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-10133

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 08 October 2012
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 10 December 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what emails and other correspondence it has sent to the office of Donald Trump concerning the release of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi; on what dates, and what responses it received.

Question reference: S4W-10134

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 08 October 2012
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 10 December 2012

To ask the Scottish Government whether it sent emails to individuals or organisations other than Donald Trump asking for support following the release of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi and, if so, who or what organisations; on what dates, and what replies it received.

On 20 August 2009 I announced my decision to release Mr Al-Megrahi on license from prison on compassionate grounds. In my statement to Parliament on 24 August 2009, I set out the process that I followed in reaching that decision. This included meetings either in person or by video conference with the families of the victims of the bombing and also dialogue with the then UK Labour Government and US and Libyan Governments.

On the day on which the announcement was made, emails were sent informing families of victims about the decision.

No correspondence was issued prior to 20 August 2009. In the days immediately following the announcement, views were received or sought from a range of individuals with an interest in this matter. This correspondence reflected the recognition of the international interest in this decision at that time.

An e-mail was sent to Mr Trump’s office by a special adviser. The content of this email was widely reported in the public domain. The Scottish Government does not hold a record of a response having been received. Emails were also issued to and received from other international figures, including former President Nelson Mandela; Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former President Mary Robinson. Internationally respected individuals such as Mr Mandela and Archbishop Tutu expressed support for the decision. Copies of the relevant email correspondence held by the Scottish Government are being placed today on the Scottish Government web site:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Justice/legal/lockerbie/FOI.

A wide range of other views and opinions were expressed at the time, both in support of and against the decision. Where they are held sincerely, I respect those views, in particular from the families of those who died.

Question reference: S4O-01594

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 December 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 December 2012

To ask the Scottish Government how many fiscal direct penalties have been discharged without having been fully paid since 2009.

Question reference: S4O-01575

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 5 December 2012

To ask the Scottish Government whether the business rates incentivisation scheme will allow a local authority to retain 50% of any additional non-domestic rates that it raises beyond a set annual target.

Question reference: S4T-00150

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 03 December 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 December 2012

To ask the Scottish Government how many people appeared in court without legal representation on 3 December 2012 as a result of protest action by defence solicitors in Aberdeen, Forfar, Arbroath, Dundee, Perth, Alloa, Falkirk and Dunfermline.

Question reference: S4W-11352

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 19 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 3 December 2012

To ask the Scottish Government how many meetings officials from the Directorate for Justice have had with organisers of independent custody visiting schemes since January 2012 regarding the management of independent custody under the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 and on what dates.

Question reference: S4W-11353

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 19 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 3 December 2012

To ask the Scottish Government on what date it will make a decision on the operation of the independent custody visiting scheme and when it will make this available to the (a) Scottish Police Authority, (b) chief constable of the Police Service of Scotland and (c) Parliament.

As I said in response to the member’s question S4W-10175, answered on 2 November 2012, decisions on the administration and operation of the custody visiting scheme will be a matter for the Scottish Police Authority.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

Question reference: S4W-11351

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 19 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 3 December 2012

To ask the Scottish Government how many meetings officials from the Directorate for Justice have had with organisers of independent custody visiting schemes since May 2007 and on what dates.

Question reference: S4W-11354

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 19 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 3 December 2012

To ask the Scottish Government whether representatives of the Scottish Police Authority have participated in meetings between officials from the Directorate for Justice and organisers of independent custody visiting schemes regarding plans for independent custody visiting and, if so, when.

Question reference: S4W-11273

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 16 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 3 December 2012

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Scottish Police Authority will have responsibility for how the Police Service of Scotland deploys civilian staff.