Seòmar agus comataidhean

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

Criathragan Hide all filters

Displaying 393 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S4W-15505

Asked by: Margo MacDonald, MSP for Lothian, Independent
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 June 2013
Current Status: Answered by David Stewart on 13 June 2013

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body to which departments of the UK civil service staff from the Scottish Parliament have been seconded, broken down by year.

Question reference: S4W-15504

Asked by: Margo MacDonald, MSP for Lothian, Independent
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 June 2013
Current Status: Answered by David Stewart on 13 June 2013

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how many officials are on secondment to it from UK civil service departments, broken down by (a) directorate and (b) grade, and from what departments.

Question reference: S4O-02288

Asked by: Margo MacDonald, MSP for Lothian, Independent
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 June 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 June 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that recent actions by Police Scotland reflect a change in emphasis in local policing.

Question reference: S4O-02198

Asked by: Margo MacDonald, MSP for Lothian, Independent
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 May 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 June 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will use the criminal justice system to establish whether people have been transported illegally through Scottish airports and discourage it from happening again.

Question reference: S4F-01370

Asked by: Margo MacDonald, MSP for Lothian, Independent
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 May 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 May 2013

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the recent Foreign Affairs Committee report on the consequences of Scottish independence.

Question reference: S4W-13840

Asked by: Margo MacDonald, MSP for Lothian, Independent
Date lodged: Friday, 22 March 2013
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 16 April 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, in the event that the Scottish Independence Referendum (Franchise) Bill is enacted, whether it considers that criminal courts should take account of the possible loss of the right to vote in the referendum when sentencing and, if so, how it will ensure that they do.

The independence of the judiciary is essential to the rule of law and a fundamental guarantee of a fair trial in any modern civilised country. That is why section 1 of the Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008 provides that Scottish Ministers must not seek to influence judicial decisions. Judges are best placed to decide on an appropriate sentence for each offender before them as they hear all the facts and circumstances of individual cases. Judges will then make their sentencing decisions taking into account all relevant matters and within the overall legal framework provided by Parliament.

Subject to the Scottish Parliament’s approval of the Scottish Independence Referendum (Franchise) Bill, a judge passing a custodial sentence on an individual in the run-up to the referendum will do so in the full knowledge of the implication that the person will not get the chance to vote in the referendum. That is one of the many factors judges will take into account in reaching their view about a sentence.

Question reference: S4F-01158

Asked by: Margo MacDonald, MSP for Lothian, Independent
Date lodged: Monday, 28 January 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 31 January 2013

To ask the First Minister for what purpose the Scottish Government has recently contacted the foreign ministries of EU member states.

Question reference: S4O-01491

Asked by: Margo MacDonald, MSP for Lothian, Independent
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by David Stewart on 15 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will consider providing a dedicated HR specialist for members' staff.

Members’ staff are employed by individual Members not the Corporate Body. Human Resource Advisers provide an advisory service to Members in order to assist Members in their role as employers. It would confuse the employment relationship between the Member and his or her staff if the Corporate Body were to provide this type of dedicated HR service for Members’ staff. Accordingly, the Corporate Body has no plans to introduce such a service.

Question reference: S4O-01422

Asked by: Margo MacDonald, MSP for Lothian, Independent
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 October 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will discuss with the further education sector the feasibility of establishing short courses on the setting-up and management of community businesses and credit unions.

Question reference: S4O-00483

Asked by: Margo MacDonald, MSP for Lothian, Independent
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 December 2011
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 December 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive, in order to inform voters ahead of the proposed independence referendum, when it will publish its position on the issues that are currently reserved.