Seòmar agus comataidhean

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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

Criathragan Hide all filters

Displaying 1943 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S5O-01974

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 April 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator regarding the use of public funds by NHS boards.

Question reference: S5W-15357

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 16 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 4 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that letting agents are able to comply with the separate client bank account provision of the Letting Agent Code of Practice.

The Scottish Government is liaising with UK Finance, HM Treasury and a number of individual banks to address concerns that some letting agents have been unable to open a suitable undesignated client bank account. This engagement has led to increased access to client bank accounts for this group, although this may mean moving to an alternative bank.

However, the Scottish Government is aware that some agents are continuing to experience difficulties. Officials will continue to work with UK Finance, UK Government, HM Treasury and individual banks to enable letting agents to comply with the client money requirements of the Letting Agent Code of Practice.

Question reference: S5W-15354

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 16 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 4 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding which banks offer letting agents undesignated client bank accounts.

Question reference: S5W-15356

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 16 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 4 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether letting agents that are unable to obtain undesignated client accounts will be given a grace period to comply with the Letting Agent Code of Practice.

The Letting Agent Code of Practice came into force on the 31 January 2018. Section 8 of the Code requires those carrying out letting agency work who hold or handle client money to have one or more separate and dedicated client bank accounts. No grace period is in place or planned in relation to the requirements in the Code.

The Scottish Government recognises that some banks’ restrictions on undesignated (pooled) client banks accounts will mean some of their letting agent clients cannot access a pooled client bank account from their existing bank. However, there are banks and other institutions who do provide a product that meets the requirements of the Code.

The Letting Agent Code of Practice is enforced through the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Housing and Property Chamber). The Tribunal is an independent judicial body and Scottish Ministers do not have powers to direct how the Tribunal operates. However, if a case for breach of the Code is brought in relation to Client Bank Accounts, the Scottish Government expects that the Tribunal will consider all of the facts in the case, including efforts that an organisation has made to secure a separate and dedicated client bank account.

Question reference: S5W-15358

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 16 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 4 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government which banks it has engaged with regarding (a) undesignated client bank accounts, (b) money laundering regulations and (c) the Letting Agent Code of Practice.

Question reference: S5W-15355

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 16 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 4 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government when it became aware of banks no longer offering undesignated or pooled client accounts to letting agents.

Question reference: S5W-14822

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 8 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Inventory of Historic Battlefields is a statutory consultee in the A9 planning process.

Question reference: S5W-14820

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 8 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government on what dates archaeological assessments were made at the A9 at Killiecrankie prior to the current groundwork excavations.

Question reference: S5W-14821

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 8 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what protection from development there is for historic battlefields.

Historic Environment Scotland has a statutory duty to compile and maintain an Inventory of historic battlefields of national importance. The inclusion of a battlefield on the Inventory identifies it as an area of added protection where particular consideration must be given to impacts on the site. The effect of a proposed development on inventory battlefields is a material consideration in the planning system.

Scottish Planning Policy sets out the matters planning authorities should seek to protect in determining planning applications relating to historic battlefields, including protecting, conserving and enhancing their key landscape characteristics and special qualities. Where development is not within the planning system – e.g. forestry or Trunk Roads proposals, Historic Environment Scotland’s Policy Statement states that other public bodies should ensure that nationally important battlefields are given consideration within relevant strategies, plans and programmes.

The Town and Country Planning (Neighbouring planning authorities and Historic Environment)(Scotland) Direction 2015 sets out when Ministers have to be notified over planning proposals affecting historic battlefields, providing an added layer of scrutiny around battlefields.

Question reference: S5W-14819

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 8 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether Historic Environment Scotland was consulted prior to the start of the excavations at the Killiecrankie battlefield as part of the A9 dualling process.