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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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S5W-02386

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 21 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the announcement of the Scottish Growth Scheme, how it will define “high growth potential” when assessing applications.

Question reference: S5W-02384

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 21 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the announcement of the Scottish Growth Scheme, which emerging markets it will prioritise in awarding loans and guarantees to applicant companies.

Question reference: S5F-00243

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 19 September 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 September 2016

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

Question reference: S5F-00205

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 12 September 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 September 2016

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

Question reference: S5W-01410

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 July 2016
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 9 August 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-00024 by Keith Brown on 31 May 2016, whether its officials (a) sought advice from the Scottish Development International team in China on the background of China Railway No.3 Engineering Group and (b) conducted or requested any other assessment of the credibility of the company.

Question reference: S5W-01413

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 July 2016
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 9 August 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-00019 by Keith Brown on 31 May 2016, whether it will answer the question that was asked regarding whether (a) China Railway No.3 Engineering Group or (b) SinoFortone (i) has previously or (ii) will in future receive privileged access to information not already publicly available and, if so, what access.

Neither company has had access to privileged Scottish Government information. Any information provided by other parties which SinoFortone and/or China Railway No. 3 Engineering Group have had discussion with is a matter for them.China Railway No. 3 Engineering Group and SinoFortone will receive the same access to information as any potential significant investor in Scotland. Some of that information is available publicly. Other information is provided to help and encourage investors to invest in Scotland to create jobs and economic growth.

Question reference: S5W-01409

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 July 2016
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 9 August 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress toward the possibility of China Railway No.3 Engineering Group and SinoFortone investing in projects across Scotland in accordance with the memorandum of understanding signed with the Scottish Government on 21 March 2016.

Question reference: S5W-01408

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 July 2016
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 9 August 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the First Minister stating on 2 June 2016 (Official Report, c.13) that “the Scottish Parliament would have the opportunity to scrutinise” any contracts involving projects agreed with China Railway No.3 Engineering Group, whether it anticipates that this opportunity would occur before or after the contract was signed.

The Memorandum of Understanding between the Scottish Government, China Railway No.3 Engineering Group (CR3) and SinoFortone is focused on developing a working relationship to explore possible investment in Scotland.If and where such investment involves CR3, SinoFortone and third parties then any contract would be a matter for those parties.The Scottish Government has not identified any specific projects for potential investment.

Question reference: S5W-01411

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 July 2016
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 9 August 2016

To ask the Scottish Government on what dates since 5 May 2016 (a) its officials, (b) the First Minister and (c) other ministers have held discussions with (i) China Railway No. 3 Engineering Group, (ii) SinoFortone and (iii) any other organisation that could potentially be involved in activities further to the signing of the memorandum of understanding with these companies on 21 March 2016; what was discussed, and whether it will place a copy of the minutes in SPICe.

There have been no discussions between the First Minister or other Ministers and China Railway No. 3 Engineering Group or SinoFortone since 5 May 2016.At his request, Scottish Government officials participated in a short teleconference with the Chair of the Asia Scotland Institute, Roddy Gow, and Sir Richard Heygate of SinoFortone on 30 June. SinoFortone highlighted their conversations with third parties about potential investment opportunities. No other issues were discussed and a minute of the teleconference was not taken.Officials met with the Chair of the Asia Scotland Institute on 29 July. The Memorandum of Understanding was discussed along with a range of issues relating to Scotland’s relationship with Asia. A note of the meeting has been placed in SPICe (Bib No. 58117).

Question reference: S5W-01415

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 July 2016
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 9 August 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-00024 by Keith Brown on 31 May 2016, whether it has now undertaken full due diligence as a precaution or whether this will only occur once legal, contractual or funding obligations or commitments on its behalf are agreed.