Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-00503

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 06 June 2016
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 15 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-00142 by John Swinney on 2 June 2016, which (a) ministers, (b) officials and (c) stakeholders had pre-release access to the Scottish Survey of Literacy and Numeracy, and on what date this access was provided.

In addition to professional and production staff the following post holders were given pre-release access:

First Minister

Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills

Special Advisers, Private Office

Head of the First Minister’s Policy and Delivery Unit

Strategic Policy Adviser, First Minister's Policy and Delivery Unit

C1, B3, B3, B2 Communications Smarter

Permanent Secretary

Director General Learning and Justice

Director of Learning

Deputy Director Curriculum, Qualifications and Gaelic

Head of Curriculum Unit

C1, C1, B3, B2 Curriculum Unit

C2, Curriculum, Qualifications and Gaelic Division

Deputy Director Strategy and Performance

Head of Strategy and Performance Unit

C1, B3 Strategy and Performance Unit

Head of Raising Attainment Unit

C1, B3 Raising Attainment Unit

Deputy Director People and Infrastructure

Head of People and Leadership Unit

C1, People and Leadership Unit

Head of Empowering Schools Unit

C1, Empowering Schools Unit

Chief Executive Education Scotland

Strategic Director, Education Scotland

Assistant Director, Education Scotland

Senior Education Officer, Education Scotland

Head of Communications, Education Scotland

Communications and Media Manager, Education Scotland

Head of Assessment Development and Delivery, SQA

Assessment Manager, SQA

Communications, SQA

In line with the, ministers and officials can have pre-release access to final form statistics five working days in advance. This date was 20 May 2016 (to account for two public holidays i.e. non-working days).

Question reference: S5W-00500

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 06 June 2016
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 15 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-00142 by John Swinney on 2 June 2016, whether an earlier date was initially identified for the release of the Scottish Survey of Literacy and Numeracy and announced 12 months in advance and, if so, what action it took to ensure that the subsequent change in the publication date was drawn to public attention in accordance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.

Question reference: S5W-00418

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 June 2016
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 14 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government in light of the findings in the HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland report, Audit and Assurance Review of the use of the Facial Search functionality within the UK Police National Database (PND) by Police Scotland, whether it will (a) introduce legislation regarding the retention and use of photographic images by the police, (b) establish an independent commissioner to oversee biometric databases and records and (c) develop a statutory code of practice to govern the use of biometric data.

Question reference: S5W-00417

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 June 2016
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 14 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on adopting a similar approach to data as that of Estonia, which considers that it belongs to the citizen and that people have the right to know who has accessed their information.

The Scottish Government's identity management and privacy principles demonstrates the Scottish Government's commitment to individuals' right to a private and family life. There is a new EU General Data Protection Regulation which will come into force in May 2018. The new regulations will strengthen individuals rights and extend the scope of previous legislation to include organisations that process the personal data of EU citizens outside Europe, which we believe is a very positive step.

Question reference: S5W-00327

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 June 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 14 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the evidence given by Fiona Hyslop to the Education and Culture Committee on 20 May 2014 (Official Report, c. 4152) that, by April 2015, Historic Environment Scotland would provide a cost for the outstanding repair and maintenance backlog for properties, whether this information has been provided and, if so, what the cost of the repairs and maintenance is.

The assessment of the cost for the outstanding repair and maintenance backlog in respect of the properties in the care of Scottish Ministers (PiCs) remains the subject of internal discussion at this stage. A significant amount of work had already been undertaken before April 2015 and since the Historic Environment Scotland (HES) board took on their full powers in October 2015, and to whom responsibility for the PiCs is delegated, for which I am grateful. The work being produced is now more complex than originally planned but I anticipate that HES will be able to advise of the final outcome in due course.

Question reference: S5W-00414

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 June 2016
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 14 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-25353, S4W-26131, S4W-27521, S4W-28458 and S4W-29913 by John Swinney on 7 May 2015, 7 July 2015, 29 September 2015, 2 December 2015 and 8 March 2016 respectively, what the reason is for the delay in providing this information, and on what date it will set out (a) an analysis of responses to the consultation on proposed amendments to the NHS Central Register (Scotland) Regulations 2006 and (b) details of how it plans to proceed.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-29921 on 8 March 2016. I will provide to Parliament our analysis of the consultation in due course. Any delay has been caused by our wish to give full and proper consideration to the responses received, options moving forward and our commitment to developing a system that protects user privacy.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

Question reference: S5W-00413

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 June 2016
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 14 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions its (a) ministers and (b) officials have had with (i) Police Scotland and (ii) the Scottish Police Authority regarding the recommendations in the HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland report, Audit and Assurance Review of the use of the Facial Search functionality within the UK Police National Database (PND) by Police Scotland, and on what dates.

Question reference: S5W-00415

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 June 2016
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 14 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-29576 by Michael Matheson on 10 February 2016, on what date the guidance will be published.

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing guidance relating to restorative justice as soon as possible. However, it is essential that such guidance is developed in collaboration with restorative justice experts and those with expertise in dealing with victims’ issues, to ensure that the interests of all those participating in the restorative justice process are reflected.

The Scottish Government has taken a collaborative approach to developing this guidance and a revised draft was circulated to the Scottish Restorative Justice Forum (whose membership includes Sacro, Rape Crisis Scotland, VSS and Scottish Women’s Aid) in March 2016. The latest comments from stakeholders are currently being considered.

Question reference: S5W-00325

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 June 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 9 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether the infrastructure investment plan that was referred to in the 2016 SNP manifesto will focus on properties across all of the country's historic environment or only those designated as "properties in care" under Historic Environment Scotland.

This plan will be developed by Historic Environment Scotland in partnership with government and the historic environment sector, in line with the strategy set out by the sector in Our Place in Time. We are currently at a very early stage of considering how a long term infrastructure investment plan might operate to the optimum benefit of Scotland’s historic environment. Funding levels will be determined in the light of developing spending plans as part of the forthcoming spending review.

Question reference: S5W-00324

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 June 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 9 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether the infrastructure investment plan that was referred to in the 2016 SNP manifesto will focus on the reported 72% of pre-1919 homes that are in disrepair.

This plan will be developed by Historic Environment Scotland in partnership with government and the historic environment sector, in line with the strategy set out by the sector in Our Place in Time. We are currently at a very early stage of considering how a long term infrastructure investment plan might operate to the optimum benefit of Scotland’s historic environment. Funding levels will be determined in the light of developing spending plans as part of the forthcoming spending review.

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