Parliamentary questions
Douglas Lumsden
1,891 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
8 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with the UK Government to address any barriers to spectrum access for local and regional broadcasters in Scotland.
Answer · Angus Robertson: The Scottish Government has not had any conversations to date with the UK Government in relation to specific barriers to spectrum access for local and regional broadcasters, however we continue to engage with Ofcom, who has responsibility for allocating spect…
8 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors the effectiveness of preventative measures against the theft of railway materials.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: This is a matter for Network Rail working in collaboration with the British Transport Police.
8 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the importance of community radio in providing local news and emergency broadcasting.
Answer · Angus Robertson: The Scottish Government recognises the valuable role of community radio in delivering local news and important information to our communities right across Scotland. We believe that it is vital that there is a network of radio operations to expand and enhance …
8 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it supports railway operators in training staff to (a) identify and (b) prevent thefts.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The determination of railway operator’s staff training needs and the implementation of training thereafter are matters for railway operators. The Scottish Government supports Network Rail, ScotRail Trains Limited, Scottish Rail Holdings Limited, and Cal…
8 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what trends have been identified in thefts from railways, and how these have informed policy development.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: This is a matter for Network Rail and railway operators working in collaboration with the British Transport Police.
8 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what evaluation it has made of any impact of thefts from railways on passenger services.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-33028 on 22 January 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-an…
8 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what data it has on any incidents of theft from railway stations in Aberdeen over the last five years.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.The member may wish to contact the British Transport Police and ScotRail for this information.
8 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with the UK Government to ensure that spectrum allocation meets the needs of rural communities in Scotland.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Spectrum allocation and management, as with all aspects of telecommunications policy, is a reserved matter and one in which the Scottish Government has no formal role.The Scottish Government, however, maintains an active interest in the spectrum policy agenda…
8 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the allocation and management of spectrum in Scotland.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Spectrum allocation and management, as with all aspects of telecommunications policy, is a reserved matter and one in which the Scottish Government has no formal role.The Scottish Government, however, maintains an active interest in the spectrum policy agenda…
8 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it works with British Transport Police to target known hotspots for theft along railway lines in Scotland.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-33028 on 22 January 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-an…
8 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what role it has in influencing spectrum policy decisions made by the UK Government that have an impact in Scotland.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Spectrum allocation and management, as with all aspects of telecommunications policy, is a reserved matter and one in which the Scottish Government has no formal role.The Scottish Government, however, maintains an active interest in the spectrum policy agenda…
8 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what role local authorities play in preventing theft from railway stations within their areas.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-33028 on 22 January 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-an…
8 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to reduce any theft of railway materials, such as cables and equipment, in Aberdeen.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-33028 on 22 January 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-an…
8 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding spectrum access for 5G and other advanced technologies in Scotland.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Spectrum allocation and management, as with all aspects of telecommunications policy, is a reserved matter and one in which the Scottish Government has no formal role.The Scottish Government, however, maintains an active interest in the spectrum policy agenda…
8 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact of thefts from railway stations in Aberdeen on (a) passenger safety and (b) services.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-33028 on 22 January 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-an…
8 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of its advertising budget has been allocated to community radio in each of the last five years.
Answer · Shona Robison: The proportion of Scottish Government marketing spend that has been allocated to community radio in each of the previous five years is as follows:2019-2020 - 2.4%2020-2021 - 0.9%2021-2022 - 1.8%2022-2023 - 1.2%2023-2024 - 1.5%
8 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the availability of spectrum for community and rural broadcasting in Scotland, and what representations it has made to the UK Government on this issue.
Answer · Angus Robertson: Allocating spectrum and assessing appropriate levels of local content is the responsibility of Ofcom. While spectrum regulation is not a devolved matter, the Scottish Government maintains a close interest in stakeholder and audience views in relation to recep…
8 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of its advertising budget is currently being spent on promoting public health campaigns, broken down by medium.
Answer · Shona Robison: Scottish Government marketing and advertising spend is published each year and can be found at https://www.gov.scot/collections/marketing-spend/ including a breakdown by media type, portfolio and individual campaign, including public health campaigns.
8 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it provides to local authorities to encourage support for community radio stations.
Answer · Angus Robertson: The Scottish Government does not provide guidance to local authorities specifically about support for community radio stations. We are however clear that community radio is a valuable resource across many communities in Scotland and we will persist in champio…
8 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures are in place to prevent theft from railway infrastructure in and around Aberdeen.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-33028 on 22 January 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-an…
8 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its criteria are for selecting media platforms for its advertising campaigns.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government contracts experienced media planning and buying agencies to create media strategies and to buy media schedules. The media agency will recommend the best combination of media channels based on the aims of the campaign, allocated budget …
8 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what data it has on what the cost of replacing stolen railway materials has been in each of the last five years.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: This information is not held by the Scottish Government. The member may wish to contact Network Rail.
8 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is engaging with the UK Government to ensure that Scotland’s needs are considered in spectrum allocation policies.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Spectrum allocation and management, as with all aspects of telecommunications policy, is a reserved matter and one in which the Scottish Government has no formal role.The Scottish Government, however, maintains an active interest in the spectrum policy agenda…
8 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what funding it has provided to community radio stations in each of the last five years.
Answer · Shona Robison: Please see below for a breakdown of the collective advertising spend given to community radio stations over the past five financial years, as the 2024-25 financial year is not yet complete the information is not included. This breakdown includes a list of the…
8 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to addressing the resale of stolen railway materials, including through stricter regulations on scrap metal dealers.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: The theft of railway materials is an important issue. It is for the police to enforce criminal laws such as theft and the Scottish Government fully supports the police taking the necessary action to hold perpetrators to account.In terms of the resale of stole…
8 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure the safety of passengers and staff at railway stations, in light of incidents of theft and vandalism.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The safety of passengers and staff at railway stations is an operational matter for the station owners and operators.
8 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what data it collects on thefts from railway infrastructure, and how this is used to inform prevention strategies.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: This information is not held by the Scottish Government. Responsibility for such information rests with Network Rail and rail operators.
8 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what funding it provides to (a) Police Scotland and (b) the British Transport Police to support operations targeting thefts from railway lines and infrastructure in Scotland.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Network Rail owns and manages rail infrastructure in Scotland, and its Scotland operations, including funding BTP to prevent theft from railways which are fully funded by the Scottish Government.
8 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to launch public awareness campaigns to encourage the reporting of suspicious activities near railway lines and depots.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-33028 on 22 January 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-an…
8 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that anti-theft strategies for railways align with broader transport and infrastructure security policies.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-33028 on 22 January 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-an…