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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: S4O-02484

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 October 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 October 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the findings of the second report of the Fiscal Commission Working Group.

Question reference: S4W-17536

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 September 2013
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Michael Matheson on 1 October 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will introduce legislation to improve outcomes for carers and young carers.

The First Minister announced on 1 October 2013, at the second annual Carers Parliament, that the Scottish Government plans to introduce legislation to improve outcomes for carers and young carers.

We will consult widely on legislation that aims to improve both the assessment and support for carers and young carers. In relation to young carers, this will take account of the existing measures within the Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill.

We believe that this legislation, focused on carers and young carers, will: improve carers’ health and wellbeing;sustain the caring role;enable carers to have a life alongside caring;assist carers to remain in or return to work;enable access to community support networks and prevent or delay hospital or residential care admissions for cared-for persons.

Question reference: S4O-02443

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 September 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 October 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what the educational benefits are of learning a second language.

Question reference: S4O-02420

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 September 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 September 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of it providing assistance to NGOs supporting humanitarian projects in Syria, whether it shares growing concerns at the mounting humanitarian crisis in the country.

Question reference: S4O-02260

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 June 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 June 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what impact Ministry of Defence rules for procurement of naval vessels will have on jobs in Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-14787

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 22 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-05467 by Bruce Crawford on 5 March 2012, whether it will provide an update of its estimate of Scotland's share of the cost of (a) operating and (b) replacing the Trident system.

The Scottish Government estimates that, based on 2011-12 UK defence spending figures and on UK Ministers’ statement that in-service costs for Trident are around 5 to 6% of the total defence budget, Scotland’s 8.4% population share of operating costs for the Trident nuclear weapons system is around £170 million per annum.

In addition to those operating costs, the Scottish Government estimates that Scotland’s population share of the replacement costs for the UK Government’s nuclear deterrent programme, outlined most recently in The United Kingdom’s Future Nuclear Deterrent: 2012 Update to Parliament, is between £1.26 and £1.68 billion at 2006-07 prices.

Question reference: S4O-02147

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 May 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the provision of outdoor sports facilities with all-weather surfaces in the grounds of secondary schools.

Question reference: S4W-14734

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 May 2013
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 8 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what legislative consent motions it will lodge in connection with the UK Government's legislative programme as announced in the Queen’s Speech on 8 May 2013.

In accordance with the Sewel Convention, the UK Parliament does not legislate with regard to devolved matters in Scotland without the consent of the Scottish Parliament.

This is an important part of devolution, as it acknowledges the special constitutional position of the Scottish Parliament and the democratic mandate conferred on this Parliament by the people of Scotland. In the view of the Scottish Government, the Sewel Convention will remain an essential part of the constitution of the UK for as long as the UK Parliament retains its current powers and functions in relation to Scotland.

In the normal course of business, legislation on devolved matters should be scrutinised and determined in the Scottish Parliament. There may however be situations in which it is helpful and appropriate for legislation dealing with devolved matters to be taken forward at Westminster.

The Scottish Government is committed to assessing opportunities of this kind on their merits and to working closely and constructively with the UK Government, on a case by case basis, to deliver legislation which best meets Scotland’s needs. The Scottish Government is equally committed to working with the UK Government to pursue opportunities to extend devolved competence.

The formal consent of the Scottish Parliament is required in relation to all proposals for Westminster primary legislation on devolved matters, including alterations to devolved competence, in accordance with Chapter 9B of Standing Orders.

Within the legislative programme announced today by the UK Government, we have identified potential opportunities to legislate for the benefit of Scotland on matters that are within the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament or which alter legislative or executive competence.

The UK bills which we currently expect to give rise to Legislative Consent Motions in the Scottish Parliament cover:

Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill – a Bill which will include a wide range of reforms to policing and the introduction of a number of antisocial behaviour measures, reforms to alcohol and licensing, dangerous dogs, firearms, and extradition law amongst other provisions. The Bill mostly relates to England, but some provisions do extend to Scotland in reserved areas such as the firearms offence changes. The parts of the Bill that extend to Scotland in devolved areas relate to the Police Negotiating Board, dangerous dogs and witness protection.

Care Bill – The provisions of this Bill aim to address adult care in England. It does not generally extend to Scotland but will require legislative consent for provisions relating to cross-border placements and the establishment of the Health Research Authority.

Water Bill – A Bill generally legislating for England and Wales and which will contain provisions for establishing water market competition (similar to that established in Scotland by the 2008 Act), Ofwat and sewerage. A technical LCM will be required for provisions on sewerage licencing and the River Esk.

The Scottish Government will, in due course, lodge memoranda and motions for these bills, once they have been introduced in the UK Parliament. It will then be for the Scottish Parliament to determine whether to give or withhold consent.

It is possible that further opportunities to legislate for Scotland by means of Legislative Consent Motion may occur in connection with other UK bills, including Private Member’s bills. Any additional proposals of this kind, together with any relevant amendments to the Government bills listed above, will be drawn to the attention of the Parliament as they arise, in line with the requirements of Standing Orders.

Question reference: S4O-01996

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 April 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 April 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what guidelines are in place to ensure that schools are properly maintained, including with regard to their heating and ventilation.

Question reference: S4O-01781

Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 January 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 February 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what lessons have been learned from Glasgow's Equally Well testing programme.