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: S5W-00015

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 31 May 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has had discussions with (a) Edinburgh City Council, (b) Falkirk Council and (c) East Ayrshire Council regarding the possibility of China Railway No.3 Engineering Group and SinoFortone investing in 5,000 affordable homes across these areas.

The memorandum of understanding between the Scottish Government, China Railway No.3 Engineering Group and SinoFortone is focused on developing a working relationship to explore possible investment in Scotland. The Scottish Government has not had any discussions with Edinburgh City Council or East Ayrshire regarding Sinofortone.

The Scottish Government has made no representations to Falkirk Council regarding investment by China Railway No. 3 in affordable housing in Falkirk. Discussions took place involving the Scottish Government, Sinofortone and Falkirk Council where investment in affordable housing was discussed.

Question reference: S5W-00008

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 31 May 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will place in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) a copy of all documentation relating to the agreement of a joint press release between the Scottish Government and China Railway No.3 Engineering Group and SinoFortone regarding the memorandum of understanding signed on 21 March 2016, which was published on the companies’ English language website.

Question reference: S5W-00023

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 31 May 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will suspend the memorandum of understanding with China Railway No.3 Engineering Group and SinoFortone that was signed on 21 March 2016 until it has investigated allegations of human rights abuses and the risk of gross corruption.

Question reference: S5W-00016

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 31 May 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it made on behalf of China Railway No.3 Engineering Group with regard to affordable housing in Falkirk in 2015.

Question reference: S5W-00013

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 31 May 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether the First Minister expressed a preference that China Railway No.3 Engineering Group and SinoFortone invest in (a) affordable housing and (b) clean energy during discussions, as stated by Sir Richard Heygate on Good Morning Scotland on 8 April 2016, and whether she indicated that she would "like to get something moving this year" and, if so, on what date this occurred.

Question reference: S5W-00009

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 31 May 2016

To ask the Scottish Government with what foreign companies it has signed memorandums of understanding in each year since 2007-08; on what dates each was signed; how many led to the intended collaboration and financial investment, and whether each was announced on the Scottish Government’s website.

Question reference: S5W-00020

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 31 May 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what advice on China Railway No.3 Engineering Group and SinoFortone it sought from external stakeholders before signing the memorandum of understanding on 21 March 2016.

Question reference: S5W-00019

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 31 May 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its signing of the memorandum of understanding with China Railway No.3 Engineering Group and SinoFortone signed on 21 March 2016, how many hours of its officials’ time has been spent on work associated with the signing of the memorandum and at what cost; what support it will provide to the companies and at what cost, and whether they will receive privileged access to information not already publicly available.

Information on the number of hours of officials’ time spent on work associated with the memorandum of understanding and the associated cost is not recorded.

The Scottish Government’s work with China Railway No.3 Engineering Group and SinoFortone is part of a much broader approach by the Government and its agencies to welcome and encourage investment which delivers benefits for Scotland. This involves working with a wide range of businesses and investors to, for example, help them understand the Scottish context; connect with potential partners; and to identify opportunities and possible funding.

Question reference: S5W-00012

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 31 May 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what projects it or China Railway No.3 Engineering Group and SinoFortone have identified as opportunities for investment in (a) affordable housing, (b) communities, (c) clean energy, (d) industry and business parks, (e) transportation infrastructure and (f) any other areas.

The memorandum of Uuderstanding between the Scottish Government, China Railway No.3 Engineering Group and SinoFortone is focused on developing a working relationship to explore possible investment in Scotland.

At their meeting on 3 February 2016, SinoFortone expressed an interest in areas including affordable housing, energy and infrastructure, the First Minister noted SinoFortone’s interest in these areas.

The Scottish Government has not identified any specific projects for potential investment.

Scottish Government officials introduced SinoFortone to Falkirk Council and Loudon Castle Developments to help them understand and explore potential investment opportunities. No projects have been confirmed for investment by Sinofortone or China Railway No.3 Engineering Group.

Question reference: S4F-03322

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 21 March 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 March 2016

To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet.