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: S4W-16999

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Rutherglen, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 September 2013
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Burgess on 17 September 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of a finding by Jones Lang laSalle that most of the housebuilders it surveyed said that they believed that independence would result in less housing development, whether the white paper on Scottish independence will consider the implications for housing.

There is no evidence to substantiate such claims. Independence will bring substantial economic benefits to Scotland and allow the development of tailored policies which best suit every sector of the Scottish economy, including housing.

The Scottish Government will publish its detailed white paper with positive proposals on the opportunities and gains of independence in the autumn. Material on the referendum and the Scottish Government’s proposals for an independent Scotland can be found at www.scotreferendum.com, including published papers and speeches. This site will be regularly updated with additional material including the white paper in the run up to the referendum.

Question reference: S4W-16791

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Rutherglen, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 August 2013
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 11 September 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-16718 by Fiona Hyslop on 15 August 2013, whether it will provide a breakdown of the costs associated with the trip.

Question reference: S4W-16624

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Rutherglen, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 August 2013
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 9 September 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has a monitoring system to ensure that companies contracted by it do not use so-called zero-hour contracts and, if so, how this operates.

Companies bidding for significant contracts are required to state whether they have been found guilty of any criminal offences, or have committed any acts of grave misconduct in the course of their business.

The Scottish Government's standard terms and conditions of contract also require that in performing the contract, the contractor must comply with all applicable law, including employment law. We are not aware of any evidence that contractors to the Scottish Government are using zero hours contracts inappropriately. If anyone has such evidence they should bring it to our attention and we will consider what action might be appropriate.

The Procurement Reform Bill will also address the ways in which purchasers assess a contractor’s approach to recruitment and terms of engagement of persons involved in delivering the contract.

Question reference: S4W-16622

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Rutherglen, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 August 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 3 September 2013

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) ScotRail and (b) Scottish Water staff are employed on so-called zero-hour contracts.

Question reference: S4F-01527

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Rutherglen, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 02 September 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 September 2013

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s position is on the statement by the chief executive of Homes for Scotland that the country is “mired in a housing crisis".

Question reference: S4W-15771

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Rutherglen, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 17 June 2013
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 24 July 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings and correspondence the special adviser (a) Geoff Aberdein, (b) Stuart Nicolson, (c) Noel Dolan, (d) Liz Lloyd, (e) Alexander Anderson, (f) Malcolm Fleming, (g) John MacInnes, (h) Alex Bell, (i) Ewan Crawford, (j) Colin McAllister, (k) David Hutchison, (l) John McFarlane and (m) Delancy Johansson has had with representatives of Yes Scotland and on what dates.

Special advisers meet and correspond with Yes Scotland on a regular basis and the details requested of those meetings and correspondence could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Special advisers act in accordance with the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers and other relevant Scottish Government guidance; in particular, the Scottish Government’s Advice Note on Approaching the Referendum which states at paragraph 28:

Among their appointed duties, special advisers provide a legitimate channel of communication between the Scottish Government, the governing political party and outside interest groups with which the governing party may be associated, including groups formed to campaign for a particular outcome in the referendum.

Question reference: S4W-15694

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Rutherglen, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 June 2013
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Burgess on 27 June 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) meetings, (b) correspondence and (c) communications the Minister for Local Government and Planning has had with representatives of local authorities regarding the impact of the so-called bedroom tax on local authority (i) tenants, (ii) housing and (iii) budgets and what issues were considered.

As part of our partnership working ministers are in regular contact with local government on a range of issues including the UK Government’s reforms to the welfare system.? The latest COSLA and Scottish Government political meeting to discuss welfare reform took place on 4 June 2013. The Deputy First Minister and the Minister for Local Government and Planning, both attended this meeting and discussed the so-called bed

room tax.

Question reference: S4O-02305

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Rutherglen, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 June 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 June 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what savings will be made as a result of the merger of Langside, Anniesland and Cardonald colleges.

Question reference: S4W-15151

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Rutherglen, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 4 June 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to invest in ports.

<>The Scottish Government values the contribution made by Scottish ports to the Government’s overall purpose of delivering sustainable economic growth, and continues to work closely with port operators to that end. A range of funding sources are available to Scottish ports, including through the European Fisheries Fund and Marine Scotland’s Emergency Harbour repairs scheme (for fisheries harbours). Freight Facilities Grant is also potentially available where additional port infrastructure is required to transfer freight from road to water. In addition, the Scottish Government supplies funding for infrastructure at the lifeline ferry ports as outlined in the Ferries Plan, published in December 2012 (available at http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/files/documents/reports/j254579_1.pdf).

The Scottish Government is continuing to work closely with Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and port operators to implement the National Renewables Infrastructure Plan. This may involve specific investment in port infrastructure to develop the offshore renewables industry as an economic growth opportunity that can bring benefits to many areas of Scotland.

Question reference: S4O-02218

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Rutherglen, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 May 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 June 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what recent advice it has received regarding membership of the EU should Scotland separate from the UK.