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-30416

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 March 2016
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Burgess on 17 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether there is a difference in communal repair legislation between the City of Edinburgh Council and other local authorities and, if so, whether it plans to address this.

For historical reasons Edinburgh City Council had local powers to enforce repairs under Part 6 of the City of Edinburgh District Council Order Confirmation Act 1991. Since 2009 all local authorities have had discretionary powers to require owners to carry out work to repair homes or to plan maintenance. We have established a stakeholder forum to consider whether there should be a new single condition standard for all housing tenures to support repairs to common parts in mixed tenure buildings.

Question reference: S4W-30406

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 March 2016
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Burgess on 17 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government when it (a) last reviewed and (b) will next review the legislation on property factoring and under what circumstances it would consider changing it.

The Property Factors (Scotland) Act 2011 came into force on 1 October 2012 and provides protections for homeowners who use the services of a registered property factor.

The current legislation has been operating for just over three years and no review has taken place to date. There are also no current plans to review the Act, but a review of the code of conduct for registered property factors established under the Act is planned to start in 2016. The code sets out minimum standards of practice which all registered property factors are obliged to comply with.

We will engage with property factors and homeowners so that they can play a key role in the review and developing any revised code of conduct. Any revised code would also be subject to public consultation and approval by the Scottish Parliament. We are also happy to work with the industry and others with a view to identifying any other ways to strengthen the Act.

Question reference: S4W-30413

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 March 2016
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Burgess on 17 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government by what proportion the number of registered landlords living outwith the UK has changed since the Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004 came into force.

Question reference: S4W-30072

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 February 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 7 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on Scotland's economy, what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding fiscal reform to secure the future of the oil and gas industry.

The key fiscal levers that affect the sector remain with the UK Government. The Scottish Government has made repeated calls for the fiscal regime to support greater exploration, protect critical infrastructure and encourage further investment in the oil and gas sector. Most recently, the Deputy First Minister wrote to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 12 February 2016 to outline the need for further urgent fiscal reform.

The Deputy First Minister called for:

A substantial reduction in the headline rate of tax, in order to create an internationally competitive tax regime that will successfully bid for investment, improvements to accessing decommissioning tax relief and the fiscal treatment of infrastructure, which should encourage innovation and efficiency.

The removal of fiscal barriers for exploration and enhanced oil recovery, via the further refinement of the investment allowance. Additional non-fiscal support to support investment in the sector, such as government loan guarantees.

The Scottish Government is currently using all of its devolved powers to help where it can. Building on actions such as the creation of the energy jobs taskforce in January 2015, the Scottish Government has recently announced a comprehensive support package for the sector.

Question reference: S4W-30073

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 February 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 7 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on Scotland's economy, what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the introduction of a government loan guarantee scheme to allow oil and gas supply chain companies to access finance.

The Deputy First Minister wrote to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 12 February 2016 outlining a series of measures the UK Government must consider ahead of the March budget. Along with urgent fiscal measures to reduce the tax burden, we have asked the UK Government to consider easing constraints on accessing finance, for instance through the introduction of a Government loan guarantee scheme. This scheme would improve access to working capital, ease borrowing constraints and may provide a crucial lifeline to many companies.

The First Minister also announced on 1 February 2016 that Scottish Enterprise has begun an extensive research project to analyse and understand the access to finance issues facing the oil and gas sector.

Question reference: S4O-05636

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 March 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made on the construction of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

Question reference: S4W-30231

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 March 2016
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Marco Biagi on 2 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its response to the Commission on Local Tax Reform.

Question reference: S4O-05614

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 February 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 2 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making with the Aberdeen women's hospital and cancer care unit projects.

NHS Grampian is continuing to plan the Baird Family Hospital and ANCHOR Centre in Aberdeen with the support of the Scottish Government and the Scottish Futures Trust. The planning process involves a wide range of clinical staff and public engagement. The clinical strategies for the new facilities are complete and work is proceeding on the detailed specifications and development of the designs. The planning applications for the new facilities have been submitted.

Question reference: S4O-05568

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 February 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 February 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in introducing a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses.

Question reference: S4O-05475

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 January 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 January 2016

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met Aberdeen City Council to discuss education issues.