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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: S4W-18056

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 01 November 2013
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 13 November 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17873 by Humza Yousaf on 29 October 2013, what topics were discussed at each meeting; what the outcomes and agreed actions were, and whether follow-up meetings were proposed.

Question reference: S4W-17973

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 28 October 2013
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 11 November 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17686 by Nicola Sturgeon on 22 October 2013, what companies were awarded each framework contract for mail services.

The postal services framework is divided into two lots. Lot one is for ad-hoc and hybrid mail and was awarded to TNT Post Scotland Ltd. Lot two, covering planned mail, was awarded to the Royal Mail Group Ltd.

In relation to the courier services framework, this framework is divided into six geographical lots. DHL Express (UK) Ltd was awarded five lots, covering Glasgow, Strathclyde and south west Scotland; Grampian; Highlands and Islands; Tayside, Central and Fife; and a one stop shop (organisations that have multiple sites across Scotland). The sixth lot was awarded to Eagle Couriers and covers Edinburgh, Lothian and south east Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-17985

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 28 October 2013
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 11 November 2013

To ask the Scottish Government on what dates since 3 May 2012 the Minister for Local Government and Planning has communicated with SNP councillors on Argyll and Bute Council and what matters were discussed.

As the local government and planning minister, I regularly engage and communicate with councillors. This can include councillors from any of the political parties represented at local government level, including the SNP, and also independents.

I most recently visited Argyll and Bute on 28 October 2013 to attend the Autumn Convention of the Highlands and Islands which took place in Helensburgh. The convention meeting was attended by councillors from across the Highlands and Islands, including the Independent Leader and the Liberal Democrat Depute Leader of Argyll and Bute Council.

I am committed to treating all Scotland’s councillors with equal regard, regardless of political party. Scottish Government record systems do not, as a rule, distinguish between councillors on a party political basis. However, I am nevertheless pleased to be able to furnish you with a list of the main communications I have had with Argyll and Bute councillors who were also members of the SNP at the time of communication.

I visited Argyll and Bute Council on 15-16 August 2012 and met the then Council Leader Roddy McCuish, a member of the SNP, where a number of issues relating to Argyll and Bute were discussed.

On 29 July 2013 I wrote to Council Leader Roddy McCuish about the National Planning Framework 3.

On 1 August 2013 I wrote to Counsellor Roddy McCuish in his capacity as chair of the Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership (CPP) to approve the single outcome agreement and associated development plan produced by the CPP.

On 23 August 2013 I wrote to Council Leader Roddy McCuish regarding the Island Areas Ministerial Working Group.

Question reference: S4W-17981

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 28 October 2013
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 7 November 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17688 by Fergus Ewing on 23 October 2013, for what purposes under the Data Protection Act 1998 the names and addresses of businesses and sole traders were collected.

Question reference: S4W-17980

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 28 October 2013
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 7 November 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17688 by Fergus Ewing on 23 October 2013, what assessment it has made of whether an unsolicited letter to businesses and sole traders from a minister breaches the terms of the Data Protection Act 1998.

The Scottish Government is supporting businesses by writing to any potential eligible business that isn’t claiming rates relief they may be entitled to under the Small Business Bonus Scheme (SBBS) to highlight they may benefit from zero or reduced business rates.

Following the issue of a similar letter in 2010 the number of business properties benefiting from SBBS has seen a year on year increase.

In using this information, supplied by Councils who administer the rating system on its behalf, the Scottish Government has fully complied with the Data Protection Act.

Question reference: S4W-17982

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 28 October 2013
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 7 November 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17688 by Fergus Ewing on 23 October 2013, what organisations collected the names and addresses of businesses and sole traders.

Question reference: S4O-02569

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 November 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 November 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what steps the Scottish Futures Trust has taken to ensure that non-profit distributing model investment achieves forecast levels.

Question reference: S4W-17988

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 October 2013
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 5 November 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17733 by John Swinney on 17 October 2013, when it expects to be able to publish targets for 2013-14 for the business rates incentivisation scheme.

As explained in my response to question S4W-17733, COSLA Leaders took the decision that they did not want to consider the review of the 2012-13 Business Rates Incentivisation Scheme (BRIS) targets until the final non-domestic rates audited figures for 2012-13 are available, which will not be until the end of February 2014 at the earliest.

It is our intention that we will publish agreed 2013-14 targets as soon as possible after we have reached agreement with COSLA on the final 2012-13 targets.

Question reference: S4W-17987

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 October 2013
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 5 November 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17733 by John Swinney on 17 October 2013, whether it has been able to assess whether the business rates incentivisation scheme is proving effective in the absence of agreed targets.

The absence of agreed targets for 2012-13 should have little or no impact on the effectiveness of the business rates incentivisation scheme. Clearly it would have been helpful to have agreed targets but as I explained in my response to question S4W-17733 this has not been possible given the decision taken by COSLA leaders to delay any decision until the audited 2012-13 returns are available.

Irrespective of what the final agreed targets are, individual local authorities know that they will get to keep 50% of any additional business rates collected over and above the final agreed targets.

Question reference: S4F-01651

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 04 November 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 November 2013

To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet.