Alison McInnes

8 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether an independent Scotland would have its own advertising regulator and, if so, what assessment it has made of any gaps in skills, expertise and knowledge to staff such a body.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-16359 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…

8 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what would operate in place of the Advertising Standards Authority in an independent Scotland.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: As advertising is self-regulated by the industry it would be a matter for the industry to decide how best to configure, fund and staff its regulation after independence. There is no reason why the Advertising Standards Authority should not continue to operate…

8 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether an independent Scotland would have its own broadcasting code for radio and television.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The regulatory authority for broadcasting would inherit the existing Broadcasting Code at independence and could amend it over time as necessary to suit Scottish circumstances, within the requirements set by the European Audio-Visual Media Services Directive.…

8 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether an independent Scotland would have its own media regulator and, if so, what assessment it has made of any gaps in skills, expertise and knowledge to staff such a body.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-16354 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…

8 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the eligibility criteria for a free TV licence would remain the same in an independent Scotland.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-16351 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…

8 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether an independent Scotland would have access to all BBC programmes and, if not, whether there would be a reduced licence fee for receiving BBC Scotland programming only.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-16351 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…

8 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what body would regulate the media in an independent Scotland.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: In relation to broadcasting I refer the member to the Scottish Government’s paper on Economic and Competition Regulation in an Independent Scotland, published on 28 February 2013 and available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0041/00415411.pdf In r…

8 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether there would be advertising on a Scottish public broadcaster in an independent Scotland.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-16351 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…

8 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the cost of using the BBC iPlayer in an independent Scotland.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-16351 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…

8 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what broadcasting licence fees and charges would apply 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…

8 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the assets of the BBC would be divided if Scotland became independent.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-16351 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…

8 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the BBC would remain the main public broadcaster in an independent Scotland.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-16351 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…

8 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether citizens of an independent Scotland would have the same immigration rights in British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies as citizens of the rest of the UK.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The British Overseas Territories can determine their own immigration arrangements and it would be reasonable for them to continue similar arrangements for Scottish citizens and those of the rest of the UK. The Crown Dependencies are part of the Common Travel …

8 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether citizens of an independent Scotland would be able to retain their (a) UK citizenship and (b) British passport.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: This would be a matter for the UK post-independence to decide. However, Britain already permits dual nationality and passport entitlement for citizens of all other countries and it is reasonable to maintain inclusive and practical mutual arrangements for Scot…

8 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether there would be automatic rights of citizenship for English residents in an independent Scotland.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Citizenship in an independent Scotland will be based upon an inclusive model, recognising our shared history with the rest of the UK.

8 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what would operate in place of the Migration Advisory Committee in an independent Scotland.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Scotland currently contributes to the Migration Advisory Committee from taxation but services provided are geared to UK Government’s needs. We would use our share of resources to meet Scotland’s needs. In delivering these functions, an independent Scotland w…

8 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of an independent Scotland's asylum policy and the associated costs.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: 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…

8 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the border controls required in an independent Scotland and the associated costs.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The primary function of government is to ensure the security of its citizens and to protect them, their property and way of life against threats; this includes securing the border, not only against the abuses relating to immigration fraud, but also exploitati…

8 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guarantees it has received from the EU that an independent Scotland would be exempt from the Schengen Agreement.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The UK and the Republic of Ireland are not required by the EU to be a part of the Schengen area, and as a part of the Common Travel Area, the same arrangement would apply to an independent Scotland.

8 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guarantees it has received from the European Union regarding whether an independent Scotland would be a member of the Common Travel Area.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Common Travel Area is maintained by agreement between the UK and the Republic of Ireland, and is not an arrangement governed by EU legislation.

8 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of where an independent Scotland would set its maritime border with the rest of the UK.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The establishment of a single maritime boundary between an independent Scotland and the rest of the UK will be agreed in accordance with well-established international law. Recent research by Professor Alex Kemp of Aberdeen University has suggested that aroun…

8 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the cost of setting up a separate passport service in an independent Scotland. 

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: 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…

8 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether citizens of an independent Scotland would require passports when travelling to the rest of the UK.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: As a part of the common travel area, Scottish citizens would not require passports to travel to the rest of the UK.

8 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether an independent Scotland would be part of the common (a) agricultural and (b) fisheries policy.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: As a member state of the EU, an independent Scotland would enjoy the full range of rights and responsibilities of EU membership including in relation to the Common Agriculture Policy and Common Fisheries Policy.

8 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of how fishing quotas would be allocated in an independent Scotland.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: As a Member State of the EU Scotland would expect its fishing quotas to be allocated in the same way as all other Member States, based on the EU’s approach which provides a fixed share of fishing opportunities for EU Member States. With regard to allocation …

8 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of how many votes an independent Scotland would have at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council as an EU member state.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Scotland currently has no votes in its own right at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council but would have full voting rights as an Independent state. Independence will ensure that Scotland’s government is able to represent Scotland’s EU interests as a full and…

8 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guarantees it has received from the EU that an independent Scotland would receive the same European Structural Funds income as it currently does.

Answer · John Swinney: Structural funds are allocated on a regional basis (at NUTS 2 region level, of which Scotland has 4). Scotland therefore already has a distinct allocation, although it is distributed to the UK by the commission. The method for national and regional allocation…

8 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether an independent Scotland would seek membership of the (a) European Investment Bank, (b) International Civil Aviation Organisation, (c) International Labour Organisation, (d) United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), (e) World Food Programme, (f) Wo…

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: An independent Scottish Government would remain in membership of a range of international organisations and would follow standard procedures to do so. Given that Scotland, as part of the UK, already meets membership requirements, we do not anticipate any barr…

8 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government in what countries an independent Scotland would seek to establish diplomatic offices and in which countries where there are currently UK diplomatic offices it would no longer have representation.

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…

8 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what level of consular support an independent Scotland would provide for Scottish business and leisure travellers; how this would be provided, and what the (a) start-up and (b) annual running costs would be.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-16321 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…