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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: S5W-08753

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 10 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 25 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it took to ensure that transport (a) to, (b) from and (c) within the United States for the First Minister's recent visit was completed in the most environmentally sustainable way possible.

The First Minister visited the United States between 2 and 7 April attending events and meetings in California and New York.

The visit focused on promoting trade and investment, boosting tourism, sharing best practice across the public and private sector and promoting Scottish innovation and entrepreneurship. I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-08856 on 20 April 2017 for more details on the visit. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

Transport arrangements for the visit were made in line with Scottish Government's sustainable Travel Strategy.

Question reference: S5F-01182

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 April 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 April 2017

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on the accuracy of the GERS figures.

Question reference: S5W-08471

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 31 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 19 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5T-00479 by Keith Brown on 28 March 2017 (Official Report, c. 5), on what date the cabinet secretary was advised of the possible delay to the opening of the Queensferry Crossing; how much the delay will add to the overall cost of the project, and what the economic impact will be.

I met with the contractor, Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors, on Monday 27 March 2017 when they advised me that, due to the continued impacts of wind on the construction operations, they were unlikely to be able to achieve an opening date in May for the Queensferry Crossing.

As I stated at the Rural Economy Connectivity Committee any increase in delivery time will not result in any increase to the overall cost to the taxpayer which stands at £1.35 billion as before. The £245 million of savings that have been released since the construction started are secure.

The Forth Road Bridge is operating well. Consequently, there will be no further economic impact as a result of the revised timescales.

Question reference: S5W-08381

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 18 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what the initial estimated cost was for the A944 South Kingswells Junction, and whether it will provide a breakdown of any subsequent revisions to that estimate.

Question reference: S5W-08380

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 18 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of any revisions made to the original plans for the A944 South Kingswells Junction.

Question reference: S5W-08385

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 18 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-07768 by Keith Brown on 23 March 2017, in what month during the winter period the route will be opened.

The AWPR/B-T is currently scheduled to open to traffic in Winter 2017-18. As with all complex civil engineering contracts of this scale, delivery and completion of certain elements of work are dependent on a variety of factors project wide including weather, rates of productivity and scheduling of other works. Given these variables, it would not be prudent to estimate the exact opening date at this time.

Question reference: S5W-08379

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 18 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update regarding the construction of the A944 South Kingswells Junction.

Question reference: S5W-08287

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 18 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has relocated its office in London to Scotland House on Victoria Embankment; how much the relocation will cost; what the annual running cost will be, and how this will compare with the cost of running the previous office at Dover House.

The Scottish Government is committed to making Scotland a better place to work and do business by attracting investment, promoting the research and innovation capabilities of Scottish companies and universities and enhancing international collaboration. In her Programme for Government of 1 September 2015 the First Minister announced the establishment of Innovation and Investment Hubs to meet this commitment.

Dover House provided minimal limited office accommodation for Scottish Government use only at an annual cost of £130,000. Through the Smarter Workplaces Programme, the Scottish Government is delivering new ways of working across the Government estate to help the Government and public bodies to deliver better services through, for example, co-location and common use of facilities. Scotland House London brings together under one roof the Scottish Government and other partners; Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Development International, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Visit Scotland, and provides more flexible space and improved facilities which allows Scottish businesses and entrepreneurs to meet potential customers and investors, to showcase their goods and services and to host events. SG will pay an estimated £425,000 per annum towards the occupancy costs which are shared across the partners and there are no Scottish Government re-location costs.

Question reference: S5W-08350

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 18 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the comment by a Transport Scotland spokesman in The Courier on 23 March 2017 regarding the date of the opening of the Queensferry Crossing that “it is difficult to give a cast iron guarantee at this stage”, whether it will provide an update regarding what date it expects the crossing to open.

Question reference: S5O-00847

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 29 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support businesses in North East Scotland.

The Scottish Government, working in concert with the Energy Jobs Taskforce, continues to support businesses and individuals in the North East of Scotland which has been particularly affected by the downturn in the oil and gas sector. Our £12 million Transition Training Fund has funded re-training opportunities for more than 1800 individuals faced with redundancy; with additional training programmes procured by the fund looking to create up to 755 employment opportunities across Scotland, with my having announced the latest tranche supporting 425 opportunities when I visited Aberdeen on 10th February. There are also 12 individuals being supported into Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (or STEM) teaching opportunities within the North East. We have also, to date, provided over £7million for 78 innovation projects and provision of business resilience support to 144 companies.

Our competitive business rates package also targets support where it is most needed, with a recent additional allocation of around £9.8m to cap business rates increases for certain properties in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. Councils are able to apply further rates reductions, and we continue to work with Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Councils to inform this consideration.