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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: S4W-20206

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 17 March 2014
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 26 March 2014

To ask the Scottish Government whether the reported statement by a Scottish Government source in The Daily Telegraph of 14 March 2014 concerning an independent Scotland’s security services that “we will take no lessons on this issue from a Westminster establishment whose security services produced the most flawed intelligence of recent times” (a) represents the Scottish Government's position and (b) reflects a change of policy from that in the white paper on independence that “the Scottish Government will work closely with the current UK security and intelligence agencies both to ensure that there is a seamless, secure transition and for the continuing security of both countries”.

The Scottish Government policy on security and intelligence in an independent Scotland is set out in Scotland's Future, Chapter 7, pages 261-267. It will be in the interests both of Scotland and the rest of the UK to work closely to ensure the security of both countries. The controls put in place over that work in Scotland will be wide-ranging and comprehensive, ensuring intelligence gathering is proper, legal, efficient and effective, in line with international principles for intelligence service oversight.

Question reference: S4W-20226

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 March 2014
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 26 March 2014

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the start date for the A96 dual-carriageway Inverness-Aberdeen project does not appear in the Infrastructure Investment Plan 2011: Updated Programme Pipeline (January 2014) compared with the previous update and whether this represents a change in phasing.

There has been no change in the timetable for delivering the A96 Inverness to Aberdeen dualling programme. The dualling of the A96 between Inverness and Aberdeen is to be completed by 2030 through a phased programme of schemes from 2017 onwards. The timetable in the Infrastructure Investment Plan 2011: Updated Programme Pipeline (January 2014) reflects the commitment in the Infrastructure Investment Plan 2011 to dual the A96 between Inverness and Aberdeen by 2030.

Question reference: S4W-20228

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 March 2014
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 26 March 2014

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the upper estimate for the capital value of the Aberdeen-Inverness rail improvements project in the Infrastructure Investment Plan 2011: Updated Programme Pipeline (January 2014) has risen to £600 million compared with the previous update.

Question reference: S4W-20229

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 March 2014
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 25 March 2014

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Scotland’s Schools for the Future programme does not appear in the Infrastructure Investment Plan 2011: Updated Programme Pipeline (January 2014).

Information relating to the Schools for the Future programme is included within the Infrastructure Investment Plan 2011: Progress Report for 2013 which was published on 17 March 2013. Generic information relating to the schools programme was not included within the accompanying updated programme pipeline as details relating to the delivery of each individual school are now included within the updated project pipeline instead.

In addition, the progress report includes progress details on all those individual schools with a capital value of £20 million or more which are currently at outline business case or beyond, and refers within the foreword to those schools which became operational in 2013.

Question reference: S4F-01989

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 24 March 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 March 2014

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

Question reference: S4W-20084

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 10 March 2014
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 20 March 2014

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the additional £700 million of tax revenues referred to in its report, Childcare and Labour Market Participation – Economic Analysis.

As outlined in the Childcare and Labour Market Participation – Economic Analysis paper, the increase in the tax revenues by £700 million that could arise from matching Sweden’s female participation rate would be expected to come from a range of different tax revenue streams.

As highlighted in the paper, as individuals move into employment, or increase the hours they work, they would pay more tax through income tax and national insurance. In addition, as individuals’ incomes increase and their spending rises, receipts from indirect taxes such as VAT, fuel duty and excise duties would also be expected to rise.

Question reference: S4F-01947

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 10 March 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 March 2014

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

Question reference: S4F-01925

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 03 March 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 March 2014

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

Question reference: S4F-01885

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 17 February 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 February 2014

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

Question reference: S4W-19279

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 January 2014
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 4 February 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on notices received under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 where a similar but smaller planning application has been recently rejected by the local planning authority.

In Scotland, any application to construct or operate an onshore power generating station with a capacity of over 50 megawatts (MW) requires the consent of Scottish Ministers under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989.

Significant onshore renewable energy proposals will require an Environmental Impact Assessment. To comply with the Electricity works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2000, Scottish Ministers have to consult the local planning authority, Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, Scottish Natural Heritage and internal government consultees, together with other parties who may have an interest in the development. Should the planning authority object to the application, or otherwise at the discretion of Ministers, a public inquiry is called to consider the proposal.