Parliamentary questions

Kenneth Gibson

2,008 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

7 Feb 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government, as part of the cross-government co-ordination on islands, including connectivity, what discussions the rural affairs secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding support in the draft Budget 2025-26 to improve ferry services to Arran.

27 Jan 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the importance of the A737 to North Ayrshire.

22 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government in what year it was decided that the community benefit for wind farms should be £5,000 per megawatt.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: Despite the powers to mandate community benefits being reserved to the UK Government, Scotland has made significant progress with the voluntary approach through the Scottish Government’s Good Practice Principles (GPPs) for Onshore Developments, which re…

16 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding private finance initiative (PFI) and public private partnership (PPP) contracts where the procuring authority is categorised as a devolved Scottish authority, what the total amount is that (a) has been paid in unitary charge payments since 1997-98, up to and including the fina…

Answer · Shona Robison: All Scottish Government supported PFI and PPP contracts including NPD (Non-Profit Distributing) have been procured by a devolved Scottish authority. The latest published data as at 31 March 2023 relating to (a) the total estimated unitary charge payments asso…

16 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding private finance initiative (PFI) and public private partnership (PPP) contracts, what the total amount in unitary charge payments is that (a) has been paid since 1997-98, up to and including the latest financial year for which figures are available, for all (i) expired and (ii…

Answer · Shona Robison: The latest published data as at 31 March 2023 relating to (a) the total unitary charge payments associated with PFI and PPP contracts including NPD (Non-Profit Distributing) which were paid across the public sector in Scotland from 1997-98 to 2022-23 comprisi…

14 Jan 2025 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it anticipates will be paid in this financial year in PFI and PPP unitary charge payments across the public sector.

7 Jan 2025 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on farmers giving the methane-reducing feed additive Bovaer to their cattle.

18 Dec 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve discipline in schools.

13 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much currently remains in outstanding private finance initiative (PFI) and public private partnership (PPP) payments across the public sector in Scotland.

Answer · Shona Robison: The total estimated remaining unitary charge payments associated with PFI and PPP contracts including NPD (Non-Profit Distributing) across the public sector in Scotland from 2023-24 onwards are contained within the following table. 2023-24 onwards (…

13 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much the public sector in Scotland has paid in private finance initiative (PFI) and public private partnership (PPP) payments in each year since 2006-07.

Answer · Shona Robison: The total unitary charge payments associated with PFI and PPP contracts including NPD (Non-Profit Distributing) which were paid across the public sector in Scotland from 2006-07 to 2022-23 are contained within the following table. 2006-07 to 2022-23&nbsp…

13 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much North Ayrshire Council has paid in private finance initiative (PFI) and public private partnership (PPP) payments in each year since 2006-07.

Answer · Shona Robison: As the latest associated published data remains unchanged, I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-26239 on 2 April 2024 and to question S6W-26655 on 15 April 2024. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's webs…

13 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much North Ayrshire Council will pay in private finance initiative (PFI) and public private partnership (PPP) payments in each future year until they are fully paid.

12 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Independent Working Group on Antisocial Behaviour with regard to its work to assess removing access to concessionary bus passes from individuals who carry out antisocial behaviour.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Independent Working Group on Antisocial Behaviour is reporting to Ministers, COSLA and Police Scotland by the end of 2024. Its remit was to: Consider the effectiveness of current approaches to understanding, preventing and tackling antisocial behaviour an…

5 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people died from hospital acquired infections in each year since 1999.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government does not hold this information.

3 Dec 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will boost productivity in the Scottish economy.

28 Nov 2024 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what its position is on whether MSP staff should be entitled to reimbursement for pedal cycle miles in relation to official business-related travel.

Answer · Jackson Carlaw (on behalf of the SPCB): The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body supports the reimbursement of pedal cycle mileage expenses for MSP staff in relation to business travel as part of its commitment to sustainable and eco-friendly travel options. Members may also claim for reimbursemen…

25 Nov 2024 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the UK Government’s reported allocation of between £295 million and £330 million to cover the increase in employer national insurance contributions for the public sector in Scotland.

19 Nov 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the potential impact on population trends, what its response is to National Records of Scotland data showing that 2023 had the lowest number of recorded births since records began in 1855.

6 Nov 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact free university tuition has had on young people deciding to stay in Scotland to study for a degree.

10 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people were living with secondary breast cancer on the last date for which figures are available.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. We are currently working with Public Health Scotland to review options for a national approach to data collection for secondary breast cancer.

10 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve secondary breast cancer data collection as part of its Cancer Action Plan for Scotland 2023-2026.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government is working with Public Health Scotland to review options in relation to collecting data on secondary breast cancer in Scotland. This includes consideration of the NHS England audit, data available in Scotland, clinical time required, o…

9 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to (a) raise awareness of the concept of “digital legacies” and (b) encourage people to make provision for their digital accounts and assets after they pass away.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Government does not have any plans to raise awareness of digital legacies or to make provision for their digital accounts and assets after they pass away. The Scottish Government encourages all individuals to consider taking professional advice a…

11 Sep 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any impact on the development of its constitutional policy and strategy, what its position is on whether the promises made by the leaders of the three main UK unionist parties prior to the 2014 independence referendum, known as The Vow, have been kept.

21 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-29221 by Fiona Hyslop on 21 August 2024, which refers to "delivering smart concessionary travel for young people and on our ferry services to Orkney and Shetland", for what reason such concessionary travel does not include young people on other isla…

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Young people aged 16-18 (or 19-25 for full time volunteers) who live on the Western Isles, Orkney, Shetland, plus islands in North Ayrshire, Argyll and Bute and Highland Council areas are entitled to receive ferry vouchers.Transport Scotland has been undertak…

7 Aug 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when CalMac’s winter timetable for 2024-25 will be published.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: CalMac have advised that they will publish their winter timetable and annual maintenance schedule by Friday 23 August.

25 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-28535 by Fiona Hyslop on 24 July 2024, whether it will provide the information requested regarding by what date, at the latest, it expects that the business case review into the redevelopment of Ardrossan Harbour will be concluded.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I understand and share the Member's frustrations on the Ardrossan Harbour redevelopment, as do my Officials working on the project. The business case work and overall delivery of the project needs to be supported by the financial packages from each of the mai…

10 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date, at the latest, it will have concluded the review and business case for upgrading Ardrossan Harbour.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The business case work is of vital importance, and we are continuing to progress this with input from the project partners. There are outstanding matters, both financial and technical which require completion before the business case review can be concluded a…

3 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any skills shortages within the Scottish hospitality sector, and what action it is taking to address any such shortages.

Answer · Tom Arthur: We understand that the hospitality sector, alongside other sectors within the economy, including construction and manufacturing, are facing challenges in attracting, recruiting and retaining workers. This situation has been exacerbated by Brexit and the loss …

12 Jun 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Scottish Association for Marine Science regarding its research into reducing the deaths of cetaceans from fishing line entanglements.

5 Jun 2024 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what steps it is taking to increase the number of GPs.