Parliamentary questions
Gavin Brown
1,064 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
11 Jul 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the most recent comprehensive digital economy business survey.
Answer · John Swinney: Fieldwork for the digital economy business survey began in June 2014 and headline findings will be published in September 2014. It is anticipated that further reports will be made available later in the year following review and subsequent data analysis.
11 Jul 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it undertook a comprehensive digital economy business survey in June 2014.
Answer · John Swinney: Survey work began, as planned, in June 2014.
9 Jul 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much revenue gain will occur from each of the tax reliefs that it would streamline in the event of independence.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4O-02678 on 5 December 2013. The answer to the oral parliamentary question is available on the Parliament’s website and the Official Report can be viewed at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusine…
9 Jul 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which tax reliefs it would streamline in the event of independence.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4O-02678 on 5 December 2013. The answer to the oral parliamentary question is available on the Parliament’s website and the Official Report can be viewed at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusine…
9 Jul 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much of the target revenue gain of £250 million, referred to on page 79 of its white paper on independence, will come from (a) reduced compliance costs, (b) streamlining reliefs and (c) reduced tax avoidance.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4O-02678 on 5 December 2013. The answer to the oral parliamentary question is available on the Parliament’s website and the Official Report can be viewed at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusines…
30 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the item on a more internationally competitive Scotland was removed from the agenda for the Financial Services Advisory Board meeting that took place on 28 April 2014.
Answer · John Swinney: As indicated in the note of the Financial Services Advisory Board meeting on 28 April 2014 which is available on the Scottish Government website at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/finance/meetings/FISABmeetings2014/FiSABApril2014noteofme…
30 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) opportunities and (b) risks it considers would arise for the financial services industry in the event of Scottish independence.
Answer · John Swinney: Scotland has a successful and diverse financial services industry, with both Edinburgh and Glasgow recognised internationally as leading financial centres. With full access to the levers of growth, an independent Scotland will have the opportunity to further …
30 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether there are areas of work related to the Forth Replacement Crossing that are not on schedule.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22012 on 17 July 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…
30 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the works on the road network (a) north and (b) south of the river related to the Forth Replacement Crossing are on schedule.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22012 on 17 July 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…
30 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether all aspects of the Forth Replacement Crossing are on schedule.
Answer · Keith Brown: All aspects of the Forth Replacement Crossing are on schedule to be completed by December 2016.
30 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government during which month it expects the Forth Replacement Crossing will be open.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Forth Replacement Crossing remains on schedule to be open by December 2016.
25 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it still estimates that a capital budget equivalent of £809 million will be delivered on the ground in 2014-15 by projects under the non-profit distributing (NPD) model.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4O-03348 on 12 June 2014 which is available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28862.aspx?r=9242
25 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it still estimates that a capital budget equivalent of £185 million was delivered on the ground in 2013-14 by projects under the non-profit distributing (NPD) model.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4O-03348 on 12 June 2014 which is available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28862.aspx?r=9242
25 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which projects under the non-profit distributing (NPD) model are at the construction stage.
Answer · John Swinney: The revenue funded projects currently at construction stage are: Alford Academy, Aberdeenshire; Ayrshire College (Kilmarnock Campus); City of Glasgow College; Inverness College; James Gillespie’s High School, Edinburgh; M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements;…
20 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent meetings ministers have had with the EU regarding the possibility of establishing an air route development fund.
Answer · Keith Brown: None.
20 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21605 by Keith Brown on 18 June 2014, whether it will publish its submission of (a) 7 June 2011 and (b) 3 October 2013.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government’s submission of 7 June 2011 can be viewed at: http://ec.europa.eu/competition/consultations/2011_aviation_guidelines/scotland_en.pdf The Scottish Government’s submission of 3 October 2013 is available from the Scottish Parliament Info…
20 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21603 by Keith Brown on 18 June 2014, for what reason it has not commissioned such a review.
