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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

Filter your results Hide all filters

Displaying 2683 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S4W-03551

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 24 October 2011
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 4 November 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive how many retail premises would be liable to pay its proposed public health levy if it was levied only on alcohol retailers.

Question reference: S4W-03542

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 24 October 2011
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 4 November 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of retail premises that are (a) registered to sell tobacco and (b) licensed to sell alcohol will be liable to pay its proposed public health levy.

The number of premises which hold a licence to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises is not held centrally.

It is estimated that around 240 retail premises listed on the valuation rolls for Scotland will be liable for the public health supplement. However, due to differences in the way premises are recorded, this figure is not directly comparable to the number of premises registered for sale of tobacco.

Question reference: S4W-03550

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 24 October 2011
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 4 November 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive how many retail premises would be liable to pay its proposed public health levy if the rateable value threshold was set at (a) £25,000, (b) £35,000, (c) £100,000, (d) £150,000, (e) £200,000 and (f) £250,000.

Question reference: S4W-03537

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 24 October 2011
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 4 November 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the reduction in (a) alcohol-related and (b) tobacco-related harm that it expects to achieve through its proposed public health levy.

Question reference: S4W-03552

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 24 October 2011
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 4 November 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce any further supplements to the business rates system.

Question reference: S4W-03549

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 24 October 2011
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 4 November 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason a rateable value threshold of £300,000 was set for liability to pay its proposed public health levy.

Question reference: S4W-03548

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 24 October 2011
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 4 November 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish a list of companies, and the number of premises that each has, that it expects will be liable to pay its proposed public health levy.

Question reference: S4W-03535

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 24 October 2011
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 4 November 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of (a) alcohol and (b) tobacco sales by (i) volume and (ii) value that is purchased through retail stores will be subject to its proposed public health levy.

Question reference: S4W-03560

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 October 2011
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 3 November 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive on what date it decided to initiate a consultation on closing areas of sea to salmon farming businesses, as stated by the Minister for Environment and Climate Change on BBC Scotland on 17 October 2011.

In his statement on the Scottish Government’s legislative programme on 7 September, the First Minister noted that we are developing consultation proposals with a view to legislation to support the development and necessary expansion of farmed fish and wild salmon and freshwater fisheries.

The detail of the consultation proposals is being worked up and we hope to go out to consultation on issues and options shortly.

Question reference: S4W-03564

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 October 2011
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 3 November 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any energy supply or insulation businesses that have gone into liquidation as a result of non-payment or late payment of bills by Scottish Gas under the Home Insulation Scheme.

Scottish Gas did not manage the Home Insulation Scheme (HIS) during its operation in 2009-10 and 2010-11. Scottish Gas was appointed by the scheme managing agent, the Energy Saving Trust, as the nominated insulation installer in the areas of East Dunbartonshire, Renfrewshire and West Lothian in 2010-11. We are not aware of any businesses in those areas that were affected in this way as a result of the Home Insulation Scheme.

Representations have been received from some suppliers involved with the Energy Assistance Package about the late payment of invoices by Scottish Gas. It is the case that a number of suppliers have received payment outwith the usual contract terms and this has been investigated with Scottish Gas. Scottish Gas has advised that over 95% in value of all invoices submitted to date have now been paid, and arrangements have been made to resolve any outstanding issues with the remaining suppliers who have been affected.