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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: S3F-01937

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 October 2009
Current Status: Answered by Alex Salmond on 8 October 2009

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

Question reference: S3W-26519

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 August 2009
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 2 October 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what the extent will be of the public consultation on the terms and conditions to be included in the tender documents for the next contract to provide lifeline ferry services between the Scottish mainland and Orkney and Shetland and what the dates will be for the various stages of the consultation.

The Scottish Government intends to conduct a full and open consultation in respect of the 2012-18 contract to provide lifeline ferry services between the Scottish mainland and Orkney and Shetland. It is intended that this consultation will be conducted in parallel with consultations on the Scottish Ferries Strategy. While precise dates have yet to be finalised, these consultations will commence early in 2010.

Question reference: S3F-01920

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 28 September 2009
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 1 October 2009

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

Question reference: S3F-01896

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 September 2009
Current Status: Answered by Alex Salmond on 24 September 2009

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

Question reference: S3W-26953

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 04 September 2009
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 18 September 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-26199 and S3W-26205 by Jim Mather on 18 August 2009 and the subsequent reply dated 31 August 2009 from the Acting Chief Executive of Highlands and Islands Enterprise that indicates that no comparison can be made of funding support provided before and after changes to support programmes, how public expenditure in these areas is to be accountable to the Parliament.

As explained in my answers to questions S3W-26199 and S3W-26205, the support programme cited by the member i.e. the Highlands and Islands Enterprise Business Improvement Tools Programme was not and is not a business support programme provided by Highlands and Islands Enterprise. This was further confirmed by the Highlands and Islands Enterprise Acting Chief Executive in his correspondence with the member.

There are therefore no previous or current identifiable funding streams with which to make the comparisons requested by the member.

All Highlands and Islands Enterprise expenditure is subject to audit by Audit Scotland. Following audit, Highlands and Islands Enterprise publish their annual report and accounts for public scrutiny.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Question reference: S3F-01872

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2009
Current Status: Answered by Alex Salmond on 17 September 2009

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

Question reference: S3W-26630

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 21 August 2009
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 16 September 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has contributed, or plans to contribute, to the debate on aspects of HM Government’s debate on Shaping the Future of Care Together with regard to possible changes to benefits received by claimants in Scotland.

We have not been included in, or invited to contribute to discussions about the options for change to the benefit system which may flow from the UK Government''s green paper. Scottish Government officials attended a meeting at a very early stage of the work in November 2007 which was also attended by officials from several UK Departments, including the Department for Work and Pensions. At that meeting it was clear that the social care debate in England might include a reform of the GB benefit system. Unfortunately, despite efforts to do so, we have not however been consulted on possible options for change to funding of care.

We are of course aware of the impact which the options for reform of the English social care system outlined in the green paper may have on Scotland through a concurrent reform to GB-wide disability benefits. Accordingly, we have written to the Secretary of State for Health highlighting our concerns that, in reforming disability benefits to meet objectives for reform of social care in England, our objectives and ambitions for reshaping social care delivery in Scotland may be restricted.

We have therefore requested an early and detailed explanation of any proposed revision to Disability Benefits, and a commitment from the UK Government to give full consideration to the need to take into account the impact on policies and services which are the responsibility of the Scottish Government.

A formal response to the UK green paper is currently being prepared.

Question reference: S3W-26631

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 21 August 2009
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 16 September 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made an assessment of the impact on claimants in Scotland of the options for changes to benefits raised in HM Government’s debate on Shaping the Future of Care Together and, if so, what the outcome was.

At this point in time we can only monitor the number of people in Scotland who receive disability related benefits. Her Majesty''s Government''s current debate on Shaping the Future of Care has not yet made any specific proposals about how these benefits might change.

Question reference: S3F-01859

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 September 2009
Current Status: Answered by Alex Salmond on 10 September 2009

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

Question reference: S3W-26788

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 31 August 2009
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 9 September 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it was involved in the selection and appointment process for the newly appointed Scottish Commissioner of the Crown Estate and, if so, what involvement it had.