Parliamentary questions
Patricia Ferguson
1,079 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
25 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what legal precedents the Solicitor General based her legal advice on statements on page (a) 24 of Choosing Scotland’s Future, (b) 107 of Your Scotland, Your Voice and (c) 4 of Your Scotland, Your Referendum, relating to an independent Scotland’s membership of the EU.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to questions S4W-10549 and S4W-10557 on 12 December 2012. 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…
25 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what legal precedents the Lord Advocate based his legal advice on statements on page (a) 24 of Choosing Scotland’s Future, (b) 107 of Your Scotland, Your Voice and (c) 4 of Your Scotland, Your Referendum, relating to an independent Scotland’s membership of the EU.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to questions S4W-10549 and S4W-10557 on 12 December 2012. 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.parliamen…
25 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Solicitor General considers that she provided legal advice on (a) the whole of or (b) any part of (i) Choosing Scotland’s Future, (ii) Your Scotland, Your Voice and (iii) Your Scotland, Your Referendum and, if so, what external advice she sought and on what before proving suc…
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to questions S4W-10549 and S4W-10557 on 12 December 2012. 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.parliamen…
25 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Lord Advocate considers that he provided legal advice on (a) the whole of or (b) any part of (i) Choosing Scotland’s Future, (ii) Your Scotland, Your Voice and (iii) Your Scotland, Your Referendum and, if so, what external advice he sought and on what before proving such advi…
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to questions S4W-10549 and S4W-10557 on 12 December 2012. 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…
25 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Solicitor General considers that she was asked to provide legal advice on (a) the whole of or (b) any part of (i) Choosing Scotland’s Future, (ii) Your Scotland, Your Voice and (iii) Your Scotland, Your Referendum.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to questions S4W-10549 and S4W-10557 on 12 December 2012. 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…
25 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Lord Advocate considers that he was asked to provide legal advice on (a) the whole of or (b) any part of (i) Choosing Scotland’s Future, (ii) Your Scotland, Your Voice and (iii) Your Scotland, Your Referendum.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to questions S4W-10549 and S4W-10557 on 12 December 2012. 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…
25 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it considers that the legal advice provided by the Law Officers, referred to in Alex Salmond's interview with Andrew Neil on 4 March 2012, is not covered under the scope of Catherine Stihler MEP's recent freedom of information request.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to my statement on 23 October (at Column 12408). I also refer the member to the answer to question S4W-10557 on 12 December 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility…
25 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many times ministers have sought the Law Officers' permission to either (a) acknowledge whether legal advice exists or (b) publish part or all of legal advice, broken down by (i) date, (ii) topic, (iii) who requested it and (iv) whether approval was given.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-10549 on 12 December 2012. 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/parliament…
25 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what dates Alex Salmond held meetings on the position of an independent Scotland in the EU, who attended and what matters were discussed.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-10568 on 12 December 2012. 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/parliamenta…
25 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what dates the Cabinet discussed the position of an independent Scotland in the EU.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-10568 on 12 December 2012. 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/parliamenta…
25 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish all correspondence between (a) ministers, (b) Law Officers, (c) special advisers and (d) officials relating to Alex Salmond’s interview with Andrew Neil on 4 March 2012.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-10568 on 12 December 2012. 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/parliament…
25 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish all correspondence between (a) ministers, (b) Law Officers, (c) special advisers and (d) officials relating to Alex Salmond’s statement on 23 October 2012.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-10568 on 12 December 2012. 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/parliamenta…
25 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish all correspondence between (a) ministers, (b) Law Officers, (c) special advisers and (d) officials relating to Nicola Sturgeon’s statement on 23 October 2012.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-10568 on 12 December 2012. 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/parliament…
25 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings ministers have held with the Law Officers since May 2007 to discuss the position of an independent Scotland in the EU, broken down by (a) date of meeting, (b) attendees and (c) what matters were discussed.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-10568 on 12 December 2012. 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/parliamentar…
25 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to Nicola Sturgeon’s statement on 23 October 2012 (Official Report, c. 12408) and its decision not to pursue the appeal against the ruling of the Scottish Information Commissioner on the freedom of information request, whether it (a) will publish all correspondence between (i) m…
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to paragraphs 2.4 - 2.9 of the Scottish Ministerial Code and the answer to question S4W-10549 on 12 December 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can b…
25 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to Nicola Sturgeon's statement on 23 October 2012 (Official Report, c. 12408), whether the commissioning of legal advice from the Law Officers on the position of an independent Scotland in the EU would have been ultra vires prior to the signing of the so-called Edinburgh agreeme…
