Parliamentary questions
Paul Sweeney
1,340 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
30 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether funding will be made available to support ScotRail train driver recruitment, in order to phase out the reported need to depend on rest day working for the operation of a full timetable.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: ScotRail has been recruiting more staff to minimise reliance on staff working on rest days or overtime. ScotRail now employs 250 more train drivers than it did prior to public sector ownership. In addition, 160 Train Drivers are currently being recruited, the…
30 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps Transport Scotland has taken to reduce ScotRail's reported dependency on rest day working in order to run a full and resilient timetable, without having to reduce service frequency.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Staff rotas and timetabling planning are operational matters for ScotRail. After coming into public ownership ScotRail was required to increase the number of Train Drivers to a level which would facilitate a reduction to reliance on staff working rest days an…
30 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with BAE Systems regarding any potential reacquisition of the Spirit AeroSystems factory that it formerly operated at Prestwick Aerospace Park.
Answer · Tom Arthur: There has been no ministerial engagement with BAE Systems regarding any potential reacquisition of Spirit Aerosystems at Prestwick. The Scottish Government has been made aware of the ongoing commercial reacquisition of Spirit Aerosystems by The Boeing Compan…
30 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with Airbus regarding its potential acquisition of the Spirit AeroSystems factory at Prestwick Aerospace Park.
Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government has been made aware of the ongoing commercial acquisition of Spirit Aerosystems by The Boeing Company, including the agreement Airbus has entered into in relation to a potential acquisition of some activities currently performed for Ai…
29 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding action to promote income maximisation among older people, including through the uptake of all devolved and reserved social security benefits, such as pension credit.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Maximising incomes and ensuring everyone can access social security entitlements are fundamental priorities for the Scottish Government. In 2024-25 we plan to invest over £12 million in income maximisation and welfare advice services – including nearly £4.6 m…
28 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it action it can take to keep the Paisley Art Institute's collection in the west of Scotland, in light of reports that a quarter of the collection is to be sold at auction in September 2024 after a dispute with Paisley Museum has forced the Institute to seek a new home at the G…
Answer · Angus Robertson: As an independent charity, any curatorial decision regarding the Paisley Art institute’s collection is a matter for them and their Board of Trustees. They are free to manage and dispose of the collection as they choose, in line with their charitable obj…
25 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to harness the capabilities of the fintech sector to improve public sector data efficiency and productivity.
Answer · Ivan McKee: We recognise the significant potential of collaborating across sectors and with industries, including fintech, to harness technological advancements to improve the quality and delivery of public services. Through the CivTech programme we have supported a num…
23 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will introduce an HGV overtaking ban on the dual carriageway sections of the M8 to reduce congestion.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government currently has no plans to introduce a HGV overtaking ban on either of the two lane sections of the M8 motorway.
22 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will engage with the Ministry of Defence to explore greater collaboration with NHS Scotland to improve the provision of dental services to armed forces personnel based in Scotland.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Chief Dental Officer and a Deputy Chief Dental Officer met with Air Vice Marshal (AVM) and Director of Defence Health, Dave Mcloughlin earlier this year. Consequently, the Chief Dental Officer and AVM McLoughlin issued a joint letter to all dental teams o…
22 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will recapitalise the Scottish Growth Scheme.
Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Growth Scheme (SGS) supports the growth and export plans of SMEs. It has been delivered through a series of financial instruments the latest of which are the 5 debt and equity funds delivered by publicly procured fund managers who invest in Scotl…
18 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its news release of 16 July 2024, Building a sustainable future for Ferguson Marine, whether it will provide a breakdown of the capital equipment and resources that will be purchased using the £14.2 million investment in the shipyard.
Answer · Kate Forbes: Ministers have agreed to support new proposals of investment of up to £14.2 million aimed at enabling Ferguson Marine Port Glasgow (FMPG) to improve productivity and build a sustainable future. However, this investment is subject to the plan passing detailed…
16 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will work with the UK Government toensure that the Shipbuilding Credit Guarantee Scheme (SCGS) can be fullyutilised during Phase 1 of the Small Vessel Replacement Programme, to promoteshipbuilding in Scotland.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The UK Shipbuilding Credit Guarantee Scheme provides a partial guarantee to a lender making a loan to a ship-buyer or operator, so that new vessels, or refits, retrofits or repairs of existing vessels can be procured from UK shipyards. This type of finance gu…
16 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will request that the Scottish National Investment Bank develop products to address any gap in private finance available in Scotland, to support a “globally successful, innovative and sustainable shipbuilding industry, particularly focussing on the construction of high val…
Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish National Investment Bank is guided by the missions set for it by Scottish Ministers but it is operationally independent and makes investment decisions in line with its own investment processes and strategy. The Bank’s investments are also design…
16 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will instruct Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) Ltd to make its shipyard available for lease as a common user facility for all tenders for Phase 1 of the Small Vessel Replacement Programme.
Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government remain committed to pursuing a sustainable future for Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) Ltd. Any lease of facilities would be a commercial decision for the yard and it would not be appropriate for the Scottish Government to make any such …
16 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has divided the Small Vessel Replacement Programme into phases, and what its position is on whether a series production approach for all vessels in the programme would (a) enable the maximisation of any learning curve efficiencies and (b) incentivise capital invest…
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Careful consideration was given to the most efficient phasing of the Small Vessel Replacement Programme. This resulted in the current split with seven similar vessels procured in the first phase. Phase two of the programme takes in other routes in the Clyde…
16 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the announcement on 16 July 2024 regarding Phase 1 of the Small Vessel Replacement Programme, whether it will apply a social value weighting to the procurement procedure that is sufficient to ensure that the construction of the vessels is carried out in Scotland.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: CMAL, as the procuring authority, has highlighted that Scottish public procurement regulations explicitly state that contracting authorities cannot artificially narrow competition by designing a procurement with the intention of unduly favouring, or disadvant…
16 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential inclusion of spinal muscular atrophy screening as part of newborn health checks.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Scotland’s screening policy relies on recommendations from the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), an independent scientific body that provides advice on screening policy to all four UK nations. To date, the UK NSC has not recommended Spinal Muscular At…
16 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many birds have been trapped and have died in bird-dissuading mesh being used in Scotland in the last five years.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. There is no requirement for those using bird-dissuading mesh to submit information on how many birds have been trapped and have died.
16 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to setting standards for bird-dissuading mesh so that the deterrent does not trap or threaten the safety of birds.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: There is no legislation that specifically prevents the installation of netting around buildings. However, Section 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside (Scotland) Act 1981 does make it an offence to obstruct or prevent any bird from using its nest during the nest…
16 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to how users of bird-dissuading mesh may be incentivised to maintain the mesh so that the safety of birds is not threatened.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government has not given any consideration as to how users of bird-dissuading mesh may be incentivised to maintain the mesh so that the safety of birds is not threatened. It is the responsibility of those installing the bird-dissuading mesh to c…
11 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans' report, Enhancing Accessibility: Venues and Visual Impairment.
Answer · Kaukab Stewart: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all serving Armed Forces personnel and veterans living in Scotland, as well as their families, are able to access the best possible care and support, enjoy their rights on an equal basis to others, and are…
10 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its timetable is for publishing the statutory guidance to support local transport authorities when utilising bus franchising powers under the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government has now delivered all the bus powers within the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 to enable local transport authorities to consider all the powers available to them, including partnership working, franchising and local authority run servic…
10 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will emulate the bus franchising process in England by permitting local transport authorities to make the final decision on franchising proposals once the audit of financial implications and public consultation has been completed.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government notes the UK Government’s plans in the King’s Speech to remove barriers that currently limit bus franchising powers in England only to metro mayors. We will review the new UK Government’s proposals in relation to franchising in England…
10 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish its timetable for bringing the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 fully into force, and by what date it will lay the regulations required under the Act that will (a) require local transport authorities to provide people who are planning journeys with greater levels of,…
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 is a multi-topic Act with an extensive number of statutory instruments needed to implement the various parts. Given the scale of this piece of legislation we have taken a measured and considered approach in implementing the A…
10 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the publication of the New Scots Strategy Delivery Plan, what the timeline is for the (a) development of and (b) delivery process for the national pilot scheme for free bus travel for people seeking asylum.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: Development of a national pilot scheme to provide travel support for people seeking asylum and not currently eligible for the existing National Concessionary Travel Schemes is ongoing. Further information will be published on the Scottish Government website a…
10 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the publication of the New Scots Strategy Delivery Plan, how the national pilot scheme for free bus travel for people seeking asylum will be evaluated, and whether this will be carried out while the pilot (a) is in place or (b) has concluded.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The scheme will build on learning from the small local and regional pilots that have been delivered by third sector organisations over recent years. Expected learning from the scheme includes impact of providing free bus travel, demand for this concession, …
10 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the findings from previous regional pilot schemes for free bus travel for people seeking asylum, including those in Glasgow and Aberdeen, and how it used these findings to inform the national pilot scheme set out in the New Scots Strategy Delivery Plan.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The development of the national pilot scheme is building on useful learning from the small scale local and regional pilots that have been delivered by third sector organisations over recent years. These projects include the Grampian Regional Equality Council …
10 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether all Scottish Ministers routinely use ministerial despatch boxes and folders, similar to UK Government ministers.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: All Scottish Ministers routinely use electronic boxes (‘e-boxes’) for ministerial business. Cabinet Folders are issued to Cabinet Secretaries on appointment.
23 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will (a) instruct Amey Consulting to reverse the decision to fence off the Kingston DIY community skatepark and (b) support the group of skateboarders to improve the environment under the motorway viaduct in the area.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The area under the Kingston Bridge West Street on and off ramps requires fencing off to address a growing problem of anti-social behaviour. Issues include the lighting of fires, illegal drug use, discarded hypodermic needles and graffiti. It should be emphas…
22 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether Scotland's Railway is involved in any activities associated with the electrification of the branch line from the Cumbernauld Line into the former St Rollox railway works in Springburn.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The electrification of the of the branch line from Springburn to St Rollox works does not form part of current suite of rail enhancement projects funded by Transport Scotland. The member may wish to contact Network Rail directly to enquire if the current owne…