Questions and answers

Question reference: S4W-30403

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 March 2016
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Burgess on 17 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government when it (a) last reviewed and (b) will next review the legislation on communal repairs and under what circumstances it would consider changing it.

The Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004 followed a detailed report on the law of the tenement by the Scottish Law Commission. The Scottish Government introduced new powers amending the tenement management scheme in the Housing (Scotland) Act 2014. We made a commitment in the sustainable housing strategy to develop proposals for a working group to consider a single condition standard for all housing tenures to support repairs to common parts in mixed tenure buildings. A stakeholder forum has been established to take this forward with a view to conducting a formal public consultation in 2017.

Question reference: S4W-30417

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 March 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 17 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what liability the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland has in relation to the recent cases of fraudulent disposition of title.

The statutory scheme of land registration is set out in the Land Registration etc. (Scotland) Act 2012, which came into effect on 8 December 2014. A person affected by a fraudulent disposition that has been registered may request rectification of the register. The keeper will be able to rectify the register where there has been a fraudulently granted deed, unless the property has subsequently been transferred to a third party who acquired it in good faith. If the register cannot be rectified then the victim of the fraud may be entitled to monetary compensation from the keeper for the value of their loss.

Question reference: S4W-30421

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 March 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 17 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland publishes answers to freedom of information requests on its website.

Question reference: S4W-30073

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 February 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 7 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on Scotland's economy, what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the introduction of a government loan guarantee scheme to allow oil and gas supply chain companies to access finance.

The Deputy First Minister wrote to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 12 February 2016 outlining a series of measures the UK Government must consider ahead of the March budget. Along with urgent fiscal measures to reduce the tax burden, we have asked the UK Government to consider easing constraints on accessing finance, for instance through the introduction of a Government loan guarantee scheme. This scheme would improve access to working capital, ease borrowing constraints and may provide a crucial lifeline to many companies.

The First Minister also announced on 1 February 2016 that Scottish Enterprise has begun an extensive research project to analyse and understand the access to finance issues facing the oil and gas sector.

Question reference: S4W-30072

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 February 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 7 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on Scotland's economy, what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding fiscal reform to secure the future of the oil and gas industry.

The key fiscal levers that affect the sector remain with the UK Government. The Scottish Government has made repeated calls for the fiscal regime to support greater exploration, protect critical infrastructure and encourage further investment in the oil and gas sector. Most recently, the Deputy First Minister wrote to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 12 February 2016 to outline the need for further urgent fiscal reform.

The Deputy First Minister called for:

A substantial reduction in the headline rate of tax, in order to create an internationally competitive tax regime that will successfully bid for investment, improvements to accessing decommissioning tax relief and the fiscal treatment of infrastructure, which should encourage innovation and efficiency.

The removal of fiscal barriers for exploration and enhanced oil recovery, via the further refinement of the investment allowance. Additional non-fiscal support to support investment in the sector, such as government loan guarantees.

The Scottish Government is currently using all of its devolved powers to help where it can. Building on actions such as the creation of the energy jobs taskforce in January 2015, the Scottish Government has recently announced a comprehensive support package for the sector.

Question reference: S4O-05636

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 March 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made on the construction of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

Question reference: S4W-30231

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 March 2016
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Marco Biagi on 2 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its response to the Commission on Local Tax Reform.

Question reference: S4O-05614

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 February 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 2 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making with the Aberdeen women's hospital and cancer care unit projects.

NHS Grampian is continuing to plan the Baird Family Hospital and ANCHOR Centre in Aberdeen with the support of the Scottish Government and the Scottish Futures Trust. The planning process involves a wide range of clinical staff and public engagement. The clinical strategies for the new facilities are complete and work is proceeding on the detailed specifications and development of the designs. The planning applications for the new facilities have been submitted.

Question reference: S4O-05568

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 February 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 February 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in introducing a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses.

Question reference: S4O-05475

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 January 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 January 2016

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met Aberdeen City Council to discuss education issues.

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