Parliamentary questions
Murdo Fraser
2,062 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
12 Jun 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will implement the Scottish Law Commission's Report on Trust Law (Scot Law Com no 239).
Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The Scottish Government is currently considering the recommendations made by the Scottish Law Commission (SLC) following their review of law of trusts and set out in the Report on Trust Law (Scot Law Com No. 239) in August 2014. Decisions on implementation wi…
31 May 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the evidence given by Derek Mackay to the Finance and Constitution Committee on 8 February 2017 (Official Report, c. 1), what its underspend was for 2016-17, and what estimate it has made for 2017-18.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government will make a statement to the Scottish Parliament on the 2016-17 provisional outturn on 22 June 2017. The financial position of the Scottish Government is closely managed throughout the year. At this early stage in financial year 2017-…
31 May 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the evidence given by Derek Mackay to the Finance and Constitution Committee on 8 February 2017 (Official Report, c. 1), what its Land and Business Transaction Tax revenues were for 2016-17, and what estimate it has made for 2017-18.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government will make a statement to the Scottish Parliament on the 2016-17 provisional outturn on 22 June 2017. The Scottish Government forecast for total Land and Buildings Transaction Tax revenues for 2017-18 is £507 million as laid out in the…
30 May 2017 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact a 50% top rate of income tax would have on public finances.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government has published detailed analysis of the impact of a 50% top rate of income tax in 2017-18 on our website. Revenue forecasts from a 50% rate of income tax are particularly dependent on behavioral effects and so a range of possible revenu…
16 May 2017 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects the Barclay review of non-domestic rates to publish its recommendations.
16 May 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many welders have been employed in constructing the new Queensferry Crossing in each year of its construction.
Answer · Keith Brown: The number of welders employed in constructing the Queensferry Crossing during construction has been: 62 in 2012; 64 in 2013; 91 in 2014; 105 in 2015; 67 in 2016; and 28 in 2017.
16 May 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the adjoining road surfaces connecting the Queensferry Crossing both south and north of the bridge were completed in time for the bridge’s original opening date.
Answer · Keith Brown: The adjoining road surfaces connecting the Queensferry Crossing both south and north of the bridge will be completed in time for the Queensferry Crossing’s original contractual completion date of June 2017 and well ahead of the estimated opening to traffic of…
16 May 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Queensferry Crossing remains on schedule to open to the public between mid-July and the end of August 2017.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Queensferry Crossing remains on schedule to open to traffic between mid-July and the end of August 2017.
25 Apr 2017 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason there has been a 62% reduction in the target number of primary postgraduate diploma in education places between 2017-18 and 2018-19.
27 Mar 2017 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the Queensferry Crossing will not be ready by the revised completion date of the end of May.
22 Mar 2017 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what currency an independent Scotland would use.
Answer · Derek Mackay: As the First Minister made clear earlier this month, we will set out detailed proposals well in advance of any referendum to ensure that the people of Scotland have the information they need to make an informed choice on their future.
15 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of the electricity generated in Scotland has been exported to the rest of the UK in each of the last four years, and how much this raised.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: In 2012, net electricity exports represented 25% of total electricity generated in Scotland. In 2013 this figure was 28%, in 2014 it was 24% and in 2015 it was 29%. Information on the value of net Scottish electricity exports is not held by the Scottish Gov…
15 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government (a) how much and (b) what percentage of the electricity generated in Scotland is from its nuclear power stations.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: In 2015, Scotland's nuclear power stations generated 17,763 Gigawatt hours (GwH). This represented 35% of total electricity generation in Scotland. This compares with 42% generated through renewable sources (21,627 GwH).
6 Mar 2017 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact the proposed merger between Aberdeen Asset Management and Standard Life would have on Scotland’s economy.
