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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

Filter your results Hide all filters

Displaying 754 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S4O-03744

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S4F-02370

Asked by: Jamie Hepburn, MSP for Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 November 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 November 2014

To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of the impact of UK Government welfare reforms on families in which at least one family member is in employment.

Question reference: S4T-00803

Asked by: Jamie Hepburn, MSP for Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 October 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 October 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the Conservative Party's plans to repeal the Human Rights Act 1998.

Question reference: S4O-03593

Asked by: Jamie Hepburn, MSP for Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 October 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 October 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with HM Revenue and Customs regarding employment in Scotland.

Question reference: S4O-03563

Asked by: Jamie Hepburn, MSP for Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 September 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 October 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reports that the Barnett formula will be reduced by the UK Government over time.

Question reference: S4O-03531

Asked by: Jamie Hepburn, MSP for Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 September 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 September 2014

To ask the Scottish Government how it will reduce poverty among disabled people.

Question reference: S4W-22406

Asked by: Jamie Hepburn, MSP for Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 August 2014
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by John Swinney on 20 August 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what reassurance it can give public sector workers that their pensions would be safeguarded in an independent Scotland.

We set out our position on the issue of public sector pensions and independence in Scotland’s Future and in the detailed supporting paper Pensions in an independent Scotland, which we published on 23 September 2013.

Almost a year on I am aware that there is interest in this important issue, with a number of organisations being asked to provide more information to their staff. That is why this week the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing responded to questions which have been raised with him on this subject by writing to NHSScotland employees.

Firstly, as we set out in Scotland’s Future, I want to confirm that all public service pension rights and entitlements are protected and accessible and that this government is committed to providing a fair, affordable and sustainable pension and reward package to public sector employees.

In Pensions in an independent Scotland, we went into more detail clarifying that, as well as the pension schemes that are already fully or partially devolved to Scotland, on independence the public service pensions of members of currently reserved schemes who live in or work for Scotland, for example, the armed forces and civil servants would continue to be paid in full. We also confirmed that there would be no difference to individual contribution rates or benefit levels as a result of independence.

Whilst the Scottish Government has overall responsibility for the management of pensions for Scotland’s teachers, police officers, fire-fighters and NHS and local government workers and is responsible for all other terms and conditions for Scotland’s devolved public servants, pension legislation is currently set by Westminster for those, and the other main public service schemes in the UK. This means that the UK Government is able to impose its pensions policy on Scotland.

In an independent Scotland, our approach to negotiations about any future changes to public sector pensions would be positive and inclusive, in contrast with policy that has been imposed on Scotland with insufficient engagement and consultation.

In Scotland’s Future we also expressed our concern at the proposed rise in the State Pension Age to 67 and confirmed that one of our early tasks will be to establish a commission on the appropriate State Pension Age for Scotland. We will consider the impact of their recommendations on the working and retirement patterns of Scotland’s public servants and review the pension terms of all ‘uniformed’ services in that context, all within the first parliamentary term of an independent parliament.

It is also important to remember that Scotland already has the necessary people and infrastructure in place, delivering high quality public pensions. Independence would mean that future policy decisions on public service pensions would be taken in an independent Scottish Parliament and in the interests of the people of Scotland.

In summary, as the Deputy First Minister said in Pensions in an independent Scotland, independence will deliver a public service pensions system that is affordable, sustainable and fair; one that works for and with public sector employees, public service provision, the taxpayer, and the overall public finances. Independence will enable a positive and inclusive approach to negotiating public sector workers’ pension arrangements.

Question reference: S4O-03481

Asked by: Jamie Hepburn, MSP for Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 August 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 August 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the recent comments by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions regarding further changes to welfare benefits and the impact that these changes would have on poverty in Scotland.

Question reference: S4O-03454

Asked by: Jamie Hepburn, MSP for Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 August 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 August 2014

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the latest round of funding from the Bus Investment Fund.

Question reference: S4W-21679

Asked by: Jamie Hepburn, MSP for Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 June 2014
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Burgess on 23 June 2014

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21331 by Margaret Burgess on 6 June 2014, what information it has on how many of the demolished properties were built after 1945, broken down by local authority area.