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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-15650

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 25 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what it estimate it has made of what the cost is of pension liabilities for British Transport Police officers based in Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-15765

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 24 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government when the Scottish Sentencing Council will publish its first sentencing guidelines.

Question reference: S5W-15763

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 24 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what offence-specific guidelines will be produced by the Scottish Sentencing Council, and when these will be published.

The Scottish Sentencing Council is an independent body. They have published a Business Plan which contains full details of the their work programme, including what guidelines they intend to prepare. The plan is available on the Council’s website at https://www.scottishsentencingcouncil.org.uk/media/1494/business-plan-2015-18-for-sg.pdf .

The Council keeps its Business Plan under regular review and I am advised it is currently considering potential topics to include in its second Business Plan, which will cover the period September 2018 to September 2021.

Question reference: S5W-15651

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what changes there have been to the British Transport Police Joint Programme Board membership and chair since its creation.

Question reference: S5W-15652

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government (a) what the membership and (b) who the chair is of the British Transport Police Joint Programme Board.

The Joint Programme Board’s core membership consists of: the Department for Transport – Rail Strategy and Security Directorate; Scottish Government – Police Division; Transport Scotland; British Transport Police Authority; Police Scotland; and the British Transport Police. As and when required, project managers, functional leads and legal advisors are invited to attend. The Joint Programme Board Chair alternates between a representative from the Department for Transport, and the Scottish Government.

Question reference: S5W-15764

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 April 2018
Current Status: Answered by Annabelle Ewing on 19 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is considering proposals to change the law to prevent people convicted of murder acting as executors for their victims.

The Scottish Government is committed to reforming and modernising the law of succession in Scotland, to ensure a clear and fair legal framework for the law of inheritance, relevant to modern Scottish society and the rights of individuals and families. As part of this work we will consider whether there is a need to amend the law to address the issue of convicted murders acting as executors for their victims.

Question reference: S5O-01987

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 April 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on reinstating passenger services on the Edinburgh South Suburban railway line.

Question reference: S5W-14682

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 16 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 16 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how many properties covered by the business rates transitional relief scheme have seen their net rates bills increase by (a) 129.5%, (b) 72.1% and (c) between 35% and 53% following the revaluation of business rates in 2017.

Question reference: S5O-01932

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 March 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how many businesses' non-domestic rates bill increased as a result of the 2017 revaluation.

Question reference: S5W-14681

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 16 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 6 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how many properties covered by the business rates transitional relief scheme have seen their net rates bills increase by more than 14.75% following the revaluation of business rates in 2017.

A chart which has been placed in SPICe (BIB number 59575) shows the net bill rise for properties covered by the transitional scheme, which has been fully funded by the Scottish Government. Successful valuation appeals will potentially reduce figures for bill rises above 14.75% in real terms.

Bill rises of above 14.75% in real terms are primarily due to properties falling outwith the Small Business Bonus Scheme or breaching EU State aid de minims.