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-23270

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 November 2014
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 11 December 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what agencies in Scotland use cost-generating telephone numbers such as 0845 numbers for public services.

The Scottish Government does not use cost generating phone numbers and its agencies are informed in their use of 0300 and 0845 numbers, which are also non-cost-generating, by best practice as recommended by the industry regulator OFCOM.

Disclosure Scotland utilises a 0870 national rate number for an externally hosted helpdesk. No income is generated for Disclosure Scotland as these numbers are provided by BT Global Services as part of a business and technology outsourcing agreement.

Question reference: S4O-03844

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 December 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 December 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on NHS Lanarkshire’s out-of-hours service.

Question reference: S4W-22750

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 October 2014
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 30 October 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance on passenger toilet facilities it issued to the operator of ScotRail services prior to the Commonwealth Games 2014.

Transport Scotland engage regularly with ScotRail on rolling stock and station improvements to passenger facilities. The current ScotRail franchise requires that ScotRail passenger toilet facilities are fully functional including all lights, locks and seats.

Recent discussions on passenger toilet facilities included the ongoing refurbishment of the class 318 trains which are being fitted with new compliant passenger toilet facilities and the upgrade to the toilets at Glasgow Queen Street station.

Question reference: S4W-22740

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 October 2014
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 30 October 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) trade unions and (b) Network Rail regarding effluent discharge on the tracks from (i) ScotRail and (ii) cross-border rolling stock since May 2011 and what remedies have been discussed.

This matter was first raised in a letter from the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) to Transport Scotland on 25 September 2014 and discussions with Network Rail and the RMT are ongoing. Network Rail continues to work with their maintenance teams and operators to remove existing waste and to minimise the locations on the network where such effluent is deposited. Specialist contractors have been deployed at key site locations to undertake a programme of deep cleaning of affected areas.

Looking forward, from December 2017 there will be no ScotRail or Caledonian Sleeper franchise-operated rolling stock that discharges toilet effluent on to the track.

The specification of East Coast cross-border services is the responsibility of the UK Government although we have been advised that there is a commitment for those services currently operated by diesel trains without storage tanks to use the next generation of rolling stock which will have these fitted as standard.

Question reference: S4W-22746

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 October 2014
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 30 October 2014

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will take steps to require all ScotRail rolling stock to be fitted with effluent retention tanks before 1 January 2020.

From December 2017 there will be no ScotRail or Caledonian Sleeper franchise-operated rolling stock that discharges toilet effluent on to the track.

The invitation to tender issued by Transport Scotland for the ScotRail franchise competition specified that the fitment of controlled emission tank equipment for all rolling stock to be used on the ScotRail franchise must be installed before 1 January 2020.

This forms an obligation on the franchisee and is contracted in the franchise agreement contract for the franchise commencing on 1 April 2015.

Question reference: S4W-22748

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 October 2014
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 30 October 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions with rolling stock companies it had regarding the design of the invitation to tender for ScotRail services published in January 2014 and whether it discussed the deadline for connecting rolling stock toilets to effluent retention tanks.

During early 2013, Transport Scotland held a series of market briefings with the rail industry about the franchise procurement exercise and the franchise objectives. The draft invitation to tender (ITT) was issued to pre-qualified bidders in November 2013 with the final ITT issued to bidders in January 2014.

From December 2017 there will be no ScotRail or Caledonian Sleeper franchise-operated rolling stock that discharges toilet effluent on to the track.

Question reference: S4W-22741

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 October 2014
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 30 October 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding effluent discharge on the tracks in Scotland from rolling stock operated on cross-border passenger rail services since May 2011 and what remedies have been discussed.

The specification of rolling stock for cross-border services is a reserved matter for the UK Government. I have written to the UK Secretary of State for Transport to confirm that from December 2017 there will be no ScotRail or Caledonian Sleeper franchise-operated rolling stock that discharges toilet effluent on to the track and I have asked if the Secretary of State intends to accelerate a similar plan on cross-border passenger rail services in Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-22742

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 October 2014
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 30 October 2014

To ask the Scottish Government for what reasons rolling stock operated under contract with Transport Scotland will be allowed to discharge effluent on the tracks until 1 January 2020.

From December 2017 there will be no ScotRail or Caledonian Sleeper franchise-operated rolling stock that discharges toilet effluent on to the track.

The original deadline of 1 January 2020 was chosen to provide a practically sufficient period to allow the ScotRail franchisee the time to be able to remove vehicles from service for the fitment of controlled emission tanks without adversely affecting their ability to operate the rail services in Scotland.

Until then, Network Rail remains actively engaged with track working front line staff and operators to remove existing waste and to minimise the locations on the network where such effluent is deposited. Network Rail has advised that they have secured specialist contractors to support a programme of deep cleaning at key site locations and this work remains ongoing.

Question reference: S4W-22761

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 October 2014
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 30 October 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the benefits to rail freight (a) volumes and (b) services of the next franchised ScotRail contract, broken down by (i) route and (ii) region.

We have a very clear expectation as part of our overall strategy that Abellio ScotRail will work closely with the rail freight sector, Network Rail and other stakeholders to maximise the economic and social impact of Scotland’s railways. For example, in the efficient delivery of major projects such as the Highland Main Line improvements and the identification, development and delivery of high value, opportunity led interventions through the CP5 funds.

Question reference: S4W-22758

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 October 2014
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 30 October 2014

To ask the Scottish Government when it will announce the successful bidder for the ScotRail franchise and on what date it will publish the franchise agreement.