Willie Rennie

1 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4F-03322 by Nicola Sturgeon on 23 March 2016 (Official Report, c. 52), if the Scottish Parliament did not agree to raise the threshold for higher rate income tax to the same level as that of the rest of the UK, what impact this would have on the paymen…

Answer · Derek Mackay: Under new income tax powers set out in the Scotland Act 2016, all Scottish non-savings and non-dividend income tax will accrue to the Scottish Government from the tax year 2017-18 onwards. The Scottish Government set out its proposal for the use of these powe…

26 May 2016 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet.

12 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information China Railway No.3 Engineering Group and SinoFortone provided about their activities and those of their subsidiaries elsewhere in the world prior to the signing of the memorandum of understanding on 21 March 2016.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00024 on 31 May 2016. 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/288…

12 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on Amnesty International’s allegation that one of China Railway Group’s subsidiaries was involved in illegal forced evictions in the Democratic Republic of Congo and whether the Scottish Government will take this into consideration in deciding how to proceed followin…

Answer · Keith Brown: As the memorandum of understanding does not involve any legal, contractual or funding obligations or commitments on behalf of the Scottish Government full due diligence was not undertaken prior to the signing of the memorandum. The Scottish Government was the…

12 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers it appropriate to enter into agreements with companies that have been allegedly implicated in human rights abuses or present a risk of gross corruption.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government condemns human rights abuses and corruption wherever it takes place. I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00024 on 31 May 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, th…

12 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its due diligence of foreign companies involves.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00024 on 31 May 2016. 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/parliamentarybusines…

12 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it carried out due diligence prior to signing a memorandum of understanding with China Railway No.3 Engineering Group and SinoFortone on 21 March 2016; what its position is on this matter, and whether it is standard procedure for the First Minister or other ministers and official…

Answer · Keith Brown: Prior to signing the memorandum of understanding, Scottish Government officials sought advice from the Scottish development international team in China and also assessed Sinofortone’s credibility in terms of their existing UK activity. As the memorandum of u…

12 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will suspend the memorandum of understanding with China Railway No.3 Engineering Group and SinoFortone that was signed on 21 March 2016 until it has investigated allegations of human rights abuses and the risk of gross corruption.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00026 on 31 May 2016. 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/parliamentarybusines…

12 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether officials were aware before the memorandum of understanding was signed on 21 March 2016 that China Railway Group had been blacklisted for investment by the Norwegian Government Pension Fund Global, and whether it has subsequently contacted the Norwegian Government Pension Fund Gl…

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00026 on 31 May 2016. 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/parliamentarybusines…

12 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it made of the human rights record of China Railway No.3 Engineering Group and SinoFortone before signing the memorandum of understanding on 21 March 2016.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00026 on 31 May 2016. 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/parliamentarybusines…

12 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what advice on China Railway No.3 Engineering Group and SinoFortone it sought from external stakeholders before signing the memorandum of understanding on 21 March 2016.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00024 on 31 May 2016. 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/parliamentarybusines…

12 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its signing of the memorandum of understanding with China Railway No.3 Engineering Group and SinoFortone signed on 21 March 2016, how many hours of its officials’ time has been spent on work associated with the signing of the memorandum and at what cost; what support it will …

Answer · Keith Brown: Information on the number of hours of officials’ time spent on work associated with the memorandum of understanding and the associated cost is not recorded. The Scottish Government’s work with China Railway No.3 Engineering Group and SinoFortone is part of …

12 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) interest rate, (b) timescale and (c) financial return for the companies would be in relation to the £10 billion of investment planned by China Railway No.3 Engineering Group and SinoFortone in projects across Scotland in accordance with the memorandum of understanding signed…

Answer · Keith Brown: The memorandum of understanding between the Scottish Government, China Railway No.3 Engineering Group and SinoFortone is focused on developing a working relationship to explore possible investment in Scotland. There is no confirmed investment and no legal or …

12 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that it would be appropriate for it to sign an agreement with China Railway No.3 Engineering Group and SinoFortone to build homes in Falkirk, following its signing of the memorandum of understanding on 21 March 2016, if Falkirk Council had already rejected such a pro…

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00015 on 31 May 2016. 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…

12 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it made on behalf of China Railway No.3 Engineering Group with regard to affordable housing in Falkirk in 2015.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00015 on 31 May 2016. 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…

12 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has had discussions with (a) Edinburgh City Council, (b) Falkirk Council and (c) East Ayrshire Council regarding the possibility of China Railway No.3 Engineering Group and SinoFortone investing in 5,000 affordable homes across these areas.