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-10564 on 12 December 2012. 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/parliamentar…
25 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government further to Nicola Sturgeon’s statement on 23 October 2012 (Official Report, c. 12406) regarding the commissioning of specific legal advice from the Law Officers on the position of an independent Scotland in the EU, on what other issues relating to independence it plans to commission such…
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Paragraphs 2.30 – 2.35 of the Scottish Ministerial Code set out guidance on seeking specific legal advice from the Law Officers. I also refer the member to the answer to question S4W-10549 on 12 December 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions ar…
25 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it could legally have commissioned legal advice from the Law Officers on the position of an independent Scotland in the EU prior to the signing of the so-called Edinburgh agreement.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-10564 on 12 December 2012. 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/parliamenta…
25 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what legal barriers existed prior to the signing of the so-called Edinburgh agreement that prevented the commissioning of legal advice from the Law Officers on the position of an independent Scotland in the EU.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to my statement of 23 October 2012 (at Column 12408) and speech in Parliament on 30 October 2012 (at Column 12708). I also refer the member to the Lord Advocate’s oral answer on 7 November 2012 (at Column 13130 – 13131; see: http://www.sco…
25 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government from whom it would usually seek advice on a matter of EU law.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-10562 on 12 December 2012. 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/parliamenta…
25 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its definition of legal advice is.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to paragraphs 2.30 – 2.35 of the Scottish Ministerial Code and the answer to question S4W-10557 on 12 December 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can…
25 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the difference is between the legal advice of the Law Officers referred to by Alex Salmond in an interview with Andrew Neil on 4 March 2012 and the legal advice of the Law Officers commissioned by Nicola Sturgeon and referred to in her statement on 23 October 2012.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to answer to question S4W-10557 on 12 December 2012. 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/parliamentarybu…
25 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether legal advice was sought to substantiate the assertion in Your Scotland, Your Referendum that “Under independence, Scotland would have the rights and responsibilities of a normal, sovereign state and continue its membership in the European Union” and, if so, (a) on what date, (b) …
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to answer to questions S4W-10549, S4W-10556 and S4W-10557 on 12 December 2012. 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.parli…
25 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether legal advice was sought to substantiate the assertion in Your Scotland, Your Voice that “Scotland would assume all the responsibilities and rights of a normal European state, including membership of the European Union and other international bodies, the ability to determine econo…
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to answer to questions S4W-10549, S4W-10556 and S4W-10557 on 12 December 2012. 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.parli…
25 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether legal advice was sought to substantiate the assertion in Choosing Scotland’s Future that “An independent Scotland would continue in the European Union and bear the burdens and fulfil the responsibilities of membership” and, if so, (a) on what date, (b) who requested it, (c) who p…
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to answer to questions S4W-10549, S4W-10556 and S4W-10557 on 12 December 2012. 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.parli…
25 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to Alex Salmond’s statement on 23 October 2012 (Official Report, c. 12472), whether the legal advice provided in relation to Choosing Scotland’s Future, Your Scotland, Your Voice and Your Scotland, Your Referendum was in a fully informed legal context and ensured that the legal …
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the Lord Advocate’s letter of 30 October 2012 to Ruth Davidson MSP and the First Minister’s’ answer at First Minister’s questions on 25 October 2012 (at Column 12607-12608).
25 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the legal advice that it sought regarding an independent Scotland's position in the EU for Choosing Scotland’s Future, Your Scotland, Your Voice and Your Scotland, Your Referendum was sought from the (a) Law Officers or (b) Scottish Government Legal Directorate.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: These documents were underpinned by legal advice from both the Scottish Government Legal Directorate and the Law Officers.
25 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by Alex Salmond on 23 October 2012 (Official Report, c. 12472), on what date it sent (a) Choosing Scotland’s Future, (b) Your Scotland, Your Voice and (c) Your Scotland, Your Referendum to the (i) Lord Advocate and (ii) Solicitor General in order to seek their l…
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The documents were sent to the Law Officers in full prior to publication.
25 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by Alex Salmond on 23 October 2012 (Official Report, c. 12472), that Choosing Scotland’s Future, Your Scotland, Your Voice and Your Scotland, Your Referendum “are underpinned by legal advice”, on what date legal advice was sought; which Law Officer provided it a…
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-10549 on 12 December 2012. 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/parliamenta…
25 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by Nicola Sturgeon on 23 October 2012 (Official Report, c. 12408), on what date the Deputy First Minister (a) sought and (b) received the prior agreement of the Lord Advocate to state that the Scottish Government had not sought specific legal advice on the EU me…
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the Lord Advocate’s oral answer on 7 November 2012 (at Column 13130 – 13131; see: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28862.aspx?r=7541&mode=html#iob_68820).