Chamber and committees

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-06533

Asked by: Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 9 February 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the action it is taking to promote human rights.

The Scottish Government undertakes a wide variety of activity which promotes, protects, respects and realises human rights.

Further information can be found in the recent answers to questions S5W-05524, S5W-05525, S5W-05679 and S5W-05683 on 9 January 2017, S5W-05681 and S5W-06035 on 19 January 2017, S5W-06037 on 25 January 2017 and S5W-06562 on 3 February 2017. 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

Information is also available on the Scottish Government website and in publicly-available documents relating to Scotland's performance under United Nations and Council of Europe human rights treaties. A National Baseline Assessment was conducted last year in connection with the implementation in Scotland of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

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: 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: S5O-00640

Asked by: Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 February 2017
Current Status: Awaiting answer

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: Awaiting answer

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: Awaiting answer

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: Awaiting answer

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: Awaiting answer

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.