- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 23 March 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Derek Mackay on 13 April 2017
To ask the Scottish Government how many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in North Ayrshire will be taken out of the Small Business Bonus Scheme following the business rates revaluation.
Answer
It is estimated that there are around 89 properties in North Ayrshire who have a rateable value below £18,000 in 2016-17 and will have a rateable value above £18,000 in 2017-18, but it is not possible to confirm how many of these properties are eligible for or are currently claiming Small Business Bonus Scheme relief.
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 23 March 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Derek Mackay on 13 April 2017
To ask the Scottish Government who is responsible for developing its strategy on the use of public data, including the use of so-called big-data.
Answer
I am responsible for policy around digital and data. The recently published Digital Strategy “Realising Scotland's full potential in a digital world” laid out the Government’s approach on the use of public data and big data. Delivering these elements of the strategy is led by the Scottish Government’s Chief Statistician.
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 23 March 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 11 April 2017
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to support West Kilbride surgery, in light of news that two of its four GPs will leave the practice.
Answer
Since experiencing recruitment difficulties in replacing GPs, NHS Ayrshire & Arran and North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership have been working closely with the West Kilbride Medical Practice to support them in stabilising the Practice. This support will enable the practice to continue to provide clinical general medical services to their patients.
The Scottish Government is aware of the pressures facing general practice and are fully committed to delivering a model of sustainable general practice that is right both for the profession and for the health of the people of Scotland. In recognition of this we will invest £72 million during 2017-18 in the Primary Care Fund to improve primary care and GP services. As part of this, £5 million will be invested in work to explore with key stakeholders the issues surrounding GP recruitment and retention.
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 23 March 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 3 April 2017
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on sending an official or minister to future meetings of the cross-party group on LGBTI+ issues to participate in the group's discussions.
Answer
Scottish Government ministers or officials would welcome the opportunity to be involved in the cross-party group on LGBTI+ issues and to participate in discussions as appropriate.
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 17 March 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 31 March 2017
To ask the Scottish Government what account it takes of the outcome of votes on Parliament debates.
Answer
The Scottish Government will always give careful consideration to the views and decisions of Parliament, in whatever form they are expressed. When Parliament gives its consent to a motion which invites the Government to consider a specific course of action, the Government will return to Parliament to set out its response.
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 17 March 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 31 March 2017
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5O-00632 by Keith Brown on 28 February 2017 (Official Report, c. 5) and the vote in the Parliament on motion S5M-03438, what plans it has to review its decision to abolish the board of Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
Answer
In my statement that I made to parliament yesterday I confirmed that that the board of HIE and the other agencies will remain.
As I have previously promised, HIE will continue to be locally-based, managed and directed, and the new arrangements will protect and enhance their unique service.
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 23 March 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 31 March 2017
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of all costs associated with the consultation regarding the proposal to move the Arran ferry's home port.
Answer
The report commissioned from Peter Brett Associates cost £45,925 plus VAT as indicated in the response to S5W-07951 on 21 March 2017. No breakdown of that cost is held.
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
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 March 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 29 March 2017
To ask the Scottish Government what the impact would be on the economy of a second independence referendum campaign.
Answer
The Scottish Government believes the people of Scotland should be given the right to choose their own future. A choice between the hard Brexit being advocated by the UK Government, and the risk we know that this poses to our economy of around £11 billion a year by 2030 and 80,000 jobs over a decade, and becoming an independent country and having the opportunity to pursue policies designed to grow the economy and invest in public services.
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 March 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 28 March 2017
To ask the Scottish Government what the value is of Scotland's exports to each member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).
Answer
The value of Scotland's exports to each member of the European Free Trade Association for 2015, drawn from Export Statistics Scotland are as follows:
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Switzerland - £785 million
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Norway - £1315 million
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Iceland - Less than £50 million
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Liechtenstein - No data held.
The most recent published Scottish export figures are available via the Export Statistics Scotland publication available at:http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Economy/Exports/ESSMaps and are for 2015. The report highlights figures by the millions except where levels fall below £50 million.
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 17 March 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 28 March 2017
To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to help people from islands meet transport costs when attending NHS appointments on the mainland.
Answer
The Highlands and Islands Patient Travel Scheme reimburses reasonable travel costs for all patients in the Highlands and Islands area that are required to travel 30 miles or more to a hospital for treatment, less the first £10, with the exception of those in receipt of qualifying benefits, or who hold an NHS low income certificate.