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-31223

Asked by: Stewart Stevenson, MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 14 August 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 18 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its proposed voucher scheme for access to superfast broadband, which it plans to complement its three R100 programme contracts.

Our new Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme (SBVS) will provide grants to broadband customers in both residential and business premises, offering support to customers to ensure they can access superfast broadband of at least 30 Megabits per second (Mbps). It is intended to launch the SBVS in September 2020.

Anyone whose home or business broadband speed is less than 30 Mbps, and where there are no plans to bring superfast broadband to their address by the end of 2021, will be eligible for a voucher.

The SBVS will feature two distinct levels of subsidy:

Firstly, premises with addresses that are either not in scope for a signed R100 contract nor for planned commercial investment will all be eligible for a main voucher, offering funding of up to £5,000 per premises – a level of funding far exceeding that of any other broadband voucher scheme in operation within the UK. This currently includes premises in the North of Scotland R100 lot area (including all of Scotland’s islands) until superfast broadband roll-out plans are known.
Secondly, for those properties where superfast broadband roll-out is planned but known to be likely to be deployed after 31 December 2021, we will provide support worth up to £400 to deliver a connection through an ‘interim’ voucher scheme open until 31 December 2021. We will also ensure that those in the most difficult-to-reach locations can secure vital connectivity by providing an additional subsidy of £250. This will not prevent the deployment of the planned R100 intervention for those premises, for example where fibre to the premises is ultimately scheduled under the R100 programme, but will allow customers to access an interim superfast service using alternative technologies while the build on the longer term solution is undertaken.

Vouchers can be used to cover the cost of installation associated with securing a service across a range of superfast-capable technologies, including fibre, fixed wireless, mobile broadband, and satellite.

People will be able to ascertain their eligibility for SBVS through the online checker which is launching today. This will provide information on the premises within the scope of signed R100 contracts and planned commercial roll-outs. It can be found at www.scotlandsuperfast.com

Question reference: S5O-04467

Asked by: Stewart Stevenson, MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 August 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what funding the finance secretary will allocate to support people who are looking for work or at risk of redundancy as a result of COVID-19.

Question reference: S5O-04429

Asked by: Stewart Stevenson, MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 June 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 June 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what work is being undertaken to ensure that young people from more disadvantaged backgrounds are not digitally excluded while learning from home.

Question reference: S5O-04287

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S5O-04191

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S5O-04147

Asked by: Stewart Stevenson, MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 February 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the UK Government's proposed legislation on fishing and farming and the impact of this on Scotland.

Question reference: S5F-03928

Asked by: Stewart Stevenson, MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 03 February 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 February 2020

To ask the First Minister, in light of the Prime Minister's statement that the UK will refuse close alignment with EU rules, whether the Scottish Government will remain aligned with EU environmental standards.

Question reference: S5T-01981

Asked by: Stewart Stevenson, MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 January 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how a new Scottish visa could address depopulation and skills shortages.

Question reference: S5O-04049

Asked by: Stewart Stevenson, MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 January 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to a letter from 27 business groups to MSPs regarding concerns at a proposed amendment to the Non-Domestic Rates (Scotland) Bill, which would remove ministers’ ability to set business rates poundage and automatically end the small business bonus scheme and other benefits.

Question reference: S5O-03988

Asked by: Stewart Stevenson, MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 January 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact on the forestry sector of increased fire hazard due to long-term environmental changes.