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-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.

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-04324

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

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to ensure that universities continue to have access to EU funding post-Brexit.

Scotland is an active and valued partner in European research collaborations. Higher Education Institutions in Scotland have secured a total of 185 million and Research Institutions secured 18 million under Horizon 2020 (up to July 2016) based on our world-class research.

The UK Government’s guarantee on European funding, including Horizon 2020, is welcome as far as it goes. However, the guarantee fails to take account of the impact of uncertainty on potential collaborations and it does not take account of the longer-term funding and other benefits that we otherwise would have received through continuing membership of the EU—including through future framework programmes.

The Scottish Government will publish proposals over the coming weeks that would allow Scotland to stay in the single market and to preserve aspects of our relationship with the EU, even if the rest of the UK is intending to leave.

Question reference: S5W-04298

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 what estimate it has made of the introduction of tariffs on raw construction materials following the Brexit vote, and what impact this would have on public infrastructure projects, including housing.

The Scottish Government has not estimated the specific impact of the introduction of tariffs on raw construction materials following the Brexit vote. As the UK Government has not yet set out its approach to trade post Brexit, it is not possible to make any meaningful estimate. However, whilst there may be some import substitution, it is clear that any increase in tariffs on raw materials from the EU or the rest of the world will push up costs for public infrastructure projects, including housing.

Question reference: S5W-04287

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 what estimate it has made of the impact of Brexit on tax revenues in Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-04289

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 what estimates it has made of the impact of Brexit on productivity in Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-04491

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 16 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the possibility of exempting rooftop solar cells and panels from business rates through secondary legislation.

Question reference: S5W-04461

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 16 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ensure that the next contract for Northern Isles ferry services includes a requirement for the provider of chartered freight or passenger vessels to be a living wage employer.

Question reference: S5W-04216

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 16 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Minister for the UK Negotiations on Scotland’s Place in Europe has sought or is seeking guarantees about Japanese investment in Scotland and, if so, what these are.

The Scottish Government is working with its enterprise agencies to ensure that Scotland remains an attractive place for inward investment.

Following his statement to the UK Parliament on 31 October, I have written to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy asking that he share the details of the reassurances he has given to Nissan on tariff free access to European markets.

Question reference: S5W-04457

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 16 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government on what dates the time charter agreements for MS (a) Helliar and (b) Hildasay were agreed with (i) Seatruck and (ii) Serco NorthLink Ferries.