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-19657

Asked by: Margaret McDougall, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 07 February 2014
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 28 February 2014

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19256 by Fergus Ewing on 3 February 2014, what correspondence it sent to (a) the Financial Conduct Authority and (b) HM Treasury and what response it received.

Question reference: S4W-19257

Asked by: Margaret McDougall, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 January 2014
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 3 February 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the mis-selling of interest rate swap agreements and what help it is providing to small and medium-sized businesses that have been affected.

In the Scottish Banking Strategy ‘Sustainable Responsible Banking, published on 10 May 2013, the Scottish Government has emphasised the need for a banking sector in Scotland that is built on the principles of probity, prudence and trust. We strongly oppose the sale of any financial product which does not clearly meet the needs or the interests of customers.

The Scottish Government continues to work with all the banks to ensure the supply of affordable and appropriate finance and financial products for viable businesses, especially small and medium-sized businesses.

Question reference: S4W-19259

Asked by: Margaret McDougall, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 January 2014
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 3 February 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it will provide to companies that have been excluded from the Financial Conduct Authority’s review of the mis-selling of interest rate swap agreements on the grounds that they are classed as ”sophisticated” customers.

Question reference: S4W-19256

Asked by: Margaret McDougall, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 January 2014
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 3 February 2014

To ask the Scottish Government with whom it has had discussions in relation to the mis-selling of interest rate swap agreements to small and medium-sized businesses.

Following a members business debate in the Scottish Parliament on 13 June 2013 on this matter, Mr Swinney wrote to Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and HM Treasury to relay the concerns of businesses in Scotland affected by the mis-selling of interest rate swap agreements. The FCA responded on 9 August 2013 stating this was an issue for HM Treasury. HM Treasury has yet to respond.

The Scottish Government is also engaging with counterparts in the Welsh Government regarding the potential for a co-ordinated approach from the devolved administrations to help ensure fair redress for affected small and medium-sized businesses as quickly as possible.

Question reference: S4W-19258

Asked by: Margaret McDougall, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 January 2014
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 3 February 2014

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publicise to small and medium-sized businesses the review that has been set up by the Financial Conduct Authority in relation to the mis-selling of interest rate swap agreements.

Question reference: S4O-02806

Asked by: Margaret McDougall, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 January 2014
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 16 January 2014

To ask the Scottish Government whether North Ayrshire will no longer have access to the £23 million in Scottish Futures Trust funding in light of the council's decision not to proceed with the new schools campus.

In September 2012, the Scottish Government allocated provisional funding to support the replacement or refurbishment of 30 schools under Phase III of its Schools for the Future Programme, this included support to North Ayrshire Council for its proposal to replace Ardrossan and Auchenharvie Academies, subject to it obtaining a positive outcome from the required statutory consultation process. Support under the programme is project specific and not an allocation of finance to councils.

Following North Ayrshire's recent decision not to proceed with this project, Scottish Futures Trust, as programme managers, and the Scottish Government are working with the council to agree a way forward and remain committed to providing appropriate support to lift pupils out of poor or bad condition schools, which are often the legacy of previous administrations.

Question reference: S4W-18498

Asked by: Margaret McDougall, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 November 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 3 December 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what recent meetings it has held to discuss group B streptococcus infection.

Question reference: S4W-18499

Asked by: Margaret McDougall, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 November 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 3 December 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it issues regarding testing for group B streptococcus infection in late pregnancy, and when it last reviewed the guidance.

The Scottish Government recognises the recently revised guidance called ‘The Prevention of Early-onset Neonatal Group B Streptococcal Disease’ issued by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists for obstetricians, midwives and neonatologists in June 2012. This recommends an approach to antibiotics administration based on maternal risk factors. Prevention of late-onset group B streptococcus (GBS) and treatment of established GBS disease is not considered beyond initial antibiotic therapy.

Question reference: S4W-18497

Asked by: Margaret McDougall, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 November 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 3 December 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that enriched culture medium testing for group B streptococcus infection in pregnancy is available in each NHS board.

Question reference: S4W-18501

Asked by: Margaret McDougall, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 November 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 3 December 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what information it collects on the (a) short and (b) long-term impact on babies of group B streptococcus infection.