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 696 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S4F-01317

Asked by: John Wilson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 April 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 April 2013

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the recent report by the Treasury regarding Scottish banknotes in an independent Scotland.

Question reference: S4O-02003

Asked by: John Wilson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 April 2013
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 17 April 2013

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives of UCAS.

Question reference: S4W-13655

Asked by: John Wilson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 March 2013
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 21 March 2013

To ask the Scottish Government how many of its staff will be affected by contract changes resulting from proposed UK Government policy on pensions and terms and conditions; whether it is taking action to deal with any such impact, and, if so, what action.

Civil Service pensions is a reserved matter. All employees of the Scottish Government who have chosen to be members of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme, are affected by changes to the pension scheme. The Scottish Government opposes the increase in public sector workers’ pension contributions and we have made our position clear to the UK Government. However, had the Scottish Government not implemented pension contribution increases, it would have faced a significant reduction in funding allocation from the UK Government.

Terms and conditions of the Senior Civil Service (SCS) is a reserved matter. The Scottish Government currently has 204 members of the SCS (as at November 2012). The Scottish Government is considering changes to SCS terms and conditions which are proposed under the UK Government’s Civil Service Reform Plan and the impact they will have on SCS staff.

The Scottish Government has delegated authority over the terms and conditions of employment of its staff below Senior Civil Service level and so will not be implementing the changes proposed as part of the Civil Service Reform Plan. Instead, we are working with the Civil Service trade unions to ensure that the Scottish Government provides a modern and flexible employment package which is affordable, fair and meets the business needs of the Scottish Government.

Question reference: S4O-01978

Asked by: John Wilson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 March 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 March 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the findings of the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland's report, When parents are detained.

Question reference: S4O-01941

Asked by: John Wilson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 March 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 March 2013

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the chief executive of NHS Lanarkshire and what issues were discussed.

Question reference: S4T-00280

Asked by: John Wilson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 March 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 March 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Scottish Water regarding the decision to curtail the activities of Scottish Water Horizons.

Question reference: S4O-01893

Asked by: John Wilson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 February 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 March 2013

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how many oral questions have been (a) lodged for and (b) taken at SPCB Questions in the current parliamentary session.

Question reference: S4W-12723

Asked by: John Wilson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 January 2013
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 28 February 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, in view of its policies on poverty and social inclusion, what discussions it has with (a) Office of Fair Trading and (b) UK financial authorities regarding the personal current account market.

Question reference: S4W-12719

Asked by: John Wilson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 January 2013
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 28 February 2013

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives of the retail banking sector and what issues were discussed.

Question reference: S4W-12718

Asked by: John Wilson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 January 2013
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 28 February 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, in view of its policies on poverty and social inclusion, what its position is on the Office of Fair Trading's Review of the personal current account market.

The Scottish Government welcomes the Office of Fair Trading’s Review of the personal current account market, noting that the OFT has found that the sector has become more concentrated since its last review in 2008. The Scottish Government shares the OFT’s concerns regarding a lack of sufficient competition in the Scottish banking market, which is having a negative effect on consumers’ willingness and ability to switch accounts.

Banks should also be aware of the particular needs of socially and financially excluded individuals as customers, especially in light of the UK Parliament’s welfare reforms.