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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: S5W-06508

Asked by: Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 2 February 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on whether people on low incomes in Scotland are less likely to own a passport or driving licence.

The Scottish Government does not hold passport data. Nationality and citizenship are matters that are fully reserved to the United Kingdom Government under the Devolution Settlement. The responsibility for issuing passports sits with HM Passport Office, which is part of the Home Office.

Data from the Scottish Household Survey (SHS) shows that possession of a full driving license increases with income. In 2015, 45 per cent of adults living in low-income households (net annual household income of up to £10,000) held a full driving licence, increasing to 89 per cent of those in high-income households (net annual household income of over £40,000).

Question reference: S5W-06507

Asked by: Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 2 February 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many people in Scotland do not own a (a) passport or (b) driving licence.

The Scottish Household survey produces annual estimates of the number of adults (17+) in possession of a drivers licence. The latest estimates for 2015, published on 27 September 2016 show that 68% of Scottish adults have a drivers licence. Further information is available in the publication: http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2016/09/7673

Question reference: S5W-06577

Asked by: Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 2 February 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-04448 by Kevin Stewart on 15 November 2016, what the average (a) Housing Association Grant (HAG) and (b) non-HAG subsidy level per unit was expressed as a percentage of total costs for housing association new development tender approval activity in (i) Edinburgh and (ii) Glasgow in each of the last five years.

Details are as follows:

Glasgow	2011-12	2012-13	2013-14	2014-15	2015-16
HA Rent	42.70%	47.56%	53.27%	56.43%	63.79%
HA Low Cost Home Ownership	27.56%	46.10%	39.07%	0.00%	0.00%
Other Rent (Mid-Market Rent)	23.83%	25.86%	34.26%	29.00%	39.66%

Edinburgh	2011-12	2012-13	2013-14	2014-15	2015-16
HA Rent	37.66%	36.97%	44.74%	48.36%	46.36%
HA Low Cost Home Ownership	19.99%	0.00%	20.00%	20.00%	28.49%
Other Rent (Mid-Market Rent)	23.28%	26.77%	26.55%	26.72%	30.72%

Question reference: S5O-00640

Asked by: Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 February 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 February 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to assist marine energy developers.

Question reference: S5O-00532

Asked by: Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 December 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any communication it has had with the UK Government regarding the publication of Scotland’s Place in Europe.

Question reference: S5O-00511

Asked by: Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 December 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how its budget will affect the people of Edinburgh.

Question reference: S5O-00462

Asked by: Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, 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 was discussed at the recent meeting between the finance secretary and the chancellor.

Question reference: S5W-05227

Asked by: Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 November 2016
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 1 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-04449 by Joe FitzPatrick on 11 November 2016, whether it will provide an update on what plans it has to consult on extending coverage of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 to registered social landlords.

I am pleased to confirm that in line with my commitment to consult on extending coverage of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 to registered social landlords, today marks the start of this consultation. The consultation paper is available on the Scottish Government website.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that Scotland’s internationally recognised Freedom of Information legislation remains robust and effective. This latest consultation follows earlier orders extending coverage to a wide range of bodies including local authority arm’s length trusts and private prison contractors.

Question reference: S5O-00437

Asked by: Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 November 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how many people in Scotland it estimates would be impacted by the UK Government reducing employment and support allowance to claimants placed in the work-related activity group.

Question reference: S5W-04699

Asked by: Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 25 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what support it offers to encourage qualified nurses to practice midwifery, and what courses are available.

The Scottish Government's Nursing and Midwifery Student Intake Planning Group is considering options to increase access to conversion programmes for registered nurses. As part of its deliberations it will be considering whether the 18 month conversion programme previously run in Scotland should be reinstated, along with consideration of which Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) could provide that training given the desire to increase access for nurses based in the Highlands and Islands. The group is also considering the level at which registered nurses should be paid whilst undertaking conversion courses.

Additionally, we are encouraging those who trained or worked in NHS Scotland to return and work in the health service through our Return to Practice programme. A key focus of the programme is to bring experienced staff directly back into the workforce, so NHS Education for Scotland, the HEIs and NHS Board nursing leads that provide the practice placement experiences are looking at innovative ways to link returnees directly to employment.