Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-07538

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 24 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 6 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the suggestion in Professor Crerar’s report, Proposals on Governance and the Creation of a Strategic Board, that the number of members on enterprise agency boards may be reduced over time.

The key focus of the Enterprise and Skills review is to drive hard alignment between and across the agencies in order to deliver a positive impact on productivity and wellbeing. I recognise the vital contribution that the four agencies make to creating a more successful country, with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish through delivering inclusive and sustainable economic growth. It is against this backdrop that I will be considering the detail of the proposals outlined by Professor Crerar, the views of the Ministerial Review Group and those expressed by wider interests in taking forward the development of the Strategic Board. I will continue to listen to the views of those with an interest and have committed to make a statement to Parliament in the coming weeks.

Question reference: S5W-07536

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 24 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 6 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the proposal in Professor Crerar’s report, Proposals on Governance and the Creation of a Strategic Board, for enterprise agency boards to be renamed "delivery boards".

The key focus of the Enterprise and Skills review is to drive hard alignment between and across the agencies in order to deliver a positive impact on productivity and wellbeing. It is against this backdrop that I am considering the detail of the proposals outlined by Professor Crerar, the views of the Ministerial Review Group and those expressed by wider interests in taking forward the development of the Strategic Board. I will continue to listen to the views of those with an interest and have committed to make a statement to Parliament in the coming weeks.

Question reference: S5W-07534

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 24 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 6 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many of its officials provided support on Professor Crerar’s report, Proposals on Governance and the Creation of a Strategic Board, and how many hours these officials spent on this work.

I wrote to Professor Lorne Crerar , chair of HIE, on 17 January 2017, asking him to lead discussions with his fellow agency chairs and interested Ministerial Review Group (MRG) members, and to set out a paper on the principles and potential outline structure of an overarching Strategic Board.

Professor Crerar submitted his paper on 8 February 2017.

In order to facilitate the discussions, and to support Professor Crerar, two officials were made available during this time.

Question reference: S5W-07473

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 6 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what activities were carried out by its official, who was stationed at the Sheraton Hotel in Edinburgh for three nights for the International Council of Education Advisers meeting in August 2016, outside of normal working hours that could not have been carried out during normal business hours, and what (a) meetings they had and (b) briefings they provided to the council outside of normal working hours.

Given that it was the first meeting of the Council, it was important for the lead secretariat to the Council to be based at the same hotel to meet, and be available to assist, Council members over the course of the programme. This included ensuring the whole programme, including practical arrangements outwith normal working hours, such as the formal dinners on 31 August and 1 September, ran as planned.

Question reference: S5W-07469

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 6 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government on what date the (a) accommodation and (b) travel was booked for the International Council of Education Advisers meeting in August 2016.

Question reference: S5W-07470

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 6 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason Edinburgh was selected for the meeting of the International Council of Education Advisers in August 2016, and whether alternative locations were considered.

The primary purpose of the International Council of Education Advisers (ICEA) is to advise Ministers on how best to achieve excellence and equity in our Scottish education system. As such, both the First Minister and Deputy First Minister attended many parts of the programme of the first meeting of the ICEA. It was important, therefore, that the first meeting was held in Edinburgh in order to make best use of Ministers’ and the Council’s time.

Question reference: S5W-07539

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 24 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 6 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recommendation in Professor Crerar’s report, Proposals on Governance and the Creation of a Strategic Board, that enterprise agency boards should ensure “hard alignment” with other boards.

The key focus of the Enterprise and Skills review is to drive hard alignment between and across the agencies in order to deliver a positive impact on productivity and wellbeing. It is against this backdrop that I am considering the detail of the proposals outlined by Professor Crerar, the views of the Ministerial Review Group and those expressed by wider interests in taking forward the development of the Strategic Board. I will continue to listen to the views of those with an interest and have committed to make a statement to Parliament in the coming weeks.

Question reference: S5W-07537

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 24 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 6 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recommendation in Professor Crerar’s report, Proposals on Governance and the Creation of a Strategic Board, that Scottish Government officials would be expected to attend meetings of the proposed Strategic Board as observers.

The key focus of the Enterprise and Skills review is to drive hard alignment between and across the agencies in order to deliver a positive impact on productivity and wellbeing. It is against this backdrop that I am considering the detail of the proposals outlined by Professor Crerar, the views of the Ministerial Review Group and those expressed by wider interests in taking forward the development of the Strategic Board. I will continue to listen to the views of those with an interest and have committed to make a statement to Parliament in the coming weeks.

Question reference: S5W-07535

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 24 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 6 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the recommendations in Professor Crerar’s report, Proposals on Governance and the Creation of a Strategic Board, whether it considers a ministerial chair or independent chair is more appropriate for the proposed Strategic Board.

I am currently reflecting on the detail of the proposals outlined by Professor Crerar, the views of the Ministerial Review Group and those expressed by wider interests in taking forward the development of the Strategic Board and our aim to drive a step change in Scotland's economic performance. I remain committed to the services and support that all our agencies provide and happy to listen to members across the chamber in order to discuss the way forward ahead of a statement to Parliament in the coming weeks.

Question reference: S5W-07471

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 6 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Sheraton Hotel in Edinburgh was selected as the accommodation for the International Council of Education Advisers meeting in August 2016, and whether an alternative accommodation arrangement was considered.

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