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-27370

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 May 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 23 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) Eurostar Group and (b) other train operating companies about reviving the Regional Eurostar and Nightstar services that were proposed to run from Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverley to Paris Nord.

Question reference: S6W-27374

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 May 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 23 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates that its Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme (VDLIP), based on the current trend, will have brought all 848 hectares of vacant and derelict land across the 619 sites in Glasgow back into productive use.

Question reference: S6W-27385

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 May 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 23 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider amending the provisions in the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 in relation to the licensing and regulation of taxis in order to make the provision of a card payment facility mandatory, in light of reported concerns regarding the inconvenience that cash-only operations can cause to passengers and the potential impact on the efficient operation of taxi ranks.

Question reference: S6W-27371

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 May 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 23 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will engage with the Invictus Games Foundation regarding a potential bid to host the 2029 or 2031 iteration of the Invictus Games in Glasgow.

Question reference: S6W-27134

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 April 2024
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 8 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Change Mental Health report, The Rural Divide: The Realities of Mental Healthcare for Children and Young People in Rural Scotland, on mental health services in rural areas.

The Scottish Government acknowledges this report and we recognise that people in rural areas can experience particular challenges in relation to their mental health and wellbeing.

We also recognise that CAMHS performance still varies across Health Boards, and we are committed to supporting rural mental health services to develop their workforce, increase service provision and will provide tailored support to those Boards with the longest waits to ensure that those who need care can receive it in a timely manner.

We continue to work closely with all Boards to support them to meet the standard that 90% of patients begin treatment for CAMHS within 18 weeks of referral. This includes regularly engaging with remote and rural Boards and providing them with access to professional advice.

Question reference: S6W-27219

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 May 2024
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 8 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-25231 by Joe FitzPatrick on 29 February 2024, whether it will provide an update on when the (a) Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF) and (b) Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme (VDLIP) will reopen to new projects.

Question reference: S6W-27135

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 April 2024
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 8 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to address any inequalities in access to mental health services in rural areas.

The Scottish Government recognise that people in rural areas can experience particular challenges in relation to their mental health and wellbeing.

We have a specific focus on rural communities within the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund. Across the first two years of the Fund, over 700 awards have been made to projects supporting people disadvantaged by geographical location (including rural areas).

We have also provided £50,000 per year to fund the National Rural Mental Health Forum managed by Change Mental Health. The Forum focuses on exchanging knowledge, experience and learning about mental health and wellbeing in rural areas, enabling it to better understand and support rural communities.

We are committed to supporting rural mental health services to develop their workforce and increase service provision. We also provide tailored support to those Boards with the longest waits to ensure that those who need care can receive it in a timely manner, including regularly engaging with remote and rural Boards, providing access to professional advice.

Question reference: S6W-27301

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 May 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 21 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in relation to the recommendations of the Broomielaw District Regeneration Framework by Austin-Smith:Lord for Glasgow City Council, which were approved by the local authority in June 2019, including (a) that Transport Scotland establishes an M8 Transformation Board in partnership with the Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council, (b) the removal of the William Street on ramp to the M8 westbound, (c) the removal of the Bothwell Street off ramp and flyover from the M8 eastbound, (c) the reconnection of William Street and Bothwell Street via a new bridge across the M8 cutting and (d) the reconnection of Argyle Street underneath the Kingston Bridge approach spans at Anderston Cross, with an updated entrance portal to Anderston railway station.

Question reference: S6W-27302

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 May 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 21 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported long-term costs involved in maintaining the M8 inner ring road section through Glasgow, as well as reported negative environmental and social impacts on the urban neighbourhoods of inner city Glasgow, whether Transport Scotland is considering taking any action on a long-term sustainable plan for declassifying the M8 through Glasgow that could save money and improve the quality of life in Glasgow.

Question reference: S6W-27300

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 May 2024
Current Status: Answer expected on 21 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it is not emulating the approach of the Danish Energy Agency by taking a 20% state ownership share in the development of new offshore wind farms.