Parliamentary questions
Paul Sweeney
1,340 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
19 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-18612 by Fiona Hyslop on 16 June 2023, when it expects the findings from the free bus travel pilot to be collated and analysed, following its planned conclusion in July, and whether it plans to publish the findings from the pilot once finalised.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I am committed to finding a way to meet the Programme for Government pledge to consider how best to provide free bus travel for people seeking asylum in Scotland. A short-term pilot led by the Refugee Survival Trust and third sector partners in Glasgow commen…
14 Jun 2023 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the level of child poverty in Scotland.
13 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what planned and preventative maintenance system is used by CalMac for its ferries, and when any such system was introduced.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: CalMac Ferries Ltd (CFL) operate a bespoke planned maintenance system which was introduced a number of years ago on the Major Vessel Fleet. A project is underway to replace the system with a modern off the shelf established, marine system, however this projec…
13 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will investigate the preventative maintenance processes used by CalMac for its ferries, in light of the reportedly high level of unplanned maintenance events relative to comparable shipping fleets.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Transport Scotland and CMAL will continue to engage with CalMac on maintenance, repair, and vessel resilience activities, considering preventative approaches as part of this. The ongoing engagement is aimed at minimising unplanned outages which affect perform…
13 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking, in partnership with local authorities and energy companies, to make electric vehicle charging more affordable for the public, with a view to making electric and hybrid vehicles more desirable, and to meet the target of net zero emissions by 2045.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has engaged Cosla, setting out its position on tariffs for the use of public charge points, a significant proportion of which are owned by Local Authorities. It is important that tariffs are structured to avoid unduly subsidising those…
10 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how inward investment projects supported by Scottish Development International, Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, South of Scotland Enterprise and Skills Development Scotland are assessed in terms of (a) the depth of local economic linkages and (b) whether the invest…
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Scotland’s inward investment plan recognises the importance of spillover benefits that inward investment can bring to the Scottish economy. The focus is on attracting embedded investments which deliver knowledge exchange and supply chain benefits for Scottish…
7 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussion it has had with Glasgow City Council regarding the reopening of The Lighthouse, Scotland's Centre for Design and Architecture.
Answer · Christina McKelvie: Scottish Government has not had any discussion with Glasgow City Council regarding the reopening of The Lighthouse in Glasgow.
7 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the revised date is for the first new trains to enter passenger service on the Glasgow Subway, in light of reports that the previous scheduled period of January 2023 to March 2023 was missed.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Introduction of the new trains into passenger service is a matter for Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) given SPT is responsible for both the Glasgow Subway modernisation programme and the operation of the Glasgow subway. Introductory dates for the …
7 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to hold a consultation on co-operatives, and, if this is the case, what the proposed timetable is.
Answer · Tom Arthur: As set out in the National Strategy for Economic Transformation (NSET) and the Programme for Government 2022-23, a review will be conducted of how to support Scotland’s social enterprise, co-operative and employee owned business sectors to grow. The review wi…
3 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Scottish Ministers will make regulations to give effect to Part 7 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government currently has no plans to introduce regulations under the Act. However, involvement in local football clubs can be important to communities and that is why the First Minister recently launched the Fan Bank on 31 May 2023. This initiat…
2 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the administrators of the Glasgow-based engineering firm, British Polar Engines Limited, in order to establish what the reasons were for the firm going into administration, and what its assessment is of whether the business can be salvaged as a going conce…
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has had no engagement with the administrators of British Polar Engines Limited.
1 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding was allocated to the oral health improvement programme, Childsmile, in each financial year from 2018-19 to 2022-23.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Funding provided to NHS Boards for Childsmile programme delivery is set out in the following table. In addition to direct programme allocations, funding is provided to NHS Boards through the annual Outcomes Framework allocation to deliver a range of core ser…
30 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-17995 by Neil Gray on 30 May 2023, for what reason it remains committed to returning the airport to private ownership, in light of it having "performed well in a highly competitive aviation market and is now a profitable business".
Answer · Neil Gray: Scottish Ministers' stated objective since purchasing Glasgow Prestwick Airport in 2013 has been to return the business to the private sector when the time and circumstances are right for the business and for the Scottish Government as shareholder. That mean…
30 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the free bus travel pilot for people seeking asylum in Glasgow, which is funded by the Paths for All Smarter Choices, Smarter Places (SCSP) Open Fund, is expected to conclude.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: A short-term pilot led by the Refugee Survival Trust and third sector partners in Glasgow commenced on Monday 30 January and will run until July. The pilot provides free bus travel to people seeking asylum living in Glasgow for three months, along with infor…
30 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the successful tender was for the ScotRail Class 170 sander project, and in what location this project will be carried out.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: This is a ScotRail led procurement, undertaken in line with Public Procurement Guidelines and as such appropriate for ScotRail to confirm details in due course.
29 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many and (b) what proportion of junior doctors in Scotland, on completion of their foundation programme, have (i) remained in UK-based specialty training and (ii) left to pursue other careers or overseas opportunities, in each of the last 10 years.
