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-17541

Asked by: Tom Mason, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 June 2018
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 17 July 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what evidence it has to support its claim in Scotland's Fiscal Outlook, The Scottish Government's Five Year Financial Strategy that there is a "wider public acceptance" of the income tax policy changes in the 2018-19 budget.

Question reference: S5W-17542

Asked by: Tom Mason, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 June 2018
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 17 July 2018

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has not split, or planned to split evenly, its capital borrowing repayments for the capital borrowing that took place, or is planned to take place, in 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20 over each respective payback period, and for what reason its approach in these years prioritises smaller repayments at the beginning of repayment periods, with larger repayments required later on in the repayment period.

The Scottish Government borrowed in 2017-18 using the Equal repayments (ER) method - an annuity profile of equal annual payments, hence varying levels of principal and interest (in the earlier years more interest and less principal is paid and vice versa in the latter years of the loan). This method is allowable under the Borrowing Memorandum of Understanding agreed between Scottish Government and HM Treasury. Decisions on repayment method have yet to be taken for 2018-19 and beyond.

Question reference: S5W-17537

Asked by: Tom Mason, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 June 2018
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 17 July 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-15800 by Derek Mackay on 17 April 2018, and in light of its indication that decisions on how to spend capital borrowing are not made at the time of the budget, for what reason the agreed repayment period for capital borrowing that will occur in 2018-19 and 2019-20 is confirmed as 25 years, when the Fiscal Framework states that 10 years is the normal period, subject to specific information regarding the asset life of the capital project.

Question reference: S5W-17540

Asked by: Tom Mason, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 June 2018
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 17 July 2018

To ask the Scottish Government on what basis it claims in the Scotland's Fiscal Outlook, The Scottish Government's Five Year Financial Strategy that Scotland has the "most attractive business rates package in the UK".

Scotland provides the most competitive non-domestic rates reliefs package available anywhere in the UK and is worth a record £720 million, up from £660 million in 2017-18, which includes several measures that are unique to Scotland. The Small Business Bonus Scheme (SBBS) has lifted over 100,000 properties out of rates altogether in 2017-18 and has saved businesses over £1.5 billion cumulatively since 2009. The package of measures also includes the UK’s first targeted 100 percent rates relief for nurseries which was introduced from 1 April 2018, along with the growth accelerator and relief for new unoccupied builds which supports investment in non-domestic property.

These measures have been welcomed by businesses the length and breadth of Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-17429

Asked by: Tom Mason, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 22 June 2018
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 16 July 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the Scottish Fiscal Commission's view that the government spending component of aggregate demand will be reduced significantly when the capital borrowing limit of £3 billion is reached and it can no longer borrow at its current levels.

Question reference: S5W-17422

Asked by: Tom Mason, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 22 June 2018
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 16 July 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the Scottish Fiscal Commission’s statement in its recent forecast report that the growth of real disposable household income is "the main determinant of aggregate consumption".

Question reference: S5W-17436

Asked by: Tom Mason, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 22 June 2018
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 16 July 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether a relatively weak pound over the last two years has been the driving factor in an improved net trade position for Scotland.

Quarterly National Accounts Scotland (published 2 May 2018) shows that during 2017, Scotland’s net trade position improved, driven by a net-trade surplus with the Rest of the World. The net-trade surplus with the Rest of the World was driven by an increase in international exports. This has been supported by both the relatively lower value of Sterling, which has been a feature since the EU Referendum, and stronger growth in the global economy.

Question reference: S5W-17420

Asked by: Tom Mason, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 22 June 2018
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 16 July 2018

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason Scotland’s real household disposable income growth is reportedly 0.5% behind the UK average.

As highlighted by the Scottish Fiscal Commission’s latest report, the growth rate of Real Disposable Household Income (RDHI) is influenced by a range of macroeconomic trends. In particular differences in population growth rates are an important determinant in the difference between the growth rate of RDHI between the UK and Scotland.

The Scottish Fiscal Commission go on to forecast that any gap between Scottish and UK RDHI on a per capita basis (controlling for differences in population growth) will narrow and then close over the next two years.

Question reference: S5W-17434

Asked by: Tom Mason, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 22 June 2018
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 16 July 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of non-savings, non-dividend (NSND) income tax forecasts being revised down by £1.74 billion in the years up to 2023-24, what its position is on whether pursuing an income tax policy that is estimated to result in a loss in revenue in the same period of £292.17 million due to behavioural responses and almost £2.1 billion due to tax-motivated incorporations is a sustainable way to manage the economy.

The SFC’s report, Table 3.5, clearly states that the main reason for their downgrade in income tax receipts is a change in their projections for wage and employment growth. There is no evidence that would suggest our income tax policy is leading to a downgrade in forecasts. In their December report the SFC note that the income tax policy is “not of a large enough magnitude to have a significant aggregate impact on the Scottish economy” (page 76). The SFCs reports can be found here: http://www.fiscalcommission.scot/media/1196/scotlands-economic-fiscal-forecasts-publication.pdf and here: http://www.fiscalcommission.scot/media/1314/scotlands-economic-and-fiscal-forecasts-may-2018-full-report.pdf

Question reference: S5W-17428

Asked by: Tom Mason, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 22 June 2018
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 16 July 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on it nearing its capital borrowing limit of £3 billion.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that revenue funded investment, including borrowing, is maintained at sustainable levels and as a result future revenue commitments will be kept within a maximum of 5% of available budget limits. When taking account of borrowing undertaken to date and borrowing anticipated in 2018-19, £1.5 billion of the £3 billion borrowing limit still remains available.