- Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 June 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 29 June 2017
To ask the Scottish Government what support it can offer residents in the Loch Rannoch area who have reportedly been waiting for improved broadband access for a number of years.
Answer
Over 100 premises to the east of Loch Rannoch will gain access to fibre broadband as a result of Gainshare - a clawback mechanism built into the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) contracts. This funding is being made available to accelerate high speed broadband roll-out for Scotland’s rural communities.
Any premises that will not have superfast broadband delivered commercially or through DSSB will be eligible for investment through the Reaching 100% programme which will provide superfast broadband access to 100% of premises across Scotland by the end of 2021.
- Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 June 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Annabelle Ewing on 21 June 2017
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-09650 by Annabelle Ewing on 14 June 2017, what the time frame is for its consideration of the recommendations made by the Scottish Law Commission.
Answer
The Scottish Government has not set a time frame for its consideration of the recommendations made by the Scottish Law Commission following their review of law of trusts and set out in the Report on Trust Law (Scot Law Com No. 239) in August 2014. This work is being progressed as other priorities allow.
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Current Status:
Withdrawn
- Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 June 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Annabelle Ewing on 14 June 2017
To ask the Scottish Government when it will implement the Scottish Law Commission's Report on Trust Law (Scot Law Com no 239).
Answer
The Scottish Government is currently considering the recommendations made by the Scottish Law Commission (SLC) following their review of law of trusts and set out in the Report on Trust Law (Scot Law Com No. 239) in August 2014. Decisions on implementation will be taken when that consideration has been concluded.
- Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 June 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Derek Mackay on 13 June 2017
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the evidence given by Derek Mackay to the Finance and Constitution Committee on 8 February 2017 (Official Report, c. 1), what its Land and Business Transaction Tax revenues were for 2016-17, and what estimate it has made for 2017-18.
Answer
The Scottish Government will make a statement to the Scottish Parliament on the 2016-17 provisional outturn on 22 June 2017.
The Scottish Government forecast for total Land and Buildings Transaction Tax revenues for 2017-18 is £507 million as laid out in the Draft Budget 2017-18.
- Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 May 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Derek Mackay on 7 June 2017
To ask the Scottish Government what impact a 50% top rate of income tax would have on public finances.
Answer
The Scottish Government has published detailed analysis of the impact of a 50% top rate of income tax in 2017-18 on our website. Revenue forecasts from a 50% rate of income tax are particularly dependent on behavioral effects and so a range of possible revenue impacts was provided. The First Minister has asked the Council of Economic Advisors to consider how and to what extent any revenue risk can be mitigated and we look forward to seeing their report later in the year.
HMRC have indicated that a 5p increase in the additional rate of income tax may raise around £450m in 2018-19 at the whole of UK level. An increase in income tax in the rest of the UK would impact on the Scottish budget through the block grant adjustment and Barnett consequentials depending on how increased revenues were spent.
- Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 June 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Derek Mackay on 6 June 2017
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the evidence given by Derek Mackay to the Finance and Constitution Committee on 8 February 2017 (Official Report, c. 1), what its underspend was for 2016-17, and what estimate it has made for 2017-18.
Answer
The Scottish Government will make a statement to the Scottish Parliament on the 2016-17 provisional outturn on 22 June 2017.
The financial position of the Scottish Government is closely managed throughout the year. At this early stage in financial year 2017-18 the forecast is full spend against the budget approved by the Scottish Parliament.
- Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 May 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 31 May 2017
To ask the Scottish Government how many welders have been employed in constructing the new Queensferry Crossing in each year of its construction.
Answer
The number of welders employed in constructing the Queensferry Crossing during construction has been: 62 in 2012; 64 in 2013; 91 in 2014; 105 in 2015; 67 in 2016; and 28 in 2017.
- Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 May 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 25 May 2017
To ask the Scottish Government whether the adjoining road surfaces connecting the Queensferry Crossing both south and north of the bridge were completed in time for the bridge’s original opening date.
Answer
The adjoining road surfaces connecting the Queensferry Crossing both south and north of the bridge will be completed in time for the Queensferry Crossing’s original contractual completion date of June 2017 and well ahead of the estimated opening to traffic of mid-July – end of August 2017.
- Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 May 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 25 May 2017
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Queensferry Crossing remains on schedule to open to the public between mid-July and the end of August 2017.
Answer
The Queensferry Crossing remains on schedule to open to traffic between mid-July and the end of August 2017.