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-17688

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 04 October 2013
Current Status: Answered by The Scottish Government has supplied the following corrected answer:..Fergus Ewing on 23 October 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will place in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) a list of the names and addresses of the businesses to which the letter referred to in its news release of 4 September 2013, Blueprint to overhaul business rates, were sent.

SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN ANSWER

23 October 2013

Index Heading: Learning and Justice

Willie Rennie (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government whether it will place in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) a list of the names and addresses of the businesses to which the letter referred to in its news release of 4 September 2013, Blueprint to overhaul business rates, were sent.

(S4W-17688)

The Scottish Government has supplied the following corrected answer:

Fergus Ewing: Whether or not a property is in receipt of relief is not a matter of public record. Non-domestic rates may be paid by businesses and individuals alike and the information the Scottish Government holds contains information on both. Under the terms of the Data Protection Act we have a duty to protect the privacy of individuals and sole traders on the list, therefore we will not publish their names and/or addresses as they are considered to be personal data as defined by the Act.

Question reference: S4W-17686

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 04 October 2013
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 22 October 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what contracts public sector organisations have for mail services; when the contracts were signed, and what the (a) duration and (b) value is of each.

Question reference: S4W-17733

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 October 2013
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 17 October 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-14256 by John Swinney on 19 April 2013, what discussions it has since had with COSLA to complete its review of the business rate incentivisation scheme targets for 2012-13; when it will publish the targets, and when it will publish the targets for 2013-14.

COSLA leaders took the decision, at their meeting at the end of May 2013 that they did not want to consider the review of the 2012-13 business rates incentivisation scheme targets until the final non-domestic rates audited figures for 2012-13 are available.

The audited returns are not due to be submitted until 31 January 2014 with the final validation not expected until 28 February 2014.

I wrote to COSLA in response to their stance on this issue.

Question reference: S4W-17344

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 20 September 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 3 October 2013

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason clause 17(6) was removed from the draft harbour revision order application for the proposed Rosyth international container terminal and how it will ensure that the environmental protection conditions recommended by the reporter will be legally binding.

The article was considered inappropriately drafted as its terms were somewhat vague for a statutory order. I have made it clear that we are committed to maintaining the level of protection in the draft Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) which will be further consulted upon before approval.

Further, the order states clearly that Ministers will consult with interested parties on the CEMP before it is finalised. Babcock cannot start work until the CEMP has been approved to my satisfaction.

Question reference: S4W-17345

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 20 September 2013
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 2 October 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what its policy is in relation to applying the Council of Europe Convention on Access to Official Documents should Scotland become independent; whether it has made any representations to the UK Government on this issue, and whether it has made any assessment of whether it currently meets the principles of the convention.

Question reference: S4F-01603

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 30 September 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 October 2013

To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet.

Question reference: S4W-16965

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 September 2013
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 26 September 2013

To ask the Scottish Government how long it estimates it will take for the Independent Expert Commission on Oil and Gas to provide initial conclusions that can inform the white paper on independence.

Question reference: S4W-16954

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 September 2013
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 26 September 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Independent Expert Commission on Oil and Gas will publish a report prior to publication of the white paper on independence.

Question reference: S4W-16960

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 September 2013
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 24 September 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether it expects its officials to supply presentation slides containing possible conclusions to the Independent Expert Commission on Oil and Gas.

Question reference: S4W-16959

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 September 2013
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 24 September 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what the remit is of the Independent Expert Commission on Oil and Gas.

Framework	Contract Signed	Duration	Value (£ per annum)
Postal Services	February 2012	3 years	13,000,000
Courier Services	March 2010	4 years	670,000