Questions and answers

Question reference: S4W-12023

Asked by: Ken Macintosh, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 21 December 2012
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 16 January 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, in the event of Scotland separating from the rest of the United Kingdom, what conditions it expects that the UK Government or the Bank of England would attach to a formal currency pact with Scotland; whether any conditions would be unacceptable to the Scottish Government, and what contingency would exist for such a case.

The Fiscal Commission Working Group is continuing its work to oversee the development of a robust macroeconomic and fiscal framework for an independent Scotland, and will be publishing its recommendations shortly.

Under the Edinburgh Agreement, the Scottish and UK Governments are committed to continue to work together constructively in the light of the outcome of the referendum, whatever it is, in the best interests of the people of Scotland and of the rest of the United Kingdom.

Question reference: S4O-01695

Asked by: Ken Macintosh, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 January 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 January 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to prevent reductions in the availability of college courses for students with additional needs.

Question reference: S4O-01657

Asked by: Ken Macintosh, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 December 2012
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Burgess on 9 January 2013

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £7 million available in the second round of the Housebuilding Infrastructure Loan Fund has been allocated.

Question reference: S4W-11779

Asked by: Ken Macintosh, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 10 December 2012
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 19 December 2012

To ask the Scottish Government whether it remains its position that a Scotland separated from the rest of the United Kingdom would form a formal currency union with the remaining members of the United Kingdom and, if so, what (a) discussions it has had and (b) agreement it has reached on this issue in the last 12 months and with whom, broken down by (i) date, (ii) means of contact and (iii) ministers involved.

Scottish Ministers have outlined that their proposal is to retain sterling as part of a formal monetary union with the rest of the UK.

The Fiscal Commission Working Group is continuing its work to oversee the development of a robust macroeconomic and fiscal framework for an independent Scotland, and will be publishing recommendations in the New Year.

Under the Edinburgh Agreement, the Scottish and UK Governments are committed to continue to work together constructively in the light of the outcome of the referendum, whatever it is, in the best interests of the people of Scotland and of the rest of the United Kingdom.

The Scottish Government engages in discussions with key stakeholders on a regular basis about matters of relevance to Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-11710

Asked by: Ken Macintosh, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 December 2012
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 14 December 2012

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-11378 by John Swinney on 29 November 2012, what contact it has had with the UK Government in the last year on the possible division of UK public sector assets in the event of Scotland separating from the rest of the UK, broken down by (a) date, (b) means of contact and (c) which ministers took part.

Question reference: S4W-11709

Asked by: Ken Macintosh, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 December 2012
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 14 December 2012

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-11378 by John Swinney on 29 November 2012, what contact it has had with the Bank of England in the last year regarding the possible division of UK public sector assets and liabilities in the event of Scotland separating from the rest of the UK, broken down by (a) date, (b) means of contact and (c) which ministers took part.

Question reference: S4F-01069

Asked by: Ken Macintosh, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 10 December 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 December 2012

To ask the First Minister, in light of reported comments by the chair of the independent Fiscal Commission, Sir Crawford Beveridge, what the Scottish Government’s position is on fiscal control and financial regulation in the event of Scotland separating from the rest of the UK.

Question reference: S4W-11378

Asked by: Ken Macintosh, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 29 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the (a) Treasury and (b) Bank of England on the division of the UK’s gold reserves in the event of Scotland separating from the rest of the UK.

Question reference: S4W-10419

Asked by: Ken Macintosh, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 October 2012
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 27 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of the expenditure on its Green Investment Package in 2013-14 will arise from Barnett consequentials.

The Scottish Government has committed £1145.0 million climate change funding over three years of the current spending review period. These details of the funding are published on the Scottish Government’s website and can be found at the following link:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/climatechange/climatechangefundingdocument

The Scottish Government also announced in the Draft Budget 2013-14 a package of £180 million investment in construction, skills and the green economy. Within this, the Government will invest in energy efficiency, cycling and other measures that will contribute to its environmental and climate change objectives. In 2013-14 this Green Investment package amounts to £75.69 million. None of this will arise through Barnett consequentials.

In 2013-14 a pro-rata share, amounting to £14.7million, of a GB wide scheme, will transfer to Scottish Government to be used to fund the Green Homes Cashback Scheme.

Question reference: S4W-10418

Asked by: Ken Macintosh, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 October 2012
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 27 November 2012

The Scottish Government has committed £1,145million climate change funding over three years of the spending review period.

2012-13	2013-14	2014-15	Total over 3 years
£ 364.6m	£411.3m	£387.1m	£1145.0m

The details of this funding is published on the Scottish Government’s website and can be found at the following link:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/climatechange/climatechangefundingdocument

Within that there will be over £400m spent on supporting renewable energy and low carbon activity over the three year spending review period.

In the Draft Budget 2013-14 a package of £180 million investment in construction, skills and the green economy was also announced. Within this, the Government will invest the following in energy efficiency, cycling and other measures that will contribute to its environmental and climate change objectives amounting to £97.55m green investment package over two years 2012-13 and 2013-14

2012-13	2013-14	Total
£21.86m	£75.69m	£97.55m

Chamber and committees