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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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S5O-00528

Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for East Kilbride, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 11 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government when it will next meet the Chief Constable.

Question reference: S5W-05846

Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for East Kilbride, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 11 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it uses for-profit private organisations to deliver its international development programmes.

The Scottish Government funds through a range of Scottish based organisations, such as registered charities, universities, local authorities, NHS Boards, private sector companies and social enterprises, with a strong emphasis on respectful partnership. The Scottish Government is clear in seeking applications to its funding rounds that it would not expect a private sector organisation to profit from a development project, and private companies in receipt of a grant under the International Development Fund will act on a not for profit basis.

Question reference: S5O-00515

Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for East Kilbride, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 December 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how its disability delivery plan will assist people with learning disabilities and autism into employment.

Question reference: S5O-00411

Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for East Kilbride, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 30 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with South Lanarkshire Council regarding autism services in East Kilbride.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that the needs of people with autism are met through the Scottish Strategy for Autism.

Whilst the Scottish Government have not had direct discussions with South Lanarkshire in recent months the government funded National Autism Team based at Strathclyde University have, at the request of Scottish Government and South Lanarkshire, continued to support South Lanarkshire in their remodelled Autism Services.

We are aware that there is much good work taking place in East Kilbride and across South Lanarkshire in autism services both in the third and statutory sectors. I hope South Lanarkshire continues to improve local services for people with autism and their families.

Question reference: S5O-00335

Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for East Kilbride, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 November 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government when it will next meet the Department for International Development in East Kilbride.

Question reference: S5W-03299

Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for East Kilbride, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 1 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-26366, what the estimated cost is of the roll-out of smart meters to every household.

This information is not held centrally.

Energy is a matter reserved to the UK Government who have responsibility for the policy, regulatory and commercial framework that underpins the roll-out of smart metering. The UK Government’s latest Impact Assessment published in January 2014 reports an expected small bill increase in the short term, and it is estimated, by Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), that this peaked at an average increase of around £6 per household in 2015.

The Impact Assessment is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/276656/smart_meter_roll_out_for_the_domestic_and_small_and_medium_and_non_domestic_sectors.pdf

Given delays to the Data Communication Company since publication of the Impact Assessment, the Scottish Government has called for the calculations to be reviewed and an updated cost / benefits analysis to be published.

Question reference: S5W-03298

Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for East Kilbride, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 27 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-26367, S4W-26368 and S4W-26369 by Fergus Ewing on 4 August 2015, what further meetings it has had with (a) Smart Energy GB, (b) Ofgem, (c) the energy companies and (d) relevant third-sector organisations to further discuss the impact on low-income and vulnerable consumers, including those at risk of being in fuel poverty, of the smart meter roll-out, and whether it is satisfied that people who cannot install, or refuse to install smart meters, will not receive higher bills.

The Scottish Government continues to engage extensively with Smart Energy GB, UK Government, Ofgem, energy suppliers and a range of consumer bodies to discuss the impact of the smart meter roll-out, not only on low-income and vulnerable consumers but Scottish consumers as a whole.

Although supportive of the aims of the smart meter programme, the Scottish Government continues to have concerns in relation to the costs and anticipated benefits of the programme.

On 6 June 2016 I responded to the Competition Markets Authority (CMA) Energy Market Investigation reiterating concerns including but not limited to the lower specifications of meters currently being installed (Smart Metering Equipment Technical Specifications (SMETS) 1 rather than SMETS 2), delays to the communication platform and technical issues limiting the coverage of the programme particularly in remote and rural areas.

On 29 June 2016 I delivered a key note speech at a Citizens Advice Scotland consumer conference highlighting the risks associated with a project of this scale and complexity, stressing the need for adequate safeguards to ensure those who do not have smart meters installed - whether for technical reasons or because they refuse to do so - are not unfairly penalised.

The Scottish Government will continue to press the UK Government to ensure the programme is delivered to the greatest number of Scottish consumers, at the lowest possible cost, whilst enhancing the benefits to the most vulnerable in our society and those at risk of fuel poverty.

The Scottish Government is planning a summit of utility companies to challenge them to do more for low income households which will include a discussion on the smart meter roll-out programme.

Question reference: S5W-03297

Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for East Kilbride, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 27 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-26363 by Fergus Ewing on 4 August 2015, what the latest estimate is of jobs' potential, including modern apprenticeships in the energy sector, through the roll-out of smart meters.

Question reference: S5O-00268

Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for East Kilbride, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 October 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports veterans.

Question reference: S5W-03222

Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for East Kilbride, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 19 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) operations in East Kilbride since the announcement of the proposed relocation of HMRC operations to regional centres.

When HMRC announced the next stage of their Building our Future transformation programme on 12 November 2015, the First Minister spoke personally to the second Permanent Secretary at HMRC to relay her grave concerns over job losses. Keith Brown, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work, wrote to David Gauke MP, Financial Secretary to HM Treasury, on 5 July 2016, to relay the Scottish Government’s concerns over the HMRC office closures.

We are fully committed to working with all interested parties at local, national and UK level, including the trades unions, to mitigate the impact of HMRC office closures and job losses in Scotland.