Paul Sweeney

19 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish details of Project Chia's consideration of the social value of Ferguson Marine Port Glasgow.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government is fully committed to the principle of transparency and adopts the default position to publish material where possible.

19 Mar 2025 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to incentivise the restoration and reuse of listed buildings in Glasgow that are considered to be at risk.

Answer · Angus Robertson: Responsibility for maintenance and upkeep of a listed building lies with the owner of the property. Consequently, the removal of VAT on these repairs would be a strong incentive for owners to undertake necessary work.The Scottish Government will continue to m…

19 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will promote collaboration between the Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council's Strategic Investment Model Stage 1 project on enabling (a) crew transfer and (b) service operation vessel fabrication with the analysis of future market opportunities for UK-built ships in…

Answer · Alasdair Allan: Whilst all questions about Strategic Investment Model (SIM) proposals should be directed towards the SIM Project Management team in the first instance ([email protected]), the Scottish Government is happy to encourage collaboration between the…

11 Mar 2025 · SPCB Oral Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, further to the answer to question S6W-34464, what its position is on whether MSPs should be able to participate in the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme, in addition to the Armed Forces Visits Programme, should they wish to do so, in light of it being a structured 15-d…

11 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-35236 by Gillian Martin on 11 March 2025, whether it has had any formal or informal discussion with (a) Ineos and (b) Rolls-Royce regarding the development of a small modular reactor at Grangemouth.

Answer · Gillian Martin: There have been no formal discussions with INEOS regarding the development of a Small Modular Nuclear Reactor for their site in Grangemouth. Scottish Government Officials did approach INEOS in 2022 when the potential use of a SMR was reported in media, and th…

11 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to answer to question S6W-35211 by Fiona Hyslop on 11 March 2025, what its response is to claims that not incorporating the existing heavy rail connection to East Kilbride within the scope of Clyde Metro does not represent effective, joined-up, public policymaking.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government is not aware of any suggested claims regarding the East Kilbride rail line within the context of Clyde Metro. If the member believes that this should be included with the scope of the Clyde Metro’s network development then I woul…

10 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish a comprehensive response to the Community Trade Union (a) report, Steel Reforged, and (b) recommendation that "the first priority should be upgrading our existing plate mill at Dalzell".

Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government will carefully consider the Community Trade Union’s report as part of our continued commitment to the vitally important sector. We acted at pace in 2016 to secure the future for the Dalzell and Clydebridge steel works, rescuing m…

6 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the reported calls for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) to maximise any potential revenue return from the development of its proposed new fire station at Stewart Street in Cowcaddens, Glasgow, by developing a revised design concept that enables the sale…

Answer · Siobhian Brown: To deliver maximum value to the public purse, it is appropriate for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) to attempt to maximise the potential revenue return from any sale of excess assets. It is normal to seek outline planning consent in advance of any…

6 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Public Health Scotland regarding the implementation of the fracture liaison service audit, and what measures are being taken to ensure progress.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Scottish Government officials remain actively engaged with Public Health Scotland (PHS), who are responsible for the implementation of the Fracture Liaison Service audit. Progress against the business case requirements to develop and then implement the new au…

5 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Scottish Prison Service has requested an extension of the public consultation period into the proposal to designate the Victorian buildings at HMP Barlinnie as category A-listed.

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:Following discussions with Historic Environment Scotland (HES), SPS has been granted an extension to the HMP Barlinnie public consultati…

5 Mar 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the housing secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding what work can be done to repurpose empty commercial and other proprieties for affordable housing in Glasgow.   

4 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the comment by the Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport on Scotland Tonight on 28 January 2025, in which she said that such spending has" increased", whether it will publish a breakdown of all direct mental health spending set out in the 2025-26 Budget, inclu…

Answer · Maree Todd: Alongside the draft budget published 4 December 2024, there was accompanying documents that set out level 4 funding - (https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.scot%2Fbinaries%2Fcontent%2Fdocuments%2Fgovscot%2Fpublications%2Fcor…

1 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Historic Environment Scotland will appoint an accredited pipe organ adviser to ensure that the heritage of the country's pipe organs is properly managed, given the reported growing number that are at risk of being damaged or lost.

Answer · Angus Robertson: Questions regarding day-to-day operational matters of Historic Environment Scotland, including queries relating to staff appointments, are best answered directly by Historic Environment Scotland.I have asked Historic Environment Scotland to respond directly t…

28 Feb 2025 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will engage with Reposit to implement its Borrow Cup scheme on the parliamentary estate.

Answer · Claire Baker (on behalf of the SPCB): The SPCB is open to discussions with organisations that may provide a practical improvement to the processes wealready have in place.  Already, we have embarked on several ways toreduce single use products including disposable cups usage across the Scott…

26 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many building preservation notices have been served by planning authorities in each of the last 20 years.

