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: S3W-26780

Asked by: Alison McInnes, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 28 August 2009
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 17 September 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what monitoring there will be to ensure that the £7.7 million of additional funding for colleges for 2009-10 provides more college places in 2009-10.

Question reference: S3W-26776

Asked by: Alison McInnes, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 28 August 2009
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 17 September 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will be announced which colleges will receive funding from the additional £12 million for college buildings and facilities announced in its new release of 4 June 2009.

Question reference: S3W-26769

Asked by: Alison McInnes, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 28 August 2009
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 17 September 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it gave the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) on which colleges should receive funding from the additional £7.7 million for college places announced by the SFC on 9 July 2009.

Question reference: S3O-07606

Asked by: Alison McInnes, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 September 2009
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 3 September 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to change the scrutiny process for quasi-judicial matters.

Question reference: S3W-25693

Asked by: Alison McInnes, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 July 2009
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 6 August 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what it has done to promote take-up of the Young Persons Concessionary Travel Scheme.

The Scotland-wide Young Persons Concessionary Travel Scheme started on 8 January 2007. In preparation for this, and since the scheme started, various marketing activities have taken place in order to increase uptake.

Transport Scotland has worked in partnership with transport operators, local authorities and the Young Scot organisation to provide adequate publicity in order to promote the scheme and to increase take up.

Marketing activities have included radio advertising, online activities, a dedicated website, an SMS text alert facility, posters and leaflets and direct mailing to the parents of 16-18 year olds.

Application forms and information leaflets are available from local authorities and their nominated agents.

Question reference: S3W-25691

Asked by: Alison McInnes, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 July 2009
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 6 August 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have applied to the Young Persons Concessionary Travel Scheme in each year since it was introduced.

The application process for the Young Persons Concessionary Travel Scheme is the responsibility of individual local authorities. Transport Scotland does not have any information regarding applications.

In terms of the numbers of young people accessing the scheme, young people become eligible and ineligible for young persons concessionary travel on a rolling basis, depending on their age, consequently it is not possible to provide annual figures of uptake. However, it is possible to advise on the number of active cards in circulation for eligible young people. The scheme began on 8 January 2007. On 18 March 2007 there were 35,256 active cards in circulation. On 18 March 2008 there were 60,303 active cards in circulation and on 18 March 2009 there were 80,236 active cards in circulation.

Question reference: S3W-25692

Asked by: Alison McInnes, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 July 2009
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 6 August 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on promoting the Young Persons Concessionary Travel Scheme in each year since it was introduced.

The marketing costs associated with the scheme for each financial year has been as follows:

In 2006-07, approximately £375,000 was spent.

In 2007-08, approximately £420,000 was spent.

In 2008-09, approximately £11,500 was spent.

Since March 2009, no further formal marketing expenses have been incurred, although the scheme and the national entitlement card continues to be promoted via the Transport Scotland website, through the Young Scot organisation and through local authorities.

Question reference: S3W-25565

Asked by: Alison McInnes, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 03 July 2009
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 29 July 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the nationalisation of the east coast main line will affect Scottish rail services and, if so, in what ways.

The terms of the east coast franchise means that the Department for Transport (DfT) has the right to step in as operator of last resort should a franchisee, such as National Express East Coast, experience financial difficulties. This is a temporary measure while DfT prepares for the refranchising of the east cost main line passenger service.

I understand that passenger services on the east coast main line will continue to operate according to the published National Express East Coast timetable, and with no effect on service provision or ticketing.

Since rail was devolved to Scotland in 1999, Scottish ministers have a legal obligation to provide non-binding advice to DfT in respect of cross border passenger services.

Although no discussions have taken place as yet, I can assure you that the Scottish Government will be involved in future negotiations for a new east coast franchise, which DfT will be tendering by the end of 2010.

Question reference: S3W-25567

Asked by: Alison McInnes, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 03 July 2009
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 29 July 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is supportive of the UK Government’s nationalisation of the east coast main line.

Question reference: S3W-25566

Asked by: Alison McInnes, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 03 July 2009
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 29 July 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the nationalisation of the east coast main line and when these discussions took place.