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-15199

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 4 June 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-11963 by Nicola Sturgeon on 22 January 2013, whether it has had discussions with HM Revenue and Customs in relation to corporate tax avoidance or evasion and, if so, what the outcomes were.

Combating corporate tax avoidance and evasion is under present constitutional arrangements a reserved matter. However my colleagues and I have made clear that we take tackling tax avoidance, including corporate tax avoidance, very seriously.

In relation to the limited tax powers available under the Scotland Act, we have already consulted on a Scottish approach to tax avoidance, including a General Anti-Avoidance Rule. We will be bringing forward proposals in a Tax Management Bill later this year designed to combat avoidance of devolved taxes and to provide a framework for tackling avoidance more widely.

Agreed international action is the most effective way of tackling tax avoidance by multinationals corporations. An independent Scotland would play its full part in working with other countries through established international fora.

Question reference: S4W-15132

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
Date lodged: Friday, 17 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 30 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will encourage providers of social care to sign up to UNISON's Ethical Care Charter.

Question reference: S4O-02209

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 May 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 June 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work of the Land Reform Review Group.

Question reference: S4W-14928

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 28 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what its plans are for the long-term future of the birth to three sector in Gaelic.

The Scottish Government wants to see this sector expand. Bòrd na Gidhlig has established a Gaelic Early Years Strategy Group and the group is expected to provide a report and recommendations later this year. The group has noted the recent early years progress in terms of support for and growth in the Gaelic early years sector and will want to see an expansion of provision and stronger links between Gaelic in the home and Gaelic in early years centres in the years ahead. The Scottish Government will carefully examine the group’s findings and work with Bòrd na Gidhlig to support and develop the birth to three sector.

Question reference: S4W-14926

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 28 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the written national guidance on Gaelic medium education referred to in paragraph 2.2.4 of the 2011 HMIE Report, Gaelic Education: Building on the successes, addressing the barriers.

Question reference: S4W-14905

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
Date lodged: Monday, 13 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 28 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether Police Scotland and its predecessors has/have bought additional equipment for the G8 summit in Northern Ireland and, if so, what equipment; who sanctioned the purchase; what the cost was, and who the suppliers were.

Question reference: S4W-14908

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
Date lodged: Monday, 13 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 28 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what additional training Police Scotland officers to be deployed at the G8 summit in Northern Ireland have been given and by whom.

Question reference: S4W-14901

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
Date lodged: Monday, 13 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 28 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether Police Scotland officers deployed at the G8 summit in Northern Ireland will be using armoured vehicles and, if so, who owns those vehicles.

Question reference: S4W-14907

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
Date lodged: Monday, 13 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 28 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what assurances it can give that Police Scotland officers and staff will have adequate radio communications while travelling to and from and while on deployment at the G8 summit in Northern Ireland.

Question reference: S4W-14906

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
Date lodged: Monday, 13 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 28 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what assurances it can give about the safety of Police Scotland officers and staff (a) travelling to and from and (b) while on deployment at the G8 summit in Northern Ireland.