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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-00546

Asked by: Bob Doris, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 12 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports public transport in Glasgow.

In 2016-17 the Scottish Government is providing around £17 million grant funding to Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) to support public transport in their area. It is for SPT to determine how that funding is utilised, in line with its Regional Transport Strategy.

The Scottish Government is also a full partner in the Glasgow City Deal, now in its delivery stage, and will contribute £500 million over 20 years. The city partners are considering a range of transport projects which improve public transport infrastructure.

In addition, the Scottish Government is committed to invest in rail infrastructure and services to better connect our communities and support sustainable economic growth and jobs across the country. Glasgow will benefit from key projects such as the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvements Programme (EGIP) - £795 million - and at Stirling/Alloa/Dunblane - £159.5 million - and Shotts - £160 million.

Question reference: S5W-05704

Asked by: Bob Doris, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 19 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 22 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether Skills Development Scotland was given prior notification of the proposals by the Department for Work and Pensions to close eight job centres in Glasgow.

Question reference: S5W-05578

Asked by: Bob Doris, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 21 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on vulnerable people, what representations it has made to the UK Government regarding its proposals to close Jobcentre Plus offices in Glasgow.

Given the level of concern I have about this matter, I have now written to Damian Green, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on two occasions: once on 7 December when the announcement was made public and then again on 9 December seeking clarification of DWP’s consultation and proposals within its estates review. Mr Green replied on 8 December setting out the UKG’s rationale for a proposed rationalisation of the Jobcentre Plus estate based on both cost and operational effectiveness. The consultation on the proposed Glasgow closures closes on 31 January, and I will engage directly with Damian Green again on this matter.

As we believe that this announcement on Glasgow is likely to be an initial element of a much wider process which could impact in areas across Scotland, I have asked that it is discussed when I next meet DWP Ministers at the next Joint Ministerial Working Group on Welfare on 30 January 2017.

Question reference: S5W-05219

Asked by: Bob Doris, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 15 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact has been of its investment to reduce IVF waiting times.

The Scottish Government’s target that by March 2015 eligible patients will start IVF treatment at one of Scotland’s four NHS IVF facilities within 12 months of referral was delivered ahead of time.

To support the IVF target, the Scottish Government has invested nearly £18 million over four financial years to 2015-16, specifically to reduce and maintain waiting times, with further investment during 2016-17. The funding has had a dramatic effect with figures from the recently published Information Service Division IVF publication: http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Waiting-Times/IVF-Waiting-Times/Publications/2016-11-29/ showing that 100% of eligible patients were screened for IVF treatment within 365 days across Scotland within 12 months of being referred, during the quarter ending September 2016.

Question reference: S5O-00441

Asked by: Bob Doris, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 7 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the proposed changes to the local housing allowance will have on vulnerable groups.

The application of the local housing allowance to the social rented sector will have an impact on tenants in a variety of circumstances including vulnerable groups in general needs accommodation as well as those in temporary, or supported accommodation.

Worryingly, shortly before the autumn statement, the DWP announced all social housing tenants on Universal Credit will be affected by the Local Housing Allowance cap rather than only those starting a tenancy after April 2016, as was the original proposal. As has become usual practice from the Tory UK government, this was with no notice or consultation. This recent announcement means that the cuts from the LHA cap will potentially impact many more people from 2019 than was originally proposed.

Question reference: S5O-00423

Asked by: Bob Doris, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 1 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance is being developed for schools in light of the additional £100 million from 2017-18 for the Scottish Attainment Challenge.

Question reference: S5O-00331

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S5O-00269

Asked by: Bob Doris, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 27 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors the performance of Strathclyde Partnership for Transport.

Question reference: S5W-03053

Asked by: Bob Doris, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 29 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with stakeholders regarding the level of the application fee for (a) firearm and (b) shotgun certificates; how many certificates have been issued in each of the last five years; how much money this raised; how much it cost the police to process the applications, and what action it will take to address any funding gap.

The setting of fees for firearm and shotgun certificates is reserved to the UK Parliament and there were therefore no formal discussions between the Scottish Government and stakeholders, many of whom responded to the Home Office's consultation paper or were a member of the Home Office Fees Working Group.

The most recent statistics on firearms and shotgun certificates were published by the Scottish Government in November 2015 and can be found at: http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2015/11/9748/0. Information on how much money the licensing system raised is not held centrally.

The cost of the licensing process is a matter for the police. The Scottish Government has allocated to the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) £1,073.4 million for policing services for 2016-17. It is for them to allocate these funds across various strands.

Question reference: S5O-00189

Asked by: Bob Doris, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 September 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what contribution improving support at school for young children with autism will make towards meeting its ambition to close the educational attainment gap.