Parliamentary questions
Paul Sweeney
1,340 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
18 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Switched-on Taxi Loan Scheme, how many (a) applications it has received and (b) loans have been approved, and what the total value of loans issued is, to date.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government through Transport Scotland provide annual funding to Energy Saving Trust (EST) to deliver the Switched-on Taxi Loan scheme on behalf of Scottish Ministers. a) To date the Switched-on Taxi Loan scheme has received 920 applications with…
18 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the interest-free Switched-on Taxi Loan Scheme will reopen to new applicants, and what action it is taking to promote the loan scheme to (a) taxi operators, (b) vendors and (c) manufacturers.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government, through Transport Scotland and its delivery partner Energy Saving Trust (EST), undertake a full review and evaluation of the Switched-on Taxi Loan Scheme at the end of each financial year. A decision on the future of this scheme will …
16 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support is available for students impacted by the rising cost of living.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government fully appreciates that many students are facing higher energy bills and increased financial hardship as a consequence of the current cost of living crisis. Over £37 million of hardship funding has been provided to colleges and univers…
3 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether immuno-compromised people who need to undertake COVID-19 testing more regularly than the wider population, from numerous times a week to daily, will remain able to access lateral flow testing for free.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: As the First Minister set out we have developing a managed transition plan which will ensure that Scotland continues to have a proportionate and effective testing response as we learn to live with COVID. As part of this we are reviewing the groups of indivi…
3 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to prioritise the concerns and safety of immuno-compromised people in its long-term COVID-19 response and infrastructure planning.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The health and wellbeing of everyone in Scotland, including those who are immunosuppressed or immuno-compromised, is paramount as we transition out of the Covid-19 pandemic. Following the success of the initial vaccination programme, the Scottish Government …
23 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether PCR testing will remain available and free in the next phase of its response to COVID-19 for immuno-compromised people (a) in general and (b) who have a positive lateral flow test and require a positive PCR test in order to access antibody treatment.
Answer · Maree Todd: As the First Minister set out we are developing a managed transition plan which will ensure that Scotland continues to have a proportionate and effective testing response as we learn to live with COVID. As part of this we are reviewing the groups of individua…
22 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to address the reported backlog of NHS hospital appointments for children and young people, in particular for those aged 15 to 17.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: We published our NHS Recovery Plan on 25 August 2021, which sets out our ambition of increasing NHS capacity by at least 10% as quickly as possible in order to address the backlog of care and meet the ongoing healthcare needs for people across Scotland. Back…
22 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support will be available to residents in properties that are not in a council tax band that qualifies for a council tax reduction, and what assistance it will provide to help them in meeting their energy bills.
Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government will be providing a £150 cost of living award to all households in council tax bands A to D, including those who are not receiving a reduction under the Council Tax Reduction scheme. Local authorities will also be provided with funds f…
18 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many of the 22 zero-emission electric buses that were used to shuttle COP26 delegates are now in service on routes in Glasgow.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The 22 zero-emission electric buses owned by First Bus, which were partly funded through Transport Scotland's Scottish Ultra Low Emission Bus Scheme (SULEBS), are all now in service on routes in Glasgow following COP26 in October.
18 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to reform the land-owning land maintenance company model of estate management.
Answer · Ash Regan: The Scottish Government currently has no plans to legislate on the model adopted by land-owning land maintenance companies. We are however, currently working on a non-statutory voluntary Code of Practice in relation to the dismissal and replacement of land-o…
18 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recourse residents have where Residential Amenity Greenspace, as defined by a Local Development Plan, moves into private ownership and is not being maintained.
Answer · Ash Regan: The Property Factors (Scotland) Act 2011 sets minimum standards for the property management industry (including land maintenance companies). It provides protections for homeowners who use their services. The Act requires all factors to be on a national regist…
18 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that Greenbelt Group is selling land to other individuals and organisations.
Answer · Ash Regan: The Scottish Government is not aware of reports that Greenbelt is selling off its land. Scottish Ministers have no powers to intervene to stop individuals or companies from selling land in private ownership.
16 Feb 2022 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported warnings from residents, business and advocacy groups that the current quality of ferry service represents a real threat to island life.
15 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to increase the accessibility of the Older and Disabled Persons and Young Persons concessionary travel schemes to eligible asylum seekers.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government takes an inclusive approach for people seeking asylum, enabling access to support and services on the same basis as other Scottish residents where there is not a specific prohibition on access through immigration legislation or rules. …
15 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing colleges and universities to return to on-campus learning.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Throughout the pandemic, the Scottish Government has worked in collaboration with the college and university sectors to provide support and guidance, and to ensure the safety of staff and students. Following the publication of the Scottish Government’s update…
10 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it will allocate to Glasgow City Council for the refurbishment of play parks in the financial year 2022-23.
