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-27585

Asked by: Mike Rumbles, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 24 February 2020
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 6 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how many miles of (a) copper wire and (b) fibre compose the existing internet network, and how many miles of existing copper wire are due to be replaced by fibre by the end of 2021.

Question reference: S5W-27523

Asked by: Mike Rumbles, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 February 2020
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 5 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-10494 by Roseanna Cunningham on 15 August 2017, how many floods have been recorded in each of the 42 formal flood protection schemes or engineering works' areas since January 2016, broken down by the (a) damage caused and (b) cost of each incident.

Information on the location, damage and costs caused by individual flood incidents is not held by the Scottish Government but detailed information may be held by local authorities, emergency responders and the insurance industry.

SEPA collect information on incidents of flooding from local authorities and also from members of the public through its Report–a–flood tool. Verified records are used to improve flood mapping and inform the National Flood Risk Assessment.

In 2017, the Scottish Government commissioned research via ClimateXChange to help local authorities improve their understanding of the costs of risk management. Outputs from this research may be found here: https://www.climatexchange.org.uk/research/projects/the-economics-of-climate-change-adaptation .

Question reference: S5W-27521

Asked by: Mike Rumbles, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 February 2020
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 4 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-10494 by Roseanna Cunningham on 15 August 2017, which of the 42 formal flood protection schemes or engineering works have been removed from the list of proposed works, broken down by the (a) number of properties that were expected to be protected, (b) reason for removal, and (c) (i) initial forecast cost of and (ii) amount that was spent on each.

The only works that have so far been removed from the list of the 42 formal flood protection schemes or engineering works are those to the Greenock - Coves Burn which were to be taken forward by Inverclyde Council. The number of properties that were expected to be protected is not held by the Scottish Government, the removal was because the required work was carried out by Scottish Water, the initial forecast cost was £0.4m and the amount spent was £0.025m.

Question reference: S5W-27520

Asked by: Mike Rumbles, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 February 2020
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 4 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-10494 by Roseanna Cunningham on 15 August 2017, which of the 42 formal flood protection schemes or engineering works are (a) under construction and (b) at the planning or other stage of development, broken down by (i) what the expected completion date is, and the reason for any date being beyond 2021, (ii) the number of properties that will be protected, and (iii) the (A) initial forecast and (B) final expected cost of each.

The 14 Flood Risk Management Strategies published by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) in December 2015 set objectives and measures for the management of flood risk for potentially vulnerable areas. Local Flood Risk Management Plans, published in June 2022, set out in more detail how measures in the Strategies will be delivered. Flood Risk Management in Scotland is reviewed every six years and the current Strategies and Plans are valid until 2021 and 2022, respectively.

SEPA prioritised 42 flood protection schemes for inclusion within Flood Risk Management Strategies published in 2015. Local authorities are expected to start work on development of the 42 schemes prioritised in this cycle but it is recognised that construction work may not be completed within that six-year timeframe.

Flood protection schemes can have impacts on individuals, communities and the environment, and require careful and thorough planning.

Schemes (a) under construction are as follows:

Scheme	(ii) Properties protected	(i) Completion Date	(iii A) Initial cost (£ million) (1)	( iii B) Estimated final cost (£ million) (2)
Stonehaven	376	Autumn 2020	19.9	27.5
Smithton and Culloden	129	Summer 2020	15.2	13.0
Hawick	900	Winter 2022-2023	37.4	Out to tender

Schemes (b) under development are as follows:

