Parliamentary questions
Willie Rennie
1,353 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
10 Sep 2018 · First Minister's Question
Question to be taken in Chamber.
24 Aug 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason there is a reported backlog of land registry applications.
Answer · Kate Forbes: This is a question for the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland. She advises me that in excess of 70% of land register applications are completed within 5 days and in the last financial year the average waiting time was 26.5 days. However, a number of applicat…
24 Aug 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the last Registers of Scotland staff survey took place, and when the next one will take place.
Answer · Kate Forbes: This is a question for the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland. She advises me that that Registers of Scotland invite colleagues to participate in the annual civil service people survey (CSPS), which last took place in October 2017. 727 colleagues and externa…
24 Aug 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many staff have been employed at Registers of Scotland in each year since 2007-08.
Answer · Kate Forbes: This is a question for the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland. She has provided me with the information requested in the following table, as taken from the Annual Reports from 2007-08 until 2017-18. Year Contractors Civil Servants Total Average headcount…
24 Aug 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people awaiting the processing of a land registry application in each of the last three years have informed Land Registry Scotland that they have had to take out a standard variable rate loan as a result of the delay, and whether it has conducted an assessment of the financial i…
Answer · Kate Forbes: This is a question for the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland. She advises me that historically lenders would not usually require registration applications to be completed before offering customers new deals or rates. Recently some lenders have changed their…
24 Aug 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the longest waiting time has been for a land registry application in each of the last three years, and what the longest waiting time is currently.
Answer · Kate Forbes: This is a question for the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland. She advises me that she has instigated a plan to clear the current backlog, which has already resolved over 1000 of the oldest applications, with an initial target of ensuring by the end of this …
24 Aug 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many complaints Land Registry Scotland has received in each of the last three years regarding the length of time taken to process an application.
Answer · Kate Forbes: This is a question for the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland. She advises me that Registers of Scotland is acutely aware of customer and stakeholder concern around how long some applications are taking, and that they are in continual dialogue with the Law S…
3 Jul 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has taken steps to ensure that the company that has reportedly received more than £475,000 from Scottish Enterprise in the last three years has not made any political donations in that period.
Answer · Derek Mackay: I refer the member to my answer to the question S5W-17585 on 17 July 2018. 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/parliamentarybusin…
3 Jul 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has received assurances that the company that has reportedly received more than £475,000 from Scottish Enterprise in the last three years meets the requirements of its Fair Work Framework.
Answer · Derek Mackay: I refer the member to my answer to the question S5W-17585 on 17 July 2018. 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/parliamentarybusin…
3 Jul 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to establish whether the company that has reportedly received more than £475,000 from Scottish Enterprise in the last three years (a) has sought and (b) will seek planning permission that could be called in by the Scottish Ministers.
Answer · Derek Mackay: I refer the member to my answer to the question S5W-17585 on 17 July 2018. 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/parliamentarybusin…
3 Jul 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assurances it has sought regarding whether the company that has reportedly received more than £475,000 from Scottish Enterprise in the last three years has any links to (a) serving board members and (b) senior staff at Scottish Enterprise.
Answer · Derek Mackay: I refer the member to my answer to the question S5W-17585 on 17 July 2018. 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/parliamentarybusin…
3 Jul 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will seek a report from (a) auditors and (b) the accountable officer regarding the identity of the company that has reportedly received more than £475,000 from Scottish Enterprise in the last three years.
Answer · Derek Mackay: I refer the member to my answer to the question S5W-17585 on 17 July 2018. 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/parliamentarybusin…
3 Jul 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Scottish Ministers are aware of the identity of the company that has reportedly received more than £475,000 from Scottish Enterprise in the last three years.
Answer · Derek Mackay: Arrangements involving commercial confidentiality agreements between Scottish Enterprise and a private company are a matter for Scottish Enterprise.
3 Jul 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to allow transparency regarding the identity of the company that has reportedly received more than £475,000 from Scottish Enterprise in the last three years.
Answer · Derek Mackay: I refer the member to my answer to the question S5W-17585 on 17 July 2018. 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/parliamentarybusin…
3 Jul 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government under what circumstances Scottish Enterprise is permitted to withhold the identity of companies that it gives grants to.