Answer · Keith Brown: The memorandum of understanding between the Scottish Government, China Railway No.3 Engineering Group and SinoFortone is focused on developing a working relationship to explore possible investment in Scotland. The Scottish Government has not had any discussio…

12 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what large railway project Sir Richard Heygate referred to during an interview on Good Morning Scotland on 8 April 2016.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government does not know what large railway project was being referred to.

12 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the First Minister expressed a preference that China Railway No.3 Engineering Group and SinoFortone invest in (a) affordable housing and (b) clean energy during discussions, as stated by Sir Richard Heygate on Good Morning Scotland on 8 April 2016, and whether she indicated that …

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00012 on 31 May 2016. 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…

12 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what projects it or China Railway No.3 Engineering Group and SinoFortone have identified as opportunities for investment in (a) affordable housing, (b) communities, (c) clean energy, (d) industry and business parks, (e) transportation infrastructure and (f) any other areas.

Answer · Keith Brown: The memorandum of Uuderstanding between the Scottish Government, China Railway No.3 Engineering Group and SinoFortone is focused on developing a working relationship to explore possible investment in Scotland. At their meeting on 3 February 2016, SinoForton…

12 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities said on Scotland 2016 on 4 April 2016 that the Scottish Government, China Railway No.3 Engineering Group and SinoFortone were "not at the stage of discussing particular projects", and whether it considers tha…

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00012 on 31 May 2016. 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…

12 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the £10 billion investment associated with the memorandum of understanding with China Railway No.3 Engineering Group and SinoFortone that was signed on 21 March 2016, and how this figure was arrived at.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00012 on 31 May 2016. 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…

12 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government with what foreign companies it has signed memorandums of understanding in each year since 2007-08; on what dates each was signed; how many led to the intended collaboration and financial investment, and whether each was announced on the Scottish Government’s website.

Answer · Keith Brown: This information is not held centrally.

12 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will place in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) a copy of all documentation relating to the agreement of a joint press release between the Scottish Government and China Railway No.3 Engineering Group and SinoFortone regarding the memorandum of understanding si…

Answer · Keith Brown: The information requested has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) Bib No. 57958.

12 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers it appropriate that the Chinese media was informed of the signing of the memorandum of understanding with China Railway No.3 Engineering Group and SinoFortone that was signed on 21 March 2016 but the Scottish media was not.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00006 on 31 May 2016. 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/288…

12 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the press release agreed between the Scottish Government and China Railway No.3 Engineering Group and SinoFortone regarding the memorandum of understanding signed on 21 March 2016 was published on the companies’ English language website only, and who took the decision not…

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government took the decision to focus on publicising any investment arising from the memorandum if and when such investment was confirmed. Such investment will be publicised in the normal way. It was for SinoFortone and the China Railway No.3 E…

12 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it first came into contact with representatives of China Railway No.3 Engineering Group and SinoFortone.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00004 on 31 May 2016. 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/288…

12 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what dates (a) officials, (b) the First Minister and (c) other ministers have held discussions with China Railway No. 3 Engineering Group and SinoFortone.

Answer · Keith Brown: Officials became aware of SinoFortone’s possible interest in investing in Scotland in June 2015 via the Chair of the Asia Scotland Institute. The First Minister’s office was contacted in July 2015 and in October 2015 regarding Sinofortone’s interest in inve…

12 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what date (a) officials, (b) the First Minister and (c) other ministers became aware of the proposals by China Railway No.3 Engineering Group and SinoFortone to invest in Scotland.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00004 on 31 May 2016. 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…

12 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will place in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) a copy of the memorandum of understanding with China Railway No.3 Engineering Group and SinoFortone, which was signed on 21 March 2016, and for what reason the Parliament was not informed about the agreement at t…

Answer · Keith Brown: The memorandum of understanding (MoU) is available on the Scottish Government’s website: www.gov.scot/ChineseMOU and is available in SPICe, Bib No. 57959. The MoU contains no commitments to investment and has no legal or contractual implications for the Scott…

12 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will place in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) copies of (a) all correspondence and (b) the minutes of meetings that it had with representatives of China Railway No. 3 Engineering Group and SinoFortone (i) in advance of and (ii) after the signing of the memor…

Answer · Keith Brown: In respect of (ii), I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00004 on 31 May 2016. 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/parl…