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-04292

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 21 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the removal of the EU regulations on food and plant safety.

Question reference: S5W-04321

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 18 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) public, (b) private and (c) third sector providers of immigration advice in Scotland since the EU referendum result, and what assessment it has made of their capacity to provide such advice.

The Scottish Government has met with the CoSLA Strategic Migration Partnership, the Scottish Migrant Network, Glasgow Refugee, Asylum and Migration Network (GRAMnet), Migrant Voice, Feniks, PKAVS Minority Communities Hub and Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) since the EU Referendum results about their general support of and work with migrants but not specifically about their capacity to provide advice services in future years post a UK Brexit.

Scottish Government officials have discussed with TalentScotland the impact the result of the EU referendum has had on the volume of queries received by their Immigration and Visa Support Service.

The Scottish Government fund this service with the aim of helping growing businesses access, attract, recruit and retain skilled, experienced and internationally mobile talent. The service provides business immigration support to Scottish-based business, prospective entrepreneurs, inward investors and individuals with a job offer.

The discussion did not identify any immediate capacity issues.

Question reference: S5W-04458

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 17 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government under what circumstances payments for chartering MS (a) Helliar and (b) Hildasay from Seatruck can be withheld under the current contract.

Question reference: S5W-04202

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 17 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis of a bespoke, bilateral free trade deal with the EU and its impact on Scotland it has commissioned since the EU referendum result.

The Scottish Government is exploring all options to secure Scotland’s interests, and to protect its relationship with the EU and our place in the single market.

As part of this, the Scottish Government is currently undertaking a range of analyses to understand the potential implications of the UK exiting the EU across various policy areas and scenarios. These draw on Scottish Government in-house work, analysis commissioned by others and advice by its expert Standing Council on Europe.

In the coming weeks the Scottish Government will table specific proposals that would allow Scotland to stay in the single market and to preserve aspects of our relationship with the EU.

Question reference: S5W-04189

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 17 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how many staff have been allocated to the Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland's Place in Europe.

Staff across the Scottish Government Directorates are working in support of Ministers and Cabinet Secretaries on Scotland’s place in Europe.

In addition to Private Office staff, there are currently 58 staff working in the Directorate for External Affairs in Scotland, which is the main Directorate supporting the work of the Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland’s Place in Europe. This number does not include the staff in our offices overseas who support the work of all Scottish Ministers.

Question reference: S5O-00366

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 November 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the reported reduction to revenue grants from the Scottish Funding Council has had on the University of Aberdeen and Robert Gordon University.

Question reference: S5W-04275

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by James Wolffe on 16 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government which Lot of its Legal Services Framework it uses to obtain legal advice relating to Scotland's place in Europe.

Question reference: S5W-04281

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 16 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what estimates it has made of the impact of Brexit on employment levels.

Analysis published by the Scottish Government (“Potential Implications of the UK Leaving the EU on Scotland’s Long Run Economic Performance”) on 23 August 2016 summarises the impact that leaving the EU could have on the Scottish economy based on a range of recent studies covering different trading relationships that the UK could adopt.

The analysis shows that the potential cost to Scottish GDP of leaving the European Union could be up to £11.2 billion per year by 2030 than under a scenario where the UK remains a member. The analysis also indicates that leaving the EU could result in a reduction in Scottish tax revenues of up to £3.7 billion a year by 2030.

Evidence published by the European and External Relations Committee based on analysis by the Fraser of Allander Institute confirms the risks Brexit poses to Scotland’s economy. The Fraser of Allander Institute forecast that leaving the EU could result in the number of people in employment being up to 80,000 lower after 10 years.

The Scottish Government is pursuing all options to retain our relationship with Europe, access to the single market, and all the advantages that brings.

Question reference: S5W-04220

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 16 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what contingency plans it is preparing in the event that the UK leaves the single market.

Question reference: S5W-04296

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 16 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government which Scottish foods have protected geographical indication under EU law, and what estimates it has made of the revenue impact should this protected status be lost.

Scotland currently has 14 products that are registered under the EU Protected Food Name Scheme:-

Traditional Ayrshire Dunlop Cheese

Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar

Stornoway Black Pudding

Scottish Wild Salmon

Shetland Lamb

Orkney Beef

Orkney Lamb

Scottish Farmed Salmon

Scotch Lamb

Scotch Beef

Arbroath Smokie

Native Shetland Wool

Teviotdale Cheese

Bonchester Cheese

We are looking at all options for ensuring the continued protection of Geographical Indications, including protected food names, and are in discussion with the current holders to determine the potential impact of any change to their status.