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: S4W-15269

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 30 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it provides to licensing authorities regarding the testing of vehicles used as (a) taxis and (b) private hire cars.

Question reference: S4W-15271

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 30 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government how the (a) owner and (b) driver of a taxi or private hire car can appeal the decision of a licensing authority’s testing centre with regard to the work needed to be carried out on the vehicle.

The legislation which provides for the licensing of taxi and private hire cars, the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (the 1982 Act), does not outline an appeals process specifically for the decisions of a local authority testing centre. Each local authority will develop their own processes to handle complaints about the testing regime. Public safety, as a main purpose of licensing, will be the overriding consideration for any local authority.

There is an appeals process where a licence has been suspended. This is outlined in Paragraph 18, Schedule 1 of the 1982 Act.

Question reference: S4O-02201

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 May 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 June 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the chief constable regarding the number and location of control rooms required by Police Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-15073

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 17 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 29 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government when the new marketing services framework will be published.

Question reference: S4W-15074

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 17 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 29 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government which public sector bodies have had to buy in marketing services due to the delay in the new framework and what extra expenditure has been incurred.

The current Marketing Services Framework has been extended until 31 May 2013 to allow Scottish Central Government bodies to continue to call off their requirements in order to ensure that their objectives are met. We are not aware of any requirement to buy in services other than through the current framework. We do not hold information on which bodies have made use of the current framework during the extension period.

Question reference: S4W-15075

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 17 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 28 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government how many legal challenges have been (a) lodged and (b) upheld against (i) its and (ii) public sector tender processes and the awarding of contracts in each year since 2007.

The numbers of legal challenges lodged against the Scottish Government’s tender processes and the awarding of contracts for the years from 2007 to date are as follows:

2007 – 0 lodged; 0 upheld

2008 – 0 lodged; 0 upheld

2009 – 0 lodged; 0 upheld

2010 – 1 lodged; 0 upheld

2011 – 0 lodged; 0 upheld

2012 – 3 lodged; 0 upheld

2013 – 2 lodged; 0 upheld

There have been six legal challenges against Scottish Government tender processes in the years from 2007 to date, but none of those has been upheld by the courts. The Scottish Government does not hold any information on challenges to tender processes and the awarding of contracts in the wider public sector, which would encompass local authority and UK government contracts.

Question reference: S4W-15001

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 28 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether the pilot smart ticket for school transport in West and East Lothian has been introduced.

Question reference: S4W-15002

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 28 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether there is an agreed timescale for moving the young persons' bus concession scheme to a smart platform.

Question reference: S4W-15004

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 28 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what progress Strathclyde Partnership for Transport is making on introducing an integrated ticket product across subway, bus and train services.

Question reference: S4W-15003

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 28 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether the pilot smart ticket in North Lanarkshire, Glasgow city and Renfrewshire has been introduced through Action for Jobs - Supporting Young Scots into Work.