Scheme	Stage	(ii) Properties protected	(iii A) Initial cost (£ million) (1)	( iii B) Estimated Final Cost of Scheme (2)
Arbroath	Confirmed	530	11.4	11.5
Broughty Ferry	Confirmed	450	10.0	16.2
Upper Garnock FPS	Confirmed	470	15.5	17.5
Caol and Lochyside	Confirmed	296	8.4	9.8
Water of Leith (Coltbridge, Gorgie, Saughton) Phase 3	Confirmed	75	Not held	Not held
Kilmacolm – Glenmosston Burn	Confirmed	Not held	0.5	0.5
Port Glasgow - Bouverie Burn	Confirmed	Not held	0.4	0.4
Quarrier’s Village	Confirmed	60	0.2	0.2
Drumnadrochit	Confirmed	24	3.4	3.7
Campbeltown	Confirmed	770	9.3	9.3
Dumfries - Whitesands	Public Local Inquiry	166	18.9	29.2 (3)
Kirkintilloch - Park Burn	Under development	Not held	0.4	0.4
South Fords	Under development	58	1.4	1.4
Stranraer	Under development	360	0.4	1.0
Langholm	Under development	200	2.0	8.0
Newton Stewart/ River Cree	Under development	280	7.5	12.5
Musselburgh	Under development	2100	8.9	10.6
Haddington	Under development	370	8.5	8.5
Grangemouth FPS	Under development	3000	111.5	220
St Andrews - Kinness Burn	Under development	133	3.2	3.2
Millport Coastal	Under development	657	12.1	27.2
Mill Burn Millport	Under development	30	1.1	1.1
Comrie	Under development	290	15.7	27.8
Milnathort	Under development	79	1.9	2.2
South Kinross	Under development	211	3.2	3.6
Scone	Under development	44	0.7	0.7
Bridge of Allan	Under development	Not held	4.4	6.1
Stirling	Under development	Not held	26.2	29.0
Callander	Under development	30	2.4	3.0
Dumbarton - Gruggies Burn	Under development	370	14.5	15.0

(1) Note: Initial costs as provided by local authorities in 2016-17.

(2) Note: Final Scheme costs are the latest estimates provided by local authorities. Prioritisation occurs once every 6 years. As such, flood protections schemes and works are put forward for prioritisation at various stages of initial development. As further details become available through hydraulic modelling, site investigations etc. uncertainties are reduced and expected final costs will vary.

(3) Note: Figure from Public Local Inquiry

Schemes will only be taken forward for construction if they receive the necessary approvals so the expected completion date is not yet known.

More detailed information on each of the schemes can be found in the Interim Reports which were published by the 14 Lead Local Authorities in early 2019 outlining progress against the actions in the Strategies.

Question reference: S5W-27519

Asked by: Mike Rumbles, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 February 2020
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 4 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-10494 by Roseanna Cunningham on 15 August 2017, which of the 42 formal flood protection schemes or engineering works have been completed, broken down by (a) the number of properties being protected, (b) the completion date, and (c) what the (i) initial forecast and (ii) final cost was of each.

Details are as follows:

Scheme	(a) Properties Protected	(b) Completion Date	(c)(i) Initial Cost (£ million) (1)	(c) (ii) Estimated Final Cost (£ million)
Huntly	63	2017	4.9	3.8
Newmill	18	2017	1.9	1.8
Dundee	200	2018	6.2	6.9
Kirkwall	750	2018	1.8	1.8
White Cart Water Phase 3	100	2019	5.9	7.2
Camlachie Burn	410	2019	1.2	1.7
Broxburn (Liggat Syke)	Not held	2019	Not held	Not held
New Cumnock Phase 1 Complete Phase 2 Under construction	95	P1 2018 P2 October 2020	3.3	6.2

(1)Note:Initial costs as provided by local authorities in 2016-17.

Question reference: S5W-27525

Asked by: Mike Rumbles, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 4 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of an additional £49.6 million to be allocated to Ferguson Marine in its 2020-21 draft budget, whether this will be a single "one-off" payment or be part of an annual funding allocation for the yard.

Question reference: S5W-27526

Asked by: Mike Rumbles, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 4 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of an additional £49.6 million to be allocated to Ferguson Marine in its 2020-21 draft budget, whether it will continue to fund the yard, regardless of the financial viability of the business, and, if so, for how long.

Question reference: S5W-27524

Asked by: Mike Rumbles, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 4 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of an additional £49.6 million to be allocated to Ferguson Marine in its 2020-21 draft budget, what proportion of those funds will be spent on completing the two vessels procured by it for the CalMac Western Isles routes.

Question reference: S5O-04101

Asked by: Mike Rumbles, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 January 2020
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to regulate deer numbers.

Question reference: S5O-03939

Asked by: Mike Rumbles, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 December 2019
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its answer to question S5O-03821, what plans it has to require privately owned flats in tower blocks over 11 metres high to have fire safety certification.