Parliamentary questions
Paul Sweeney
1,340 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
14 Feb 2024 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that railway infrastructure is safe and fit for the future.
12 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will assess the feasibility of reopening the Greenock and Ayrshire Railway to the former Greenock Princes Pier railway station as a direct rail freight link to Greenock Ocean Terminal.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government is aware of the former railway route to Greenock Princes Pier. However, in the absence of any clearly expressed demand for this link from freight customers, the Scottish Government has no current plans to assess the feasibility of reop…
11 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the estimated cost is of remediation work to address any cladding defects in the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.
Answer · Neil Gray: The overall cost of the project, as stated in the Full Business Case, to replace the internal wall linings is £32.7m in the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. This project is currently on site and is expected to run until 2027.
10 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when any defects in the cladding of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow were first identified.
Answer · Neil Gray: In February 2021 Brookfield Multiplex advised NHSGGC that they had concerns regarding the suitability of the wall linings installed in the atrium of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. Intrusive surveys were immediately commissioned by NHSGGC that confir…
9 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when ScotRail plans to commence higher service frequency on the East Kilbride line, subject to the completion of the enhancement project in December 2025.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The East Kilbride project is delivering an electrified railway to provide more reliable and emission free services, and also a number of significant station improvements. ScotRail keeps services under continual review to ensure the service levels reflect the…
8 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what alternatives are being considered for children and young people who are experiencing mental health concerns, but are either waiting to be seen by child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) or are unable to get onto the CAMHS waiting list, and what funding is available for a…
Answer · Maree Todd: It is vital to the Scottish Government that children and young people receive the right support, in the right place, at the right time. Not all children and young people need specialist services like CAMHS, and many will find more suitable support in their lo…
8 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the No Time To Wait model, which is being piloted in East Lothian by the Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity to tackle the growing mental health needs of children and young people, is one that it would consider for wider roll out.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government welcomes the model of early intervention being piloted as part of the Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC) ‘No Time To Wait’ project. We will continue to engage with ECHC as the ‘No Time To Wait’ pilot continues and look forwar…
8 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity’s child and family mental health resilience and wellbeing pilot, No Time To Wait, in East Lothian.
Answer · Maree Todd: I visited the Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity’s (ECHC) wellbeing centre, The Hub, based in the Edinburgh Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, on 24 October 2023. During my visit I met with some of the charity’s team members and spoke to them ab…
7 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting NHS boards to meet the national target of 10% of overall NHS spend being allocated to mental health.
Answer · Maree Todd: We are monitoring progress against this commitment through the Annual Delivery Plan’s being provided by Health Boards and the Public Health Scotland annual Scottish Health Service Costs Publication. We are providing support to individual NHS Boards towards me…
6 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much one psychological therapies appointment costs the NHS.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government does not collect data on how much a psychological therapies appointment costs the NHS. Every presentation for psychological treatment represents a unique individual with their own specific needs. Treatment can often involve working wi…
6 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much one child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) appointment costs the NHS.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government does not collect data on CAMHS appointment costs across NHS boards centrally. Every presentation to CAMHS is treated differently depending on the individual needs of the young person. It may involve a multidisciplinary response involv…
6 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it can instruct its enterprise agencies to engage with Gibson's Engineering Ltd, in light of its reported reopening of the St Rollox "Caley" Railway Works in Springburn.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: Engagement between Scottish Enterprise and Gibson's Engineering Ltd led to a Business Gateway referral in 2022. In addition, the Find Business Support website ( findbusinesssupport.gov.scot ) provides information on the advice and funding offered by Scottis…
6 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-20147 by Fiona Hyslop on 10 August 2023, whether it can provide an update on Springburn railway station being nominated for Access for All scheme funding for Control Period 7 (2024-2029).
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: As the member is aware The Access for All scheme is a UK Government scheme and as such is managed by the UK Department for Transport (DfT). It is anticipated the Department for Transport will announce which stations will be prioritised for funding through th…
1 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to announce Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF) round 11, stage 2 funding decisions.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Funding to support place-based regeneration programmes has been set at £45.8m for 2024-25 of which £23m is required to meet contractual commitments for Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF) and the Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme (VDLIP) projec…
31 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-23447 by Elena Whitham on 11 December 2023, when it expects that data for the number of Recorded Police Warnings issued in 2022-23 will be available.
Answer · Angela Constance: Data on Recorded Police Warnings are published as part of the Criminal Proceedings in Scotland national statistics. The next bulletin, covering the 2022-23 financial year, is expected in late Summer 2024.
28 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) Glasgow Science Centre Limited and (b) Glasgow City Council regarding effecting the repair works required to reopen the Science Centre's Millennium Bridge across the River Clyde to marine traffic.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: As Glasgow Science Centre is a subsidiary of Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise has been represented at discussions between Glasgow Science Centre and Glasgow City Council regarding repair work at the Millennium Bridge. However, this is an operational m…
27 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the current tax base in Scotland is, as a percentage of GDP, and what assessment it has made of how this compares to other OECD economies.
