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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Displaying 841 questions Show Answers
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Question reference: S6W-29579
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: Thursday, 05 September 2024
- Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 17 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has engaged with trade unions and train operators with experience and knowledge of other intercity rail fleets within the UK, to learn from their best practices when specifying key aspects of the commercial tender to procure a new fleet of trains for ScotRail's Intercity rail network, including in relation to required luggage capacity, toilet provisions, appropriate furnishings, the provision of plug sockets, catering services, size and position of saloon windows, information screens, and onboard ventilation and air conditioning.
Answer
Question reference: S6W-29578
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: Thursday, 05 September 2024
- Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 17 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether the forthcoming commercial tender to procure a new fleet of Intercity trains will provide for bi-modal power options, and what steps are being taken to further expand and accelerate the Scottish Government’s rail electrification programme to enable any new fleet to play a key role in decarbonising Scotland’s railway from the moment that it is introduced into revenue-earning service.
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Question reference: S6W-29581
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: Thursday, 05 September 2024
- Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 17 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ensure that the new fleet of Intercity trains currently being procured for the rail network is manufactured in Scotland to support the creation of high-skilled apprenticeships and jobs, and to ensure that Scotland has a rolling stock manufacturing facility to support any future fleet procurement and upgrade programmes.
Answer
Question reference: S6W-29575
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 September 2024
- Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 17 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ensure that the forthcoming commercial tender to procure a new fleet of Intercity trains will include a clause to allow the option to order additional trains in the future, which would allow ScotRail to increase its fleet size as passenger demand requires or to support potential future uplifts in service levels without any additional costs that could be associated with completing a further procurement process.
Answer
Question reference: S6W-29574
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 September 2024
- Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 17 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ensure that (a) the forthcoming commercial tender to procure a new fleet of Intercity trains will build upon any benefits already delivered by the existing High Speed Train fleet and (b) this new fleet will provide (i) an uplift in capacity and (ii) adequate facilities to support an increase in leisure and tourist travel, such as family-friendly facilities, ample bicycle and luggage storage, and improved catering provisions, which have reportedly played a key role in supporting ScotRail’s post-COVID-19 pandemic recovery.
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Question reference: S6W-29572
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 September 2024
- Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 17 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether the forthcoming commercial tender to procure a new fleet of Intercity trains will include a requirement for level boarding, so that ScotRail can play a leading role in ensuring that Scotland has a safe and universally accessible rail network.
Answer
Question reference: S6W-29228
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 August 2024
- Current Status: Answered by Kaukab Stewart on 17 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that the free bus travel for asylum seekers pilot referenced in the New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy Delivery Plan will no longer proceed due to emergency spending controls, whether it expects that any other actions in the strategy will be cancelled in the current financial year.
Answer
Question reference: S6W-29577
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 September 2024
- Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 17 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Government to what extent it has engaged with key stakeholders, such as rail workers and passengers, in relation to the development of the forthcoming commercial tender to procure a new fleet of Intercity trains to ensure that (a) the specification for this new fleet is reflective of the needs and wants of staff and service users and (b) they provide a comfortable environment with, for example, an increase in the number of table seats rather than airline-style seats and ensuring that seats align with windows, which is reportedly a proven driver in making rail travel an attractive alternative to car travel.
Answer
Question reference: S6W-29576
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 September 2024
- Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 17 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Government to what extent the forthcoming commercial tender to procure a new fleet of Intercity trains will increase capacity across Scotland’s intercity rail network, and what considerations have been made in calculating long-term passenger estimates to ensure that the new fleet provides ample capacity for ScotRail’s long-term future.
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Question reference: S6W-29573
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 September 2024
- Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 17 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to ensuring that there will be a place for a second safety-critical member of staff, which trade unions and passengers reportedly recognise as a playing a key role in providing a safe, secure and accessible railway, on all services operated by the new Intercity fleet of trains that will be procured to replace ScotRail’s existing High Speed Train fleet.
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