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-15879

Asked by: John Lamont, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 June 2013
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 30 August 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the reported comments by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth in a Cabinet paper that the annual cost of tax administration in an independent Scotland could be £625 million.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-15876 on 30 August 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

The initial estimate for delivery of the devolved taxes by Revenue Scotland was placed in SPICe in June 2012, Bib number 54051.

SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT

Question reference: S4W-15907

Asked by: John Lamont, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 June 2013
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 30 August 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether it would seek to continue the UK Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme in an independent Scotland and, if so, what work it has undertaken on how this would operate.

Question reference: S4W-15914

Asked by: John Lamont, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 June 2013
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 30 August 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the compliance and adaptation costs of business if Scotland became independent.

Scotland would comply with EU regulations which affect the conduct of business. Consequently, businesses operating in an independent Scotland would continue to be subject to these compliance requirements as they currently are within the UK; however, within these parameters, Scotland would be able to tailor policies to better reflect the needs of the Scottish economy. Retaining a common currency would facilitate continued trade and investment flows between Scotland and the UK, which is in the interest of businesses in both countries.

Question reference: S4W-15916

Asked by: John Lamont, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 June 2013
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 30 August 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what body would undertake the functions of the Export Guarantees Advisory Council if Scotland became independent.

In delivering these functions, an independent Scotland would ensure continuity of services including transition from the current arrangements to which Scotland currently contributes fully through taxes and fees levied in Scotland by the UK Government. An independent Scotland would not simply replicate UK structures but would develop services based on the needs of Scotland, best practice and the views of our stakeholders.

The Scottish Government will publish its detailed white paper with positive proposals on the opportunities and gains of independence in the autumn. Material on the referendum and the Scottish Government’s proposals for an independent Scotland can be found at:

www.scotreferendum.com, including published papers and speeches. This site will be regularly updated with additional material including further reports from the Fiscal Commission Working group and the Scottish Government’s white paper in the run up to the referendum.

Question reference: S4W-15983

Asked by: John Lamont, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 June 2013
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 30 August 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether the same range of career opportunities would be available to members of an independent Scotland's defence force as the British armed forces.

<>I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-15951 on 30 August 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

Scottish Ministers also believe that defence service personnel should have reassurance that they will not face compulsory redundancy during their service contract.

Question reference: S4W-15996

Asked by: John Lamont, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 June 2013
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 30 August 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to military procurement policy in an independent Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-16000

Asked by: John Lamont, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 June 2013
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 30 August 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what the timescale would be for establishing a financial regulator in an independent Scotland; how much it would cost to (a) establish and (b) operate; what its governance arrangements would be, and what degree of autonomy it would have.

The Fiscal Commission Working Group has set out a robust macroeconomic framework for Scotland post-independence including financial regulation.

In delivering these functions, an independent Scotland would ensure continuity of services, including transition from the current arrangements to which Scotland currently contributes fully through taxes and fees levied in Scotland by the UK Government. An independent Scotland would not simply replicate UK structures but would develop services based on the needs of Scotland, best practice and the views of our stakeholders.

Question reference: S4W-15952

Asked by: John Lamont, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 June 2013
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 30 August 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of Scotland separating from the rest of the UK on the (a) attractiveness of the country to and (b) pricing structures of internet service providers.

The Scottish Government will publish its detailed white paper with positive proposals for the opportunities of independence in the autumn. Political parties, stakeholders, and individuals will have their own preferences for the policies to be pursued in an independent Scotland and the arguments between the range of policy choices available to an independent Scotland will form a central part of the national debate before the referendum.

Question reference: S4W-15958

Asked by: John Lamont, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 June 2013
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 30 August 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what interim arrangements would be put in place to protect an independent Scotland's interests while responsibility is being transferred from the British armed forces to Scottish defence forces.

Question reference: S4W-15939

Asked by: John Lamont, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 June 2013
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 30 August 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the international legal obligations that currently apply to the UK that an independent Scotland would have to adhere to.