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: S4W-26248

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 June 2015
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 21 July 2015

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will (a) calculate and (b) issue updated estimates of the coal resource that could be suitable for deep underground coal gasification development in Scottish locations as identified by the Coal Authority.

Question reference: S4W-26243

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 June 2015
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 21 July 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the potential economic impact on Scotland’s petrochemicals sector of developing underground coal gasification.

Question reference: S4W-26249

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 June 2015
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 21 July 2015

To ask the Scottish Government when ministers last met the Coal Authority to discuss the potential for Scotland to develop a deep underground coal gasification sector.

Question reference: S4W-26241

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 June 2015
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 21 July 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government to advance the recommendations in the DTI study, Creating the Coalmine of the 21st Century: The feasibility of UCG under the Firth of Forth (DTI/Pub URN 06/885), regarding developing underground coal gasification (UCG) projects in the Firth of Forth to strengthen Scottish energy security.

Question reference: S4W-26222

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 19 June 2015
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Burgess on 17 July 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the cost of removing the seven day waiting period for benefits claims in Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-26253

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 June 2015
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 13 July 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has received regarding replacing the Longannet coal-fired plant with a new combined-cycle gas turbine plant.

Question reference: S4W-26229

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 19 June 2015
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 7 July 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of targeted reductions in capital gains tax in Scotland on tackling (a) austerity and (b) inequality.

Question reference: S4W-26217

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 19 June 2015
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 7 July 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of separating proposals to increase the national minimum wage in Scotland from the recommendations of the Low Pay Commission.

Question reference: S4W-26216

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 19 June 2015
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 7 July 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what economic assessment it has made of proposals to increase the national minimum wage in Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-26227

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 19 June 2015
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 7 July 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on (a) productivity and (b) employers of increasing rights to flexible working in Scotland.

The Scottish Government fully recognises the importance of fair work and understands that for both employees and employers, flexible working is an important part of this.

In line with this we have established the independent Fair Work Convention which will promote key fair work principals – including flexible and innovative working practices.

The Fair Work Convention will provide independent advice to the Scottish Government on matters including progressive workforce policies which improve productivity and innovation, greater workplace democracy, employee voice and commitment and an increased focus on workplace equality issues across the private, public and third sectors.