Parliamentary questions
Douglas Lumsden
1,891 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
24 Apr 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will update its economic assessment of Air Departure Tax in Scotland in order to better reflect the current state of the Scottish economy.
Answer · Tom Arthur: We continue to explore all options to implement Air Departure Tax in a way that protects Highlands & Islands connectivity and complies with the UK Government’s subsidy control regime. Options identified will be thoroughly assessed and the findings will be se…
24 Apr 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has assessed the potential impact upon Scotland’s tourism and hospitality sector of using Air Departure Tax for "demand management".
Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-27063 on 7 May 2024. 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-and-committees/w…
24 Apr 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has held with its New Deal for Business Group regarding using Air Departure Tax for "demand management".
Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-27063 on 7 May 2024. 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-and-committees/w…
24 Apr 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S6W-20679, S6W-22695 and S6W-24757 by Neil Gray on 31 August 2023, 15 November 2023 and 1 February 2024 respectively, whether it will provide an update on the establishment of an advisory group as required under section 29 of the Scottish National Inv…
Answer · Mairi McAllan: Work to establish the group is ongoing. Discussions around membership, appointment processes and meeting frequency are taking place and an announcement on this will be made in the coming months.
24 Apr 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the implications are for future tax revenue of reports that the economic recovery outlook for Scotland continues to lag behind the UK average.
17 Apr 2024 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its plans to achieve net zero by 2045, what its response is to the Electricity System Operator's report, Beyond 2030.
8 Apr 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has provided to Sistema Scotland in the financial years (a) 2023-24 and (b) 2024-25.
Answer · Kaukab Stewart: The Scottish Government provided £2,896,309 of funding to Sistema Scotland in financial year 2023-2024. The Scottish Government are working with Sistema Scotland to finalise their grant allocation for financial year 2024-2025.
19 Mar 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide an update on when it will make a decision on the continued ban on the consumption of alcohol at all times on trains, in light of ScotRail's confirmation in evidence to the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee that the consultation findings have been passed to T…
5 Mar 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the remaining £46 million of deferred funding from the agriculture budget will be returned.
22 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-25234 by Fiona Hyslop on 22 February 2024, in light of the answer to question S6F-02532 not providing the information requested regarding timeframes for the ScotRail consultation on alcohol on trains, whether it will confirm by what date (a) the con…
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government is engaging with ScotRail, British Transport Police, Network Rail and Transport Focus and I will advise Parliament when a decision is reached, as previously informed.
21 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on the targets set out in its Programme for Government 2023-24 regarding the improvement of cancer waiting times by April 2024.
Answer · Neil Gray: Cancer remains a national priority for the Scottish Government. This is reflected in the fact that more cancer patients have been treated on both the 62 and 31 day pathways in the latest quarter (Q3 2023) compared to the same time pre-pandemic. Specifically w…
19 Feb 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the results from Police Scotland’s Proportionate Response to Crime pilot in the north east will be published.
19 Feb 2024 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government still has a policy of a presumption against any new oil and gas licences.
14 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many jobs have been created in the renewables sector in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Statistics from the ONS Low Carbon and Renewable Energy Economy (LCREE) survey provide estimates of renewables employment in Scotland. No data is available to provide additional geographic breakdowns below the Scotland level at present. As the flowing table …
14 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has carried out any economic impact analysis regarding an energy policy that has a presumption against any oil and gas exploration.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-25575 on 7 March 2024. 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-and-committees…
14 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what workforce modelling has been carried out regarding an energy policy that has a presumption against any oil and gas exploration.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: Oil and gas continue to play an important part in Scotland’s energy transition. The Scottish Government’s focus is on reducing emissions in line with climate change goals, meeting our energy security needs and ensuring a just transition for workforces as Nort…
14 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many cases of fabricated or induced illness (FII) have been reported in each NHS board area in each of the last five years.
Answer · Natalie Don: This is a matter for the NHS. The information requested is not held centrally. The Scottish Government published updated National Child Protection Guidance in 2023 which includes practitioner guidance on fabricated or induced illness.
14 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many cases of fabricated or induced illness (FII) have been reported in each local authority area in each of the last five years.
Answer · Natalie Don: This is a matter for Local Authorities. The information requested is not held centrally. The Scottish Government published updated National Child Protection Guidance in 2023 which includes practitioner guidance on fabricated or induced illness.
13 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many instances of people drinking alcohol onboard ScotRail trains have been recorded in each of the last three years.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: This is operational matter for ScotRail and British Transport Police (BTP). The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.
13 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many electric vehicle (EV) charging points have been installed on the trunk road network in each of the last three years.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: We do not have statistics on how many charge points have been specifically installed on the trunk road network in each of the last three years. According to a 2023 report commissioned by Transport Scotland there were 182 rapid/ultra-rapid charge points (>50k…
13 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many electric vehicle (EV) charging stations there currently are on the trunk road network.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: According to a 2023 report commissioned by Transport Scotland as of December 2022, there were 182 rapid/ultra-rapid charge points (>50kW) located within 100 metres of the trunk road and motorway network. There are also a significant number of lower powered ch…
13 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the devolution of empty property relief to local authorities.
Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-25250 on? 16 February 2024. 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-and-commi…
13 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people were unemployed in each of the last five financial years, also broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: Estimates for the number of unemployed people aged 16 years and over in Scotland, broken down by local authority, are shown in the following table for each of the last five financial years. Area Apr 2018 - Mar 2019 Apr 2019 - Mar 2020 Apr 2020 - Mar 2021 …
13 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of the workforce was unemployed in each of the last five financial years, also broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: Estimates for the unemployment rate for people aged 16 years and over in Scotland, broken down by local authority, are shown in the following table for the last five financial years. Area Apr 2018 - Mar 2019 Apr 2019 - Mar 2020 Apr 2020 - Mar 2021 Apr 20…
13 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 (Register of Persons Holding a Controlled Interest in Land) Amendment Regulations 2023, which extended the transitional period before the offence provisions in relation to the Register of Persons Holding a Controlled Interest in Land (RCI)…
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government is not intending to make a further extension to the transitional period.
12 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has developed a strategy to increase the amount of goods travelling by rail instead of road.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government fully supports rail freight and modal shift, thus this is outlined in the 2016 rail freight strategy https://www.transport.gov.scot/media/5362/ts-rail-freight-strategy-a4-aw3.pdf In 2019 Network Rail, and the industry, developed a c…
12 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what economic impact assessment has been carried out in relation to any potential delay to the north east rail improvement project to reduce rail travel times between Aberdeen and the central belt by 20 minutes.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: No economic assessment has been carried out in regard to any potential delay to the Aberdeen – Central Belt Enhancement Project. An economic assessment of the impact of the proposed delivery, including cost and programme, of the Aberdeen – Central Belt Enhanc…
12 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many miles have been travelled in total by each of ScotRail's Class 43 High Speed Trains (HSTs).
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: This is an operational matter for ScotRail. The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally. The Member may wish to contact ScotRail directly, who might be able to provide this information.
8 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government where the tankers of liquified natural gas will travel from to supply fuel at Troon harbour for vessels 801 and 802.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The tankers will travel by road from the Isle of Grain LNG terminal in Kent to Troon.
8 Feb 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many tankers of liquified natural gas will be required each week at Troon harbour for vessels 801 and 802.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: CalMac currently expects that there will be two tankers a week per vessel to operate the service. CalMac will review the fuel requirements once the new vessels are in operation and make any necessary changes to supply requirements.