Parliamentary questions
Willie Rennie
1,353 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
28 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17688 by Fergus Ewing on 23 October 2013, what assessment it has made of whether an unsolicited letter to businesses and sole traders from a minister breaches the terms of the Data Protection Act 1998.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government is supporting businesses by writing to any potential eligible business that isn’t claiming rates relief they may be entitled to under the Small Business Bonus Scheme (SBBS) to highlight they may benefit from zero or reduced business ra…
28 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17686 by Nicola Sturgeon on 22 October 2013, what companies were awarded each framework contract for mail services.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The postal services framework is divided into two lots. Lot one is for ad-hoc and hybrid mail and was awarded to TNT Post Scotland Ltd. Lot two, covering planned mail, was awarded to the Royal Mail Group Ltd. In relation to the courier services framework, th…
28 Oct 2013 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet.
17 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-13264 by Nicola Sturgeon on 13 March 2013, whether it will reconsider its decision not to release the text of the First Minister’s address to EU ambassadors on 12 February 2013.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: No, this was a private meeting.
17 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of the countries from which the (a) Deputy First Minister and (b) Minister for External Affairs and International Development has met officials or ministers in the last six months, and the dates of such meetings.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The following is a list of meetings held by the Deputy First Minister and the Minister for External Affairs and International Development over the last six months: (a) The Deputy First Minister has met officials or ministers from: Pakistan - 13 August 2013 …
17 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether any of its ministers have visited the United Nations in Geneva in the last six months and, if so, (a) how many officials accompanied the minister, (b) what meetings the minister had, (c) for which meetings officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office were present and (d) wh…
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Minister for External Affairs and International Development visited Geneva from 23 to 25 September 2013, where he met with a number of UN organisations to discuss areas of mutual interest. The Minister was accompanied by 3 Scottish Government officials, a…
17 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what planning assumptions it has made for each year to 2017-18 for the level of (a) GDP growth, (b) revenue budget surplus or deficit using Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) methodology, (c) fiscal surplus or deficit using GERS methodology and (d) the ratio of debt to GD…
Answer · John Swinney: Information on Scotland’s future fiscal position will be set out in the Scottish Government’s white paper on Scottish independence. The paper will be published on the 26 November 2013.
8 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-14256 by John Swinney on 19 April 2013, what discussions it has since had with COSLA to complete its review of the business rate incentivisation scheme targets for 2012-13; when it will publish the targets, and when it will publish the targets for 2…
Answer · John Swinney: COSLA leaders took the decision, at their meeting at the end of May 2013 that they did not want to consider the review of the 2012-13 business rates incentivisation scheme targets until the final non-domestic rates audited figures for 2012-13 are available. …
4 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will place in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) a list of the names and addresses of the businesses to which the letter referred to in its news release of 4 September 2013, Blueprint to overhaul business rates, were sent.
Answer · The Scottish Government has supplied the following corrected answer:..Fergus Ewing: SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT WRITTEN ANSWER 23 October 2013 Index Heading: Learning and Justice Willie Rennie (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government whether it will place in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre …
4 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the letter to businesses referred to in its news release of 4 September 2013, Blueprint to overhaul business rates, was sent; to how many businesses; under whose signature; which mail service the Scottish Government used, and what the cost was.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: In early November 2013, I will write to businesses across Scotland who may be eligible for the Small Business Bonus Scheme but are not claiming. The Scottish Government are currently working to finalise the number of recipients, final cost and mail service to…
4 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what contracts public sector organisations have for mail services; when the contracts were signed, and what the (a) duration and (b) value is of each.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government has awarded two national frameworks covering mail services which are available to all Scottish public sector organisations. The details are as follows: Framework Contract Signed Duration Value (£ per annum) Postal Services Febru…
30 Sep 2013 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet.
27 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-16964 by Fergus Ewing on 24 September 2013, whether the Independent Expert Commission on Oil and Gas will be able to publish minority viewpoints.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Expert Commission will provide a final report to ministers around Spring 2014. It will be for the commission to agree the content of that report.
27 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-16954 by Fergus Ewing on 26 September 2013, whether it will indicate in the white paper whether any policy proposals relating to oil and gas have not been endorsed by the Independent Expert Commission on Oil and Gas.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The commissioners will provide views to ministers, which will be incorporated into the white paper.
27 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-16954 by Fergus Ewing on 26 September 2013, what dialogue it expects to have with the Independent Expert Commission on Oil and Gas prior to publication of the white paper.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The commissioners will provide views to ministers on the matters covered by the remit of the commission.
27 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-16954 by Fergus Ewing on 26 September 2013, whether the Independent Expert Commission on Oil and Gas will endorse every policy point in the white paper relating to the industry.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The commissioners will provide views to ministers on the matters covered by the remit of the commission. The commission will not have sight of the white paper in advance of doing so.
27 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-16954 by Fergus Ewing on 26 September 2013, whether it expects the Independent Expert Commission on Oil and Gas to ensure that its final conclusions, to be published in 2014, match the policies set out in the white paper.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Expert Commission will provide a final report to ministers around Spring 2014. It will be for the commission to agree the content of that report.
27 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-16954 by Fergus Ewing on 26 September 2013, whether it will set out in the white paper which views of the Independent Expert Commission on Oil and Gas have been included and which have not.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The commissioners will provide views to ministers on the matters covered by the remit of the commission.
27 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-16954 by Fergus Ewing on 26 September 2013, whether it will publish the views submitted by the Independent Expert Commission on Oil and Gas prior to publication of the white paper.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has no plans to do this.
23 Sep 2013 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet.
20 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its policy is in relation to applying the Council of Europe Convention on Access to Official Documents should Scotland become independent; whether it has made any representations to the UK Government on this issue, and whether it has made any assessment of whether it currently meets…
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The UK Government is not a signatory. Becoming a signatory would be a matter for the government of an independent Scotland to consider.
20 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason clause 17(6) was removed from the draft harbour revision order application for the proposed Rosyth international container terminal and how it will ensure that the environmental protection conditions recommended by the reporter will be legally binding.
Answer · Keith Brown: The article was considered inappropriately drafted as its terms were somewhat vague for a statutory order. I have made it clear that we are committed to maintaining the level of protection in the draft Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) which w…
9 Sep 2013 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet.
3 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how long it estimates it will take for the Independent Expert Commission on Oil and Gas to provide initial conclusions that can inform the white paper on independence.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Independent Expert Commission will feed views directly into the White Paper prior to its publication.
3 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the notice period will be for members of the Independent Expert Commission on Oil and Gas.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Expert Commission will feed views directly into the white paper and will be concluded following the publication of their final report.
3 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether members of the Independent Budget Review Panel were considered for appointment to the Independent Expert Commission on Oil and Gas.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Several representatives from industry, and academics, were considered to ensure the commission has a range of expertise available to it.
3 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Independent Expert Commission on Oil and Gas will publish minutes of its meetings.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: It will be for the commission to decide whether or not to publish minutes of its meetings.
3 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the letters of appointment of the members of the Independent Expert Commission on Oil and Gas.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has no plans to publish letters of appointment.
3 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it expects its officials to supply presentation slides containing possible conclusions to the Independent Expert Commission on Oil and Gas.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: No.
3 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the remit is of the Independent Expert Commission on Oil and Gas.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The commission will consider options for the implementation of the key principles set out in the Scottish Government’s paper Maximising the return from Oil and Gas in an Independent Scotland that was published on July 23, 2013.