Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S6W-34107

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 13 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what the annual cost is of maintaining cat’s eyes on (a) the A90 in the (i) section north of Dundee and (ii) other sections and (b) other trunk roads.

Maintenance/replacement costs for road studs on the A90 from August 2022 can be seen in table A.

Table A

Route	2022-23 (16th August onwards	2023-2024	2024-25
A90 North of Dundee	£48,069	£85,721	£29,746
A90 South of Dundee	£19,696	£14,240	£7,053

The above figures exclude expenditure on the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route / Balmedie to Tipperty section of the A90. The contract with the DBFO Company, Aberdeen Roads Limited (ARL) requires it to fulfil the contractual obligations in respect of maintenance at ARL’s own cost. These associated costs are not shared with Transport Scotland.

The total cost of road stud maintenance/replacement for all trunk roads within the North East Unit (including the A90 but excluding the AWPR/B-T Project) from August 2022 is as follows:

Table B

Unit	2022-23	2023-24	2024-25
NE	£109,906	£171,719	£316,325

Question reference: S6W-34493

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what the size is of Scottish Water’s financial reserve.

Cash balances are published in Scottish Water’s annual and interim accounts which are laid before Parliament. The latest figure is available in Scottish Water’s interim report and accounts for 2024-25, published on 18 December 2024 and available at https://www.scottishwater.co.uk/-/media/ScottishWater/Document-Hub/Key-Publications/Annual-Reports/Interim-Reports/SCW2701-Interim-report-2024-NOT-SIGNED.pdf.

Question reference: S6W-34494

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how much Scottish Water has paid in debt interest in each of the last five years.

Question reference: S6W-34353

Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 31 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 13 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on plans to reduce the speed limit on most urban roads to 20mph.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that 20 mph speed limits are implemented on all appropriate roads by the end of 2025.

All local authorities are committed to meeting the 2025 deadline and have developed their own plans designating their own streets and £4m has been provided to 21 local authorities this financial year to aid implementation. Transport Scotland has issued national guidance to support local authorities with the roll-out of 20mph speed limits on appropriate roads.

Early feedback from Borders and Highland Councils, as early adopters, has been positive with a recognition by local communities that this initiative can significantly reduce road casualties, encourage sustainable travel, and foster safer, more vibrant communities.

Question reference: S6W-34331

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 31 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 13 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government which classifications of train are in the ScotRail fleet, broken down by the (a) average age and (b) number of trains in each classification.

Question reference: S6W-34070

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported findings of the True North survey showing that 71% of respondents in Scotland want North Sea oil and gas to meet energy demand.

Question reference: S6W-34090

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions took place during the Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy's recent visit to Berlin regarding Scotland’s grid and transmission infrastructure.

Question reference: S6W-34089

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what it anticipates the benefits to Scotland will be of the Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy’s engagements with German energy companies at the Handelsblatt Energy Summit in Berlin.

Question reference: S6W-34116

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 13 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what policies or procedures are in place to address any situations where patients who are deemed “surgically fit for discharge” refuse to leave hospital.

Where a patient deemed ready for discharge refuses to leave hospital, there is a clearly defined procedure in place:

Healthcare staff will arrange a meeting with the patient to discuss the reason they are unwilling to be discharged from hospital and discuss a way forward.
Where no progress is made, the case will be referred to a Medical Director. The Medical Director will then write to the patient, reiterating their planned date of discharge.
Throughout the discharge process, it is made clear to patients that a person is not entitled to remain in hospital indefinitely, and that staying in hospital longer that necessary can have adverse health effects.

Therefore, in such limited cases, it is the responsibility of the Health Board and Medical Directors to manage reluctant discharges.

Question reference: S6W-34091

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 13 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what progress was made on securing partnerships to advance Scotland’s green hydrogen capabilities during the Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy’s recent visit to Berlin.