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-21870

Asked by: Gavin Brown, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 June 2014
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 18 July 2014

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21218 by John Swinney on 28 May 2014, what progress with the business rates incentivisation scheme was made at the meeting with COSLA on 4 June 2014 and whether it will publish the minutes.

I met the COSLA President, Councillor David O’Neill, on 4 June 2014 and agreed that our officials should jointly undertake a review of the Business Rates Incentivisation Scheme (BRIS) with an aim to provide a better targeted incentive for councils to deliver the aims of the scheme to support economic recovery through growth in the underlying tax base. It was agreed that this review should be concluded by the end of August 2014.

The outcome of the meeting was summarised in a letter from me to Councillor O’Neill on 26 June 2014 confirming this approach. No other minutes of the meeting were taken.

Question reference: S4W-21869

Asked by: Gavin Brown, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 June 2014
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 18 July 2014

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on developments with the business rates incentivisation scheme.

As previously reported, I met the COSLA President Councillor David O’Neill on 4 June 2014 to discuss a possible joint review of the Business Rates Incentivisation Scheme (BRIS).

The outcome of that meeting was an agreement that our officials should jointly undertake a review of the BRIS with an aim to provide a better targeted incentive for councils to deliver the aims of the scheme to support economic recovery through growth in the underlying tax base. We agreed that this review should be concluded by the end of August this year.

Although we were unable to reach agreement on the proposed revised 2012-13 targets, I agreed with COSLA that those councils that exceeded the Scottish Government’s revised targets for that year, around £9 million in total, should retain these sums. Those councils benefiting from this decision have now been notified of this decision.

Question reference: S4W-22013

Asked by: Gavin Brown, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 July 2014
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 17 July 2014

To ask the Scottish Government whether the works on the road network (a) north and (b) south of the river related to the Forth Replacement Crossing are on schedule.

Question reference: S4W-22011

Asked by: Gavin Brown, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 July 2014
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 17 July 2014

To ask the Scottish Government during which month it expects the Forth Replacement Crossing will be open.

Question reference: S4W-22012

Asked by: Gavin Brown, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 July 2014
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 17 July 2014

To ask the Scottish Government whether all aspects of the Forth Replacement Crossing are on schedule.

Question reference: S4W-22015

Asked by: Gavin Brown, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 July 2014
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 17 July 2014

To ask the Scottish Government whether there are areas of work related to the Forth Replacement Crossing that are not on schedule.

Question reference: S4W-21872

Asked by: Gavin Brown, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 June 2014
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 17 July 2014

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21604 by Keith Brown on 18 June 2014, when it will (a) complete and (b) publish its review of the EU aviation guidelines.

Question reference: S4W-21877

Asked by: Gavin Brown, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 June 2014
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 17 July 2014

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21605 by Keith Brown on 18 June 2014, whether it will publish its submission of (a) 7 June 2011 and (b) 3 October 2013.

Question reference: S4W-21879

Asked by: Gavin Brown, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 June 2014
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 17 July 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what recent meetings ministers have had with the EU regarding the possibility of establishing an air route development fund.

Question reference: S4W-21876

Asked by: Gavin Brown, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 June 2014
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 17 July 2014

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21603 by Keith Brown on 18 June 2014, for what reason it has not commissioned such a review.