Asked by: Mhairi Black (Scottish National Party - Paisley and Renfrewshire South)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many and what proportion of people employed in his Department in each financial year since 2008-09 were press and communications employees.
Answered by Alister Jack - Secretary of State for Scotland
The total number of staff working at the Office is recorded in the Annual Report and Accounts, which are available online at www.gov.uk/scotland.
The Office is resourced to deliver all of the communications functions and activities expected and required of a government department in its own right and on behalf of the UK Government in Scotland.
Along with media handling, the operating model requires communications divisions to deliver the following functions: campaigns and marketing, digital communications, internal communications, strategic communications, stakeholder engagement and external affairs - including ministerial visits, events, committee meetings, and activities.
The Office does not hold staff records for team-level staffing prior to 2009/10.
The number of staff working at the Office to deliver communications functions, including visits and events, on 31 March in each financial year since 2009/10 is as follows:
Financial Year | Office communications staff |
2009-2010 | 6 |
2010-2011 | 8 |
2011-2012 | 6 |
2012-2013 | 8 |
2013-2014 | 8 |
2014-2015 | 9 |
2015-2016 | 11 |
2016-2017 | 15 |
2017-2018 | 14 |
2018-2019 | 15 |
2019-2020 | 17 |
Asked by: Mhairi Black (Scottish National Party - Paisley and Renfrewshire South)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many and what proportion of people employed in the Union Unit or Union Taskforce in each financial year since 2018-19 were press and communications employees.
Answered by Alister Jack - Secretary of State for Scotland
The Office does not hold figures for the Union Unit or Union Taskforce.
Asked by: Mhairi Black (Scottish National Party - Paisley and Renfrewshire South)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will publish copies of audience targeting information used by his Department for (a) advertising, (b) campaign and (c) promotional purposes in the last 12 months.
Answered by Alister Jack - Secretary of State for Scotland
The audience targeting information used by the Office over the last 12 months is as follows:
Asked by: Mhairi Black (Scottish National Party - Paisley and Renfrewshire South)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what comparative assessment he has made of the Newly Self-employed Hardship Fund that was made available in Scotland compared and the support available to the self-employed during the covid-19 outbreak in England.
Answered by Alister Jack - Secretary of State for Scotland
As the Newly Self-employed hardship fund is administered by the Scottish Government, the UK Government does not hold information on data relating to this scheme. Through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme available across the UK, people have claimed £7.7 billion (including 155,000 self-employed people in Scotland receiving £449 million) and it remains open for applications for the second and final grant until 19 October.
Asked by: Mhairi Black (Scottish National Party - Paisley and Renfrewshire South)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what comparative assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the lockdown restrictions that have been implemented due to the covid-19 outbreak in Scotland and England.
Answered by Alister Jack - Secretary of State for Scotland
All four nations of the UK entered lockdown at the same point, and the UK Government and the Devolved Administrations have all gradually eased public health restrictions at the point their Ministers have judged best, in accordance with the devolution settlements. There is more to be done to tackle the virus and while the UK Government is adapting in light of the evidence so far, it is premature to review comprehensively the effectiveness of the lockdown restrictions across the UK.
The UK Government works closely with the Devolved Administrations on tackling Covid-19 and has allocated around £4.6 billion to support public services in Scotland, alongside an unprecedented package of UK-wide support for businesses and individuals, including the furlough and self-employed support scheme which have made the lockdown possible and supported nearly 900,000 jobs across Scotland.
Asked by: Mhairi Black (Scottish National Party - Paisley and Renfrewshire South)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether he has visited Paisley and Renfrewshire South constituency since his appointment.
Answered by Alister Jack - Secretary of State for Scotland
I have not yet enjoyed the opportunity to visit the Paisley and Renfrewshire South constituency.
I would of course consider very carefully any invitation from the Hon. Member to visit the Paisley and Renfrewshire South constituency at the appropriate time.
Asked by: Mhairi Black (Scottish National Party - Paisley and Renfrewshire South)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, when he plans to visit Paisley and Renfrewshire South constituency.
Answered by Alister Jack - Secretary of State for Scotland
I currently have no plans to visit Paisley and Renfrewshire South constituency in my capacity as Secretary of State for Scotland.
Asked by: Mhairi Black (Scottish National Party - Paisley and Renfrewshire South)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent discussions he has had with Prime Minister in his capacity as Minister for the Union.
Answered by Alister Jack - Secretary of State for Scotland
I have regular discussions with the Prime Minister and Cabinet colleagues on a range of matters relating to strengthening Scotland’s place in the Union.
Asked by: Mhairi Black (Scottish National Party - Paisley and Renfrewshire South)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the devolution of powers to the Scottish Parliament during the transition period.
Answered by Alister Jack - Secretary of State for Scotland
From January 2021, powers in over 100 policy areas previously exercised at an EU level will flow directly to the Scottish Parliament, reinforcing its standing as one of the most powerful devolved parliaments in the world. I have regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of matters relating to Scottish devolution and the transition period.
Asked by: Mhairi Black (Scottish National Party - Paisley and Renfrewshire South)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on Scottish independence.
Answered by Alister Jack - Secretary of State for Scotland
The UK Government will continue to uphold the democratic decision of the Scottish people who voted decisively in 2014 to remain part of the United Kingdom. I have regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of matters relating to strengthening Scotland’s place in the Union.