Douglas Lumsden

26 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the £9 million invested by the Scottish National Investment Bank into Circularity Scotland, what information it holds on how much has been spent to date, and whether it can provide a full breakdown of this spend.  

Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-19474 on 18 July 2023. 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-committee…

14 Jun 2023 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it has in place to ensure that there is full transparency when it comes to the use of public money.

12 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the replacement for the Scottish Capital Investment Manual process will be in place.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Capital Investment Manual is not being replaced and will continue to be utilised.

12 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what projects are impacted by the reported suspension of the Scottish Capital Investment Manual process.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government has not suspended the Scottish Capital Investment Manual process.

12 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has suspended the Scottish Capital Investment Manual process, and, if so, when.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government has not suspended the Scottish Capital Investment Manual process.

25 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent engagement it has had with low Earth orbit satellite provider, Starlink, regarding any potential future participation in the Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: In 2021, Scottish Government officials began exploring with Starlink the possibility of becoming a Reaching 100% Programme Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme (R100 SBVS) supplier. At that time, Starlink chose not to register as a provider for the scheme. Ear…

25 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme, what the total (a) number and (b) value of vouchers issued has been to date.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: As of 28 June 2023, a total of 3,551 vouchers have been issued through the Reaching 100% (R100) Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme. 2,985 of those vouchers have had their build confirmed at a total Scottish Government investment of £5,470,355.80. The remaini…

24 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update, including in relation to Transport Scotland’s engagement with stakeholders, on the rail enhancement project to reduce the average journey times between Aberdeen and the Central Belt by 20 minutes by 2026.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Transport Scotland and Network Rail regularly meet stakeholders to update them on the progress of the design of this project.

24 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to decarbonise the rail network between Aberdeen and the Central Belt.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: No date has been set for the decarbonisation of the lines between Aberdeen and Edinburgh, and Aberdeen and the electrified network at Dunblane. However, in line with the Rail Decarbonisation Action Plan, these routes are under consideration for decarbonisatio…

24 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects contracts to be awarded totalling at least £200 million as part of the rail enhancement project to reduce the average journey times between Aberdeen and the Central Belt by 20 minutes by 2026.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: A date for contract award for construction of the Aberdeen Central Belt Journey Time Improvement Project has not yet been set. A design contract has previously been awarded and design works are underway.

24 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of the improvements that will be carried out as part of the rail enhancement project to reduce the average journey times between Aberdeen and the Central Belt by 20 minutes by 2026, and whether it can provide a timetable for when each of these improvements …

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Details of the infrastructure improvements to be constructed as part of the Aberdeen Central Belt Journey Time Improvements Project will be contained with the Outline Business Case for the project, which will be available once complete.  

24 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to decarbonise the rail network between Aberdeen and Inverness.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-18475 on 16 June 2023. 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…

24 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how much of the £200 million that was committed to be spent to reduce the average journey times between Aberdeen and the Central Belt by 20 minutes by 2026 has been spent.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Network Rail advise that the cost of work done (to 29 th April 2023) on the project is £6.7m. The amount spent reflects the efficiency in which the early development stages are being carried out.

24 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Minister for Transport will deliver his conclusions on the review into the dualling of the A96 in the first half of 2023.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government remains absolutely committed to improving the A96 and the current plan is to fully dual the route. We continue to push forward the transparent evidence-based review of the corridor that is currently being undertaken with outcomes from …

24 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-15973 by Ivan McKee on 22 March 2023, whether it will provide a further update on efforts to recommence operations at Stoneywood paper mill, in Aberdeen, in light of reports from 12 February 2023 that there was about to be a "credible bid" made.

Answer · Neil Gray: My officials in Scottish Enterprise continue to remain in regular contact with the Joint Administrators, Interpath Advisory and continue to work with them to consider all viable options for the Stoneywood site in Aberdeen. The administration process continue…

23 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its engagement with the UK Government on the delivery of the Project Gigabit programme in Scotland, including what progress has been made in designing the programme, and when the first procurements will be announced.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government continues to work closely with the UK Government on Project Gigabit activity in Scotland. In March 2023, the Scottish Government and Building Digital UK (BDUK) carried out Procurement Area Market Engagement, engaging with broadband in…

23 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it can put in place to ensure a competitive framework for the Project Gigabit programme in Scotland.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Given the reserved nature of telecoms legislation, responsibility for ensuring that Project Gigabit creates genuine competition between bidders ultimately sits with the UK Government, who oversee the parameters of the programme and its implementation. The Sc…

