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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-14686

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 16 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 13 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what correspondence (a) ministers and (b) officials have had with (i) Smartmatic, (ii) Scytle and (iii) any other suppliers of electronic or online voting systems.

The Scottish Government's Digital Strategy includes a commitment to explore and trial the potential of electronic voting solutions. This follows on from the successful electronic counting of votes in Scotland's local government elections, most recently those held in May 2017.

In addition, our current consultation on Electoral Reform - which is open until‎ 29 March 2018 - invites responses on a range of issues including seeking views on electronic machine voting and online voting.

In the context of this work, to inform our understanding of the electronic voting landscape, in recent months Elections Team officials have had engagement with a wide range of informed stakeholders. Among these stakeholders were several commercial suppliers of electronic voting machines and online voting technology, including Smartmatic and Scytl. This engagement has included both meetings and correspondence with Elections Team officials but not with Scottish Ministers.

I gave the opening address at an event organised jointly by the Scottish Government and Edinburgh University School of Informatics, 'Scotland's Democratic Future: Exploring Electronic Voting'. In addition to electoral practitioners, academics and others, this event was attended by the following e-voting suppliers: UK Engage; Smartmatic; Scytl; Idox; Modern Democracy; and CGI. Details at: https://www.ed.ac.uk/informatics/news-events/seminars/scotland-democratic-future-electronic-voting

It should be noted that, in early 2015, during the procurement exercise to contract a supplier to deliver the e-counting of the 2017 local government elections, there was some engagement with both Scytl and Smartmatic, though this did not include any discussion of electronic voting solutions. Neither of these suppliers submitted a bid for the e-counting contract.

Question reference: S5W-14687

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 16 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 13 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings (a) ministers and (b) officials have had with (i) Smartmatic, (ii) Scytle and (iii) any other suppliers of electronic or online voting systems; who attended each meeting, and what was discussed.

Question reference: S5F-02112

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 05 March 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 March 2018

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S5W-14596

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 28 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5F-02020 by Nicola Sturgeon on 8 February 2018 (Official Report, c. 17) and the comment by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work at the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee on 8 March 2017 (Official Report, c. 15), that “if we were not happy with what the airport was doing, we would ask serious questions”, whether it has discussed with Prestwick airport its arrangements with (a) non-UK military forces and (b) the Trump Organization.

In compliance with European Union State Aid rules, Glasgow Prestwick Airport is being operated on a commercial basis and at arm’s length from the Scottish Government.

In accordance with those arrangements, the Airport must be free to operate on a commercial basis and pursue business opportunities. The Scottish Government plays no part in specific commercial discussions between Glasgow Prestwick Airport and its customers or potential customers. Ministers receive regular updates on the performance of the company.

Question reference: S5W-14591

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 28 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5F-02020 by Nicola Sturgeon on 8 February 2018 (Official Report, c. 17), under what contractual basis aircraft owned by, or associated with, the Trump Organization have operated from Prestwick airport since it was taken into public ownership.

Question reference: S5W-14589

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 28 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5F-02020 by Nicola Sturgeon on 8 February 2018 (Official Report, c. 17), what information it holds regarding the targets of non-UK military missions that have been supported by refuelling planes using Prestwick airport since it was taken into public ownership.

Question reference: S5W-14597

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 28 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5F-02020 by Nicola Sturgeon on 8 February 2018 (Official Report, c. 17) and the by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work at the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee on 8 March 2017 (Official Report, c. 15), that “I have been talking to [Prestwick airport] management about specific commercial opportunities”, what specific commercial opportunities involving (a) non-UK military forces and (b) the Trump Organization it has discussed with Prestwick airport.

Question reference: S5W-14594

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 28 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5F-02020 by Nicola Sturgeon on 8 February 2018 (Official Report, c. 17), what correspondence (a) ministers and (b) Transport Scotland have had with, or about, non-UK military forces and related activities regarding Prestwick airport since it was taken into public ownership.

Question reference: S5W-14592

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 28 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5F-02020 by Nicola Sturgeon on 8 February 2018 (Official Report, c. 17), what correspondence (a) ministers and (b) Transport Scotland have had with, or about, the Trump Organization and related companies regarding Prestwick airport since it was taken into public ownership.

Question reference: S5W-14590

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 28 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5F-02020 by Nicola Sturgeon on 8 February 2018 (Official Report, c. 17), under what contractual basis non-UK military forces have operated from Prestwick airport since it was taken into public ownership.

In compliance with European Union State Aid rules, Glasgow Prestwick Airport is being operated on a commercial basis and at arm’s length from the Scottish Government.

Prestwick Airport has no contracts with non-UK military forces. The airport has a general agreement with the US Military to be available to offer fuel and other aircraft handling services on a commercial basis.

In 2016, Prestwick Airport secured a US Defence Logistics Agency fuel contract as set out in the Airport’s Strategic Plan 2017-2022, published on 28 April 2017. This agreement offers certainty on the Airport’s margin on fuel supplied to US forces and streamlines the processes for units to stop and refuel at Glasgow Prestwick.