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: S6O-01144

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 May 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what impact driver shortages will have on the availability of rail services for passengers in Mid-Scotland and Fife.

Question reference: S6O-01143

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 May 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported concerns by the Scottish division of the train drivers union, ASLEF, regarding proposals to make further cuts to ScotRail services.

Question reference: S6O-01148

Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 May 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its analysis is of the latest transmission charging forecasts from National Grid ESO, in light of Transmission Network Use of System charges reportedly increasing in Scotland by between 39% and 73% while charges are decreasing in the majority of zones in England.

Question reference: S6O-01145

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 May 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many early learning and childcare providers, including private providers, received funding from the £9.8 million Childcare Sector Omicron Impacts Fund that opened for applications in March this year.

Question reference: S6O-01147

Asked by: Maggie Chapman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 May 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the social impact of economic development in the north east.

Question reference: S6W-08476

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 18 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government on what date the meeting with COSLA, which is referenced in the answer to the question S6W-07924 by Humza Yousaf on 27 April 2022, took place.

I refer you to the answer of the aforementioned question S6W-07924, specifically:

"...We are, however, actively engaged with our partners, including local government, to understand what impact the increase in fuel prices is having across Scotland, and how social care providers can support their staff to ensure they can continue to deliver the invaluable support they provide."

In relation to this answer, I can reconfirm that my officials engaged with relevant officials at COSLA as early as 7 April, to consider the impact of rising costs, including fuel costs, on our social care workforce and are working together to better understand the situation.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

Question reference: S6W-08440

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 18 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether there are plans to meet with any refugees who arrived in Scotland during periods when Welcome Hubs were unstaffed, in order to support them and make them feel welcome.

To confirm, the Welcome desk at Glasgow airport is staffed and my officials continue to work in partnership with the local authority to provide support and services for all arrivals. I am aware of one incident where an individual arrived to an unattended desk, however there was signage in place directing them to contact a helpline number. The individual in question is being well supported and is safely housed, and has expressed gratitude to the Health and Social Care Partnership for all their support and assistance.

Question reference: S6W-08355

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 18 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to encourage more people to return to travelling by rail.

Following the pandemic and the move to a publicly owned ScotRail we are committed to encouraging people to return to our railway. We now have the opportunity to ensure that passenger services reflect changing passenger needs and travel behaviours whilst restoring the financial sustainability of rail services in Scotland.

On 9 May, I launched ScotRail’s 50 per cent off peak ticket offer. This fares offer, funded by the Scottish Government, is the latest ‘Yours to Use’ initiative and is focused on welcoming customers back to rail as the country continues to recover from the pandemic.

The 50 per cent off tickets can be purchased in the following ways:

Online at scotrail.co.uk/sale
By phone on 0344 811 0153
Via the ScotRail app, using the promo code SRSALE in the railcards/promotions field

Earlier this year, I announced that our National Rail Conversation will offer rail staff, passengers and communities an opportunity to contribute to the future Vision of Scotland’s Railway. This will help us to fully understand what the people of Scotland want and need when it comes to choosing rail as their mode of choice.

Question reference: S6W-08417

Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 06 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 18 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has had any discussions with Dumfries and Galloway Council regarding the safety of the derelict Treasure Cave building located at 80 English Street, Dumfries, in light of reports that it has caused part of English Street to be closed to through traffic; whether Dumfries and Galloway Council has requested any support from the Scottish Government to address the state of the building, and what support the Scottish Government can provide to the local authority to address the building’s safety, to reopen the road to traffic and to ease any disruption to surrounding businesses.

Scottish Government has not discussed the Treasure Cave building with Dumfries and Galloway Council as enforcement is wholly the responsibility of the local authority. Council officials did not seek support from Scottish Government in relation to addressing the state of the building.

Dumfries and Galloway Council served a Dangerous Building Notice under Section 30 of the Building (Scotland) Act 2003 on 19 November 2021. The owner of the building recently made arrangements to comply with the notice by appointing a contractor to demolish the building. Demolition is expected to begin on 16 May 2022 and last three weeks. The road will be reopened once the demolition works are complete and the danger has been removed.

Question reference: S6W-08376

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 18 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of what Historical Adoption Support Trauma Service is being developed.

As part of the £145,000 funding we announced earlier in March, we are in the process of commissioning research into support services in Scotland. The analysis and research will help us to understand what support is needed to help the people affected by historical adoption practices.

We have also introduced a working group to assist with the implementation of peer support groups where we are working with partners to scope and develop the support service.