- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 March 2017
-
Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 19 April 2017
To ask the Scottish Government what the cost has been of the Scottish Independent Review of the Use, Safety and Efficacy of Transvaginal Mesh Implants in the Treatment of Stress Urinary Incontinence and Pelvic Organ Prolapse in Women.
Answer
Publication of the Interim and Final Reports and the payment of travelling expenses to members of the Independent Review amounted to just under £4,500.
- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Friday, 24 March 2017
-
Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 19 April 2017
To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland voted to become independent, whether it considers that the country would not be an EU member on leaving the UK and, if so, what its position is on whether any independence referendum could be considered as a vote regarding EU membership.
Answer
The people of Scotland should have the right to choose the future of their country. The Scottish Government believes the time to make that choice is when the terms of withdrawal from the EU are clear and can be judged against the challenges and opportunities of becoming an independent country.
The Scottish Government's longstanding policy and commitment has been membership of the European Union. That remains our position.
- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Friday, 31 March 2017
-
Current Status:
Answered by Derek Mackay on 19 April 2017
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the veracity of the Government Expenditure and Revenue Figures (Scotland) (GERS) for (a) 2015-16 and (b) previous years.
Answer
Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) estimates the contribution of revenue raised in Scotland towards the goods and services provided for the benefit of Scottish residents under the current constitutional arrangements. It is a National Statistics publication, which means that it has been independently assessed by the UK Statistics Authority to ensure that it meets the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. It has held this status since 2005. As the UK Statistics Authority was not established until 2007, and did not assess GERS until 2010, in previous years the assessment of its status was made by the then Scottish Executive.
- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Friday, 31 March 2017
-
Current Status:
Answered by Derek Mackay on 19 April 2017
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the Government Expenditure and Revenue Figures (Scotland) (GERS) have ever been compromised as a consequence of non-statistical influences, and what its reasons are for its position on this.
Answer
Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) is produced by Scottish Government Statisticians in accordance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics and has been independently assessed by the UK Statistics.
- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Friday, 31 March 2017
-
Current Status:
Answered by Derek Mackay on 19 April 2017
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of comments by Joan McAlpine in the Daily Record, whether it considers that the calculation using the Government Expenditure and Revenue Figures (Scotland) (GERS) that states Scotland's deficit is £15 billion is "absurd".
Answer
Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) estimates the contribution of revenue raised in Scotland towards the goods and services provided for the benefit of Scottish residents under the current constitutional arrangements. It is a National Statistics publication, which means that it has been independently assessed by the UK Statistics Authority to ensure that it meets the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.
- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 March 2017
-
Current Status:
Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 18 April 2017
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-07818 by Joe Fitzpatrick on 22 March 2017, how many times since May 2007 (a) the First Minister and (b) each (i) cabinet secretary, (ii) minister (A) has been in contact or (B) have been contacted by Andrew Wilson or Charlotte Street Partners, and for what reason.
Answer
The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate costs.
- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 March 2017
-
Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 30 March 2017
To ask the Scottish Government on what date it was informed of the latest consultant resignation from the review group into mesh implants.
Answer
Only one serving clinician has resigned from the group and the Scottish Government was made aware of his resignation on 1 March. The Chair of the Review announced the resignation to the remaining members of the Review at its meeting on 6 March.
- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 March 2017
-
Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 29 March 2017
To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland became independent, whether it will hold on a referendum on seeking membership of the EU or the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).
Answer
The Scottish Government’s policy is for membership of the European Union. Once the terms of Brexit are clear the people of Scotland should have a choice on their future through a referendum on independence.
- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 March 2017
-
Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 29 March 2017
To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland became independent, whether it would seek membership of the EU or the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and, if so, which organisation would be its intital preference.
Answer
The Scottish Government’s policy is for membership of the European Union. In advance of an independence referendum the government will set out how Scotland’s relationship with Europe will be secured.
- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 March 2017
-
Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 28 March 2017
To ask the Scottish Government how much an independent Scotland would pay in annual contributions if it joined the (a) EU and (b) European Free Trade Association (EFTA).
Answer
An independent Scotland’s contributions to the budgets of international organisations would be agreed as part of the membership process for each organisation. In respect of the EU, it is likely that as a relatively prosperous Member State, an independent Scotland would continue to be a net financial contributor to the EU budget.