Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-15749 on 5 July 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

I refer the member to the answers to question S4W-15478 on 12 June 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

As stated on page seven of the report, “the modelling work is based upon a ‘balanced budget’ analysis, which means that changes in current government expenditure are fully aligned to changes in current tax revenues”.

As stated in the answer to S4W-15749, “whilst a lower tax rate can reduce revenues for a given level of profits, by stimulating economic activity, it can grow the tax base which can in turn lead to higher tax revenues. The potential economic benefits from the policy are significant, with the additional activity generated by cutting corporation tax estimated to create 27,000 jobs and boost GDP by 1.4% after 20 years.”

The only minister confirmed to visit China and Hong Kong in June 2013 was the Minister for External Affairs and International Development. This was announced by the Scottish Government press release on Sunday 23 June 2013.

The protocol between the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government in relation to the handling of committee business states at paragraph 45 that Committee Liaison Officers and or other relevant Scottish Government officials have a general responsibility to ensure that committee clerks are kept updated with significant developments in Scottish Government policy within the committee's remit. This includes, for example, providing clerks with copies of relevant policy announcements, consultations and publications at the time that are made or issued. It also includes giving (where appropriate, or on request) reasonable advance notice of forthcoming events (making clear, where necessary, any restrictions on the extent to which this information can be made public or shared with committee members).

In this particular instance, advance notice of my visit to China was given by way on an embargoed news release shared with committee clerks on Friday 21 June 2013.

As per paragraph 9.17 of the Ministerial Code, the Scottish Government publishes an annual list of all travel overseas by all ministers by means of an answer to a parliamentary question. Details are also published on the Scottish Government website.

Scottish Ministers are currently considering the proposal. It is their intention to handle the case within the performance targets set of issuing their decision within two months of receiving the Reporter’s report, in 80% of cases, and within three months in 100% of cases. The Reporter’s report was received on 25 June 2013.

The modelling in the report, The Impact of a Reduction in Corporation Tax on the Scottish Economy, assesses the impact of a policy equivalent to a reduction in the main rate of corporation tax from 23 per cent to 20 per cent.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-15478 on 12 June 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-16253 on 30 July 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.