Parliamentary questions
John Lamont
759 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
24 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many government orders are expected to be placed with an independent Scotland's shipyards and for what type of ships.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-15951 on 30 August 2013. 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…
24 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on future orders for the workforce at Rosyth after completion of its current contracts for Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise are in regular contact with Babcock. In addition to Babcock’s major role in the build of the Royal Navy’s new Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers, the company has been pursuing a plan to secure work in key c…
24 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government to how many contracts relating to Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers it is a signatory.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers are procured by the UK Government. Scottish taxpayers contribute towards the cost of, and therefore have a significant stake in, defence assets.
24 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact independence would have on the contracts to assemble HMS (a) Queen Elizabeth and (b) Prince of Wales at Rosyth.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government is not aware of any impact on the contract to assemble HMS Queen Elizabeth or HMS Prince of Wales that would come from independence.
24 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what type of ships an independent Scotland's navy would have, broken down by number.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-15951 on 30 August 2013. 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…
24 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what type of planes an independent Scotland's air force would have, broken down by number.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-15951 on 30 August 2013. 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…
24 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the size of the territorial army in an independent Scotland.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-15951 on 30 August 2013. 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…
24 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether an independent Scotland's defence forces would include special forces and, if so, how many.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-15951 on 30 August 2013. 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…
24 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the number of (a) personnel, (b) planes, (c) helicopters and (d) bases in an independent Scotland's air force.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-15951 on 30 August 2013. 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…
24 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the number of (a) personnel, (b) ships, (c) submarines and (d) bases in an independent Scotland's navy.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-15951 on 30 August 2013. 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…
24 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the number of (a) personnel, (b) armoured vehicles and (c) bases in an independent Scotland's army.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-15951 30 August 2013. 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/parliamentarybus…
24 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what interim arrangements would be put in place to protect an independent Scotland's interests while responsibility is being transferred from the British armed forces to Scottish defence forces.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-15951 on 30 August 2013. 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…
24 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the timetable would be for the transfer of responsibility between the British armed forces and an independent Scotland's defence forces.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-15951 on 30 August 2013. 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…
24 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of an independent Scotland's defence budget.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Ministers have set out their view, including in evidence to the House of Commons Defence Committee on 02 July 2013, that the budget for defence and security in an independent Scotland should be £2.5 billion, a potential saving of nearly £1 billion compared wi…
24 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether an independent Scotland would automatically become a member of the European Defence Agency and, if not, what the timetable for becoming a member would be and what impact there would be on Scottish involvement in the agency's work in the interim.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: An independent Scotland would play a full and active part in the EU, including in the European Defence Agency. Arrangements to do so would be agreed with the relevant parties following a vote for independence.
24 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has for an independent Scotland's interests to be represented if it is not given a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-15918 on 30 August 2013. 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…
24 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of an independent Scotland's possible loss of influence with the United Nations Security Council.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The only way to ensure the interests and values of the people of Scotland are promoted in international organisations is through a government that reflects those values and which commands the support of the electorate. The Scottish Government would not, for …
24 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it expects an independent Scotland to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-15918 on 30 August 2013. 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…
24 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it expects an independent Scotland would contribute to the regular budget of the United Nations.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Scotland’s contribution to the United Nations’ budgets would be agreed as part of the process of moving from being a member as part of the UK to being an independent member.
24 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether an independent Scotland would automatically become a member of (a) NATO and (b) the United Nations and, if not, what the timetable would be for becoming a member.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Following a vote for independence the Scottish Government will formally declare its intention to remain a member of NATO following normal procedures. Similarly Scotland would also signal its intention to remain a member of the United Nations. Given that Scot…
24 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how an independent Scotland's diplomatic interests would be represented in the period before it established its own diplomatic missions.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government will publish its detailed white paper with positive proposals on the opportunities and gains of independence in the autumn. Material on the referendum and the Scottish Government’s proposals for an independent Scotland can be found at:…
24 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether any diplomatic missions shared between an independent Scotland and the rest of the UK would have (a) staff who were dedicated to looking after Scottish interests and, if so, how many and (b) a shared ambassador.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-15890 on 30 August 2013. 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…
24 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of how many (a) embassies and (b) consulates an independent Scotland would require; where these would be based, and how much it would cost to operate them.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-15890 on 30 August 2013. 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…
24 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether an independent Scotland would try to recruit staff from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to its foreign and diplomatic service and, if so, how many staff it would aim to recruit.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government will ensure that all its services are provided by qualified staff, who may come from a range of backgrounds and experience, through opportunities arising from existing open recruitment policies and the possibility of transfers where th…
24 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the size of the foreign and diplomatic service in an independent Scotland; how much it would cost to operate, and how many staff would (a) work directly for it and (b) be shared with the rest of the UK.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: An independent Scotland would be represented overseas by a network which worked in the national interests of Scotland. In addition, Scottish Ministers would be open to the sharing of services and facilities with the rest of the UK or with other countries wher…
24 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what resources it would need to support it in independence negotiations with the rest of the UK.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Negotiations will be led by Scottish Government Ministers supported by civil servants. The Scottish Government will invite representatives of other political parties and civic Scotland to contribute to the negotiations. More specialist expertise from outside …
21 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact Scottish independence would have on the double taxation treaties to which the UK is party.
Answer · John Swinney: An independent Scotland would signal its intention to adhere to international tax treaties in force between the UK and other States, the effect being that those tax treaties would continue in force between Scotland and that State. There is international prece…
21 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the reported comments by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth in a Cabinet paper that the annual cost of tax administration in an independent Scotland could be £625 million.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-15876 on 30 August 2013. 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…
21 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what transitional arrangements it would put in place until a separate tax system was set up if Scotland became independent.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-15876 on 30 August 2013. 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…
21 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how (a) long it would take and (b) much it would cost to (i) set up and (ii) run on an annual basis, a separate tax administration system if Scotland became independent.
Answer · John Swinney: Independence would provide the Scottish Government with the key economic and fiscal levers to promote sustainable economic growth and to tackle inequalities. The Scottish Government is currently establishing Revenue Scotland to administer devolved taxation. …