24 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many woodland creation schemes of (a) up to two, (b) two to five, (c) six to 10, (d) 11 to 20, (e) 21 to 50, (f) 51 to 100, (g) 101 to 200 and (h) over 200 hectares have been approved in each year since 2008, also broken down by total area of woodland in each category.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Since 2008, there have been 2,388 woodland creation schemes approved covering a total area of 43,502 hectares. The number and area of woodland in each size category are shown in the Tables 1 and 2. Approvals under the new SRDP Forestry Grant Scheme only bega…
24 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it has cost to erect (a) deer and (b) non-deer fencing in new woodlands of (i) up to two, (ii) two to five, (iii) six to 10, (iv) 11 to 20, (v) 21 to 50, (vi) 51 to 100, (vii) 101 to 200 and (viii) over 200 hectares in each year since 2008.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government does not have data on how much it has cost to erect deer or non-deer fencing in new woodlands. However, grant support at standard payment rates for fencing is provided to ensure the successful establishment of new woodlands. The grant …
23 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it estimates the total revenue will be from non-domestic rates in (a) 2016-17 and (b) 2017-18.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The latest estimate of non-domestic rates income is £2,785 million for 2016-17 and £2,864 million for 2017-18.
24 Jan 2017 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact the business rates revaluation will have on the tourism and hospitality sectors.
Answer · Derek Mackay: As a result of the Assessors independent business rates revaluation the individual rateable value of any property in the tourism and hospitality sectors may increase, decrease or remain the same. However, many thousands of premises in the sector will be amon…
19 Dec 2016 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has downgraded its forecast of revenues from the residential element of Lands and Buildings Transaction Tax.
6 Dec 2016 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its bill on a replacement for air passenger duty.
Answer · Derek Mackay: As announced in the programme for Government, the Bill on a replacement for air passenger duty will be introduced in the first year of the current Parliament.
28 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether local authorities are sufficiently resourced to provide the building standards verification service.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: Each of the 32 local authorities is responsible for resourcing their building standards services appropriately. I have become aware that since the economic downturn of 2008 there have been situations where experienced Building Standards Managers and staff h…
28 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government (a) when and (b) how it will consult on the appointment of building standards verifiers.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Building (Scotland) Act 2003 allows Scottish Ministers to appoint verifiers on such terms or limitations as they feel appropriate. It also allows any appointment to be made, varied or terminated at any time. Local authorities are appointed as verifiers un…
28 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of delays in obtaining building control consent on (a) the industry and (b) its housing targets.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: Scottish Government has not made such an assessment but knows that delays may be due to local authority processing, the quality of the submitted plans, or delays in applicants submitted revised details. We are aware that Local Authority Building Standards Sco…
28 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether local authorities have improved the quality of the building standards verification service since 2011.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: Independent research undertaken for Scottish Government by Pye Tait Consulting and published in March 2016 concluded that: “In summary, whilst there has been substantial progress and investment in delivering a high quality and customer-focused building stand…
28 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it measures the performance of building standards verifiers.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: Verifiers are subject to regular monitoring under a performance framework introduced in May 2012. Local authorities are committed to the verification performance framework and information on the framework can be found at:http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Built-Envir…
28 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the findings of the recent report it commissioned from Pye Tait Consulting, Evaluation of the Performance of local authorities in their role as building standards verifiers.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: I welcomed the publication of the report in March 2016 and have noted its findings. The conclusions drawn from the report are presently being considered in relation to the next appointment of verifiers.
28 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the total funding was for stock and rabbit fencing under all (a) rural priority and (b) land management options applications required under the Scottish Rural Development Programme, in each year from 2007 to 2013.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The total funding was for stock and rabbit fencing under the Rural Priorities Scheme applications required under the Scottish Rural Development Programme, in each year from 2007 to 2013: Item 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Rabbit proofing fencing Tota…
28 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many times electric charging points for vehicles were classed as out of order in (a) 2015 and (b) 2016.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The responsibility for the maintenance of electric vehicle charge points on the ChargePlace Scotland network rests with the charge point host. We do not hold historic information on charge points that are out of order. However, as part of a new system, we rec…
22 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the petition organised by 38 Degrees, which calls for Abellio to no longer have control of the ScotRail franchise.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I met with representatives of the 38 degrees group on 19 October 2016, where they presented the petition, raised concerns about ScotRail's performance and shared their experiences of using the rail network in Scotland. I acknowledged the specific issues they…
22 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made with the improvement plan submitted by Abellio ScotRail to improve performance on the Borders Railway.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Since September, the overall performance for the Borders Railway (as measured by the moving annual average PPM) has steadily improved, with latest figures showing an increase of 0.4% (now up to 85.8% PPM moving annual average). Borders Railway specific perfo…