Answer · Keith Brown: We have reviewed the new aviation guidelines and are aware of both the constraints and the opportunities they represent. No further review is required.
20 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21607 by Keith Brown on 18 June 2014, when it (a) last met and (b) will next meet stakeholders to discuss the possibility of establishing an air route development fund.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government regularly discusses route development with stakeholders including airlines and Scotland’s airports. Discussions are ongoing in respect of various new route opportunities to enhance Scotland’s international connectivity and increase inb…
20 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21604 by Keith Brown on 18 June 2014, when it will (a) complete and (b) publish its review of the EU aviation guidelines.
Answer · Keith Brown: Our review of the new EU Aviation Guidelines is an internal consideration of the opportunities and impacts that they represent for the Scottish Government.
20 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21218 by John Swinney on 28 May 2014, what progress with the business rates incentivisation scheme was made at the meeting with COSLA on 4 June 2014 and whether it will publish the minutes.
Answer · John Swinney: I met the COSLA President, Councillor David O’Neill, on 4 June 2014 and agreed that our officials should jointly undertake a review of the Business Rates Incentivisation Scheme (BRIS) with an aim to provide a better targeted incentive for councils to deliver …
20 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on developments with the business rates incentivisation scheme.
Answer · John Swinney: As previously reported, I met the COSLA President Councillor David O’Neill on 4 June 2014 to discuss a possible joint review of the Business Rates Incentivisation Scheme (BRIS). The outcome of that meeting was an agreement that our officials should jointly u…
13 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much money is involved in disputes between the Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors consortium and sub-contractors or suppliers.
Answer · Keith Brown: The existence or non-existence of any disputes between the Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors (FCBC) and their subcontractors and suppliers and any matter related to these is considered by FCBC to be commercially sensitive and confidential information. The Fo…
13 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what specific bridge or road works are the subject of disputes between the Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors consortium and sub-contractors or suppliers.
Answer · Keith Brown: The existence or non-existence of any disputes between the Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors (FCBC) and their subcontractors and suppliers and any matter related to these is considered by FCBC to be commercially sensitive and confidential information. The Fo…
13 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many disputes over payments for work on the Forth Replacement Crossing between (a) sub-contractors and (b) suppliers and the Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors consortium (i) have been resolved and (ii) remain unresolved.
Answer · Keith Brown: The existence or non-existence of any disputes between the Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors (FCBC) and their subcontractors and suppliers and any matter related to these is considered by FCBC to be commercially sensitive and confidential information. The Fo…
13 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) sub-contractors and (b) suppliers of the Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors consortium have invoked the dispute resolution mechanisms over payments for work on the crossing.
Answer · Keith Brown: The existence or non-existence of any disputes between the Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors (FCBC) and their subcontractors and suppliers and any matter related to these is considered by FCBC to be commercially sensitive and confidential information. The Fo…
12 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide substantive answers to questions S4W-20574 and S4W-20575, which received holding answers on 2 May 2014.
Answer · John Swinney: I provided substantive answers to S4W-20574 and S4W-20575 on 19 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.uk/parliamenta…
12 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the total amount (a) collected and (b) predicted to be collected in non-domestic rates was in each of the last 10 years.
Answer · John Swinney: The following table shows the total amount of non-domestic rates collected and predicted to be collected in each of the last 10 years for which final figures are available. Any surpluses or deficits between the amounts predicted and collected are taken into …
12 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what capital budget equivalent will be delivered on the ground in 2014-15 by projects under the non-profit distributing (NPD) model.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4O-03348 on 12 June 2014 which is available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28862.aspx?r=9242.
12 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what capital budget equivalent was delivered on the ground in 2013-14 by projects under the non-profit distributing (NPD) model.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4O-03348 on 12 June 2014 which is available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28862.aspx?r=9242.
12 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many projects under the non-profit distributing (NPD) model have yet to reach the procurement stage.
Answer · John Swinney: Out of 47 revenue funded projects there are only six projects which have not yet reached procurement stage or hub development stage.