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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: S5W-23249

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 May 2019
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 28 May 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the First Minister’s declaration of a climate emergency, what its response is to the UK Government reducing corporation tax for the airline industry from 28% to 17%.

Following updated advice from the UK Committee on Climate Change on 2 May, the Scottish Government acted immediately by lodging amendments to our Climate Change Bill to set a net-zero emissions target for 2045 and increase the targets for 2030 and 2040. The Scottish Government is now reviewing a range of policies, across our whole range of responsibilities, to ensure that we do all we can to support the public sector, businesses, communities and individuals to meet our shared climate responsibilities. We have taken the difficult decision that reducing Air Departure Tax is no longer compatible with more ambitious climate targets.

The Scottish Government believes in fair taxation policy for all individuals and businesses. Responsibility over corporation tax is reserved to Westminster. The Scottish Government therefore has no power to legislate in this area but we urge the UK Government to include consideration of environmental impacts, as part of its tax policy-making.

Question reference: S5W-23248

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 May 2019
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 28 May 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what the cost would have been in each of the next two years of not scrapping Air Passenger Duty.

The introduction of Air Departure Tax in Scotland has been deferred until the issues raised in relation to the Highlands and Islands exemption have been resolved. In the interim the current UK Air Passenger Duty (APD) rates and bands continue to apply in Scotland, and HMRC will continue to administer and collect APD across the UK.

The Scottish Fiscal Commission produced an illustrative forecast of Scotland's share of UK APD revenues in December 2018. The forecast for the fiscal year 2019-20 was £312 million, and for 2020-21 was £322 million.

Updated forecasts are due to be published on 30 May 2019.

Question reference: S5W-23161

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 May 2019
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 28 May 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will set out a timetable for the extension of measures in the Vulnerable Witnesses (Criminal Evidence) (Scotland) Bill for people with learning disabilities.

The power in the Vulnerable Witnesses (Criminal Evidence) (Scotland) Bill to extend the new rule requiring the pre-recording of evidence, and the related draft implementation timetable, covers extension to adult deemed vulnerable witnesses (covering victims of sexual offences, domestic abuse, stalking and trafficking offences) in solemn cases.

Extending further to all vulnerable witnesses was considered during the Bill process but it was not progressed as the proposals already presented an ambitious programme of reform. The pre-recording of evidence of people to whom the new rule does not apply continues to be available and can be considered on a case by case basis.

Question reference: S5W-23160

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 May 2019
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 28 May 2019

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the draft implementation plan for the Vulnerable Witnesses (Criminal Evidence) (Scotland) Bill.

The draft implementation plan was published as part of the Scottish Government’s correspondence with the Justice Committee during the consideration of the Bill. This is available at https://www.parliament.scot/S5_JusticeCommittee/Inquiries/J-S5-18-VW-31A-SG.pdf .

This plan will be reviewed and updated by the Scottish Government, working closely with our justice sector partners, on a regular basis.

Question reference: S5W-23162

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 May 2019
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 28 May 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how it will consult people with learning disabilities and their representative organisations on measures to assist vulnerable witnesses in the criminal justice system.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring a fair and effective justice system that is accessible to all. We recognise that people with learning disabilities may require additional support to enable them to secure that access, and that it is vital to involve them and their representative organisations in work to develop policies relating to this support.

This is demonstrated by our approach to the development of a new statutory Appropriate Adult (AA) service, which will provide support to vulnerable victims, witnesses, suspects and accused, and is scheduled to go live later this year. We have engaged with a number of organisations, including the SOLD Network, People First Scotland and the Scottish Commission for Learning Disability to help us develop the statutory service.

We held workshops where people with lived experience of learning disabilities and mental health issues could learn more about the proposals, provide feedback and make suggestions about the model. Our public consultation on the statutory AA service also sought ideas on how best to obtain the views of those accessing the service and we received a range of responses which are being considered in relation to the quality assessment of the service.

The engagement outlined above provides a strong foundation for any future consultation on measures to ensure that people with learning disabilities have fair and equal access to justice.

Question reference: S5W-23247

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 May 2019
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 28 May 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the First Minister’s declaration of a climate emergency, which of its policy areas are being reviewed, and by what date these reviews will be concluded.

There is a global climate emergency and we are acting accordingly. We acted immediately on the Committee for Climate Change advice with amendments to the Bill to set a net-zero target for 2045 and increase the targets for 2030 (to 70%) and 2040 (90%). We will update the Climate Change Plan within 6 months of the Bill receiving Royal Assent. This Scottish Government, will be placing climate change at the heart of everything we do and I can confirm that it will be at the core of our next Programme for Government. Policy reviews will feed into the process of development of the Programme for Government and the update to the Climate Change Plan.

Question reference: S5W-23253

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 May 2019
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 28 May 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what revenue it receives from the UK Government from the devolution of Air Passenger Duty.

The introduction of Air Departure Tax (ADT) in Scotland has been deferred until the issues raised in relation to the Highlands and Islands exemption have been resolved. In the interim the current UK Air Passenger Duty (APD) rates and bands continue to apply in Scotland, and HMRC will continue to administer and collect APD across the UK. There will be no impact on the Scottish Budget and no Block Grant Adjustment for APD while the introduction of ADT in Scotland is deferred.

Only once the devolution of the tax is complete, and ADT is collected in Scotland by Revenue Scotland, will APD be 'switched off' and the Block Grant will be reduced every year to reflect the transfer of this power to the Scottish Government. This 'Block Grant Adjustment' (BGA) will be based on the forecast UK Government receipts in Scotland in the year prior to devolution of that tax and an indexation mechanism using growth in UK Government APD revenue growth per head.

Question reference: S5W-23183

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 May 2019
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 28 May 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of new properties were placed in each council tax band in each last five years (a) nationally and (b) in (i) West Dunbartonshire and (ii) Argyll and Bute.

Question reference: S5W-23254

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 May 2019
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 23 May 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what the passenger numbers have been for each airport in each of the last five years.

Question reference: S5O-03301

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 May 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 May 2019

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met COSLA and what was discussed.