- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 11 June 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 21 June 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on extending the concessionary travel scheme to apply to asylum seekers accommodated in Glasgow under the Home Office Dispersal Programme.
Answer
There is no specific eligibility criterion for asylum seekers in either the current Concessionary Scheme for Older and Disabled Persons or the new National Bus Travel Concession Scheme for Young Persons. We do not plan to extend either scheme in this way.
However, asylum seekers resident in Scotland, like all others who are aged over 60 or meet the disability criteria, are able to apply for free bus travel under the Older and Disabled Person’s Scheme. Young asylum seekers meeting the eligibility criteria for the Young Persons Scheme will also be able to apply for free bus travel when the scheme is launched later in this financial year.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 June 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 18 June 2021
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the proposed Citizen Portal system, offered by the NHS Scotland vendor ServiceNow to allow the general population to book their own COVID-19 vaccination appointments, has not been implemented.
Answer
To manage the volume of vaccination appointments based on available supply we intentionally limited the initial functionality of the Citizen Portal system. The portal can currently be used to reschedule appointments. Unpaid carers and 18-29 year olds can also register online to receive their appointment.
We are exploring ways to allow people to book their own appointments.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 11 June 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 18 June 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-00256 by Graeme Dey on 10 June 2021, in light of international examples of inner-city motorway deconstruction and replacement with alternative infrastructure, what engineering and urban planning options are being assessed as alternatives to the structural repair of the defective M8 Woodside Viaducts, which were completed in 1971.
Answer
The M8 Woodside Viaducts are essential links in the M8 central Scotland urban motorway, vital for the economy and connectivity of Scotland. Therefore, the repair of the viaducts and removal of restrictions is high priority as Scotland emerges from the Covid-19 restrictions. The viaducts carry 150,000 vehicles per day in normal times, which would be difficult to accommodate by other routes or modes. As a result, there are no engineering or urban planning options currently being considered as an alternative to the structural repair of the viaducts. Two lanes of traffic will be maintained in both directions and we will work with operational partners to maximise traffic flows through the site, managing impacts on the M8 and adjacent local roads.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 June 2021
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 23 June 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether demonstrated attainment from the 2020-21 school year will be used in determining learner grades.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 23 June 2021
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 June 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Kate Forbes on 15 June 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement (a) it has and (b) its agencies have had with (i) David Moulsdale and (ii) his company, Springburn Depot SPV Limited, (A) prior to and (B) since its purchase of the St Rollox "Caley" Railway Works site in Springburn.
Answer
Neither the Scottish Government or any of its agencies have had engagement with David Moulsdale or his company Spring Depot SPV Limited prior to, or since the purchase of the St Rollox site.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 14 June 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 15 June 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the allegation made by Jim McColl in The Herald on Sunday that £25 million of public money was wasted on the "forced" nationalisation of Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 15 June 2021
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 May 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 14 June 2021
To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care will meet with student paramedics from the Pay Student Paramedics campaign in order to discuss the implementation of the student paramedic bursary.
Answer
I welcome an opportunity to engage with the students of the Pay Student Paramedics campaign and officials are in the process of arranging such a meeting.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 May 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 14 June 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether the bursary for student paramedics will be in place before the start of the next academic year in September.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-00010 on 7 June 2021. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 May 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 10 June 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to assembling half of all new trains procured for the domestic railway network within Scotland, equivalent to the commitment made by the Welsh Government.
Answer
Firstly, as means of clarification the Welsh Government did not commit to 50 percent of its fleet being assembled in Wales prior to its procurement. Both the Welsh and Scottish Governments must comply with relevant procurement law.
The procurement strategy for new rolling stock, to be produced by the wholly owned Scottish Government company named ScotRail Trains Limited, will be subject to approval by Transport Scotland. Through that process, the Scottish Government will seek to maximise opportunities for the involvement of the local supply chain.
Transport Scotland has already undertaken informal market testing with manufacturers to ensure the importance of local input is clear and any procurement will restate this. The current Class 314 conversion project at Bo’ness is focussed on developing a local supply chain which will support the need for diesel train replacement by zero emissions fleets.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 May 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 10 June 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what the estimated costs are for structural repair works to the M8 Woodside Viaducts in Glasgow.
Answer
Transport Scotland are preparing robust estimates for the all the works involved with the repairs to the viaduct. However, the current estimate for the propping to enable the M8 restrictions to be removed and facilitate the repair works is £33.36million. This estimate, and the delivery programme, is being refined to ensure value for money as detailed design progresses. Costs for the subsequent concrete repair works to the supports will be provided by Transport Scotland’s Operating Company, Amey, when the extent of the repair works and repair method is agreed.