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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: S5O-00682

Asked by: George Adam, MSP for Paisley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 February 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 February 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that the environmental standards in towns and cities help promote Scotland's image.

Question reference: S5W-06340

Asked by: George Adam, MSP for Paisley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 2 February 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting communities and the third sector to develop new ways to overcome disadvantage.

A key theme of our funding for the third sector is to maximise the impact of the sector in reducing inequality, and working with communities to tackle tough social issues at source.

For example, over the next two years the Scottish Government will provide £29 million, including £12 million from the European Social Fund, to provide direct support to help Scotland’s social economy and communities to develop innovative and sustainable solutions to poverty.

Our £20 million Empowering Communities Fund also provides local groups the funding and support they need to address local needs and priorities in our most disadvantaged, fragile and rural communities.

Question reference: S5O-00530

Asked by: George Adam, MSP for Paisley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 December 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how it is promoting culture in towns and cities.

Question reference: S5O-00470

Asked by: George Adam, MSP for Paisley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 December 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has made of the impact on the Scottish economy of the UK Government's Brexit strategy.

Question reference: S5O-00351

Asked by: George Adam, MSP for Paisley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 November 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what the implications on the justice system are of leaving the EU.

Question reference: S5O-00170

Asked by: George Adam, MSP for Paisley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 21 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how culture can be used as a means to promote towns and provide a sense of community.

The Scottish Government places great importance on Culture and Heritage as they make an invaluable contribution to our quality of life and wellbeing, bringing real social and economic benefits to people and our communities, towns and villages. Creative Scotland, EventScotland and Historic Environment Scotland promote the rich local culture and traditions of our towns in many different ways.

Question reference: S5O-00118

Asked by: George Adam, MSP for Paisley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 August 2016
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 8 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how sport can help improve health, education and wellbeing.

There is clear evidence to show the value of sport and physical activity in improving physical and mental health. That is why we are committed to getting more people more active, more often. But we also know that being active improves education outcomes. A recent study by researchers at Strathclyde and Dundee Universities has shown a clear link between increased exercise and improved exam success in English, Maths and Science.

Question reference: S5W-02261

Asked by: George Adam, MSP for Paisley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 August 2016
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 1 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what changes have been made to parliamentary liaison officer appointments following changes to the Ministerial Code.

The First Minister has made changes to the appointed parliamentary liaison officers (PLOs) following the recent update of the Ministerial code. The revised list of PLOs are set out in the following table. PLOs will assist in developing and maintaining a positive and constructive relationship between the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government. PLOs are unpaid, are not members of the government and are not, therefore, bound by collective responsibility.

Parliamentary Liaison Officer	Portfolio
Ben Macpherson MSP Gail Ross MSP	Office of the First Minister
Mairi Evans MSP	Communities, Social Security and Equalities
Ash Denham MSP	Culture, Tourism and External Affairs
Ivan McKee MSP	Economy, Jobs and Fair Work
Jenny Gilruth MSP	Education and Skills
Gillian Martin MSP	Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform
Kate Forbes MSP	Finance and Constitution
Fulton MacGregor MSP	Health and Sport
Tom Arthur MSP	Justice
Emma Harper MSP	Rural Economy and Connectivity

Question reference: S5W-02229

Asked by: George Adam, MSP for Paisley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 August 2016
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 31 August 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is the First Minister’s intention to publish a new edition of the Scottish Ministerial Code.

In line with the convention that the Scottish Ministerial Code is revised both at the commencement of each new Parliamentary term and following the appointment of a new First Minister, the 2016 edition will be published today. The Code, which was last revised in June 2015, provides a code of conduct and guidance on procedures for members of the Scottish Government and Junior Scottish Ministers. A copy of the 2016 edition of the Scottish Ministerial Code may be found on the Scottish Government’s website at: www.gov.scot/About/People/14944/684. As well as some minor updates the revised code now provides that Parliamentary Liaison Officers may not serve on the Parliamentary Committee which scrutinises the Cabinet Secretary to whom they are appointed.

Question reference: S5W-00278

Asked by: George Adam, MSP for Paisley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 9 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of (a) school pupils and (b) college students in deprived areas receives support from the Education Maintenance Allowance Programme.

The Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) Programme aims to provide support for young people aged 16 to 19 from low income families to overcome financial barriers to stay on in post-16 education, either in school or on a further education (FE) college course.

College students aged 16 to 19 enrolled on FE courses have access to either EMA or when they reach 18 years of age, an FE bursary for financial support. A student cannot receive both EMA and an FE bursary and it is at the discretion of colleges as to which one the student receives. Students enrolled on higher education (HE) courses are not eligible for EMA or FE Bursaries and apply directly to the Student Award Agency for Scotland for support.

In academic year 2014-15:

(a) 51 per cent of all 16 to 19 year old school pupils living in the 20 per cent most deprived areas in Scotland received EMA

(b) 26 per cent of all 16 to 19 year old FE college students living in the 20 per cent most deprived areas in Scotland received EMA

Further information on EMA recipients and deprivation background can be found in the latest Scottish Government national statistics publication on EMAs for 2014-15 released on 23 March 2016. Link to publication below:

http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2016/03/8840/0

Source: Scottish Government and Scottish Funding Council.