Answer · Clare Haughey: The Scottish Government will invest £60 million to renew play parks in Scotland, so children have access to high-quality outdoor play in their own communities. This funding is for public, free-to-access parks and will be distributed to local authorities over …
10 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve public information regarding how asylum seekers who are eligible for a National Entitlement Card, under the Older and Disabled Persons or Young Persons concessionary travel schemes, can obtain a free bus pass.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government is keen to ensure that asylum seekers in Scotland are able to access free bus travel under the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme and the Older and Disabled Persons Scheme. I am alive to challenges being faced by different groups,…
10 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the High Court summary judgment issued on 28 January 2022 in the case of HCC International Insurance Company PLC vs Scottish Ministers.
Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Ministers accept the summary judgement in the English court proceedings brought by CMAL against insurer HCCI.
10 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the measures that are in place to enforce the requirement to wear a face covering on public transport, in light of reports that a high number of passengers are not complying with this requirement.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government published Coronavirus (COVID-19): face covering and masks guidance which provides information on the requirement to wear face coverings (unless exempt) including enforcement measures. Enforcement of COVID-19 restrictions is a matter…
10 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking in partnership with Education Scotland to mitigate any detrimental impact of remote learning on the mental health of students in higher education.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Universities and colleges have a duty of care to support their students, and if any have experienced difficulty or have concerns about studying remotely they should contact their institution as soon as possible in order to access the support they need. We ar…
9 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider instructing Historic Environment Scotland to assess the site of HMP Barlinnie for listed status.
Answer · Keith Brown: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: SPS currently has no plans to invite Historic Environment Scotland (HES) to assess HMP Barlinnie for listed building status.
9 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to provide Care and Repair with additional funding, on top of the £0.5 million already allocated, to support older and vulnerable people to upgrade their fire alarms in line with new regulations, in light of reports that people seeking help from Care and Repair have been…
Answer · Shona Robison: We provided £0.5 million to Care and Repair in September 2021 and in response to levels of demand, have provided a further £0.5 million in February 2022. This £1 million funding will enable Care and Repair to support eligible older and disabled households wit…
9 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the planning and development of a replacement for HMP Barlinnie.
Answer · Keith Brown: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows: SPS is currently in the process of selecting a contractor to initially develop a design for HMP Glasgow and thereafter award a…
31 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05683 by Jenny Gilruth on 31 January 2022, whether it will consider the Dutch Road Noise Mitigation Program and associated legislation in 2012 as a benchmark in its development of noise barriers along trunk roads in urban areas in Scotland.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: In 2006 the Scottish Government transposed the European Union's Environmental Noise Directive (END) for managing noise pollution into Scots law via the Environmental Noise (Scotland) Regulations 2006. European countries follow a generally consistent approach …
31 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many online applications for a new or replacement National Entitlement Card (NEC) or Young Scot National Entitlement Card (Young Scot NEC), to access the Young Persons' Free Bus Travel Scheme, have been started since the application process opened on 10 January 2022; of these started…
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Improvement Service (IS), who manage the application process, do not have the statistics on applications started available. Some online applications were submitted in advance of the 10 January 2022 application open date. At close of business on 1 March 20…
26 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider implementing the high quality shopfront design standards developed in Traditional Shopfront Improvement Grant Scheme (TSIG) areas as a future planning requirement in Conservation Areas and in Listed Buildings, as part of the forthcoming update of the National Pla…
Answer · Tom Arthur: We encourage any owner of a traditional building to explore the best available methods of repair and maintenance for their properties, including shop-owners and we welcome local shopfront improvement schemes which seek to increase the attractiveness and conse…
26 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with Glasgow City Council and registered social landlords in Glasgow to develop and launch a Common Housing Register covering all social housing in the city.
Answer · Shona Robison: We continue to see Common Housing Registers as a key way of simplifying and maximising access to social housing and support their development by directing local authorities, housing associations and co-operatives to the Scottish Government website, Common Ho…
26 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on how its proposed electrical vehicle charging ownership model advances the objective of community wealth building.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: On 26th January the Scottish Government published its draft vision for Scotland’s future public electric vehicle charging network and announced its plans for a new £60m public electric vehicle infrastructure funding programme. This recognises that to grow Sco…
25 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent engagement it has had with HM Treasury on reducing VAT charges on (a) general building renovations and conversions and (b) listed building renovations and conversions.
Answer · Tom Arthur: The then Housing Minister, Mr Stewart, wrote to the UK Government in March 2021 to raise this issue, but the response received from HM Treasury suggested this would be prohibitively expensive to VAT receipts. Whilst cost is clearly a consideration, we believe…
25 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement (a) it and (b) its enterprise agencies have had with Rolls-Royce plc over a Scottish bid for the Heavy Pressure Vessel Factory that the company is proposing to develop as part of its UK Small Modular Reactor programme.
Answer · Ivan McKee: To the best of my knowledge neither Government nor Government enterprise agencies have engaged with Rolls Royce on this particular matter. I would be delighted to meet with representatives from Rolls Royce to discuss this in more detail should they wish to d…