Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-09836

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 June 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 29 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what support it can offer residents in the Loch Rannoch area who have reportedly been waiting for improved broadband access for a number of years.

Over 100 premises to the east of Loch Rannoch will gain access to fibre broadband as a result of Gainshare - a clawback mechanism built into the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) contracts. This funding is being made available to accelerate high speed broadband roll-out for Scotland’s rural communities.

Any premises that will not have superfast broadband delivered commercially or through DSSB will be eligible for investment through the Reaching 100% programme which will provide superfast broadband access to 100% of premises across Scotland by the end of 2021.

Question reference: S5W-09837

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 June 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 29 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications have been made to Community Broadband Scotland in each year since August 2012, and how many of these were approved.

Since August 2012, Community Broadband Scotland has received a total of 90 applications for grant funding from community organisations. Of the 90, 86 applications were approved. The remaining four applications were withdrawn before a decision was made. The breakdown of applications per year is as follows:

2013-14: 24 applications made (24 approved)

2014-15: 21 applications made (21 approved)

2015-16: 22 applications made (22 approved)

2016-17: 18 applications made (16 approved, 2 withdrawn)

2017-18: 5 applications made (3 approved, 2 withdrawn)

Question reference: S5W-09699

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 June 2017
Current Status: Answered by Annabelle Ewing on 21 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-09650 by Annabelle Ewing on 14 June 2017, what the time frame is for its consideration of the recommendations made by the Scottish Law Commission.

Question reference: S5O-01158

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S5W-09650

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 12 June 2017
Current Status: Answered by Annabelle Ewing on 14 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government when it will implement the Scottish Law Commission's Report on Trust Law (Scot Law Com no 239).

Question reference: S5W-09559

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 June 2017
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 13 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the evidence given by Derek Mackay to the Finance and Constitution Committee on 8 February 2017 (Official Report, c. 1), what its Land and Business Transaction Tax revenues were for 2016-17, and what estimate it has made for 2017-18.

Question reference: S5O-01097

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 7 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what impact a 50% top rate of income tax would have on public finances.

The Scottish Government has published detailed analysis of the impact of a 50% top rate of income tax in 2017-18 on our website. Revenue forecasts from a 50% rate of income tax are particularly dependent on behavioral effects and so a range of possible revenue impacts was provided. The First Minister has asked the Council of Economic Advisors to consider how and to what extent any revenue risk can be mitigated and we look forward to seeing their report later in the year.

HMRC have indicated that a 5p increase in the additional rate of income tax may raise around £450m in 2018-19 at the whole of UK level. An increase in income tax in the rest of the UK would impact on the Scottish budget through the block grant adjustment and Barnett consequentials depending on how increased revenues were spent.

Question reference: S5W-09558

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 June 2017
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 6 June 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the evidence given by Derek Mackay to the Finance and Constitution Committee on 8 February 2017 (Official Report, c. 1), what its underspend was for 2016-17, and what estimate it has made for 2017-18.

Question reference: S5W-09252

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 31 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many welders have been employed in constructing the new Queensferry Crossing in each year of its construction.

Question reference: S5W-09253

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 May 2017
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 25 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether the adjoining road surfaces connecting the Queensferry Crossing both south and north of the bridge were completed in time for the bridge’s original opening date.

Tell us your views

Seòmar agus comataidhean