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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: S5W-00022

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 31 May 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether officials were aware before the memorandum of understanding was signed on 21 March 2016 that China Railway Group had been blacklisted for investment by the Norwegian Government Pension Fund Global, and whether it has subsequently contacted the Norwegian Government Pension Fund Global or considered its recommendations.

Question reference: S5W-00002

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 31 May 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will place in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) a copy of the memorandum of understanding with China Railway No.3 Engineering Group and SinoFortone, which was signed on 21 March 2016, and for what reason the Parliament was not informed about the agreement at the time.

Question reference: S5W-00023

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 31 May 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will suspend the memorandum of understanding with China Railway No.3 Engineering Group and SinoFortone that was signed on 21 March 2016 until it has investigated allegations of human rights abuses and the risk of gross corruption.

Question reference: S5W-00007

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 31 May 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers it appropriate that the Chinese media was informed of the signing of the memorandum of understanding with China Railway No.3 Engineering Group and SinoFortone that was signed on 21 March 2016 but the Scottish media was not.

Question reference: S5W-00012

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 31 May 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what projects it or China Railway No.3 Engineering Group and SinoFortone have identified as opportunities for investment in (a) affordable housing, (b) communities, (c) clean energy, (d) industry and business parks, (e) transportation infrastructure and (f) any other areas.

The memorandum of Uuderstanding between the Scottish Government, China Railway No.3 Engineering Group and SinoFortone is focused on developing a working relationship to explore possible investment in Scotland.

At their meeting on 3 February 2016, SinoFortone expressed an interest in areas including affordable housing, energy and infrastructure, the First Minister noted SinoFortone’s interest in these areas.

The Scottish Government has not identified any specific projects for potential investment.

Scottish Government officials introduced SinoFortone to Falkirk Council and Loudon Castle Developments to help them understand and explore potential investment opportunities. No projects have been confirmed for investment by Sinofortone or China Railway No.3 Engineering Group.

Question reference: S5W-00019

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 31 May 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its signing of the memorandum of understanding with China Railway No.3 Engineering Group and SinoFortone signed on 21 March 2016, how many hours of its officials’ time has been spent on work associated with the signing of the memorandum and at what cost; what support it will provide to the companies and at what cost, and whether they will receive privileged access to information not already publicly available.

Information on the number of hours of officials’ time spent on work associated with the memorandum of understanding and the associated cost is not recorded.

The Scottish Government’s work with China Railway No.3 Engineering Group and SinoFortone is part of a much broader approach by the Government and its agencies to welcome and encourage investment which delivers benefits for Scotland. This involves working with a wide range of businesses and investors to, for example, help them understand the Scottish context; connect with potential partners; and to identify opportunities and possible funding.

Question reference: S5W-00009

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 31 May 2016

To ask the Scottish Government with what foreign companies it has signed memorandums of understanding in each year since 2007-08; on what dates each was signed; how many led to the intended collaboration and financial investment, and whether each was announced on the Scottish Government’s website.

Question reference: S5W-00005

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 31 May 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how it first came into contact with representatives of China Railway No.3 Engineering Group and SinoFortone.

Question reference: S5W-00014

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 31 May 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what large railway project Sir Richard Heygate referred to during an interview on Good Morning Scotland on 8 April 2016.

Question reference: S4F-03322

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 21 March 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 March 2016

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