Murdo Fraser

22 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether underground coal gasification will be included in the proposed studies announced in relation to the moratorium on fracking.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: There are no plans to include underground coal gasification within the scope of the further work announced by myself on 28 January 2015 in relation to unconventional oil and gas.

22 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the potential economic impact on Scotland’s petrochemicals sector of developing underground coal gasification.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of the petrochemical sector to the Scottish economy. No analysis of the economic impact of underground coal gasification on this industry has been undertaken.

22 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government to advance the recommendations in the DTI study, Creating the Coalmine of the 21st Century: The feasibility of UCG under the Firth of Forth (DTI/Pub URN 06/885), regarding developing underground coal gasification (UCG) projects in the Fi…

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has had no discussions with the UK Government on this matter.

22 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government on deep offshore underground coal gasification (DOCG) and devolving DOCG access rights in light of the Smith Commission recommendation to devolve shale gas mineral access rights.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has had no discussions with the UK Government on these matters.

22 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change to discuss the carbon capture and storage commercialisation competition.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Tracking the development of carbon capture storage (CCS) and the progress of the UK’s CCS Commercialisation Competition is managed through the Thermal Generation and CCS Industry Leadership Group (ILG) which I co-chair. The Department of Energy and Climate Ch…

22 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to encourage the UK Government to maintain its announced timeline to announce the carbon capture and storage (CCS) commercialisation competition so that a CCS hub at Peterhead can be delivered alongside the upgrading of existing pipelines to carry CO2 from other p…

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I visited the Peterhead power station on 23 April 2015 to meet the carbon capture and storage (CCS) project team and tour the facility. Tracking the development of CCS and the progress of the UK's CCS commercialisation competition is managed through the Ther…

19 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of targeted reductions in capital gains tax in Scotland on tackling (a) austerity and (b) inequality.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to the question S4W-26228 on 7 July 2015. 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…

19 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on tax revenue of targeted reductions in capital gains tax in Scotland.

Answer · John Swinney: As set out in Further devolution beyond the Smith Commission, the Scottish Government believes that full responsibility for capital gains tax could be used to create targeted tax incentives to boost entrepreneurship to redress Scotland’s lower rates of entrep…

19 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on (a) productivity and (b) employers of increasing rights to flexible working in Scotland.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government fully recognises the importance of fair work and understands that for both employees and employers, flexible working is an important part of this. In line with this we have established the independent Fair Work Convention which will…

19 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the effect on tax revenues of increasing the employment allowance for national insurance contributions.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-26220 on 7 July 2015. 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/parliamentaryb…

19 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what reduction in tax revenue would result from matching the lower earning rate for national insurance contributions to the (a) existing and (b) planned personal allowance rates for income tax.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-26220 on 7 July 2015. 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/parliamentaryb…

19 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on tax revenue of increasing the lower earning rate for national insurance contributions.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-26220 on 7 July 2015. 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/parliamentaryb…

19 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the cost of removing the seven day waiting period for benefits claims in Scotland.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-26212 on 7 July 2015. 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/parliamentaryb…

19 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of reductions in employer national insurance contributions on tax revenue.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-26220 on 7 July 2015. 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/parliamentaryb…

19 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what economic assessment it has made of the impact of reductions in employer national insurance contributions.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government would like to see a reduction in the burden of employer national insurance contributions particularly for small businesses. One way of introducing this is to make the employer’s allowance more generous or linked to companies paying the…

19 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what additional cost would be incurred by public bodies in Scotland if the national minimum wage were set at £8.70.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-26218 on 7 July 2015. 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/parliamentaryb…

19 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on public spending of an annual growth in the national minimum wage in Scotland of 5.5%.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government has repeatedly called on the UK Government to raise the minimum wage and is committed to increasing the pay of those on the lowest wages in the public sector. This commitment has included supporting the living wage in our public sector…

19 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of separating proposals to increase the national minimum wage in Scotland from the recommendations of the Low Pay Commission.

Answer · John Swinney: The Low Pay Commission makes recommendations on a UK basis. Its recommendations to the UK Government are not specifically tailored to the needs of Scotland. Any national minimum wage introduced in Scotland would take account of Scottish circumstances, and wou…

19 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what economic assessment it has made of proposals to increase the national minimum wage in Scotland.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government believes that with responsibility for the minimum wage the Scottish Parliament could address low pay and in-work poverty and give employers and workers incentives to invest in skills, increasing productivity.

19 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of targeted corporation tax reductions in Scotland on tackling (a) austerity and (b) inequality.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-26213 on 7 July 2015. 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/parliamentary…

19 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on tax revenue of targeted reductions in corporation tax in Scotland.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-26213 on 7 July 2015. 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/parliamentaryb…

19 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what economic assessment it has made of the impact of targeted reductions in corporation tax in Scotland.

Answer · John Swinney: As set out in Further Devolution beyond the Smith Commission, the Scottish Government considers that full responsibility for corporation tax would allow the Scottish Government to tailor the tax system to reflect the specific competitive strengths and challen…

19 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what modelling it has done of the combined economic impact of measures outlined in its document, Further Devolution beyond the Smith Commission.

Answer · John Swinney: The purpose of devolving powers is to allow future Scottish Governments and parliaments to pursue their own policies aimed at Scottish circumstances and priorities at the time. The Scottish Government has set out proposals for a set of powers that would provi…

10 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it offers to NHS wheelchair users who experience malfunctioning equipment during weekend hours.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The role of the Scottish Government is to provide policies and frameworks to support NHS boards in the provision of healthcare services. It is for NHS boards to develop and deliver services based on the needs of their resident populations. This includes the d…

9 Jun 2015 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve care services for adults with cerebral palsy.

28 May 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to amend the neighbour notification system for large scale windfarms.

Answer · Alex Neil: We have no current plans for review or amendment of the neighbour notification for planning applications, including those for large wind farms. Following changes made in 2009 and more recently in 2013, we consider the current system of neighbour notification …

26 May 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will take account of agricultural interests before it reaches a decision on the reintroduction of wild beaver.

Answer · Aileen McLeod: I am very aware of the need to take account of agricultural and other land management interests before coming to a decision on the reintroduction of beavers to Scotland. I have recently visited farms on Tayside to see for myself the impact beavers can have in…

18 May 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether full fiscal autonomy remains its policy.

13 May 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) longest, (b) shortest and (c) average scheduled journey time on ScotRail services between (i) Edinburgh and Perth, (ii) Perth and Edinburgh, (iii) Perth and Inverness, (iv) Inverness and Perth, (v) Edinburgh and Inverness, (vi) Inverness and Edinburgh, (vii) Glasgow and Inve…

Answer · Derek Mackay: Detailed as follows, information from May 2007 and May 2015 timetables, the assessment portrays all the ScotRail services that operate on weekdays and Sundays. Other operator services are not included in the assessment. (i) and (ii) Edinburgh and Perth Orig…

5 May 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase the number of young disabled people in further education.

Answer · Angela Constance: The most recent statistics from the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) show that colleges are delivering more for young disabled students. In 2013-14, 22% of all learning hours delivered to students aged 16 to 24 were to students with a disclosed disability or re…