Parliamentary questions
Gavin Brown
1,064 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
10 Nov 2014 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the priorities are for the health budget in 2015-16.
29 Oct 2014 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met Scottish Enterprise.
21 Oct 2014 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the priorities are for the Sport and Legacy budget in the next financial year.
20 Aug 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the speech delivered by Crawford Beveridge on 19 August 2014 was prepared by Scottish Government officials.
Answer · John Swinney: The speech was developed in line with previous Fiscal Commission Working Group reports and I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22312 on 19 August 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the …
19 Aug 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22313 by John Swinney on 19 August 2014, in light of the information not being provided in the answer, whether it will now provide the information that was requested by confirming what role (a) ministers and (b) officials had in the (i) drafting and…
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22312 on 19 August 2014. 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…
19 Aug 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22312 by John Swinney on 19 August 2014, in light of the information not being provided in the answer, whether it will now provide the information that was requested by confirming who drafted the Fiscal Commission Working Group report, Macroeconomic…
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22312 on 19 August 2014. 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…
8 Aug 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when work will commence on suspending the deck sections of the Forth Replacement Crossing.
Answer · Keith Brown: The first deck sections of the Queensferry Crossing are expected to start being placed at the towers during autumn 2014.
8 Aug 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it would inform the Parliament of any risk that the Forth Replacement Crossing might not be completed on time and whether it would do so at the earliest available opportunity.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Forth Replacement Crossing (FRC) project provides a written update on progress to the Scottish Parliament Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee at three monthly intervals. These are supplemented by appearances in front of the committee by the FR…
8 Aug 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what float time is left in the Forth Replacement Crossing project.
Answer · Keith Brown: Adequate contingencies and allowances are built into all of more than 18,000 activities which comprise the project programme, which continues to show completion by December 2016. Float time is not identified separately.
8 Aug 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the critical path of the Forth Replacement Crossing project has been affected by delays in constructing piers or any other part of the project.
Answer · Keith Brown: The critical path of the project remains unchanged and the project remains on schedule for completion by December 2016.
8 Aug 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Forth Replacement Crossing has reached the halfway stage of construction.
Answer · Keith Brown: Yes, the Forth Replacement Crossing project has reached the halfway stage of construction.
8 Aug 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the south side piers of the Forth Replacement Crossing designated (a) S1, (b) S2 and (c) S3 will be completed; what the original target completion date was, and what the reason was for any delay.
Answer · Keith Brown: Piers S1 and S2 are required to support the cable stay bridge deck sections built out from the south tower progressively during 2015. S1 and S2 are expected to be complete in summer 2015, in advance of the time when they are required to support these deck sec…
7 Aug 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what role (a) ministers and (b) officials had in the (i) drafting and (ii) publication of the Fiscal Commission Working Group report, Macroeconomic Framework.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22312 on 19 August 2014. 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…
7 Aug 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government who drafted the Fiscal Commission Working Group report, Macroeconomic Framework.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to page 13 of the Fiscal Commission Working Group – First Report – Macroeconomic Framework. Details of the full report can be accessed online here: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0041/00414291.pdf
7 Aug 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many officials have attended each meeting of the Fiscal Commission Working Group.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22306 on 21 August 2014. 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…
7 Aug 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) written and (b) oral evidence the Fiscal Commission Working Group has taken on the currency of an independent Scotland.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22306 on 21 August 2014. 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…
7 Aug 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for how long the currency of an independent Scotland has been discussed at each meeting of the Fiscal Commission Working Group.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22306 on 21 August 2014. 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…
7 Aug 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which ministers have attended meetings of the Fiscal Commission Working Group.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22306 on 21 August 2014. 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…
7 Aug 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many meetings of the Fiscal Commission Working Group took place in (a) 2012 and (b) 2013 and have taken place in 2014 and at how many of the meetings all members were present.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the minutes of the Fiscal Commission Working Group meetings. The minutes and a list of engagements with the Fiscal Commission Working Group can be found at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Economy/Council-Economic-Advisers/FCWG.
7 Aug 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide the answer to question (a) S4W-21560, (b) S4W-21561, (c) S4W-21562 and (d) S4W-21563, and what the reason is for the delay.
Answer · John Swinney: Questions S4W-21560, S4W-21561, S4W-21562 and S4W-21563 were answered on the 12 June 2014. 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.…
5 Aug 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22071 by John Swinney on 5 August 2014, in light of the information not being provided in the answer to question S4O-02678, whether it will now provide the information that was requested and confirm how much of the target revenue gain of £250 millio…
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22265 on 13 August 2014. 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…
5 Aug 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22074 by John Swinney on 5 August 2014, in light of the information not being provided in the answer to question S4O-02678, whether it will now provide the information that was requested and confirm which tax reliefs it would streamline in the event…
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22265 on 13 August 2014. 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…
5 Aug 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22075 by John Swinney on 5 August 2014, in light of the information not being provided in the answer to question S4O-02678, whether it will now provide the information that was requested and confirm how much revenue gain will occur from each of the …
Answer · John Swinney: As set out on page 121 of Scotland’s Future, over the course of the first term of an independent Scottish Parliament, this government will work with Revenue Scotland to simplify the tax system to reduce compliance costs, streamline reliefs and help to reduce …
4 Aug 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government who was consulted regarding the removal of the item on a more internationally competitive Scotland from the agenda for the Financial Services Advisory Board meeting on 28 April 2014.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to S4W-22241 on 12 August 2014. 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/parliamentarybusiness/…
4 Aug 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government who decided to remove the item on a more internationally competitive Scotland from the agenda for the Financial Services Advisory Board meeting on 28 April 2014 and when.
Answer · John Swinney: The secretariat to the Financial Services Advisory Board, in discussion with Scottish Enterprise officials, made the decision to remove the item from the agenda for the Financial Services Advisory Board meeting on 28 April 2014 to enable a more comprehensive …
4 Aug 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide further details on the statement that "the [Scottish Fiscal] Commission would effectively have a veto on revenue forecasts which support the Scottish budget", as recorded in the minutes of the meeting of the Tax Consultation Forum of 22 May 2014.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22239 on 13 August 2014. 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…
4 Aug 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Scottish Fiscal Commission will have a veto on revenue forecasts produced by the Scottish Government.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Fiscal Commission will provide independent scrutiny of Scottish Government forecasts of receipts from Land and Buildings Transaction Tax and Scottish Landfill Tax and assess the economic determinants that underpin forecasts of non-domestic rates …
4 Aug 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) printing, (b) delivery, (c) labour, (d) artwork and (e) other costs were of Scotland's Future is Everyone's Business.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The costs of producing Scotland’s Future is Everyone’s Business were £1,109.01. The leaflet is only available online on the scotreferendum and the Scottish Government websites, so there were no printing or delivery costs.
4 Aug 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) printing, (b) delivery, (c) labour, (d) artwork and (e) other costs were of Scotland's Future - What Independence Means for You and from what budget the costs will be taken.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The current costs of the leaflet Scotland’s Future – What Independence Means for You are £525,300. This is broken down in the following table: Production £27,650 Print £330,350 Distribution £167,300 Total £525,300 These costs will be covered by the …
11 Jul 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the estimated value of e-commerce sales was in (a) 2011, (b) 2012 and (c) 2013.
Answer · John Swinney: E-commerce sales were estimated at £31 billion in 2010 through a methodology that adjusted UK level data on the basis of Scotland's share of UK employees in each of the sectors that contributed to the overall assessment of e-commerce sales. a) The estimated …