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-04331

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 15 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has received from the UK Government regarding its Great Repeal Bill in order to assess any impacts on Scotland, and whether it will publish this.

The Scottish Government has not yet received any information from the UK Government regarding its Great Repeal Bill. While giving evidence at the European and External Relations Committee of the Scottish Parliament, the Secretary of State for Scotland confirmed that this process would be taken forward on the basis of close co-operation between the two governments. The Scottish Government has a distinct role in protecting Scotland’s interests, and must be treated as an equal partner and be centrally involved in developing the UK position.

Question reference: S5W-04337

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 15 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact of Brexit would be on professional sport in Scotland.

The Scottish Government greatly values the contribution that EU migrants bring to our economy and society. We also value the freedom of movement including the right to live, study and work in all EU countries and benefit from their healthcare and social security systems.

In relation to professional sport, while the impacts of Brexit are primarily for Sporting Governing Bodies and other sporting authorities to consider, we are committed to working with them on any issues that may arise. We maintain regular contact with sporting authorities on a number of issues.

Question reference: S5W-04327

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 15 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of which EU laws can be converted into Scots Law in advance of the UK Government's Great Repeal Bill.

Consideration of the impact on Scots law is a key element of the Scottish Government’s work on the options for Scotland’s future relationship with the EU and the rest of the UK following the EU referendum. The Scottish Government recognises that the potential impact is substantial. We will seek to use whatever influence we have to protect Scotland’s interests and shape the UK position.

Question reference: S5W-04196

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 15 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ensure that there is cross-party representation on the Joint Ministerial Sub-Committee to ensure represention from across the Parliament.

The Joint Ministerial Committee on EU Negotiations (JMC(EN)) is part of the formal inter-governmental machinery between the four Administrations of the United Kingdom. The Scottish Government represents Scotland’s interests in that forum.

The Scottish Government has committed, in our Written Agreement with the Scottish Parliament, to ensure members have opportunity to scrutinise formal inter-governmental engagement. I alerted the Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Relations Committee in advance of the JMC(EN), which took place on 9 November 2016.

Question reference: S5W-04335

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 14 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether Scotland would continue to participate in EU-wide health initiatives post-Brexit.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-03158 on 7 October 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

To continue to participate in the EU health initiatives post-Brexit, which extend to European Economic Area countries, Scotland must remain a member of the single market. The Scottish Government will do everything in its power to retain its membership of the single market and the considerable benefits this brings.

Question reference: S5W-04452

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 14 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on the time charters for MS (a) Helliar and (b) Hildasay since 2010.

Question reference: S5W-04450

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 14 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how much was paid in public grants to Serco NorthLink Ferries in each service year of the Northern Isles ferry service contract since 5 July 2012, and how much of the public grants accounted for the aggregate Charter Portions in each service year.

The following table details the public grants to Serco NorthLink Ferries paid by the Scottish Government for the Northern Isles Ferry Service since 5 July 2012 in each contract year.

		Grant Paid
Contract Year 1	July 2012 - June 2013	£ 41,104,316
Contract Year 2	July 2013 - June 2014	£ 35,920,670
Contract Year 3	July 2014 - June 2015	£ 40,423,146
Contract Year 4	July 2015 - June 2016	£ 41,250,780

The element within the grant attributable to vessel charter is part of contractual agreements with third parties; the Royal Bank of Scotland and Seatruck. The financial arrangements within these agreements are commercially confidential matters for those companies.

Question reference: S5W-04451

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 14 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of the vessel charter payments to Serco NorthLink Ferries since July 2012 was for the cost of chartering MS (a) Helliar and (b) Hildasay from Seatruck.

Question reference: S5W-04383

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 14 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether its memorandum of understanding (MoU) with DFDS and Forth Ports for maritime freight services between Rosyth and Zeebrugge remains binding on all parties, and whether it will publish the MoU.

Question reference: S5W-04381

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 14 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will list all of the (a) waterborne freight and (b) freight facilities grants that have been given to Forth Ports for the development of freight services at Rosyth Port in each year since 2009-10.

There have been no Scottish Government waterborne freight or freight facilities grants given to Forth Ports for the development of freight services at Rosyth Port since 2009-10. Norfolkline Shipping BV were awarded 2 million in 2009 for the movement of containers or road freight units between Rosyth and Zeebrugge. Tables of all freight grants are published on the Freight Grants webpage which can be viewed using the following link http://www.transport.gov.scot/road/freight/freight-grants