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: S5W-21467

Asked by: Mike Rumbles, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 February 2019
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 21 February 2019

To ask the Scottish Government by what date Transport Scotland initially planned to detrunk the existing A90 trunk road through Aberdeen, following the completion of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

Question reference: S5W-21124

Asked by: Mike Rumbles, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 5 February 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress withthe Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR); when the crossing over the River Don will be completed; what the total additional cost for contractor claims will be, and, if the project exceeds the predicted £750 million set out in the contract, for what reason.

I provided a full update on project costs at my appearance at the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee on 5 December 2018. Please see a link to the Official Report for your reference: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=11829 .

With regard to the River Don Crossing, I can confirm ARL has undertaken the remaining physical works, with some survey and safety check activities still to conclude. However, ARL have yet to provide a legally binding commitment for the future maintenance of this structure. This is a fundamental requirement in order to protect the public purse from the cost of ARL’s mistakes.

Notwithstanding this, I have called for a further meeting with ARL to ensure that they are doing everything that they can to get remaining section of the road opened at the earliest opportunity.

Question reference: S5W-21135

Asked by: Mike Rumbles, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 30 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Aberdeen City Council regarding the city's progress towards meeting its air quality targets.

Aberdeen City Council has produced an action plan containing a number of measures to improve air quality. The Scottish Government is working closely with the Council as it implements the measures contained in the plan and is providing practical and financial assistance to both monitor air quality and support delivery.

As announced in the 2017-18 Programme for Government, the Council will establish a Low Emission Zone in Aberdeen by 2020.

Question reference: S5W-21136

Asked by: Mike Rumbles, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 29 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Aberdeen City Council regarding the establishment of a low emission zone (LEZ), and what its response is to the report in the Press & Journal on 21 January 2019 that the local authority is not requesting funds to establish an LEZ in 2018-19.

Question reference: S5W-20830

Asked by: Mike Rumbles, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how many claims for cost overrun it has received from contractors for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) project, broken down by the total value of these.

Question reference: S5W-20327

Asked by: Mike Rumbles, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 03 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 18 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many and (b) what proportion of ScotRail journeys met the threshold for the delay-repay scheme in each month since April 2015.

Question reference: S5W-20831

Asked by: Mike Rumbles, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 17 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what toilet facilities will be available for disabled passengers using overnight cabins on the new stock for the Caledonian Sleeper, and how will these facilities compare to those available for non-disabled passengers.

Each new sleeper train will contain at least one Accessible Coach containing two accessible controlled emission toilets compliant with the EU's Persons of Reduced Mobility-Technical Specifications for Interoperability (PRM-TSI). Other sleeper coaches will contain standard toilets for use by other guests. Each new sleeper train will contain a seated coach containing an accessible controlled emission toilet compliant with PRM-TSI.

Question reference: S5W-20833

Asked by: Mike Rumbles, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 17 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what disabled facilities it has asked Serco to provide on the overnight cabins on the Caledonian Sleeper service, and whether it is considering setting out further stipulations.

Serco Caledonian Sleeper Ltd is required, under the terms of its Franchise Agreement, to provide at least one Accessible Coach on each of its new trains. Each Accessible Coach will contain one accessible berth with twin beds and one with a double bed. It will also contain two accessible controlled emission toilets. In addition, each new train will contain a seated vehicle including space for a wheelchair and an accessible controlled emission toilet. Accessible berths and toilets will be compliant with the EU's Persons with Reduced Moblity - Technical Specifications for Interoperability (PRM-TSI).

As the new vehicles are close to completion, and have commenced final tests in preparation for entering service in the spring, the Scottish Government is not considering setting out further stipulations at this time.

Question reference: S5W-20832

Asked by: Mike Rumbles, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 17 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what legal obligations are placed on Serco to provide toilet facilities for disabled passengers using overnight cabins on the Caledonian Sleeper service.

Question reference: S5O-02801

Asked by: Mike Rumbles, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 January 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what the Lord Advocate’s position is on its competency to authorise another referendum on Scottish independence without another section 30 order.