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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-22720

Asked by: Tom Arthur, MSP for Renfrewshire South, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 April 2019
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Kate Forbes on 23 April 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on the introduction of Air Departure Tax in Scotland.

In June 2018, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy and Fair Work announced that the introduction of Air Departure Tax (ADT) in Scotland would be deferred until the issues raised in relation to the Highlands and Islands exemption had been resolved. The Scottish Government has been clear that it cannot take on ADT until a solution to these issues has been found, because to do so would compromise the devolved powers and risk damage to the Highlands and Islands economy.

Since then the Scottish Government and UK Government have continued to work together to try to find a solution. The Scottish Government also established a Highlands and Islands Working Group last year to provide independent, expert input into the examination of the issue. The Group has made a valuable contribution to the evidence base by publishing new analysis that underlines the importance of the exemption to the region, and by providing external scrutiny of both evidence and process. However, a solution has not yet been found that would be ready for introduction at the beginning of the next financial year. This, taken together with the continued uncertainty around Brexit, means that that we have to defer the introduction ADT beyond April 2020.

The Scottish Government has a longstanding commitment to reduce ADT by 50%, and we are doing all we can to work with airlines and airports to help grow the direct routes which are important for our tourism sector and Scottish businesses. While we work towards a resolution to the Highlands and Islands exemption, we continue to call on the UK Government to reduce APD rates to support connectivity and economic growth in Scotland and across the UK.

Question reference: S5O-03096

Asked by: Tom Arthur, MSP for Renfrewshire South, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 March 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 April 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what impact Brexit could have on the agriculture sector in Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire.

Question reference: S5W-22355

Asked by: Tom Arthur, MSP for Renfrewshire South, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 25 March 2019
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 26 March 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-21335 by Paul Wheelhouse on 31 January 2019, when it plans to launch its consultation on whether Energy Efficient Scotland can be accelerated.

I have today, with the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning, launched a consultation seeking views on whether Energy Efficient Scotland can be accelerated and how the risks of doing so can be overcome or the opportunities realised. This consultation also sets out more detail about the suite of legislation the Scottish Government will bring forward to support the delivery of Energy Efficient Scotland, including district heating.

The consultation will run for 12 weeks. Kevin Stewart and I have also written to the Conveners of the Local Government and Communities, the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform and the Economy, Energy and Fair Work committees. The Government looks forward to engaging with all interested parties on this important issue.

Question reference: S5W-21955

Asked by: Tom Arthur, MSP for Renfrewshire South, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 08 March 2019
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 22 March 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the rateable value at which businesses receive 100% small business bonus relief on non-domestic rates in (a) Scotland, (b) England and (c) Wales.

The following table sets out a comparison of the Small Business Bonus Scheme in Scotland with the equivalent schemes in England (Small Business Bonus Rate Relief) and Wales (Small Business Bonus Rates Relief):

	Scotland	England	Wales
100% relief	100% relief for all premises where the total rateable value is £15,000 or less	100% relief for only one premises with a rateable value of £12,000 or less	100% relief for as many as two premises where the total rateable value is £6,000 or less
Less than 100% relief	25% relief for each premises where the total rateable value is £18,000 or less	Relief tapers to zero for premises with rateable values up to £15,000	Relief tapers to zero for premises with rateable values up to £12,000
Requirements	If the cumulative rateable value of all premises is between £18,001 and £35,000, businesses will receive 25% relief on each individual property with a rateable value of under £18,000	If a second premises is acquired, the relief will continue to be available on the main property but for only 12 months; relief is still available on the main property afterwards if the cumulated RV is £20,000 or less (£28,000 in London)	Where a ratepayer is liable for more than two properties on a single local non-domestic rating list, and those properties meet only the RV conditions, relief will only be given for a maximum of two such properties

Question reference: S5W-21956

Asked by: Tom Arthur, MSP for Renfrewshire South, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 08 March 2019
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 19 March 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on what income tax will be paid by employees on the UK median wage in (a) Scotland and (b) the rest of the UK in (i) 2018-19 and (ii) 2019-20.

