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-03720

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S4W-03479

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 October 2011
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 31 October 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason it carried out a business and regulatory impact assessment for the (a) Double Jeopardy (Scotland) Bill and (b) Forced Marriage etc. (Protection and Jurisdiction) (Scotland) Bill.

A business and regulatory impact assessment was completed for the Double Jeopardy (Scotland) Bill as the bill contained provisions which would potentially have some impact on the legal aid budget and businesses operating in this area of the law.

A business and regulatory impact assessment was completed for the Forced Marriage etc (Protection and Jurisdiction) (Scotland) Bill as the bill contained provisions that potentially had an impact on third sector and public sector organisations.

Question reference: S4W-03480

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 October 2011
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 28 October 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that, except when a policy change does not lead to a cost or saving for business, third or public sector organisations, regulators or consumers, it is always necessary to carry out a business and regulatory impact assessment.

Question reference: S4W-03475

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 October 2011
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 28 October 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that a business and regulatory impact assessment should be carried out whenever a government proposal might impose additional costs on businesses.

Question reference: S4W-03478

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 October 2011
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 27 October 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the publication of a business and regulatory impact assessment on its proposed public health levy would highlight the extent to which the levy might impact on business and competitiveness.

Question reference: S4W-03477

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 October 2011
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 27 October 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive how much the average business will have to pay as a result of the proposed public health levy in 2012-13.

Question reference: S4W-03476

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 October 2011
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 27 October 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has tested its proposal for a public health levy with the relevant businesses.

Question reference: S4W-03474

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 October 2011
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 27 October 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the (a) costs, (b) benefits and (c) associated risks of its proposed public health levy on (i) businesses, (ii) consumers and (iii) local authorities.

The Scottish Government cannot afford to ignore the scale of social problems that put pressure on the public purse. The total combined economic cost to Scotland of tobacco and alcohol misuse is estimated to be £4.7 billion each year.

By introducing the public health supplement we are providing a new funding stream estimated to generate an additional £110 million over the three year Spending Review period. This will be used to contribute towards the preventative spend measures that will be taken forward jointly with the Scottish Government, local authorities, the NHS and the third sector.

The legislation for the supplement will be subject to full and appropriate parliamentary scrutiny.

Question reference: S4W-03481

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 October 2011
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 27 October 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason it did not consult on its proposed public health levy before making it part of the 2012-13 draft budget.

Question reference: S4W-03473

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 October 2011
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 27 October 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason it does not plan to carry out a business and regulatory impact assessment on the proposed public health levy, given its guidance suggesting that one is required when a proposal imposes additional cost on businesses.

The public health supplement will be subject to full and appropriate parliamentary scrutiny. Business and Regulatory Impact Assessments are not completed for every new policy or regulation as it would be disproportionate to do so.

The publication of the Draft Budget 2012-13 marks the start of the public consultation on the Scottish Government’s budget plans and comments are welcomed by 21 December 2011.

Scotland will remain the most competitive place to do business in the UK through a rates relief package worth an estimated £500 million per year to businesses. This remains the most generous package available to businesses anywhere in the UK.