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-32006

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 2 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) representations it has received on and (b) assessment it has made of the impact on the Scottish retail and tourism sectors of the UK Government's decision to withdraw tax-free shopping from the start of 2021.

This change was announced suddenly by the UK Government and, despite the obvious and substantial implications for the Scottish retail and tourism sectors, without prior engagement with Scottish Government officials. Accordingly, we have had no opportunity to carry out analysis of our own and none has been shared by the UK Government.

Since this announcement, the Scottish Government has received representations from a number of stakeholder organisations expressing concerns about the impact on trade and the wider economy. We share their concerns and do not believe that this is an appropriate juncture at which to make such an abrupt and significant change.

Question reference: S5W-31914

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 21 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 2 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how equality and non-discrimination have informed preparatory work on the Scottish National Investment Bank’s lending and investment criteria ahead of its launch.

The Bank’s investment policies will take account of its legal obligations as a lender and investor, will be aligned with its investment strategy, and will incorporate the ethical investment standards that it is required to produce. Those standards will align with the Bank's objects and its strategic missions. In particular, we are establishing the Bank with an object of advancing equality and non-discrimination, and have consulted on a draft mission for the Bank focussed on investing in places and regeneration to reduce inequality, and improving opportunities and outcomes for people and communities.

Question reference: S5W-31957

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 2 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government further to the answer to S5W-31236 by Kate Forbes on 26 August 2020, whether the accountable officers in each agency outside the Scottish Government Main (SGM) arrangements are (a) issued with guidance regarding appropriate pay and grading arrangements, (b) given any pay remit specific to their organisation regarding establishment numbers and pay levels, (c) required to notify or seek the approval of their sponsor department of any proposed pay and grading arrangements and (d) required to have regard to any guidance offered and provide justification for arrangements that depart from the guidance.

In response to each of your points regarding Accountable Officers in agencies outside the Scottish Government Main arrangements:

(a) All Accountable Officers are issued with a designation letter from the Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government that specifically points to the accountability guidance within the Scottish Public Finance Manual, to which they must adhere. Accountable Officers are personally answerable to the Parliament for the exercise of their functions in accordance with section 15 of the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000 and for the propriety and regularity of their use of resources. Regularity involves compliance with relevant legislation (including the annual Budget Act) and relevant guidance issued by the Scottish Ministers - in particular the Scottish Public Finance Manual. Accountable Officers are also issued with supporting guidance relating to the Public Sector Pay Policy publication.

(b) The Accountable Officers within each agency being established have separate delegated authority to negotiate staff terms and conditions, including pay and staffing structures, subject to their organisational resources and to Public Sector Pay Policy. To ensure any proposed changes to staff pay align with Public Sector Pay Policy, each agency is required to submit pay remit proposals for approval by the Scottish Government before entering into any trade union negotiations.

(c) Any proposed changes to pay and grading structures require consultation with, and approval from, the Scottish Government. The Public Sector Pay Policy Technical Guide sets out what should be taken into account when a public body, including agencies outside of Scottish Government Main arrangements, is proposing any such changes.

(d) All agencies are expected to adhere to guidance issued. It is the responsibility of the Accountable Officer to justify any departure from the guidance to the Scottish Government.

Question reference: S5W-31599

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 04 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 1 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-31447 by Jeane Freeman on 3 September 2020, what steps it is taking to provide permanent COVID-19 testing facilities in the Dumbarton constituency.

Question reference: S5W-31953

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 1 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will be on the income of Business Stream in 2020-21.

Question reference: S5W-31948

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 1 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what the implications of a rise in council tax payment debt could be for Scottish Water in the current financial year, and what indications it has had of whether there will be such a rise.

Question reference: S5W-31947

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 1 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-30017 by Roseanna Cunningham on 2 July 2020, whether it expects Scottish Water to draw down all of the borrowing available to it in 2020-21.

Question reference: S5W-31949

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 1 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether any licenced provider of water has ceased trading since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Question reference: S5W-31950

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 1 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding the levels of debt that are being borne by licenced providers of water, and how much this has risen because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Question reference: S5W-31912

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 21 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 30 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on the development of the Scottish National Investment Bank’s statutory Gender Equality Strategy, and whether the Bank will have a gender equality strategy at its launch.

The Scottish National Investment Bank is on track to launch later this year. Once established, the Bank will be able to deliver long-term, strategic investment in businesses and communities across Scotland. The Bank will be required to develop, and to periodically update, a Gender Equality Strategy and this work will be taken forward in line with the requirements of the Scottish National Investment Bank Act 2020.