Parliamentary questions
John Lamont
759 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
21 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what supervisory, regulatory and tax regimes would be put in place governing takeovers, mergers and acquisitions in an independent Scotland.
Answer · John Swinney: An independent Scotland will continue to meet EU requirements in this area. However, within these parameters, an independent Scotland would have scope to ensure that codes of principles and regulations reflect Scottish needs and priorities. At present most as…
21 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of separation from the rest of the UK on (a) access to and support from the Green Investment Bank, (b) the Business Growth Fund, (c) the UK Corporate Governance Code and (d) Scottish brands selling to the rest of the UK.
Answer · John Swinney: The decision to site the Headquarters of the UK Green Investment Bank in Edinburgh was based on the city’s strengths in finance, the green economy and innovation. These strengths will continue after independence, and the Green Investment Bank would continue t…
21 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how legislation relating to corruption and bribery would operate in an independent Scotland.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The main legislation relating to corruption and bribery in Scotland is the Bribery Act 2010. This legislation modernised bribery law across the UK and extended to Scotland with the agreement of the Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament. The 2010 Act…
21 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether there would be a distinct Scottish (a) import and export licensing regime for controlled goods and (b) version of the Export Control Organisation to provide guidance and advice to businesses if Scotland became independent.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-15916 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 body would undertake the functions of the Export Guarantees Advisory Council if Scotland became independent.
Answer · John Swinney: In delivering these functions, an independent Scotland would ensure continuity of services including transition from the current arrangements to which Scotland currently contributes fully through taxes and fees levied in Scotland by the UK Government. An inde…
21 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has undertaken to establish the impact of an independent Scotland on Scottish companies that sell most of their goods and services to the rest of the UK.
Answer · John Swinney: As part of the EU single market, companies would continue to benefit from access to markets across Europe, including the UK. An independent Scotland would retain Sterling as part of a formal monetary union. Retaining a common currency would facilitate continu…
21 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the compliance and adaptation costs of business if Scotland became independent.
Answer · John Swinney: Scotland would comply with EU regulations which affect the conduct of business. Consequently, businesses operating in an independent Scotland would continue to be subject to these compliance requirements as they currently are within the UK; however, within th…
21 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what tax relief would be available to (a) video game companies, (b) film companies and (c) other creative enterprises in an independent Scotland.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to questions S4W-15868 and 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…
21 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much a TV licence would cost in an independent Scotland.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has no plans to alter the value of the licence fee after independence. Political parties, stakeholders, and individuals will have their own preferences for the policies to be pursued in an independent Scotland and the arguments for and…
21 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether research and development tax credits would continue to be available in an independent Scotland and, if so, what work it has undertaken on how this would operate.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to questions S4W-15868 and 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.u…
21 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it would seek to continue the UK Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme in an independent Scotland and, if so, what work it has undertaken on how this would operate.
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, in an independent Scotland, what impact inheritance tax would have on spouses and partners domiciled outside of Scotland.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to questions S4W-15868 and 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…
21 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what tax rates and relief would be available to the oil and gas sector in an independent Scotland.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government published Maximising the Return from Oil and Gas in an Independent Scotland on 23 July 2013. This paper sets out the high-level principles that should underpin key aspects of oil and gas policy in an independent Scotland. The paper can…
21 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether Gift Aid would apply in an independent Scotland and, if so, whether rates would be different to those in the rest of the UK.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government will ensure that charities continue to benefit from tax relief on donations. I refer the member to the answer to questions S4W-15868 and S4W-15876 on 30 August 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the P…
21 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what tax relief would be available on (a) pension contributions and (b) savings products in an independent Scotland.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to questions S4W-15868 and 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…
21 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how corporate profits earned outwith Scotland would be treated for tax purposes in an independent Scotland.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to questions S4W-15868 and 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.u…
21 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the governance arrangements for the Scottish treasury and the revenue collection authority would be in an independent Scotland.
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 the (a) approach to fiscal policy and (b) implications for business taxation would be in an independent Scotland.
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 as set out in the Fiscal Commission Working Groups first report. The paper can be found at: http://www…
21 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its assessment is of the (a) initial and (b) ongoing costs to the (i) public and (ii) private sectors of separate PAYE and personal and business tax assessment and collection systems in an independent Scotland.
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 at what rate it would seek to set (a) national insurance contributions, (b) corporation tax, (c) fuel duties, (d) tobacco duties, (e) alcohol duties, (f) capital gains tax, (g) the climate change levy and (h) inheritance tax in an independent Scotland.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-15868 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 estimates it has made of the costs to (a) business and (b) individual taxpayers of the transition to a new tax system 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…
18 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-15300 by John Swinney on 12 June 2013, whether it considers that an appropriate time to seek a draft credit rating would be before the referendum on Scottish independence.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-15807 on 24 July 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/parliamentarybu…
18 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-14922 by John Swinney on 28 May 2013, whether it will provide the information requested in relation to a draft credit rating.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Scottish Ministers will decide in the light of all the circumstances when to seek a credit rating.
12 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much land it estimates will be required to house the number of turbines needed to meet its renewable energy targets.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: We expect and want a wide range of renewable technologies to be developed to help Scotland meet its target, and that includes onshore and offshore wind turbines in the right places, guided by a planning and consent process which we will ensure remains fit for…
29 May 2013 · SPCB Oral Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what the average number of customers using the Queensberry House lounge is on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays before 4pm.
28 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-14922 by John Swinney on 28 May 2013, whether it will provide the information that was requested and confirm whether it will seek a draft opinion on an independent Scotland’s credit rating from a credit rating agency.
Answer · John Swinney: As I made clear in response to question S4W-14922, given our position of relative financial strength we expect an independent Scotland to secure a top credit rating - almost two thirds of countries with an AAA rating are small countries with a population of l…
21 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what advice was provided by its economists as referred to in paragraph 4.3 of Shaping Scotland's Court Services: The Scottish Court Service Response to the consultation and recommendations for a future court structure in Scotland and whether it will publish it before the Justice Committe…
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The advice provided to the Scottish Court Service by Scottish Government economists is set out in Chapter 7 of the consultation paper Shaping Scotland’s Court Services.
21 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what parts of Scotland will be served by the proposed justice centres in (a) the Borders, (b) Fife, (c) Lanarkshire and (d) the Highlands and what discussions it has had with the Scottish Court Service on (i) the timetable for completion of these centres and (ii) their impact on the exis…
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Court Service (SCS) stated in its response to their consultation paper “Shaping Scotland’s Court Services” that their longer term vision for the courts service in Scotland includes the development of Justice Centres in key strategic population ce…
16 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-14923 by John Swinney on 16 May 2013, what impact it considers the comments from the respondents will have on an independent Scotland's ability to borrow.
Answer · John Swinney: An independent Scotland will have access to the same sources of borrowing as any other independent country. Lenders will look at all the relevant facts and at our fiscal track record when deciding at what rates of interest they are prepared to lend, not at u…
14 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its analysis is of the views of respondents outlined in paragraphs 2.6 to 2.11 of the UK Government publication, The Scotland Act 2012: summary of responses to the consultation on Scottish Government bond issuance, in relation to the rate at which an independent Scotland could borro…
Answer · John Swinney: We assume that the question relates to the publication by HM Treasury on 13 May 2013 of a summary of responses to its consultation on bond issuance by the Scottish Government, which closed approximately eight months ago. The Scottish Government believes that …