Answer · Angus Robertson: The Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 Section 3 states that it is local authorities who issue building preservation notices. The Scottish Government does not routinely gather information about how many building preservatio…

26 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans Scottish Enterprise has to reconvene the Aerospace, Defence, Marine and Space Industry Leadership Group.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Aerospace, Defence, Marine & Security Industry Leadership Group (ADMS ILG) was a partnership of key public and private sector players and last met in 2018.Two bodies have since succeeded that entity; the Aerospace and Defence Industry Leadership Group…

25 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it can provide to Glasgow City Council to renegotiate its reported £449 million in lender option borrower option loans with commercial banks, which have reportedly higher average rates of interest than public works loan board rates.

Answer · Shona Robison: Local Authority borrowing decisions are a matter for the individual local authority and Scottish Ministers have no locus or powers to intervene.Local authorities are required by statute to ensure effective and prudent management of their resources, to deliver…

25 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it reportedly blocked the development of a Rolls-Royce small modular reactor at Grangemouth refinery in November 2022, in light of claims that this would have delivered much cheaper off-grid electricity to the country's most energy-intensive heavy industrial cluster and t…

Answer · Gillian Martin: Representatives from INEOS Grangemouth have confirmed that Small Modular Reactors do not form part of of the INEOS Grangemouth net zero roadmap for Grangemouth. The Scottish Government’s Consent Unit has not received any requests from either INEOS or Ro…

23 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the estimated capital cost is to fully dual track the East Kilbride line as part of Clyde Metro.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2), published in 2022, was supported by a transport appraisal which included a concept network for Clyde Metro. Given STPR2 was a strategic assessment, the assessment of Clyde Metro, and all other options, was at a…

23 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will engage with Clowes Developments, which has recently purchased the former Pladis McVitie’s biscuit factory in Tollcross, Glasgow, and whether it will take measures to ensure that the former factory site is retained for a high value industrial and manufacturing use.

Answer · Kate Forbes: Scottish Enterprise, our national economic development agency, works with businesses in Scotland to create high-value jobs, enable innovation, boost productivity and attract investment. Scottish Enterprise would be happy to engage with Clowes Developments to …

21 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the concessionary bus travel scheme for people seeking asylum will be introduced.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government recognises that free bus travel has the potential to be transformative for people seeking asylum, who are among the most vulnerable in society.At present, people seeking asylum in Scotland who are aged under 22, aged 60 or over or have…

17 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) has commissioned a structural engineer that is registered on the Conservation Accreditation Register for Engineers (CARE) to assess the structural condition of the Caerlee Mill at Innerleithen, and its viability for retention and conversion in …

Answer · Kate Forbes: This is an operational matter for SOSE, and I have asked them to respond to you directly.

17 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will investigate any impact, sector concentration and risk profile of private equity acquisitions of Scottish companies and assets, in light of reported warnings from the Bank of England over the past year regarding the stability of private equity-backed companies and the pote…

Answer · Kate Forbes: The regulation of private equity funds in the UK is overseen by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), ensuring compliance with financial and investment laws and is therefore a reserved matter.

16 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will calculate the gross national income (GNI) generated by Scotch whisky to establish what value of dividends and retained earnings of producers is accrued by residents in Scotland.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government has developed statistics on primary income flows and gross national income (GNI) for Scotland.The GNI estimates produced by the Scottish Government are classified as official statistics in development and are reported at the level of t…

16 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will develop a plan to increase Scottish ownership of the Scotch whisky industry, in light of reports that nearly 70% of malt whisky distilleries are ultimately owned by companies outside Scotland.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The powers required to legislate in respect of company acquisition and ownership are reserved to the UK Parliament.Growing the economy has been identified as one of the Scottish Government’s four strategic priorities. Our approach to growing Scotland&rs…

9 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Peel Ports regarding the potential development of a cruise ship berth on the upper Clyde.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has not held discussions with Peel Ports regarding a potential development of a cruise ship berth on the Upper Clyde. Transport Scotland officials communicate with ports, including Clydeport, on a wide range of issues including develop…

31 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the Childsmile programme in the financial year 2023-24, whether it will provide the (a) total cost of the programme and (b) estimated cost per child per annum.

Answer · Jenni Minto: In response to part a) of the question, I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-26265 on 15 April 2024, in which I detailed the total cost of the Childsmile programme in the five financial years between 2019-20 and 2023-24.In response to part b) of t…

30 Jan 2025 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will liaise with Police Scotland and the British Transport Police to establish an equivalent scheme to the Police Service Parliamentary Scheme for MSPs.

Answer · Claire Baker (on behalf of the SPCB): Thank you for your question to the SPCB. We will provide a response to your question as soon as possible.

30 Jan 2025 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will make the necessary arrangements for MSPs to be able to participate in the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme.

Answer · Christine Grahame (on behalf of the SPCB): A scheme was developed in 2017 in conjunction with the Armed Forces in Scotland to enable Members to visit defence bases in Scotland to help Members better understand the range of social and welfare issues relevant to armed forces personnel, and their familie…

29 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has cost to run the National Dental Inspection Programme in (a) 2024-25 to date and (b) the four previous financial years.

Answer · Jenni Minto: This information is not held by Scottish Government.The National Dental Inspection Programme (NDIP) is a key function of the Public Dental Service, delivery of which is the responsibility of Health Boards.From the financial years 2020-21 to 2023-24, Scottish …