Answer · Derek Mackay: I refer the member to my answer to the question S5W-17585 on 17 July 2018. 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/parliamentarybusin…
3 Jul 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the payments of more than £475,000 that were reportedly made to a company by Scottish Enterprise in the last three years meet the terms of the reporting requirements of the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010.
Answer · Derek Mackay: I refer the member to my answer to the question S5W-17585 on 17 July 2018. 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/parliamentarybusin…
29 Jun 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-02378 by Keith Brown on 28 September 2016 and the answer to question S5W-11126 by Derek Mackay on 19 September 2017, whether it will provide an update on the required change to parliamentary procedures associated with approving Scottish Government g…
Answer · Derek Mackay: Since the previous PQs (S5W-02378 on 28 September 2016 and S5W-11126 on 19 September 2017 - 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/par…
25 Jun 2018 · First Minister's Question
Question to be taken in Chamber.
18 Jun 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the fifth supplementary to question S5F-02451 by Nicola Sturgeon on 14 June 2018 (Official Report, c. 18), in light of the First Minister's comment that "I am sure that the Lord Advocate will be listening carefully or, at least, that these comments [regarding pr…
Answer · James Wolffe QC: The criminal investigation by the Police Service of Scotland is ongoing. This is a complex and challenging investigation. Evidence has had to be sought and obtained from a number of different countries outwith the United Kingdom with a view to considering whe…
14 Jun 2018 · First Minister's Question
Question to be taken in Chamber.
12 Jun 2018 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Fife regarding the withdrawal of primary care emergency services from St Andrews, and what action it will take to ensure that the town is considered an option for future service provision.
12 Jun 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many radiologists have been hired by NHS Fife following the recent recruitment drive; how many posts remain vacant, and what action is being taken to fill these vacancies.
Answer · Shona Robison: NHSScotland Boards are required to have the correct staff in place to meet the needs of the service and ensure high quality patient care. The Scottish Government works closely with Boards to support their efforts in staff recruitment. NHS Fife have advised t…
31 May 2018 · First Minister's Question
Question to be taken in Chamber.
28 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-16560 by Derek Mackay on 21 May 2018, how the amount allocated to each local authority to assist with the cost of road repairs following the 2017-18 severe weather compares with the amount that each advised they required.
Answer · Derek Mackay: As the Scottish Government did not receive any estimate of how much each local authority required to assist with the cost of road repairs following the 2017-18 severe weather it is not possible to provide any comparison with their share of the extra £10 milli…
28 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-16560 by Derek Mackay on 21 May 2018, what information it has regarding the average time it takes for local authorities to apply for assistance under the Bellwin Scheme.
Answer · Derek Mackay: Local authorities have four months from the date of the incident to submit any interim Bellwin claim to the Scottish Government and 8 months from the date of the incident to submit a final fully audited claim. These dates can be extended with the agreement of…
28 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-16560 by Derek Mackay on 21 May 2018, what information it has regarding why no local authority proceeded to apply for funding under the Bellwin Scheme, and whether it is aware of any that were considering such a claim prior to 6 April 2018, and, if …
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government acted swiftly and decisively in confirming an additional £10 million provided to all 32 local authorities for winter maintenance and road repairs. This provided early certainty and removed the need for any local authority to compile a …
28 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-16560 by Derek Mackay on 21 May 2018, whether the additional £10 million that has been allocated is (a) instead of or (b) additional to the Bellwin Scheme.
Answer · Derek Mackay: As explained in the answer to question S5W-16560, the additional £10 million was allocated to local authorities in lieu of any money they may have received through the Bellwin Scheme.
24 May 2018 · First Minister's Question
Question to be taken in Chamber.
15 May 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-16245 by Maree Todd on 27 April 2018, how much funding each local authority requested for early learning and childcare in the expansion plan that was submitted, and how this compares with how much each has been allocated under the agreement.
Answer · Maree Todd: Local authorities will receive additional annual revenue funding of ?£567 million in 2021-22 to support the expansion in entitlement to funded early learning and childcare to 1140 hours from August 2020. This is the first full financial year of the expansion.…
14 May 2018 · First Minister's Question
Question to be taken in Chamber.