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-05074

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 25 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 5 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on using the TV whitespace spectrum to broadcast internet to island and rural areas.

TV White Space technology could potentially be used to deliver broadband services to rural areas in future. The Scottish Government has provided approximately £410,000 of funding to the University of Strathclyde's Centre for White Space Communications to trial the use of TV white space technology through two pilot projects in Glasgow and Orkney that are being delivered in conjunction with industry partners. The learning from these projects will help determine the viability of using the technology as an alternative means of delivering connectivity in remote areas.

Question reference: S5W-05071

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 25 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 5 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to encourage more women to have careers in the digital sector, and what proportion of the digital workforce is female.

Recent figures show that women make up only 18% of those in technology roles across Scotland’s economy. The Scottish Government is working with key partners from the public sector, academia and industry to address this imbalance.

Through the ICT and Digital Technologies Skills Investment Plan (SIP), we have established a Gender Action Group to tackle the gender gap in both ICT careers and the relevant academic subjects. Based on research commissioned from Napier University, this group is developing a Gender Action Plan focusing on young women in education and those already in, or looking to return to the labour market.

There are other initiatives which can have a positive effect on the number of women in digital and other STEM roles. For example, the Digital World marketing campaign, aimed at young people and women in particular, and which raises awareness about the careers and opportunities that digital skills and qualifications can create.

Meanwhile, the Scottish Government has recently announced new funding of almost £50,000 for the Women Returners Project, building upon a successful pilot by Equate Scotland which took place earlier this year. This will help support more women with STEM qualifications to return to work the STEM sector after periods of absence from paid employment.

Question reference: S5O-00391

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact on the North Ayrshire economy of moving the Arran ferry service from Ardrossan to Troon.

I announced on 3 November that Transport Scotland has commissioned a STAG style study to consider potential mainland berthing options for the Arran ferry service.

The study will look at the options objectively, taking into account the local social and economic benefits and the impact on public spending, but principally the needs of ferry users. I will be meeting all key stakeholders to hear their views before any decisions are taken.

Question reference: S5T-00215

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 21 November 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider holding a public inquiry into deaths in childbirth in NHS Ayrshire and Arran.

Question reference: S5W-04617

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 16 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5T-00181 by Michael Matheson on 8 November 2016 (Official Report, c. 3), what action it is taking to ensure that the Police Scotland review of its estate will take account of any concerns raised by communities about the impact of the closure of stations on public safety.

Question reference: S5O-00341

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 November 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out regarding what representation an independent Scotland could have in the European Parliament and on the European Council.

Question reference: S5W-04007

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 3 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to promote (a) software development and coding and (b) other digital skills across the education system.

Throughout education, the Government and its partner bodies are working to equip all young people with the digital skills they need to thrive in modern society and the workplace, from basic digital literacy through to more specialist computing science disciplines, including the computational thinking and technical skills required in software development and coding.

Launched in September, our new Digital Learning and Teaching Strategy seeks to embed the use of technology in learning and teaching right across the curriculum, providing a foundation for digital skills development.

To support digital skills development in line with industry needs, the Government has made £8.5 million available through the Digital Scotland Business Excellence Partnership. Achievements have included: the establishment of CodeClan which is Scotland’s first industry led skills academy; the Digital World marketing campaign which aims to raise awareness of the opportunities and benefits a career in IT can bring; and Digital Extra which provides young people with an opportunity to develop their digital skills through extra-curricular opportunities such as coding clubs and competitions.

A range of new education and training initiatives are being taken forward to enhance digital skills, with a particular focus on increasing support for teachers and new opportunities for learners. The Barefoot Computing programme, for example, will give primary school teachers access to a range of on-line teaching resource materials and workshops. This will enable them to deliver computing science and assist understanding of how computational thinking can benefit learners across a range of subjects; particularly maths and science. Older pupils can benefit from access to the wider range of relevant vocational qualifications offered by SQA and pathways such as the new Foundation Apprenticeship in Software Development introduced by Skills Development Scotland.

A good example of the college sector addressing digital skills shortages is the Dundee and Angus College Code Academy. The Academy aims to provide a link between college, school, university and employers by offering short “code camps”, workshops for schools, coding clubs as well as coding clubs specifically for girls.

Question reference: S5W-04014

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 2 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had or plans with broadband providers regarding the (a) cost and (b) speed of connections in rural, remote and island areas compared with urban areas.

The Scottish Government has regular dialogue with broadband providers on a range of issues, including speeds. Responsibility for overseeing the quality of service, cost, and speeds delivered by broadband providers sits with Ofcom, the UK telecoms regulator. The Scottish Government has regular dialogue with Ofcom to ensure that the UK-wide regulatory environment takes account of the specific challenges facing Scotland, particularly rural, remote and island communities.

Question reference: S5W-04006

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 31 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that mobile coverage is available in all rural, remote and island areas.

Although reserved to Westminster, the Scottish Government is committed to doing everything we can, with the powers and funding available to us, to improve mobile coverage across Scotland, including rural, remote and island areas. In June 2016, we agreed an action plan with the four UK mobile operators, which sets out a range of actions aimed at extending coverage. A key part of this will be the development, by spring 2017, of a programme to help address coverage gaps. We are also working with UK Government to maximise the impact of the Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme.

Question reference: S5T-00059

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 12 September 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to tackle homophobic bullying in schools in light of the recent survey by the Time for Inclusive Education group.