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-14480

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 26 April 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 7 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether Scottish Canals has published its consultation report and finalised heritage strategy, as indicated in its Draft Heritage Strategy 2013-38 and, if so, where the documents can be accessed.

Scottish Canals published its Heritage Strategy and the associated consultation report on 6 May 2013. Both can be accessed at:

http://www.scottishcanals.co.uk/history--heritage. The proposed publication date of the report and strategy was originally on 31 January 2013. This publication date was initially delayed because of an extension to the public consultation period and subsequently in order to take account of Scottish Canals’ new vision, Safeguarding our Heritage - Building our Future, which it published on 24 April 2013.

Question reference: S4W-14481

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 26 April 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 7 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether Scottish Canals' five year plan has been finalised.

Question reference: S4W-14483

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 26 April 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 7 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government which of the key actions listed under Scottish Canals' 2013-2018 objectives in its Draft Heritage Strategy 2013-38 have commenced; when they commenced, and what the timetable is for the remaining key actions.

There were over 60 key actions linked to the 20 objectives identified in the draft Heritage Strategy. Scottish Canals have commenced preliminary work on key actions under 12 of the objectives. A revised timetable for the key actions is contained within the published Strategy which takes account of priorities identified during the consultation. I have asked the Chief Executive of Scottish Canals to write to the member providing full details of progress to date.

Question reference: S4W-14482

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 26 April 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 7 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether the 20 specific objectives for the period 2013 to 2018 listed in Scottish Canals' Draft Heritage Strategy 2013-38 have been agreed.

Question reference: S4W-14075

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 April 2013
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 24 April 2013

To ask the Scottish Government how the maximum size for composite classes in primary schools is determined.

Question reference: S4F-01312

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 15 April 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 April 2013

To ask the First Minister what progress has been made on changes to the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme.

Question reference: S4W-13752

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 18 March 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 15 April 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the reduction in reimbursement for the concessionary travel scheme will have on bus routes and fares.

We expect reimbursement under the concessionary travel scheme to increase from £187 million in 2013-14 to £192 million in 2014-15.

The rate per journey at which this budget is paid out to operators (the so-called reimbursement rate) is reducing in line with independent research. The aim is to meet the legal requirement that operators should on average be no better or worse off as a result of their participation in the scheme.

It is not possible to predict precisely what impact this combination of an increasing budget and a reducing reimbursement rate will have on bus routes and fares. Routes and fares are a matter for operators’ commercial judgment, taking account of many other factors, such as fuel and staff costs and likely patronage.

Question reference: S4W-13706

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 March 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 27 March 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact will be of the European Commission’s proposals for a fourth railway package on the (a) tendering process for Scotland’s railways and (b) planned retendering of the ScotRail franchise.

The Scottish Government is currently considering the potential impact of the European Commission’s proposals within the Fourth Railway Package on the ScotRail refranchising programme, Network Rail's management of the rail infrastructure in Scotland and the relationship between them. Representations have been made to the UK government on this matter to ensure that any proposals implemented are consistent with the Scottish Ministers' ambitions for rail, including both existing and planned rail industry reform initiatives.

Question reference: S4W-13693

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 March 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 27 March 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has made to the (a) European Commission and (b) the UK Government on proposals for a fourth railway package.

The Scottish Government has made no direct representations to the European Commission on this matter. However, a number of representations have been made to the UK Government across each key theme of the Fourth Railway Package confirming the need to ensure that any proposals implemented are consistent with the Scottish Ministers' ambitions for rail, including both existing and planned rail industry reform initiatives.

Question reference: S4W-13593

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 11 March 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 21 March 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether the proposed Bus Users Scotland will have a statutory function similar to Passengers' View Scotland.