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-22810

Asked by: Mark McDonald, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 10 October 2014
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 3 November 2014

To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors the performance of BT in rolling out superfast broadband.

There are two contracts with BT for the deployment of fibre broadband. The first is for the Highlands and Islands and is managed by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). The second covers the rest of Scotland and is managed by the Scottish Government.

An established governance procedure of consistent reporting and meetings applies across both contracts. These monitor operational progress of each project and include key stakeholders at a senior level to monitor strategic performance across Scotland.

Payments are only made to BT upon the delivery of agreed milestones. BT’s performance is tracked across a number of milestone types, including premises connected to fibre broadband, to ensure that the project plan is delivered.

The Scottish Government and HIE each have their own dedicated contract management resources. These teams are continually reviewing how they access and use additional information to increase performance and standards. They also work closely with Broadband Delivery UK to apply standard tools, guidance and benchmarking as other broadband infrastructure projects across the UK.

Question reference: S4W-22811

Asked by: Mark McDonald, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 10 October 2014
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 3 November 2014

To ask the Scottish Government whether BT is required to inform it of any delay or inability to deliver superfast broadband.

Question reference: S4W-22812

Asked by: Mark McDonald, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 10 October 2014
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 3 November 2014

To ask the Scottish Government whether BT is required to inform communities of any delay or inability to deliver superfast broadband in their area.

The nature of the engineering challenges of broadband deployment means that plans will change. In addition, the quality of information at a granular level improves during the latter stages of the build process. Therefore, BT is not contractually required to inform communities of changes to the project plan.

The Scottish Government’s website provides up to date information about the deployment plans. This uses information from BT’s ongoing works programme. Further improvements are planned to the website to ensure that communities have the most up to date and accurate information possible.

The Scottish Government continues to work closely and share information with all 27 local authorities and the two national parks covered by the project’s intervention area.

Question reference: S4O-03653

Asked by: Mark McDonald, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 October 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 November 2014

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that disabled people and their families are able to access cultural and leisure opportunities.

Question reference: S4O-03578

Asked by: Mark McDonald, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 October 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 October 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to increase awareness and understanding of autistic spectrum disorder in schools.

Question reference: S4O-03500

Asked by: Mark McDonald, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 August 2014
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 20 August 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what the implications for justice in Scotland would be if the UK Government were to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights.

If the UK Government were to withdraw from the European Convention of Human Rights, to prevent the Convention having an effect on justice in Scotland it would need to amend the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Scotland Act 1998, in which it is an embedded principle.

The Convention is increasingly embedded in EU law as well. EU law is, of course, binding in Scotland. The UK Government would need to leave the EU to prevent the Convention being applied by this means.

A disruption on this scale would inevitably cause a great deal of upheaval and uncertainty for justice in Scotland and, despite the best efforts of our courts, would be likely to cost us opportunities to improve further the protection of human rights in this country.

Question reference: S4O-03466

Asked by: Mark McDonald, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 August 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 August 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the N56 report on oil and gas.

Question reference: S4W-21891

Asked by: Mark McDonald, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 June 2014
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Derek Mackay on 25 June 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken since the publication of the response to its consultation on business rates, Supporting Business - Promoting Growth.

In its response to the consultation “Supporting Business - Promoting Growth”, the Scottish Government set out 20 actions it will undertake up to the period of the next rates revaluation in 2017.

A summary of progress against each of these actions is as follows.

Scottish Government actions, following the business rates consultation with progress summary

Scottish Government business rates consultation outcomes	Progress summary
We will write, in 2013, to every business in Scotland based in a property that me be entitled to the Small Business Bonus scheme to highlight that they may benefit.	In November 2013 Minister for Energy Enterprise and Tourism Fergus Ewing wrote to every business in Scotland that may be entitled, but was not claiming.
We will work with stakeholders to ensure there is a more consistent approach across Scotland.	On-going, a working group has been set up with Scottish Government officials, council officials and COSLA to produce non-statutory guidance to rates reliefs.
We will review rates relief application processes to ensure they are simple, transparent and streamlined.	On-going.
We will undertake a review of the recent changes to empty property relief in 2015.	To be carried out in 2015.
All rates reliefs will be kept under regular review to ensure that benefit is directed where it is most needed.	On-going. Actions already taken include the expansion of Fresh Start relief to include higher rateable value properties and previously empty hotels, restaurants and pubs and the expansion of the Small Business Bonus Scheme to include an estimated additional 4,000 properties, both came into force in April 2014. In addition, payday lenders will no longer be entitled to rates relief in Scotland from April 2014.
All current exemptions provided, including to some key sectors such as agriculture, will be retained.	All current exemptions have been retained.
The Scottish Government will create a power to allow local councils to respond better to local need and create their own localised relief schemes.	The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill was laid before Parliament on 11 June 2014. This includes a power to allow councils to create their own localized business rates relief schemes. There is no equivalent power to levy supplements.
We will continue the Small Business Bonus Scheme until 2016 and consider which relief thresholds can be established on a longer term basis ahead of the 2017 review.	Legislation was laid and came into force on 1 April 2014 to allow for the SBBS to run for 2 years (for lifetime of current Scottish Parliament).
The way all current reliefs are funded will be maintained.	Funding of all current reliefs has been maintained
The way that relief to different sectors is recorded will be maintained.	Recording of relief to different sectors has been maintained.
The Scottish Government will consult on transitional relief ahead of the next revaluation in 2017.	Consultation planned to take place closer to 2017 revaluation date.
New rateable values will be made available to ratepayers as far in advance of the 2017 revaluation as possible.	Work on-going, officials working jointly with the Scottish Assessors.
A separate review of the appeals system will begin in 2014, concluding in time for the next revaluation in 2017.	Currently engaging with stakeholders to help inform the review.
We will work jointly with others to ensure businesses have access to clear, concise information about valuations, rateable values, rates bills and reliefs.	New business portal website and rates bill calculator launched in 2013. Where there are further opportunities identified to provide clear, concise information on business rates, these will be considered.
We will take all possible measures to prevent tax avoidance and ensure rates are paid.	On-going.
Where possible, loopholes and avoidance tactics will be closed.	On-going.
Powers for debt recovery will be strengthened and streamlined.	On-going.
The current property based tax system will be retained.	No change to current property based tax.
The Scottish Government confirms that the next rates revaluation will take effect on 1 April 2017.	The next rates revaluation will take effect on 1 April 2017.
The national poundage will continue to be set at the same level as in England. There will be no new local poundage supplements.	Confirmed in setting the 2014-15 poundage. A 2% poundage cap (with poundage set at 47.1p) confirmed for 2014-15.

Question reference: S4O-03375

Asked by: Mark McDonald, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 June 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 June 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Aberdeen City Council regarding transport developments.

Question reference: S4O-03300

Asked by: Mark McDonald, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 May 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 June 2014

To ask the Scottish Government how it promotes the recreational opportunities of the forest estate.