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: S4O-01799

Asked by: Mark McDonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 February 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 February 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what international diplomats it has met recently and what issues were discussed.

Question reference: S4W-12942

Asked by: Mark McDonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 February 2013
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Fergus Ewing on 7 February 2013

To ask the Scottish Government when it will (a) respond to its recent consultation on Renewables Obligation banding levels and (b) confirm levels of support for biomass generation.

The Scottish Government is publishing today its response to a recent supplementary consultation on changes to the Renewables Obligation (Scotland) legislation and support levels.

Our response confirms that support for biomass electricity will be restricted to stations no larger than 15 megawatts installed capacity – unless those stations are accredited as combined heat and power stations. This is slightly higher than the ceiling of 10 megawatts which we had proposed in our consultation, because – while we believe that the need for a restriction in support for biomass electricity remains essential, and we are delivering that – we also wish to support investment in a larger number of stations, subject to their receiving planning permission, which will incorporate good quality combined heat and power. These stations could also attract vital investment in existing businesses, creating and preserving jobs.

We are publishing a response document and summary of the consultation outcome on our website this morning. A copy of that report has also been sent to the Enterprise, Energy and Tourism committee and to the respondents to our consultation. The document also confirms our decisions in a small number of other areas, including support for solar PV. An amending Order containing these changes, and the others consulted upon as part of our review, will be laid before the Scottish Parliament shortly.

Question reference: S4O-01757

Asked by: Mark McDonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 January 2013
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 30 January 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it issues to the police regarding their use of social media when investigating criminal activity.

Question reference: S4W-12154

Asked by: Mark McDonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 January 2013
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 18 January 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has issued guidance to local authorities in relation to the sale of common good land or assets and, if so, when.

In 2005, the then Scottish Executive published an advisory note to local authorities “Local Government in Scotland Act 2003: Asset Management under Best Value”. This note provides advice on how local authorities manage all assets in their care, including common good land and assets. It includes advice on the redeployment or disposal of assets.

This advisory note should be read alongside statutory duties which apply to local authorities over the sale of common good land or assets. This includes a general requirement when selling an asset to consider whether the transaction achieves the best consideration that can reasonably be obtained, in terms of section 74 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 and regulations made under that section, restrictions in the circumstances in which a local authority can dispose of a common good asset (section 75 of the 1973 Act refers) and a broader statutory duty upon local authorities to secure Best Value in terms of Part 1 of the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003.

Question reference: S4W-12155

Asked by: Mark McDonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 January 2013
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 18 January 2013

To ask the Scottish Government how sales of common good land or assets by local authorities are monitored to ensure that best value is achieved.

Responsibility for securing Best Value lies first and foremost with local authorities themselves. They are under a statutory duty to secure Best Value through Part 1 of the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003. They also are subject to a duty, when disposing of an asset, to consider whether the transaction achieves the best consideration that can reasonably be obtained, in terms of section 74 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 and regulations made under that section.

Local authorities are subject to audit for how they secure best value. As part of this, they need to be able to demonstrate if asked by an auditor that they have fulfilled their duties in disposing of any common good assets.

Question reference: S4W-12153

Asked by: Mark McDonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 January 2013
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 18 January 2013

To ask the Scottish Government how much each local authority has received for sales of common good land or assets in each year since 1999.

Question reference: S4O-01735

Asked by: Mark McDonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 January 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 January 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the proposed so-called bedroom tax reductions to housing benefit will have on Scotland's housing associations and local authorities.

Question reference: S4O-01479

Asked by: Mark McDonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 November 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what the implications would be for the Scottish budget if income tax was reduced in Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-10738

Asked by: Mark McDonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 October 2012
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 7 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what the PFI liabilities for each (a) local authority and (b) NHS board will be in each of the next five years, also broken down by PFI project.

Question reference: S4W-10739

Asked by: Mark McDonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 October 2012
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 7 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what the initial reported cost was of each PFI project pursued between 1999 and 2007 and what the total cost of repayments will be for each project.