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-03273

Asked by: Alex Johnstone, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Annabelle Ewing on 21 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will reconsider the decision to move jury trials from Forfar to Dundee.

Question reference: S5O-00249

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S5W-03271

Asked by: Alex Johnstone, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 12 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what powers it has to direct tenancy deposit scheme administrators to reassign unclaimed funds.

Scottish Ministers have approved three tenancy deposit schemes in Scotland on the basis that their proposals met the requirements of the Tenancy Deposit Schemes (Scotland) Regulations 2011.

The laws governing the Schemes allow tenants to reclaim money owed to them at any time after the end of a tenancy. There is no statutory time limit. Nothing in the scheme rules provides for unclaimed money to be paid to anyone. If a deposit is unclaimed, scheme administrators must continue to protect it.

Question reference: S5W-03272

Asked by: Alex Johnstone, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 12 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how long unclaimed funds in tenancy deposit schemes must be retained by scheme administrators.

Question reference: S5W-03267

Asked by: Alex Johnstone, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 12 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how much is held in tenancy deposit schemes that has not been reclaimed within one year of the tenancy ending; what it expects the amount will be in (a) 3, (b) 5, (c) 10, (d) 15 and (e) 20 years, and what the legal position is regarding how this unclaimed money can be used.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on the current or expected future value of deposits remaining unclaimed more than one year after the tenancy end date.

Scheme administrators are required to hold a tenant's deposit in a designated account until it falls to be repaid. There are strict conditions for withdrawal of sums from these designated accounts. Nothing in the scheme rules provides for unclaimed money to be paid to anyone.

Question reference: S5W-03268

Asked by: Alex Johnstone, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 12 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) analysis it has carried out of and (b) advice it has received regarding investing in housing stock unclaimed funds from tenancy deposit schemes.

Under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006, Scottish Ministers must review each approved scheme from time to time and may take steps to secure the revision of the reviewed scheme, if appropriate. I have decided that a review of tenancy deposit schemes should take place. The issue of unclaimed deposits will be included for consideration as part of the review process.

Question reference: S5O-00156

Asked by: Alex Johnstone, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Annabelle Ewing on 21 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will reconsider the decision to move jury trials from Forfar to Dundee.

The administration of the courts is the responsibility of the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service under the leadership of the Lord President. The Courts Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 makes clear that the Sheriff Principal is responsible for the efficient disposal of business in the sheriff courts.

The decision is in line with a broader initiative to create 16 dedicated sheriff and jury centres across Scotland as set out by the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service in its 2012 public consultation, “Shaping Scotland’s Court Services”.

Question reference: S5O-00117

Asked by: Alex Johnstone, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 August 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 8 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what the expected completion date is for the upgrading of the junction of the A937 with the A90 at Laurencekirk.

As announced yesterday, Transport Scotland has now appointed a design consultant to take forward the next phases of design for the Laurencekirk junction upgrade including the identification of a preferred junction option, and preparation of draft road orders. Delivery of the scheme itself can only commence when the scheme is approved under the statutory procedures and thereafter a timetable for construction can be determined.

Question reference: S5O-00133

Asked by: Alex Johnstone, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 September 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in providing high-speed broadband to rural areas and town centres that are served by exchange only lines.

Question reference: S4O-05672

Asked by: Alex Johnstone, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 March 2016
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 16 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact will be on staffing at universities in the north east of the planned 3.3% reduction in the higher education budget.

In 2017 the Scottish Government will again invest more than £1 billion in our higher education sector – the fifth year in succession where investment has exceeded that figure. Levels of investment like these provide a stable base which enables our universities to attract a range of additional funding.

As autonomous institutions, universities are responsible for their own finances and decisions on workforce planning. However, I would expect all universities to consult on these matters with staff and unions.

More widely, these are particularly challenging times for the north east and we will continue to work with partners to find solutions that meet the region’s needs.