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: S6W-11176

Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 23 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 5 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the situation at Tarbolton Moss Landfill Site; what plans it has to clean up the site, and what negotiations it is having with all relevant stakeholders.

With funding from the Scottish Government, SEPA has contracted an environmental consultant to manage the construction of a leachate management system at the former landfill site at Tarbolton Moss, to prevent the ongoing discharges of landfill leachate to neighbouring watercourses and make it possible for leachate disposal to the public sewerage system. The design phase is now complete.

SEPA continue to monitor ongoing environmental risks at the site and completed their latest survey in August 2022. This found no significant increasing trends associated with the migration of landfill gas or impact to groundwater from leachate.

My officials are working closely with our public partners to consider further actions for the long-term restoration of the site.

Question reference: S6W-11075

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 5 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how Highlands and Islands Enterprise accounts for HM Treasury’s Green Book when proposing to award a loan or grant to a company.

Question reference: S6W-11363

Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Linlithgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 October 2022
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 5 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its Franchise Agreement with Serco Caledonian Sleepers Limited.

I can confirm that today Serco Caledonian Sleepers Limited has been advised that its proposal to rebase the Franchise Agreement with Scottish Ministers for the provision of Caledonian Sleeper rail services has been rejected on the grounds of not representing value for money to the public.

Additionally, I can confirm that a notice was served today which confirms that the Scottish Ministers will terminate the Franchise Agreement with Serco Caledonian Sleepers Limited on 25 June 2023.

Work is underway to determine arrangements for the continued provision of Caledonian Sleeper rail services beyond 25 June 2023 and this will be updated to Parliament once determined.

It is worth noting that Serco Caledonian Sleepers Limited has, broadly, delivered well and significantly improved Caledonian Sleeper services over the last 7 years.

Question reference: S6W-11077

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 5 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether Highlands and Islands Enterprise needs to demonstrate best value when attempting to address market failure in particular companies.

Question reference: S6W-11122

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 5 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when the preliminary ground investigations at the A83 Rest and Be Thankful will be completed.

Question reference: S6W-11281

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 30 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 5 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact that Green Freeport status would have on the provision of inter-island ferry services in Orkney.

As set out in the joint Bidding Prospectus, all green port bidders were required to ensure that their proposal embedded the second National Transport Strategy vision, priorities and outcomes for the transport system with in it as well as ensuring alignment with regional and local transport strategies.

Following selection there will of course be intensive discussions with each of the successful designations on all aspects of their proposals.

Question reference: S6W-11118

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 5 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been allocated to local authorities from the £74 million Community Bus Fund since 2021, and how much remains in the fund to be distributed by the end of the current parliamentary session.

The recent Resource Spending Review allocated £46 million to the Community Bus fund for the remainder of this parliament, with a further £30 million allocated in the Capital Spending Review. These financial envelopes are intended to guide financial planning and reform across the public sector, in anticipation of future Scottish budget setting processes. Work is ongoing with local authorities and COSLA to determine how best to allocate this funding.

Question reference: S6W-11131

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 5 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many Low Emission Zone fines have been issued in Glasgow for breaches by buses in each year since the scheme launched, broken down by bus operator.

Question reference: S6W-11121

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 5 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when in 2022 the medium-term solution for the A83 Rest and Be Thankful will be selected and published.

Question reference: S6W-11317

Current Status: Withdrawn