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-08918

Asked by: Adam Tomkins, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 21 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 3 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Scottish Prison Service regarding the delivery of purposeful activity for all prisoners, and what role Skills Development Scotland has in delivering this.

The Scottish Government has regular discussions with the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) regarding the delivery of purposeful activity for prisoners. Skills Development Scotland are represented on the Employability & Enterprise steering group which forms part of SPS's Purposeful Activity programme.

Skills Development Scotland were also one of the key strategic partners who supported development of the SPS Learning and Skills Strategy 2016-21 published in May 2016.

Question reference: S5W-08916

Asked by: Adam Tomkins, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 21 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Mark McDonald on 2 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase the number of foster families.

The Scottish Government provides funding through the Local Government Settlement to Local Authorities who are responsible for recruiting sufficient foster families within their areas to meet the needs of children and young people who come into their care.

The Scottish Government also provides funding through the Children Young People and Families Early Intervention Fund to the Fostering Network who run the annual 'Foster Care Fortnight' campaign to raise awareness about foster caring and recruit new carers.

Question reference: S5F-01167

Asked by: Adam Tomkins, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 April 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 April 2017

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on Reform Scotland's view that local authorities should be responsible for all matters that are not specifically reserved to the Scottish Parliament.

Question reference: S5O-00882

Asked by: Adam Tomkins, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 April 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update regarding Glasgow Kelvin College’s request to retain £3 million from the sale of the Stow College building.

Question reference: S5O-00807

Asked by: Adam Tomkins, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 March 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to concerns that the Child Poverty (Scotland) Bill does not contain sufficient measures to lift children out of poverty.

Question reference: S5W-07083

Asked by: Adam Tomkins, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 9 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects the Scottish Ministers to make Network Rail's Transport and Works Scotland Order regarding the proposed redevelopment of Glasgow Queen Street railway station, which was originally expected in the summer of 2016.

Question reference: S5W-07082

Asked by: Adam Tomkins, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 9 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether Network Rail’s Transport and Works Scotland Order application to the Scottish Ministers regarding the proposed redevelopment of Glasgow Queen Street railway station has been delayed and, if so, for what reason.

Network Rail intimated their intention was to submit their TAWS application in June 2015 but did not do so until September 2015. Scottish Ministers processed the application timeously upon receipt and immediately commenced a Public Local Inquiry (PLI). The report and recommendations resulting from the PLI are under active consideration as part of the legal process that has to be followed. Once completed, Scottish Ministers will issue their decision on the Order application.

Question reference: S5W-07088

Asked by: Adam Tomkins, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 9 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comments by the Minister for Transport and the Islands at the meeting of the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee on 1 February 2017 that "there could be a risk of slippage in the end stages of development" (Official Report, c. 13), what assessment it has made of the impact that “slippage" of the Glasgow Queen Street project will have on other proposed redevelopments in Glasgow, such as the Buchanan Galleries.

The redevelopment of Queen Street station continues to make progress, some advanced works are already underway and Transport Scotland authorised a further package of enabling works in December 2016 which should commence March 2017.

The remaining works package is reliant on the outcome of the Transport and Works Scotland Order application which remains under active consideration.

The Transport and Scotland Works Order application is taking longer than allowed for in the Network Rail delivery programme. This incorporates a 3 month delay in the Network Rail submission of the application. This is likely to delay the architectural element of the Queen Street station redevelopment beyond March 2019.

The introduction of 7-car services from December 2017 and 8-car services with improved journey times from December 2018 remain on schedule.

The Minister for Transport and the Islands had a very positive meeting with representatives of Land Securities, the owner of Buchanan Galleries, and Glasgow Chamber of Commerce on 26 January 2017 when all parties re-affirmed their commitment to working closely to deliver both the Queen Street station redevelopment and the extension of the Buchanan Galleries.

Question reference: S5W-07084

Asked by: Adam Tomkins, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 9 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the economic and financial impact of delays to the redevelopment of Glasgow Queen Street station.

Question reference: S5W-07085

Asked by: Adam Tomkins, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 9 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Glasgow City Council regarding delays to the redevelopment of Glasgow Queen Street station.