The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings data from the ONS provides
median gross annual pay for 2018. Median gross annual pay in the UK
is £24,006. From this we can calculate the following tax liabilities,
assuming the individual in question is in receipt of the standard UK
Personal Allowance and is not in receipt of any other reliefs and
exemptions.

Tax due

2018-19 2019-20

Scotland £2,411.20 £2,280.71

Rest of the UK £2,431.20 £2,301.20

Difference -£20.00 -£20.49

This shows that someone earning median pay in Scotland will pay less tax in both 2018-19
and 2019-20 than someone earning median pay and living elsewhere in the UK.

ASHE data is available here: https://www.ons.gov.uk/releases/analysesbasedonannual
surveyofhoursandearningsprovisional2018andrevised2017 .

Question reference: S5O-03048

Asked by: Tom Arthur, MSP for Renfrewshire South, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 March 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 March 2019

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how it supports staff who are carers.

Question reference: S5W-21957

Asked by: Tom Arthur, MSP for Renfrewshire South, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 08 March 2019
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 14 March 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the latest average household water bill in (a) Scotland and (b) England and Wales.

Scottish Water publishes its average charges, as well as a comparison table with England and Wales, on its website at https://www.scottishwater.co.uk/you-and-your-home/your-charges/2018-19-charges . This shows figures for 2018-19 at a) £363 for Scotland; and b) £405 for England & Wales.

The average charge in Scotland for 2019-20 has been already been announced and can be found at https://www.scottishwater.co.uk/you-and-your-home/your-charges/2019-2020-charges . Initial information on the average charge in England and Wales in 2019-20 is available at https://www.discoverwater.co.uk/annual-bill . Latest figures show a) £369 for Scotland; and b) £415 for England & Wales.

Question reference: S5W-21853

Asked by: Tom Arthur, MSP for Renfrewshire South, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 February 2019
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 12 March 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the UK Parliament’s delay in holding the meaningful vote has had on its Brexit planning.

Our planning for Brexit is well underway, but hampered by the lack of clarity surrounding the multiple scenarios that could ensue from the UK Government’s approach. As a responsible government we continue to prepare for the impact all outcomes, including a no deal exit, would have on Scotland.

The Scottish Government and Parliament are ensuring that the necessary secondary legislation is in place. We also continue to seek assurances from the UK Government that they will deliver their own legislative programme on time in order to protect Scotland’s interests. The Scottish Government Resilience Committee is meeting weekly and staff resources are increasingly being directed towards those areas with specific ‘no deal’ impacts, for example, transport and food and drink.

However, while we will do everything we can to prepare, we will not be able to mitigate all of the impacts of Brexit on Scotland as many critical issues affecting our interests are reserved and the responsibility of the UK Government; and because any exit from the EU single market, especially a chaotic one, will inevitably have a negative impact on Scottish business, jobs and prosperity.

Question reference: S5W-21753

Asked by: Tom Arthur, MSP for Renfrewshire South, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 February 2019
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Derek Mackay on 21 February 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an assessment of the economic implications of a no deal Brexit for the Scottish economy.

Question reference: S5O-02895

Asked by: Tom Arthur, MSP for Renfrewshire South, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 February 2019
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 20 February 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce health inequalities.

Reducing health inequalities in Scotland is one of the biggest challenges we face and is therefore a top priority for the Scottish Government. Since they are symptomatic of wider social inequalities, we are taking decisive action on a number of fronts.

This includes spending £125 million in 2018/2019 to tackle the impact of UK Government welfare cuts and protect those on low incomes. We have published ambitious plans for tackling the major causes of health inequalities including alcohol and substance misuse, diet and healthy weight and tobacco. And we are establishing Public Health Scotland to deliver on Scotland’s public health priorities.