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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: S5F-01792

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 04 December 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 December 2017

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the EIS's reported opposition to plans to disband the independent General Teaching Council for Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-12894

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 30 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government by what date the review of the water and sewerage charges exemption scheme will conclude.

Question reference: S5W-12740

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 29 November 2017

To ask Scottish Government (a) whether and (b) when discussions have taken place between (i) ministers and (ii) officials of the UK and Scottish governments regarding the franchise for Scottish Parliament elections and eligibility of EU citizens resident in Scotland to stand and vote in Scottish Parliament elections following Brexit.

The Scottish Government has urged the UK Government, including at JMC(EN), to guarantee the rights of EU citizens living in the UK post-Brexit. We want EU citizens in Scotland to feel settled and secure, and able to ensure their voices are heard.

EU citizens’ voting rights, and right to stand as candidates, in municipal elections have been identified as areas where EU law may interact with devolved competence. Initial discussions on these areas have taken place with Cabinet Office in order to seek to establish whether co-operation between the governments in the exercise of their respective responsibilities may be appropriate in the future.

We will be launching a public consultation on electoral reform in due course and will seek people’s views on a number of potential changes to democratic mechanisms in Scotland

Question reference: S5W-12787

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 28 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-12253 by Jamie Hepburn on 10 November 2017, how companies based in England can provide strong local and regional connections.

As part of the rigorous tender process for Fair Start Scotland, all bids were assessed on their ability to engage with the local labour market and the wider community. Successful Service Providers have committed to a number of outcomes in the provision of services under these contracts that will benefit the local community particularly in relation to Fair Work, Workforce Matters and Community Benefits.

Other key criteria for contracts was demonstrating how best to work with key local stakeholders and delivery partners as well as how best to integrate services within the local area to benefit participants progress into work.

The successful Provider and their delivery partners currently deliver a full range of employability programmes within local communities and will have a physical presence within this area for the delivery of Fair Start Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-12789

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 28 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-12253 by Jamie Hepburn on 10 November 2017, whether, in line with the concept of island proofing, it makes a presumption towards island-based charities when awarding contracts for programmes.

In developing the Scottish Approach to employability support services, the Scottish Government undertook a public consultation - "Creating a Fairer Scotland: Employability Support" – between June and October 2015. We held a large number of face to face events and meetings with user and stakeholder groups across Scotland to draw on a range of perspectives, experience and expertise including from the Highland and Islands.

Before carrying out a regulated procurement Scottish Government also considers - under the Sustainable Procurement Duty, of the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 - how it can, in conducting the procurement process:

(i)improve the economic, social, and environmental wellbeing of the authority's area;

(ii) facilitate the involvement of small and medium enterprises, third sector bodies and supported businesses in the process, and

(iii) promote innovation, therefore placing sustainable and socially responsible purchasing at the heart of the process.

Question reference: S5W-12788

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 28 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-12253 by Jamie Hepburn on 10 November 2017, whether charities are able to bid for Skills Development Scotland contracts if they are only based in one local authority.

Question reference: S5W-12253

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 10 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it gave to the location of bidders during the procurement process for the Fair Start Scotland Employability support contract, including whether this was seen as a significant factor; what size of organisation was permitted to tender, and whether charities were its preferred option and, if so, for what reason.

One of the underpinning principles of Fair Start Scotland (FSS) is to design nationally and deliver services locally, encouraging consortia and partnership approaches to delivery. We believe that a mixed economy of public, private and third sector suppliers working collaboratively will be a strength, delivering better outcomes for participants.

Nine contracts have been awarded across Scotland and these feature a range of specialist providers to ensure that people receive the right type of support. FSS will see unprecedented levels of partnership working in provision of employability support. Over 60 organisations including Local Authorities, Third Sector, Supported Businesses and Small Medium Enterprises will provide services as first tier sub-contractors or specialist local providers.

The procurement process used the Open Procedure, where anyone interested in the contract was able to tender with no restrictions on the size of organisation and no preference on sector. In order to provide an opportunity to a broadest range of potential suppliers, the requirement was advertised on Public Contracts Scotland.

The location of bidders (in terms of their registered address) was not a factor in the procurement process. However, in assessing the quality of bids received, the location of proposed delivery sites and local area knowledge were significant factors. The Invitation to Tender requested that the Service must be available and accessible to all Customers living in the Lot area. All successful bidders provided satisfactory evidence on how they would meet this requirement.

It is crucial our programmes remain locally responsive. The Scottish Government want to ensure that the delivery of devolved employment support has a well-established local footprint, with strong local and regional connections.

Question reference: S5O-01431

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 8 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made with transferring responsibility for managing the sea bed to Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles.

We will introduce a Crown Estate Bill to establish a framework for the management of Crown Estate assets and we are aiming to include powers to reform who manages individual assets.

Crown Estate Scotland (Interim Management) are continuing positive discussions with Orkney, Shetland and Western Isles councils on the potential for a pilot of local management of some or all of Crown Estate assets in the islands. These discussions are seeking to make progress on a pilot while ensuring the process is robust and transparent.

Crown Estate Scotland (Interim Management)’s corporate plan, launched last week, confirms the Board’s commitment to piloting local management.

Question reference: S5W-12105

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 7 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-11608 by Humza Yousaf on 16 October 2017, who the members are of the working group of key stakeholders.

Question reference: S5W-12216

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 27 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 6 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-11902 by John Swinney on 25 October 2017, whether the media was made aware of how to contact individual members of the council, and the contact details of each member, or was it advised that it would have to go through government communications officers to acquire this information.