Answer · Michael Matheson: We are unable to provide the information requested as we do not have access to data on doctors entering training in parts of the UK other than Scotland, or who have left to pursue other careers or overseas opportunities. From 2010 to 2019 the UK Foundation p…
28 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to promote population growth in Glasgow, and whether it has a target rate of population growth for the city relative to other cities in the UK of a similar size, such as Manchester.
Answer · Emma Roddick: The Scottish Government’s 2021 Population Strategy contains a focus on ensuring our population is sustainably distributed; however, it does not set explicit population targets. A range of work is ongoing across government to achieve this, for example the Nat…
28 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider adopting universal salt iodisation (USI) as a public health measure to address any iodine deficiency in the population.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government has no plans at this time to adopt universal salt iodisation. Food Standards Scotland advises that adults need 140 micrograms (µg) of iodine a day and most people should be able to get all the iodine they need by eating a varied and b…
25 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it can detail the planned (a) scope, (b) cost and (c) duration of the repair and maintenance works currently being carried out on the historic central tower and spire of Glasgow Cathedral.
Answer · Christina McKelvie: Questions regarding day-to-day operational matters of Historic Environment Scotland, including the details requested about repair and maintenance works, are best answered directly by Historic Environment Scotland. I have asked Historic Environment Scotland t…
22 May 2023 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its cross-government co-ordination on island connectivity, what discussions the rural affairs secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding any impact of the continued delay of vessels 801 and 802 on island communities.
17 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-17557 by Maree Todd on 15 May 2023, when its programme of stakeholder engagement (a) began and (b) ended, and what stakeholders it met with as part of that engagement.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government launched a public consultation on 29 June 2022, seeking views on what a new Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy for Scotland should look like. The consultation included a section on the Mental Health and Wellbeing Workforce. As part …
17 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications to the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund it has received, since the additional funding of £15 million was allocated in April 2023 to date, and how many of any such applications have been successful.
Answer · Maree Todd: Local application processes for the 2023-24 funding have not yet commenced. National Fund Guidance and grant letters to Third Sector Interfaces (TSIs) will be issued by the end of June and will provide a date by which local application processes need to have…
11 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) Glasgow City Council and (b) Glasgow Life regarding the long-term future of the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.
Answer · Christina McKelvie: I welcome the recent refurbishment of Glasgow Royal Concert Hall earlier this year. The refurbishment upgraded the Main Auditorium seats and the stage lifts and allowed for important accessibility improvements. There have been no discussions between the Scot…
11 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what discussions it has had with the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) management team regarding financing for its proposed expansion, which secured planning permission in principle from Glasgow City Council in June 2021, and what its position is on whether…
Answer · Richard Lochhead: There have been no discussions with the SEC management team specifically on the financing of the proposed expansion since it was raised with the Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture in April 2022. Due to budgetary pressures, we…
11 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether (a) retaining Glasgow Prestwick Airport in public ownership and control under Prestwick Aviation Holdings Limited is (i) in the public interest and (ii) the best way to realise the long-term economic and industrial development potential of the site and (b)…
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government intervened to secure the future of Glasgow Prestwick Airport when the business was under threat of closure. It was in the public interest to secure the continued operation of Glasgow Prestwick Airport as an asset of strategic importanc…
11 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of recent reports of a potential takeover of the FTSE 250-listed company, John Wood Group, by the United Sates' private equity fund, Apollo Global Management, what its position is on whether takeovers of Scottish companies that are of strategic importance to the economy should …
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The powers required to legislate in respect of company acquisition and ownership are reserved to the UK Parliament and, as such, the Scottish Government does not have the power to take action in this area. In addition the legislative change in the UK via the …
11 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-17458 by Kevin Stewart on 9 May 2023, what its position is on whether the extension of the current operating hours of the Glasgow Subway is an opportunity to improve public transport services in the city, and whether it is a consideration in the pla…
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The management and opening hours of the Glasgow Subway is currently an operational matter for Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT). SPT along with Glasgow City Council, are part of a working group led by Transport Scotland to develop Clyde Metro. Opera…
10 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) developments in Scotland make any contribution to public revenues through (a) council tax and (b) non-domestic rates.
Answer · Graeme Dey: Purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) does not make any contribution to public revenue through either council tax or non-domestic rates. PBSA is the primary domestic residence for students and is therefore considered a "dwelling". As such, it is not sub…
10 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-17015 by Neil Gray on 10 May 2023, what strategic economic and industrial assessment it has made of the potential impact that the loss of another FTSE 250-listed company's operational headquarters from Scotland would have, and what action it can tak…
Answer · Neil Gray: Capricorn Energy announced in February the intention to carry out a strategic review of its wider operations, which has culminated in the company citing a strong case for its rationalisation activities across the business. Whilst Partnership Action for Conti…
4 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-17210 by Angela Constance on 4 May 2023, and in light of the fourth National Planning Framework, whether it will encourage the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) to consider marketing the air rights above the car park to the south of Glasg…
Answer · Angela Constance: As stated in the answer to question S6W-17210, the management of the court estate is an operational matter for the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS). Further to that answer, the SCTS is a non-ministerial office established by the Judiciary and Cou…