Willie Rennie

18 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-23630 by Derek Mackay on 18 June 2019, whether it has asked the Scottish Fiscal Commission to (a) advise on the spillover effect and (b) compare the spillover effect with the likely compensating change to the Block Grant Adjustment.

Answer · Derek Mackay: To date, no such advice has been requested from the Scottish Fiscal Commission. In the event of a formal dispute over an issue such as a direct or behavioural spillover, the Fiscal Framework Agreement requires both Governments to draw up a statement of fact o…

18 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-23630 by Derek Mackay on 18 June 2019, whether it remains its policy to create a tax-free allowance in income tax of £12,750 by 2021.

Answer · Derek Mackay: We are committed to protecting lower and middle earning taxpayers and ensuring that Scotland has the fairest tax system in the UK. Decisions on income tax rates and bands for each fiscal year will be announced at the Budget and associated Scottish Rate Resolu…

17 Jun 2019 · First Minister's Question

Question to be taken in Chamber.

11 Jun 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to the Scottish Fisheries Museum in Anstruther.

5 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its estimate is of the necessary compensating transfer for the spillover effect arising from the increase in the personal tax allowance, as stated in the Medium Term Financial Strategy published on 30 May 2019, and how this compares with the estimate used in the answer to question S…

Answer · Derek Mackay: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-23630 on 19 June 2019. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/2…

5 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for which financial years it has requested a compensating transfer for the spillover effect arising from the increase in the personal tax allowance, as stated in the Medium Term Financial Strategy published on 30 May 2019.

Answer · Derek Mackay: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-23630 on 19 June 2019. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/2…

5 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it requested consideration of a compensating transfer for the spillover effect arising from the increase in the personal tax allowance, as stated in the Medium Term Financial Strategy published on 30 May 2019.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Chief Secretary to the Treasury and I agreed a detailed process for considering spillover effects in December 2017, which came into effect in 2018-19. I wrote to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 4 April 2019 presenting estimates that the Scottish Bu…

5 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it provided to each education institution in each of the last three years for (a) medical student and (b) nurses’ training places, and how much it plans to provide in each of the next three years.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has provided over £325 million in funding for medical, nursing and midwifery places in the last three years. Table 1: Funding for Medical students’ places 2016-17 (£) 2017-18 (£) 2018-19 (£) Aberdeen, University of 9,074,682 9,4…

30 May 2019 · First Minister's Question

Question to be taken in Chamber.

29 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-20424 by Joe Fitzpatrick on 18 December 2018, which NHS boards have a backlog for breast screening (a) examinations and (b) results, broken down by length of backlog, and whether it will provide a breakdown of the reasons given by each centre for th…

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Information on delays within the Scottish Breast Screening Programme are recorded by six regional Breast Screening centres. As of April 2019, the delays range from 9 weeks ahead of schedule to 16 weeks over. A full breakdown is tabled below. Tolerances of 3 …

29 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-20424 by Joe Fitzpatrick on 18 December 2018, what action is being taken to reduce the backlog, and by what date it expects it to be dealt with.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Information on delays within the Scottish Breast Screening Programme are recorded by six regional Breast Screening centres. Tolerances of 3 months over or under the 3 year invitation cycle for breast screening are currently accepted, which allows for flexibil…

29 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) longest and (b) average waiting time has been in each year since 2010 for a breast screening appointment, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: This information is not held centrally by Scottish Government or Information Services Division (ISD). NHS Health Boards may hold this information locally.  

29 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of 49% of people reportedly having poor mental health while dealing with cancer, how it plans to reduce this number.

Answer · Clare Haughey: Our vision for mental health is of a Scotland where people can get the right help at the right time, expect recovery and fully enjoy their rights, free from discrimination and stigma. This includes people who are experiencing physical health problems such as …

28 May 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the fishing industry regarding compensation arrangements in relation to impact of offshore wind farm developments.

23 May 2019 · First Minister's Question

Question to be taken in chamber.

9 May 2019 · First Minister's Question

Question to be taken in Chamber.

2 May 2019 · First Minister's Question

Question to be taken in Chamber.

30 Apr 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its assessment is of the maximum time that people will commute for (a) jobs and (b) education, and how this was accounted for in the scope of the Sestran Regional Model (SRM12).

Answer · Michael Matheson: There is no explicit maximum time that people would be willing to commute for jobs or travel to education in SRM12 which is typical of transport models. The SRM12 represents weekday morning, afternoon and evening peak hours and people will travel from their o…

30 Apr 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reported previous underestimates, how it has adapted its modelling of the levels of anticipated rail passenger demand for new lines and stations, and whether this will be taken account of in the case of Levenmouth rail link.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The SRM12 is maintained and enhanced periodically in line with industry guidance, standards and best practice so that it remains fit for purpose in supporting robust modelling and appraisal of transport interventions across Scotland. As part of the Levenmouth…

30 Apr 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the Sestran Regional Model (SRM12) takes account of step changes in (a) transport patterns and (b) land use that could result from new infrastructure.

Answer · Michael Matheson: (a) SRM12 considers responses to traveller choices such as which route to take, which mode to use and where to travel to. SRM12 can be run for a number of forecast years to help better understand forecast ‘step changes’ over time. These will include “Do-Somet…

30 Apr 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Sestran Regional Model (SRM12) indicates that Fife housing and employment growth contributes to increased traffic into Edinburgh but the mitigation measures do not refer to any measures beyond the Edinburgh area, including the Levenmouth rail link.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The desirability to travel to Edinburgh from those residing in Fife, is a reflection of the number and type of employment, education and shopping opportunities offered by a city the size of Edinburgh. The SRM12 reflects this attractiveness when the calculatin…

30 Apr 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Sestran Regional Model (SRM12) includes the East Neuk and takes account of the value of the railhead that Levenmouth could provide.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The geographical scope of the SRM12 model covers the South East of Scotland, including the whole of Fife and the East Neuk. The Sestran Regional Model is a tool which may be used to provide quantitative evidence as part of Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidanc…

23 Apr 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact reductions to the Fife Health and Social Care Partnership budget will have on its ability to meet rising demand for social care.

17 Apr 2019 · First Minister's Question

Question to be taken in Chamber.

2 Apr 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the article in The Press and Journal on 2 April 2019, “Public foots bill for pair of lifeline freight ferries”, for what reason it considers that the purchase price that it paid for the MV Helliar and MV Hildasay should be withheld on the grounds of commercial confidentiality.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-22383 on 4 April 2019. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28…

29 Mar 2019 · First Minister's Question

Question to be taken in Chamber.

18 Mar 2019 · First Minister's Question

Question to be taken in Chamber.

7 Mar 2019 · First Minister's Question

Question to be taken in Chamber.

28 Feb 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that lenders’ confidence in the (a) social housing and (b) other sectors will continue following Brexit, and what contingency measures are planned to mitigate any adverse outcomes.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: In the face of the UK Government’s continuing reckless approach, a no deal exit increasingly appears to be the most likely outcome and therefore as a responsible government we have stepped up our no deal preparations. Ministers and senior government officials…

28 Feb 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how organisations and businesses can input into its consideration of what types of activities, programmes and support will be eligible to benefit from the financial commitment to mitigate the risks of Brexit that it announced in its Budget.

Answer · Derek Mackay: As a responsible government we must prepare for all EU Exit possibilities, and the 2019-20 Scottish Budget will support vital preparedness activities. All Portfolio areas have benefited from all of the 2019-20 EU Exit consequentials being allocated via the Sc…