23 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that areas with vulnerable or disadvantaged groups have adequate, affordable full fibre coverage.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Full fibre is now available to over 1.2 million properties in Scotland, with coverage now standing at 45% – an increase of 14 percentage points from January 2022 and 26 percentage points from January 2021. This represents an increase of over 400,000 premises…

23 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to monitor and evaluate the impact of full fibre roll-out on digital poverty levels.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Household Survey 1 is published annually and contains statistics on internet access and use by a number of categories. The publication contains statistics covering internet access by household income, Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD)…

23 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many suppliers are signed up to the Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme – offering vouchers worth up to £5,000 for eligible properties - currently has 50 suppliers registered to deliver services. The list of registered suppliers is regularly reviewed to ensure that it is only listing su…

23 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has a target date to achieve 100% gigabit-capable broadband coverage across the whole of Scotland.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has not set a 100% gigabit-capable broadband coverage target for Scotland. Given the reserved nature of telecoms legislation, the UK Government’s Project Gigabit programme has set an 85% UK-wide coverage target to be met by 2025, and …

23 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what targeted interventions it has planned to ensure that vulnerable or disadvantaged groups have access to reliable broadband services.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has already undertaken work to ensure that vulnerable or disadvantaged groups have access to digital services. Connecting Scotland aims to reduce digital exclusion by providing people with opportunities to access and utilise the inter…

11 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Barnett consequential funding that it received as a result of the £63 million swimming pool support package announced by the UK Government in the Spring Budget 2023, and how much of this additional funding has been passed on to local authorities.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government places great importance on swimming pools. They are crucial to the wellbeing of all our country and most importantly, for our children and young people to be healthy and active. The financial package announced by the UK Government to …

20 Apr 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the changes to the planned Deposit Return Scheme announced on 20 April 2023 change how the scheme will operate in stadium events, such as those that take place at Murrayfield Stadium, in light of the previous position being that they could not operate a "closed loop" system, even…

Answer · Lorna Slater: Details of how the exclusion will apply are currently being worked out in consultation with the sector, and once published the stadium and other hospitality businesses will be able to assess if they eligible for an automatic exclusion. If they are not then th…

28 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the £202.6 million figure that the Minister for Public Finance, Planning and Community Wealth stated to the Finance and Public Administration Committee on 7 March 2023 (Official Report, c. 14), whether it will provide a breakdown of this figure; whether the figure represe…

Answer · Neil Gray: The £202.6 million is the cost included in David Tydeman’s letter to NZET committee of 28 September 2022. The breakdown of this figure is: £202.6m split  801 802 Cost to complete (m) 94.8 101.6 Contingency (m) 2.7 3.5 Total cost to complete 97.5 1…

28 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work it is undertaking to understand more fully any changes in the behaviour of taxpayers in Scotland following tax increases, and whether it has developed a strategy to address any such changes.

Answer · Tom Arthur: Evidence on behavioural responses is an essential consideration for tax policy decisions. The Scottish Government is acutely aware of the risks and benefits arising from behavioural responses to changes in devolved taxation policy, and actively works with st…

28 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it will take, in light of the Scottish Fiscal Commission's Fiscal Sustainability Report, to address the reported long-term population decline.

Answer · Emma Roddick: The Scottish Government’s Ministerial Population Taskforce recognises the significance of long-term projected demographic change and since publishing the Population Strategy in 2021, it has focused - across government, and with local and regional partners – o…

28 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with the Wellbeing Economy Alliance.

Answer · Neil Gray: Ministers and officials meet regularly with wellbeing economy stakeholders, including the Wellbeing Economy Alliance, to discuss our shared commitment to Scotland’s transition to a wellbeing economy. On 4 April 2023, within one week of my appointment as Cabin…

28 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will guarantee funding for Men’s Sheds for the remainder of the current parliamentary term.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government supports Mens Sheds in a number of ways, and has made the Scottish Mens Sheds Association (SMSA) an offer of £75,000 funding for 2023/24 which has been accepted by their Board. This funding will help them build a sustainable business m…

28 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is considering including alcohol-free drinks in its proposals to restrict alcohol advertising.

Answer · Elena Whitham: Our recent consultation on restricting alcohol advertising and promotion set out a range of potential options to restrict alcohol advertising and promotion. This included a question on whether low or no alcohol products should fall within the scope of any res…