Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-12819

Asked by: Ivan McKee, MSP for Glasgow Provan, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 17 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Annabelle Ewing on 29 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it is giving to strengthening support for children in maintaining contact with both parents despite marital/relationship breakdown.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of supporting parents and children through relationship breakdown, particularly given the impact that divorce and separation can have on children. That is why we are providing around £2 million a year through our Children, Young People and Families Early Intervention Fund to organisations which provide relationship support, including Relationships Scotland and The Spark.

We have also funded Relationships Scotland to develop a ‘Parenting Apart’ service, with the specific aim of helping separating or separated parents support their children through what can be a difficult time; and we continue to support ParentLine Scotland, which provides advice and information to parents and families on a range of issues, including issues relating to the break-up of relationships.

We are proposing to launch a consultation early next year on part 1 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995. This consultation will seek views on any changes which are needed to the law, and associated procedures, when there is a dispute between separated parents on matters such as contact.

Question reference: S5W-12778

Asked by: Ivan McKee, MSP for Glasgow Provan, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 27 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government when it will bring forward legislation to tackle obstructive and inconsiderate parking.

A Public Consultation entitled "Improving Parking in Scotland" was launched on 31 March and closed on 30 June to the general public and 31 August to local authorities and Regional Transport Partnerships.

We are currently analysing 661 responses to the consultation, which will inform our policy on how best to manage and enforce parking in Scotland. The findings will also assist in the development of provisions for the Scottish Government's Miscellaneous Transport Bill which is due to be introduced in year 2 of this Parliamentary session.

Question reference: S5W-12575

Asked by: Ivan McKee, MSP for Glasgow Provan, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Annabelle Ewing on 22 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government when it will activate the provisions of the Legal Services (Scotland) Act 2010 to allow communities, charities and other groups to establish their own legal practices.

The Legal Services (Scotland) Act 2010 (the 2010 Act) put in place provisions for solicitors to establish businesses with other professions, creating alternative business structures.

Solicitors and/or other regulated professionals i.e. non-solicitor professionals such as accountants will require to hold at least a 51% majority stake in the business.

Bespoke regulatory schemes are required for these businesses and the 2010 Act allows for up to three regulators to offer regulatory schemes to such businesses. The 2010 Act requires such regulators to be approved by Scottish Ministers with the agreement of the Lord President.

The Law Society of Scotland submitted an application to Scottish Ministers on
16 December 2015 to become an approved regulator of licensed legal services providers, under the 2010 Act. I wrote to the Law Society of Scotland on 17 January 2017 approving them as an approved regulator of licensed legal services providers, as the first part of a two stage process.

The Scottish Government is now working with the Law Society of Scotland and the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission on the second stage to ensure that the regulatory scheme complies with the requirements of the 2010 Act and supports a modern, progressive system for regulation and complaints handling.

Regulations may be required to make further provision on complaints made about approved regulators; and these may be expected in 2018.

Question reference: S5T-00781

Asked by: Ivan McKee, MSP for Glasgow Provan, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 November 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it will make of the impact on Scotland of the cost of Brexit.

Question reference: S5O-01496

Asked by: Ivan McKee, MSP for Glasgow Provan, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 November 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the provision, availability and student financial support in Scotland for higher education courses in BSL.

Question reference: S5O-01472

Asked by: Ivan McKee, MSP for Glasgow Provan, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Annabelle Ewing on 15 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the view that a reliable emergency mobile communications system is vital for the emergency services.

A reliable mobile communications system is vital for our emergency services and is a core part of operational delivery. This is currently provided primarily by the Airwave network. Airwave is due to be replaced by the Emergency Services Network in the coming years, under a programme led by the Home Office and in which Scottish Government is a co-sponsor and funder.

We are full partners in this, so it is indefensible that – for Scotland alone – over the 15 year timeline of the new network £65m will be syphoned off by the UK Treasury in irrecoverable VAT.

The Scottish Government works closely with the emergency services to monitor the performance of the current network and to ensure the new ESN meets their operational needs.

Question reference: S5O-01376

Asked by: Ivan McKee, MSP for Glasgow Provan, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 October 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to extend the electric vehicle loan scheme beyond 2018.

Question reference: S5O-01230

Asked by: Ivan McKee, MSP for Glasgow Provan, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 13 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact will be on its climate change targets of its plan to decarbonise road transport by 2032.

As announced in the Programme for Government, we will increase efforts to support and promote electric vehicles to ensure that by 2032 there will be no need to purchase a petrol or diesel car or van. We will take the lead in decarbonising road transport to ensure Scotland remains at the forefront of the global low carbon transition. The final Climate Change Plan will reflect these new announcements, with publication in early 2018.

Question reference: S5W-11103

Asked by: Ivan McKee, MSP for Glasgow Provan, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 September 2017
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 7 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how it can help organisations in Scotland that will be subject to introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy by the UK Government.

Last year, the Scottish Government consulted with organisations across Scotland on the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy. In line with the responses we received, the Scottish Government is funding a range of support for Scottish Levy payers, including the expansion of our Modern Apprenticeship programme.

In addition, today I will launch a pilot of the Flexible Workforce Development Fund (FWDF). The FWDF will be delivered regionally by colleges across Scotland, and is open to all employers who are subject to the UK Government’s Apprenticeship Levy.

Each organisation can bid for up to £10,000 of support within the £10 million pilot, for employees of any age to address identified skills gaps and improve their productivity. The FWDF demonstrates a distinctive Scottish response to introduction of Levy and is an important new element in our skills offer in Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-10791

Asked by: Ivan McKee, MSP for Glasgow Provan, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 August 2017
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 6 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the social equalities legacy from the Commonwealth Games in 2014, in the form of funding support being allocated to proven, individual, elite athletes from areas of multiple deprivation, is not being applied to weightlifters.

The Active Scotland Outcomes Framework sets out our ambitions for a more active Scotland, and is underpinned by a commitment to equality. A range of actions are already in place to support participation in sport and physical activity, including those aimed at specific groups furthest away from meeting physical activity guidelines, including those living in areas of multiple deprivation.

These actions include encouraging young people from deprived areas to engage with sport through the Active Schools Programme, which will in the future have a particular focus within areas of deprivation in support of our ambitions to raise attainment. In addition, sportscotland, the national agency for sport, continues to focuson developing community sports hubs in the 5% most deprived areas by providing additional support to help enhance their local offer, develop existing and new opportunities, grow membership and explore the barriers to school / club links and participation. Statistics published by sportscotland on 24 August demonstrated the significant growth in both the Active Schools and community sport hubs programmes.

Following a Recognition Review process, there has been no recognised Scottish Governing Body (SGB) for weightlifting since 1 April 2016. Recognition is a requirement for SGBs to be considered for investment from sportscotland. Where there is not a recognised SGB, sportscotland can work with a recognised UK governing body to identify and support Scottish athletes with podium potential. However, there are currently no athletes deemed to be of podium potential.

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