlights increasing numbers of Apprentices being recruited by small businesses in Scotland, and we will continue to work with FSB on how to build upon this.

SDS undertook a systematic review of all contribution rates, with ongoing review of individual frameworks on an evidence-led basis. This takes into account factors such as content of the framework and any formal structured learning that takes place away from the workplace.

Scottish Government policy is to provide a contribution towards modern apprenticeship training based on a set of variables, with employers expected to make a contribution to additional costs of training and assessment as required.

To support increased uptake of those in equality and priority groups, in 2017-18 this Government introduced enhanced contribution rates for disabled people and those with experience of care up to the age of 29. In addition, since 2016/17 there has been an increase each year in the volume of modern apprenticeship frameworks funded for the +25 age range. This shows our commitment to increase the offer of modern apprenticeship opportunities in key and supporting sectors as set out in the Scottish Government and Skills Development Scotland letter of guidance.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of SMEs to our economy and is committed to creating a supportive business environment conducive to sustained economic growth.

Question reference: S5W-17899

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 27 July 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 17 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the figures published in Table B.2 in the Skills Development Scotland, Modern Apprenticeships Statistics Full Year Report 2017/18, how many modern aprenticeship starts there were in (a) 2013-14, (b) 2014-15, (c) 2015-16, (d) 2016-17 and (e) 2017-18, for people aged (i) 25-29, (ii) 30-34, (iii) 35-39, (iv) 40-44, (v) 45-49, (vi) 50-54, (vii) 55-59 and (viii) over 60.

Further to the figures published in Table B.2 in the Skills Development Scotland, Modern Apprenticeships Statistics Full Year Report 2017/18, The following table details the numbers of modern apprenticeship starts in (a) 2013-14, (b) 2014-15, (c) 2015-16, (d) 2016-17 and (e) 2017-18, for people aged (i) 25-29, (ii) 30-34, (iii) 35-39, (iv) 40-44, (v) 45-49, (vi) 50-54, (vii) 55-59 and (viii) over 60.

	2013-14	2014-15	2015-16	2016-17	2017-18
25-29	1320	1313	1508	1764	2306
30-34	985	957	1011	1179	1579
35-39	739	679	689	852	1187
40-44	815	655	581	759	946
45-49	695	634	594	759	896
50-54	480	472	531	621	696
55-59	281	291	273	328	384
Over 60	96	122	125	153	144
Total	5411	5123	5312	6415	8138

Question reference: S5W-17898

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 27 July 2018
Current Status: Answered by Ash Denham on 17 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its response to the findings of the report, Rethinking Legal Aid, an independent strategic review, which was published in February 2018.

Question reference: S5W-17618

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 July 2018
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 2 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-15850 by Maree Todd on 8 May 2018, whether it will now provide the final audited data for 2017-18 on how many of the (a) 650 additional practitioner level HNC courses and (b) 350 managerial level courses in early learning and childcare were not filled, and what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the 2017-18 expansion.

Question reference: S5W-17617

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 July 2018
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 2 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-15856 by Maree Todd on 8 May 2018, whether it will now provide the final audited data for 2017-18 on how many of the (a) 126 additional teacher training places and (b) 270 additional BA Childhood Practice places to expand the early learning and childcare workforce were filled in August 2017.

Question reference: S5W-17619

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 July 2018
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 2 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-15851 by Maree Todd on 8 May 2018, whether it will now provide the final audited data for 2017-18 on how many (a) practitioner- and (b) managerial-level training courses in early learning and childcare were (i) unfilled and (ii) uncompleted, and how this compares with the targets set.

Question reference: S5W-17777

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 20 July 2018
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 31 July 2018

To ask the Scottish Government when the consultation into extending coverage of Freedom of Information legislation will begin, and what the expected timeline for this is.

Question reference: S5W-17491

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 June 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 26 July 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) must pay a fee per car to the DVLA in order that it knows the ownership of any vehicle using the car parks at Sumburgh, Kirkwall and Stornoway airports after car parking charges are introduced.