Answer · Shona Robison: According to OECD data, the UK’s tax revenue, as a share of GDP, was 35.3% in 2022, the latest year for which internationally comparable data is available. This is broadly in line with the OECD average of 34.0%. No directly comparable estimate is available f…
26 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will progress a feasibility study regarding the Chartered Institute of Building's proposal for a demolition levy.
Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government currently has no plans to undertake a feasibility study into a Demolition Levy. Whilst the Scottish Government shares the Chartered Institute of Building’s concerns around carbon emissions from demolition and the preservation of our bu…
26 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Chartered Institute of Building's report, Harnessing Scotland's Social Housing Expertise, and specifically its recommendations regarding changes to energy efficiency funding for the social housing sector.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Scottish Government welcomes the report from the Chartered Institute of Buildings (CIOB) into social housing retrofit. Its findings and recommendations will help inform our thinking on how we continue to support the sector to help achieve our climate targ…
25 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-24438 by Paul McLennan on 23 January 2024, what its position is on whether local community ownership of social housing asset wealth is in the interests of tenants.
Answer · Paul McLennan: The Scottish Government values the diverse social housing sector in Scotland. We support the community ownership of social housing asset wealth where the landlord meets the required legal, regulatory and financial framework and where it is in the interests of…
23 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an updated publication date for the Student Mental Health Action Plan.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government will, throughout February 2024, undertake consultation events with members of the Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Working Group on a draft Student Mental Health Action Plan. Following this, and the completion of attendant Impact A…
21 Jan 2024 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will consider commissioning a Scottish Parliament flag, in a similar manner to that commissioned by the House of Commons in 2021, which was designed by Graham Bartram, Chief Vexillologist of the Flag Institute, at the request of the Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle.
Answer · Claire Baker MSP (on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Bo: I thank the Member for their question. The SPCB will consider this suggestion in due course.
19 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what correspondence it has had with (a) Sanctuary and (b) Cruden regarding the reportedly extensive delays to The Victoria development in Glasgow.
Answer · Paul McLennan: The Scottish Government has not had any correspondence with Sanctuary or Cruden regarding delays to The Victoria development in Glasgow. Glasgow City Council receives funding for its affordable housing supply programme (AHSP) from the Scottish Government thro…
19 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that some people buying a home through the New Supply Shared Equity scheme have experienced financial uncertainty, including by having to reapply for a mortgage at a time of higher interest rates, as a result of extensive delays to The Victoria development…
Answer · Paul McLennan: The Scottish Government sympathises with those who are experiencing financial uncertainty as a result of delays in this development, either due to a change in personal circumstances or having to arrange a new mortgage agreement. We are aware that the increase…
19 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what powers it has to ensure that (a) social renters, (b) disabled people, (c) members of the Armed Forces, (d) veterans and (e) other people who are waiting for new homes at The Victoria development in Glasgow are compensated for their wait.
Answer · Paul McLennan: The Scottish Government does not have any powers to compensate those waiting for affordable housing for any delay that may occur in completion of any development.
19 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the grid-level costs of moving to 100% renewable generation.
Answer · Neil Gray: The responsibility for the balancing of grid lies with the National Grid Electricity System Operator and wider system integration costs are set by the regulator, Ofgem. This data is not held by the Scottish Government. Although the Scottish Government has no…
19 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the total cost was of balancing the electricity grid in Scotland in 2022.
Answer · Neil Gray: The responsibility for the balancing of grid lies with the National Grid Electricity System Operator. More information including data on balancing costs can be found here: Balancing costs | ESO (nationalgrideso.com) .
19 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the grid-level costs of (a) variable and (b) baseload generation.
Answer · Neil Gray: The grid-level costs of specific variable or baseload generation will depend on various factors including (but not limited to) grid capacity, demand flexibility and the geographical location of installation. The Scottish Government has not made an assessment…
18 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it (a) can and (b) will request that the Scottish Housing Regulator publish the daily rate of each person on its statutory managers list.
Answer · Paul McLennan: The Scottish Government cannot direct the independent Scottish Housing Regulator to publish the daily rate of each person on its statutory managers list and, as such, will not be requesting that they do so.
18 Jan 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-24477 by Joe FitzPatrick on 18 January 2024, what its position is on whether the year-long timescale to review this planning application is acceptable, and what impact determination periods of this length have on the efficiency of (a) urban developm…
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Scottish Ministers intervene in only a handful of cases each year and generally only where they raise issues of national importance. These can sometimes be among the more complex planning cases which require careful consideration. Nevertheless, it is always o…