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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-03663

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 28 October 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 31 October 2019

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to improve the regulation of the cosmetic surgery industry in Scotland.

Question reference: S5O-03688

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 October 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 31 October 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to help the increasing number of older people in Inverclyde.

Question reference: S5O-03643

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 October 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 October 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is giving to Inverclyde Council to increase the area’s tourism offering.

Question reference: S5W-25439

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 1 October 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has paid to McGills Buses for free bus passes for people over the age of 60 in Inverclyde for the last three years.

Transport Scotland are unfortunately, unable to provide the exact figures requested at this time. Transport Scotland recently introduced a new concessionary travel reimbursement system which in time will allow the capability to produce area specific analysis of reimbursement data relative to 2019-20 onwards. This functionality will however, not be available for historic years.

We are able to provide the reimbursement figures for all older and disabled concession scheme cardholders who have travelled on McGill's Buses for the past 3 years. I can confirm these figures are as follows:

2016-17 £16,411,990.78
2017-18 £16,851,450.15
2018-9 £16,429,303.16

Question reference: S5W-25148

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 19 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications for Disabled Students Allowance have been made in each of the last five years, also broken down by how many were approved.

Students with disabilities who are studying a course of Higher Education can apply to the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) for the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA). This is a non-income assessed allowance to cover any additional costs or expenses that a student might have while studying, which arise because of their disability or learning disability.

All applications for funding support to SAAS (including DSA) are assessed against set eligibility criteria which can be found at: https://www.saas.gov.uk/_forms/dsa_notes.pdf

Academic Year	No. of DSA applications	No. of DSA awards
2013 - 2014	4945	4745
2014 - 2015	5065	4800
2015 - 2016	5200	4925
2016 - 2017	5310	5005
2017 - 2018	5635	5260

The figures for the 2018 – 2019 academic year are still being finalised and will form part of the National Statistical Publication - ‘Higher Education Student Support for Scotland’ which is due to be published on 29 October 2019.

Question reference: S5W-25147

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 19 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what statutory transition assistance is available to disabled students who are leaving (a) school to attend (i) college or (ii) university and (b) college to attend university.

The Additional Support for Learning legislation has specific provisions relating to transitions. Where a child or young person is expected to leave school (at the end of primary school or when leaving secondary school) the education authority has a duty to request from the appropriate agency or agencies as thought fit, information about provision which the agency/agencies are likely to make for the child or young person on leaving school, including transition to further or higher education. This should take place no later than 12 months before the expected leaving date. Similarly they must provide information to other agencies no later than six months before a child or young person is expected to leave school.

All colleges and universities have a duty under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that students with disabilities which affect their studies are not placed at a disadvantage. This means education providers need to continually review and anticipate the general needs of young people with a disability.

In 2019, the Scottish Government published guidance to help improve the experiences of disabled children, young people and their families which includes information on the transitions from school to college/ universities. This is available at the following link https://www.gov.scot/publications/supporting-disabled-children-young-people-and-their-families/ .

College

Every college has an identified department to help students with additional support needs which can be discussed and planned for e.g. academic advice, information about funding, identifying equipment and how to manage stress and anxiety during periods of pressure and change. Other types of support might mean flexible timetables, one-to-one help, accessible IT equipment and help with self-care and mobility. This support can be administered by the college, social work departments, NHS and/ or voluntary organisations.

Additionally, students on courses of Further Education can apply for the Additional Support Needs for Learning Allowance. This fund provides additional funding for students who, by virtue of their disability are obliged to incur additional personal expenditure arising from their attendance at college.

University

Every University has a department that supports students with additional support needs which can offer relevant information and help. Disclosure of additional support needs when completing the UCAS application allows Universities to plan proper adjustments and to provide support for needs in a timely manner.

Scottish Government and Lead Scotland co-produced guidance for students with additional support needs on support available at Scottish Universities.

Students with disabilities who are studying a course of Higher Education can apply to Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) for the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA). This is a non-income assessed allowance to cover any additional costs or expenses that a student might have while studying, which arise because of their disability or learning difficulty.

Question reference: S5F-03548

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 16 September 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 September 2019

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to alleviate the reported concerns regarding the number of police officers available to enforce a crackdown on drug driving.

Question reference: S5O-03512

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 September 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government when it last spoke to the UK Government regarding inter-governmental relations.

Question reference: S5W-25064

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 September 2019
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Ivan McKee on 3 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what the outcomes were of the Minister for Trade, Investment and Innovation’s visit to the Netherlands in May 2019.

I visited the Netherlands on 20 May 2019. The Netherlands feature within the Export Growth Plan’s top 5 priority countries and are Scotland’s second largest export market. Scottish exports to the Netherlands were estimated to be worth £2.5 billion (7.6% of all international exports) in 2017, an increase of £360 million (17%) from £2.1 billion in 2016 (Exports Statistics Scotland 2017). It’s important to note that these figures are inflated, as the Netherlands are used as a logistics hub to serve Global Markets; this is known as the Rotterdam effect – which I addressed during the visit. There are 190 Dutch enterprises in Scotland at 590 local business sites, employing 20,060 (March 2018 – latest figures available).

In terms of sector focus, Scotland’s largest export sector to the Netherlands is Chemicals and Chemical products, which accounted for 34% (£840m) of all exports to the Netherlands. Energy Support (£410m) and Engineering & Manufacturing (£255m) are also important exports.

The two day visit was built around a programme of inward investor, and key stakeholder engagements, including GlobalScots as well as an exploratory meeting with the Port of Rotterdam. Additionally, the visit provided me with an opportunity to promote trade and investment:

1. through the delivery of a keynote speech at the Netherlands British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) focusing on Scotland’s innovative potential;

2. at a multi-sector Investor Roundtable hosted by the British Ambassador to the Netherlands.

Whilst in the Hague, I also met with HE Peter Wilson CMG, who provided an overview of the Netherlands’ economic, political and business positions. In turn, I gave the Ambassador an overview of Scotland’s new Export Growth Plan – A Trading Nation, presented Scotland’s international footprint, including universities, business organisations and GlobalScots. The Ambassador had also expressed support for expanding the SDI network in the Netherlands. Currently, SDI supports T&I activity in the Netherlands from Düsseldorf and Brussels, working closely with DIT’s team based in The Hague. This work was previously done from the Paris office until October 2018.

The visit was beneficial in underlining our commitment to the Netherlands with a focus on T&I. It enhanced relations with the business community and made way for greater collaboration on policy, culture and trade fronts.

Question reference: S5F-03499

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 September 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 September 2019

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking in response to Police Scotland figures that show that more than 160 people have reported being raped in the very early stages of dating in 2018-19.