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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: S5O-01773

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 7 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out on the impact of Brexit on Scotland's finances, in light of the recent analysis by the UK Government, which reportedly suggests that, regardless of the terms of departure, Brexit will have a negative impact across all sectors.

The Scottish Government published Scotland’s Place in Europe: People, Jobs and Investment on 15 January 2018 which assesses the implications for Scotland’s economy if the UK exits the European Union. The analysis in this document indicates that a hard Brexit could lead to a loss of up to 8.5% of GDP (or £12.7bn in 2016 terms) in Scotland by 2030 – equivalent to £2,300 per individual.

Such an adverse shock to our economic performance would reduce tax revenues, and in turn the funding available for public services. For example separate analysis published in August 2016 and based on UK wide research provides an illustrative estimate that resources for public spending could be up to £3.7 billion a year lower under a “hard Brexit”.

Outside of the EU, continued membership of the European Single Market and Customs Union is the least worst option for Scotland and the rest of the UK. As we move into the crucial second phase of the negotiations, it is time for the UK Government to start putting jobs and living standards first.

Question reference: S5O-01752

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 31 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that there is independent scrutiny of the new social security system and that it meets its aims and expectations.

The Scottish Government has been clear for some time that it wishes to have independent scrutiny of the devolved Scottish social security system. That is why I asked the Disability and Carers Benefits Expert Advisory Group to consider what would be the most appropriate way of providing such scrutiny for the new Scottish system. The Group established a short-life workstream to answer this request, which subsequently provided its response in December 2017.

Based upon their recommendations and advice, the Scottish Government proposes, via Stage 2 amendments to the Social Security Bill, to set up the Scottish Commission on Social Security, an independent body that will ensure there is scrutiny of our new, Scottish social security system.

Such amendments to the Bill are being considered by the Social Security Committee as we are about to start Stage 2 of the Bill process.

Question reference: S5O-01703

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 25 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its progress in establishing local micro energy generation across Scotland.

The Scottish Government recognises the important role that small scale renewable technologies can play in meeting energy demand at a local and community level. Our recently published Scottish Energy Strategy highlights the increasingly important role and potential of local energy systems.

The most recent report on Community and locally owned renewable energy in Scotland produced by the Energy Saving Trust shows a 12% increase on operational capacity from 2016 to 2017 when it reached more than 660MW while the Energy Saving Trust most recently published report on Renewable heat in Scotland shows an 11% increase in capacity from heat from microgeneration (<45 KW) installations between 2015 and 2016.

We continue to support this progress through a range of funding mechanisms such as our Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES), our Home Energy Scotland Loans Scheme, and the
£60 million of funding announced in programme for Government in the Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme (LCITP).

Question reference: S5O-01640

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 December 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 11 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its current road safety initiatives.

Question reference: S5O-01620

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 December 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to a recent study, which found that air pollution can increase the risk of birth defects.

Question reference: S5O-01602

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 December 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in improving productivity across the country.

Question reference: S5W-12204

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 8 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) membership and (b) remit will be of its working group to consider the legislation regarding the registration of electricians.

An Electricians Working Group has been established to explore how best to respond to the challenge of ensuring the safety of electrical installations in Scotland. The membership reflects industry, safety and consumer interests. It includes representatives from SELECT, Scottish Joint Industry Board, Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust, Electrical Safety First, NICEIC, Unite the union, RoSPA, Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland, Citizens Advice Scotland and Scottish Government. To ensure an open and transparent process, papers and minutes will be published shortly on the Scottish Government website. The first meeting took place on 2 November 2017.

Question reference: S5W-12441

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 November 2017
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Mark McDonald on 3 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its latest estimate is for the additional workforce numbers required to fulfil the expansion of funded Early Learning and Childcare entitlement by 2020.

The Scottish Government has developed a detailed model to inform our financial and workforce estimates in relation to our commitment to expanding funded Early Learning and Childcare (ELC). This draws, in particular, on the detailed information collected as part of the Financial Review of Early Learning and Childcare in Scotland, which was published in September 2016.

We estimate that over the period to 2020 the expansion to 1140 hours will require up to 11,000 additional ELC workers.

Question reference: S5O-01362

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 25 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making toward reaching its target of building 50,000 affordable homes before the end of the parliamentary session.

We have made excellent progress so far in reaching our ambitious target.

It is vital that we set the foundations of a strong affordable housing programme in the early years of the target to allow for the sufficient volume of building to take place. And we are doing just that.

Last year saw a level of activity in the affordable house-building sector not seen since the early 1980s, with over 10,000 affordable homes approved - an increase of nearly 30% on the year before.

The latest affordable housing supply statistics show we are maintaining that pace as affordable housing continues to be approved at a higher rate than the previous year providing us with an excellent pipeline of projects.

Given the scale and importance of the target, for the first time, we have also committed to long term resource planning assumptions amounting to over £1.75 billion over the three years to March 2021. This provides councils and housing associations across Scotland with the certainty needed to deliver our 50,000 affordable homes target.

Question reference: S5W-11623

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 25 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how it will support Scotland's universities in attracting staff from the EU after Brexit.

Staff from the rest of the EU make a substantial contribution to our universities and we value their contribution. Our universities need to compete effectively for the brightest and best researchers from around the world. We are proud that Scotland is a destination of choice for staff from overseas. International co-operation across the EU and beyond, supported by research mobility, will be vital if Scotland and the UK are to maintain and improve our science and innovation.

As outlined in Scotland’s Place in Europe, we are totally committed to ensuring this remains the case as we explore every avenue to protect our relationship with the EU so that the UK and Scotland can stay in the Single Market and retain the benefits of freedom of movement.