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-14617

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 12 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 28 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the second supplementary to question S5F-02020 by Nicola Sturgeon on 8 February 2018 (Official Report, c. 19), in light of the potential impact on passengers and businesses in Scotland, what communications it has had with (a) the UK Government and (b) Stagecoach and Virgin regarding the ending of the current East Coast Mainline rail franchise contract.

I spoke to the Secretary of State on 7 February 2018 for reassurance that there will be no slide in the provision or quality of services, and that the interests of Scottish passengers are addressed. I then followed up that communication with a letter on 8 February 2018. Virgin Trains East Coast issued on 5 February 2018 a notification to stakeholders about the impending termination of the franchise and affirmed a continuing commitment, for the reminder of their contract, to the customers and the communities that they serve. My officials, in the light of the notification, wrote to the Managing Director, Virgin Trains East Coast on 13 February 2018 requesting advance notification of any changes to services affecting Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-14413

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 05 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Annabelle Ewing on 22 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government when the UK Government confirmed that it would be refunding the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s VAT for 2018-19.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Autumn Budget statement on 22 November 2017 confirmed that the UK Government would legislate to allow SFRS to reclaim VAT from April 2018.

In setting the budget for SFRS in 201819 we have ensured that it will benefit from the whole of the additional £10 million it can now reclaim on VAT. We will continue to press the UK Government over the £140m already paid to HMRC for Police and Fire VAT.

Question reference: S5W-14412

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 05 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Annabelle Ewing on 21 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how it expects the number of (a) firefighters, (b) fire stations and (c) fire appliances to change as a result of the transformation plan for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, and when it was informed of these changes.

The number of firefighters, fire stations and fire appliances are operational matters for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS). SFRS is currently considering how it should deliver safe and planned changes to the services it delivers in light of changing circumstances, technology and risks facing communities in Scotland. SFRS launched a consultation on its service transformation proposals on 13 February 2018.

Until the consultation is closed and assessed, no decisions have been taken on the number of firefighters, fire stations and fire appliances.

Question reference: S5W-14414

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 05 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Annabelle Ewing on 21 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government when it became aware that the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was planning to inform staff of a new package as part of the transformation plans for the service.

Question reference: S5W-14415

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 05 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Annabelle Ewing on 21 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government when it indicated to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service that it would provide the increase in budget to facilitate the transformation plan.

Question reference: S5W-14182

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 12 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that EMIS, which provides electronic GP records products, has failed to meet standards across three categories in its service-level agreement with NHS Digital in England, what assessment it has made of whether this will impact on any services that the company provides to the NHS in Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-14123

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 26 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 1 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of all meetings between ministers and members or former members of the Scottish Police Authority Board since 2015, including whether there was a minute taken of the meeting.

Question reference: S5T-00900

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 29 January 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported allegations of “government interference” in the independence of the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner.

Question reference: S5W-13864

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 15 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 26 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of what (a) meetings and (a) phone calls there have been between ministers and members of the board of the Scottish Police Authority, and which of these were minuted.

Question reference: S5W-13862

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 15 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 26 January 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the effectiveness of the relationship between the Scottish Police Authority and ministers and officials, and whether it plans to review this relationship.