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: S4W-27348

Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for East Kilbride, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 07 September 2015
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 17 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that “the Scotland Bill will fully implement the all-party Smith Agreement which considered what further powers should be devolved to Scotland” as indicated on the Scotland Office website.

The Scottish Government shares the concerns of the Devolution Further Powers Committee that the Bill in its current form does not fulfil the Smith Agreement. On 8 June 2015 the Scottish Government published amendments which would fully implement the recommendations of the Smith Commission, and these amendments have been discussed with the UK Government. The Scottish Government now expects the UK Government to share with us their proposals for amendments for further discussion between the governments prior to the next stage of the Bill’s passage in the Commons. Progress on these amendments will be required for the Bill to meet the terms of the Smith Agreement.

Full implementation of the Smith Agreement is also reliant on agreement of a fiscal framework between the Scottish and UK governments. Discussion on the fiscal framework is continuing alongside the passage of the Scotland Bill. The Scottish Government has made clear it will only support a legislative consent motion if there is a satisfactory fiscal framework agreed between the Scottish and United Kingdom governments.

Question reference: S4W-27350

Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for East Kilbride, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 07 September 2015
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 17 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the (a) welfare, (b) employment support and (c) Crown Estate provisions in the Scotland Bill fully deliver the Smith Commission agreement.

Question reference: S4O-04609

Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for East Kilbride, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 September 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what discussion it has had with NHS Lanarkshire since its interim service model for out-of-hours GP services was implemented on 1 July 2015.

Question reference: S4W-27136

Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for East Kilbride, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 August 2015
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 16 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its position on developing an environmental deposit return scheme; what discussions it has had with (a) local authorities, (b) manufacturing companies and (c) other relevant stakeholders regarding such a scheme, and what assessment it has made of the potential (i) advantages and (ii) disadvantages.

I commissioned a study from Zero Waste Scotland (which can be found here: http://www.zerowastescotland.org.uk/content/deposit-return-system-feasibility-study) to explore the feasibility of a national deposit return system in Scotland. Following publication of this study, Zero Waste Scotland hosted a workshop with key stakeholders and launched a call for evidence that sought further information from all interested parties. Furthermore, the current Scottish Government circular economy consultation, ‘Making Things Last’, is providing a further opportunity for engagement and to explore further the important points raised in the call for evidence.

Question reference: S4O-04556

Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for East Kilbride, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 September 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what cumulative loss to the block grant has resulted from the UK Government's policy on tuition fees in higher education.

Question reference: S4O-04531

Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for East Kilbride, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 August 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Communities and Pensioners' Rights last met Citizens Advice Scotland and what was discussed.

Question reference: S4W-26369

Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for East Kilbride, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 29 June 2015
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 20 August 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) Smart Energy GB and (b) other relevant stakeholders regarding the use of smart meters in tackling fuel poverty.

Question reference: S4W-27148

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S4W-27147

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S4W-27146

Current Status: Withdrawn