Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-06359

Asked by: Ivan McKee, MSP for Glasgow Provan, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 31 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what support it will provide to Clydesdale Bank employees following the announcement that 40 branches will be closed.

We have contacted the Clydesdale Bank to offer support for any employees who may be facing redundancy through our Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) initiative. The Bank has advised there will be no requirement for PACE support as the Bank will offer full outplacement support through its contracted provider to all employees who are confirmed as being made redundant.

The decision to close these branches, while a commercial decision, is obviously very disappointing as it will have an effect on bank customers, local communities and the bank’s staff across a substantial area of the country, and, therefore, the Scottish Government will continue to engage closely with Clydesdale Bank, and indeed other banks, where appropriate, as they implement changes, in response to changes in the banking services market, and to understand any impact on any affected bank employees and the wider economy.

Question reference: S5O-00603

Asked by: Ivan McKee, MSP for Glasgow Provan, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 January 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that both parents can play an active role in their children's lives following divorce or separation.

Question reference: S5W-05364

Asked by: Ivan McKee, MSP for Glasgow Provan, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 20 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what the outcome was of the recent meeting between the First Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Question reference: S5O-00514

Asked by: Ivan McKee, MSP for Glasgow Provan, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 December 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met Glasgow City Council and what issues were discussed.

Question reference: S5W-05177

Asked by: Ivan McKee, MSP for Glasgow Provan, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 12 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what role the Mental Health First Aid Training Programme is playing in its aim to deliver improved mental health, and what analysis it has carried out of the programme's effectiveness.

The Scottish Mental Health First Aid Training Programme is part of a suite of evidenced informed resources that supports awareness of mental health and wellbeing and focuses on prevention and early intervention. Between 2005 and 2016, the 12 hour course has been delivered to 23,506 individuals with 589 individuals being trained as trainers (this figure covers all trainers - currently only 402 are active).

NHS Health Scotland is currently undertaking a review of the effectiveness of the Scottish Mental Health First Aid Training Programme training resource. Interviews have been held by those providing the courses as well as with course participants. This review will be completed in early 2017 and will make recommendations to Scottish Government on the way forward.

Question reference: S5W-05176

Asked by: Ivan McKee, MSP for Glasgow Provan, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 12 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has allocated to the Mental Health First Aid Training Programme in each of the last three years, and how much it plans to allocate in each of the next three years.

The Scottish Government provides funding to NHS Health Scotland to deliver a number of mental health programmes including the Mental Health First Aid Training Programme for adults and young people. NHS Health Scotland’s costs to deliver training for trainer to adults and young people is as follows, and includes costs for print and distribution of materials:

2014-15 Total: £91,000

2015-16 Total: £97,630

2016-17 Total: £44,800

Plans for future spend are currently unavailable and will be developed to support priorities in the next Mental Health Strategy due for publication in January 2017.

Question reference: S5W-05341

Asked by: Ivan McKee, MSP for Glasgow Provan, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 December 2016
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 6 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its study on the pub sector.

Question reference: S5O-00415

Asked by: Ivan McKee, MSP for Glasgow Provan, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 30 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that sportscotland delivers on its challenge to increase the levels of sporting activity among children.

As Minister for Sport, I routinely meet with the Chair and Chief Executive of sportscotland where we discuss a range of issues. The Scottish Government issues sportscotland with an annual strategic guidance letter highlighting key areas on which we want sportscotland to focus. I also hold an annual review with the Chair and Chief Executive to discuss progress on these areas and officials have regular meetings with sportscotland counterparts.

sportscotland play a significant role in ensuring that 98% of children have access to two hours or two periods of physical education per week and also in providing the Active Schools programme which has seen over six million opportunities for children to take part in sport and physical activity.

In addition, the School Sport Awards, a national initiative designed to encourage schools to continuously improve the quality and quantity of physical education (PE) and school sport opportunities, currently supports 158 Gold School Sport Award schools, 281 Silver schools and 92 Bronze.

Question reference: S5O-00385

Asked by: Ivan McKee, MSP for Glasgow Provan, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 November 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how it calculates the level of homelessness.

Question reference: S5W-03193

Asked by: Ivan McKee, MSP for Glasgow Provan, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 2 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has been given by the UK Government regarding the future of financial services and how this will impact on Scotland following the UK’s vote to leave the EU.

The Scottish Government has received no information from the UK Government regarding the future of financial services and any resulting impact on Scotland following the EU referendum.

The financial services sector is very important to Scotland, both for its direct contribution to our economy and its indirect contribution in the form of the essential support it provides to consumers and businesses in all economic sectors. Continued uncertainty over the UK Government's negotiating position risks jobs and future investment in the financial services sector across the UK.

It is absolutely essential, therefore, that the UK Government sets out its position on membership of the Single Market and how it intends to protect the financial services sector and Scotland in the forthcoming negotiations. The Scottish Government will explore differential options for Scotland and is considering all possible steps to ensure Scotland's continuing relationship with the EU.

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