Chamber and committees

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: S5W-08121

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 28 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what the value is of Scotland's exports to each member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

The value of Scotland's exports to each member of the European Free Trade Association for 2015, drawn from Export Statistics Scotland are as follows:

Switzerland - £785 million
Norway - £1315 million
Iceland - Less than £50 million
Liechtenstein - No data held.

The most recent published Scottish export figures are available via the Export Statistics Scotland publication available at:http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Economy/Exports/ESSMaps and are for 2015. The report highlights figures by the millions except where levels fall below £50 million.

Question reference: S5F-01107

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 March 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 March 2017

To ask the First Minister whether Police Scotland plans to increase the number of armed officers.

Question reference: S5W-08159

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 23 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S5W-06777 and S5W-07788 by John Swinney on 17 February and 15 March 2017 respectively, what progress it is making in drafting its written response to the Time for Inclusive Education (TIE) campaign, and on what date in spring 2017 it will publish this.

The Scottish Government is committed to working with key stakeholders to fully consider the important issues raised by the Time for Inclusive Education (TIE) campaign. A new stakeholder working group is being formed to bring together key interests to consider these important issues together. The Scottish Government will write to TIE shortly once the working group remit and membership has been agreed.

Question reference: S5W-08179

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 22 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what further steps it will take to provide relief to businesses in North Ayrshire, which will be impacted by the increase in business rates.

The Scottish Government has introduced a package of measures for 2017-18 which will benefit businesses in North Ayrshire, including a 3.7% reduction in the poundage rate; an increase in the rateable value threshold that the large business supplement becomes payable from £35,000 to £51,000; an increase in the Small Business Bonus Scheme threshold for 100% relief from £10,000 to £15,000; and a bill rise cap of 12.5% on bill rises for hotels, pubs, cafes and restaurants.

Additionally all local Councils in Scotland have powers under the Community Empowerment Act to create their own local business rates relief schemes.

Question reference: S5W-08176

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 22 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to release the 2017 update to Scotland's Digital Future: A Strategy for Scotland, which was published in 2011.

The refreshed digital strategy, “Realising Scotland’s Full Potential in A Digital World” was published on 22 March 2017. This paints a picture of our country as a vibrant, inclusive and outward looking nation with a successful digital economy, comprehensive access to connectivity, an education system focussed on digital skills and a public sector based on modern, digital ways of doing business. It provides not just a vision, but a platform where collective action from the public, private and third sector is needed to pursue our digital ambitions, ensure that nobody is left behind, and that we all remain safe, secure and confident about the future.

It also recognises the challenges that digital presents to our society, particularly changes to the nature of work and concerns about protecting our rights and privacy.

The strategy document is available at http://beta.gov.scot/policies/digital

Question reference: S5W-08217

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 17 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 22 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what status it takes of the impact of (a) online trading, (b) virtual businesses and (c) businesses that sell intangible products when reviewing business rates, bands and caps.

Question reference: S5O-00811

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 22 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to empower LGBTI people.

Question reference: S5W-07987

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 10 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 22 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to upgrade the transport infrastructure in Paisley.

The Scottish Government is a full partner in the Glasgow City Region Deal, now in its delivery stage, and is contributing £500 million over 20 years to the Infrastructure Investment Fund.

The Deal empowers Glasgow and its City Region partners, including Renfrewshire Council, to identify, manage and deliver a programme of investment in infrastructure underpinned by a financial agreement with both Governments and in line with the assurance framework.

Question reference: S5W-08178

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 21 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the study commissioned of the Arran ferry service.

Question reference: S5W-08216

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 17 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 21 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-07923 by Humza Yousaf on 23 February 2017, whether it has received the STAG report and, if so, whether it can confirm on what date it will announce its decision on the Arran ferry route proposals.