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-25447

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 3 October 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether the successful rail franchise bid by Abellio was based on compulsory rest day working.

Question reference: S5W-25437

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 2 October 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether the potential for it experiencing reputational damage is a factor that is considered in its procurement policy.

Question reference: S5W-25449

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 1 October 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish a risk assessment of the effects of not providing a refreshment trolley on the West Highland, Highland main, Kyle of Lochalsh and Far North lines.

Question reference: S5W-25450

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 1 October 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the timetabling and efficiency improvements resulting from the reinstatement of the Lentran Loop, near Inverness.

Network Rail is currently assessing options to address the issues and aspirations of the Far North Line Review Team. These options are likely to include a range of enhancements including passing loops.

Once this work concludes, Network Rail will present the range of interventions to Transport Scotland who will assess the deliverability and affordability in line with the Rail Enhancements & Capital Investment Strategy.

Question reference: S5W-25445

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 1 October 2019

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason, under the new ScotRail timetable, the longest journey time has increased to 3 hours 46 minutes.

Overall improvement is being made with journey time between Inverness and Edinburgh, the slowest reducing from 3 hours 47 minutes in December 18 to 3 hours 46 minutes in May 2019, and the average journey time also reducing by 1 minute from 3 hours 33 minutes 50 seconds, to 3 hours 32 minutes 50 seconds.

In December 2019 this will further improve to 3 hours 44 minutes slowest and 3 hours 31 minutes 40 seconds average.

In May 2020 we expect the benefits from the recently completed £57 million Scottish Government funded Highland Main Line (Phase 2) project to be realised, with average journey time reduction of around 10 minutes, and an hourly service introduced.

Question reference: S5W-25446

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 1 October 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what support it has given or will give to the proposed (a) Caithness Sleeper and (b) Thurso/Wick Shuttle.

Transport Scotland meets regularly with Highland and Islands Transport Partnership (HITRANS) who represent the views of the local communities, local authorities and other key regional stakeholders.

Transport Scotland officials are aware of the proposition from HITRANS on the Caithness Sleeper and have provided comments on previous iterations of the proposal. A further proposal was received by Transport Scotland officials on 26 August 2019 and is currently under review. A response will be made in due course.

To date Transport Scotland has not received formal proposals from HITRANS on the Thurso/Wick Shuttle.

Question reference: S5W-25436

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 20 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 1 October 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to assess the impact on its reputation of its association with Serco.

Contractual relationships that the Scottish Government has with suppliers are governed by public procurement legislation during the tendering phase and once a contract has been awarded, through the terms of the contract. All decisions must be relevant and proportionate and decisions regarding the award of contracts must be based on criteria that are linked to the subject matter of the contract in question.

Question reference: S5W-25296

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 26 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to evaluate the full implications of its decision to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism.

There is no place in Scotland for any form of antisemitism or religious hatred that makes our communities feel insecure or threatened in their daily lives. The IHRA definition of anti-Semitism helps to bring some much needed clarity to what is often a complex issue and helps to send a clear message that anti-Semitism of any kind will not be tolerated in Scotland. The definition was adopted as part of our Tacking Prejudice and Building Connected Communities Action plan and, although there are currently no plans for an evaluation of the definition, the action plan is due for review in 2020.

Question reference: S5W-25236

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 25 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what it estimates the greenhouse gas emission reduction will be from its commitment to create a zero emission aviation region in the Highlands and Islands, and what the public cost will be of delivering this commitment.

Air travel continues to be one of the quickest and most convenient ways to travel, not least in the Highlands and Islands. We will work to decarbonise scheduled within Scotland by 2040. We will support the trialling and introduction of low and zero emission aircraft with the first trials taking place in 2021. We will also work with Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd to create the world’s first zero emission aviation region to decarbonise airport operations and infrastructure. Initial work suggests that decarbonising flights in the Highlands and Islands has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by around 32 kilotonnes annually but further detailed work needs to be carried out to ensure a successful delivery of the Scottish Government’s commitment. Further information will be set out later this year in HIAL’s strategy.

Question reference: S5T-01794

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 September 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has named Serco as its preferred bidder for the Northern Isles Ferry Services.