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: S5O-05158

Asked by: Maureen Watt, MSP for Aberdeen South and North Kincardine, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 March 2021
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to take forward the recommendations by the tenement maintenance working group in its strategy, Housing to 2040.

Question reference: S5W-35714

Asked by: Maureen Watt, MSP for Aberdeen South and North Kincardine, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 March 2021
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Michael Matheson on 4 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-34114 by Michael Matheson on 17 December 2020, when it will publish the finalised Franchising Policy Statement.

Question reference: S5O-05069

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S5O-05028

Asked by: Maureen Watt, MSP for Aberdeen South and North Kincardine, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 February 2021
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with Police Scotland to engage with young people who are at risk of offending during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Question reference: S5O-05011

Asked by: Maureen Watt, MSP for Aberdeen South and North Kincardine, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 February 2021
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the administration of the proposed UK Shared Prosperity Fund to support Scotland’s rural economy.

Question reference: S5W-34114

Asked by: Maureen Watt, MSP for Aberdeen South and North Kincardine, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 December 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Michael Matheson on 17 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the changes to Scotland's railway since the current franchising policy statement was published in 2012, what plans it has to review the policy.

We had originally planned to undertake this review once the outcomes from the UK Rail Review (‘Williams Review’), due in Autumn last year, were known. However, it is unclear when this will now take place and the Covid 19 outbreak continues to have a significant impact on rail passenger transport. Against this background, the Scottish Ministers will shortly require to take decisions as to the provision of ScotRail services after the expiry of the current franchise agreement in 2022.

As the Scottish Government has stated for some time now, it is our view that the current franchising system is no longer fit for purpose. However, we must act in accordance with the current UK rail legislation, which requires a relevant Franchising Policy Statement to be in place. We have therefore undertaken a review of the current Franchising Policy Statement and from tomorrow will launch a focused consultation with key stakeholders on a revised draft Statement.

The revised draft Statement can also be accessed on the Transport Scotland website from tomorrow.

Question reference: S5O-04880

Asked by: Maureen Watt, MSP for Aberdeen South and North Kincardine, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 December 2020
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the COVID-19 testing measures in primary and secondary schools.

Question reference: S5W-33527

Asked by: Maureen Watt, MSP for Aberdeen South and North Kincardine, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 November 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Michael Matheson on 26 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure rail services for key workers in the current circumstances while demand is low and unlikely to increase in the immediate future.

The Rail Recovery Task Force has been considering how the rail industry in Scotland should react to the prevailing Covid-19 situation in line with Scottish Government guidelines to provide a robust and reliable train service reflective of current passenger needs.

Demand is currently sitting around 15% of pre-covid levels. Following detailed consideration of various options it has been agreed it is prudent to reduce services to circa 80% of the current timetable from 13 December 2020. Some changes on the Edinburgh – Glasgow route will begin on 30 November.

Using a targeted approach, ScotRail will deliver enough seats to allow customers to travel safely while providing an increased level of resilience for their staff, particularly as they may be required to mitigate any potential reduction in staff numbers due to the impacts of COVID-19.

The services being removed are those with the lowest passenger numbers, or travelling in the opposite direction to peak flows. We have also asked ScotRail to demonstrate that their removal is unlikely to have a significant impact on passengers. Other considerations have included previous intelligence about services used by key workers, such as travel to stations near hospitals, as well as whether or not alternative services are available within a reasonable time period either side of the removed service.

This decision has been discussed with unions and passenger groups. It will be kept under review on an ongoing basis to enable services to be increased if required.

Question reference: S5O-04800

Asked by: Maureen Watt, MSP for Aberdeen South and North Kincardine, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 November 2020
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Government to what extent the suppression of COVID-19 infection rates has been impacted by licensing restrictions.

Question reference: S5W-33334

Asked by: Maureen Watt, MSP for Aberdeen South and North Kincardine, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 November 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Fergus Ewing on 18 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making on delivering the Programme for Government commitment to establish farmer-led groups to co-develop new ways of working that will help make farming and food production more sustainable.

In this year’s Programme for Government, we committed to establishing farmer-led groups to provide information, advice and proposals to cut emissions and tackle climate change in their sectors.

The first of those farmer led groups, chaired by Jim Walker CBE, former NFUS President, reported a few weeks ago with strong recommendations on how to adapt our suckler beef herd to a low carbon future and one that remains both productive and profitable. The response to the report has been very positive amongst many in the farming sector, who, like myself, understand the need to drive forward this work at pace.

Today at AgriScot I will be announcing the establishment of a programme board, to be co-chaired by myself and Jim Walker. The Board will begin work to determine how best to take forward these recommendations with the aim of reporting back early next year. Membership will include representatives from the Scottish Government, Nature Scot, SRUC, and QMS. Other members of the board will include Claire Simonetta and Pat Lambert from the farming sector, as well as Scott Walker, Chief Executive of the NFUS, Andy McGowan from the Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers and Neil Wilson from the Institute of Auctioneers and Appraisers in Scotland (IASS). Tim Bailey and Bob Yuill from SAOS and ScotEID respectively will also serve on the board.

I will also be announcing that Andrew Moir has agreed to lead an arable sector group which will consider how best the sector can be supported to cut its emissions, farm more sustainably and contribute to our climate change commitments. Andrew has a wealth of experience which he will bring to this role, not least as a farmer. He is a past Chairman of Ringlink Scotland and Agriscot and has served in a number of roles in the NFUS, including the Voluntary Initiative in Scotland, and Scottish Quality Crops. Further members will be announced shortly. I am confident the group will bring forward practical measures which will ensure a sustainable future for Scotland’s cropping sector. I hope that the group will be able to report its findings and recommendations by Spring next year.