Parliamentary questions
Kenneth Gibson
2,008 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
14 Nov 2022 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government anticipates the impact will be on Scotland of today’s Autumn Statement.
2 Nov 2022 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact inflation is having on its affordable housing programme.
25 Oct 2022 · Inspired Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it expects to set out the planned Emergency Budget Review.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government previously informed Parliament that a statement setting out an Emergency Budget Review (EBR), in relation to the 2022-23 Scottish Budget, was planned for the week commencing 24 October. However, following the unprecedented uncertainty…
24 Oct 2022 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work of the Women’s Health Group, including when it will next meet.
24 Oct 2022 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what impact recent changes within the UK Government will have on the Scottish Government's Emergency Budget Review.
22 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown by project of what impact the current rate of inflation will have on Public Private Partnership/Private Finance Initiative payments from April 2023.
Answer · John Swinney: The latest information held by the Scottish Government on these type of payments relates to 31 March 2021. The impact of the current inflation rate will be reflected within our next annual data update exercises which are planned to be undertaken later in the …
7 Sep 2022 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what indications it has received that additional funding will be provided by the UK Government to deal with inflationary pressures.
30 Aug 2022 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what trade, investment and cultural opportunities it expects to arise from its Nordic office in Copenhagen.
11 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure the long-term survival of the Church of Scotland.
Answer · Christina McKelvie: The Scottish Government understands the significant and valuable role of the Church of Scotland in communities across the country. The Church contributes a huge amount to the wellbeing of the Scottish people, particularly in their care and support for our mo…
8 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government (a) what steps it is taking and (b) how it is working with local authorities and further and higher education institutions, to encourage the uptake of a free bus pass through the Young Persons' (Under 22s) Free Bus Travel scheme by young people in schools, colleges and universities.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Transport Scotland has recently undertaken a significant engagement exercise with local authorities, in partnership with the Improvement Service and National Entitlement Card Programme Office (NECPO). This has allowed us to assess offline application processe…
25 Jul 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to extending the free concessionary travel on buses for under-22s to young island residents travelling on ferries.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government published an Island Communities Impact Assessment on 14 December 2021 which concluded that ferry travel should not be included in the Scheme, but that issues relating to ferry fares should be considered as part of the Islands Connectiv…
20 Jul 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what training medical students and new doctors in Scotland receive on how to diagnose and treat endometriosis.
Answer · Maree Todd: Endometriosis is covered in all Undergraduate medical curricula and as such all doctors will have an awareness of the condition. Further postgraduate training is provided to those training in General Practice or Obstetrics and Gynaecology from Foundation Yea…
19 Jul 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Islands Connectivity Plan, when the (a) full plan and (b) section on ferries will be published.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Work is ongoing on the Islands Connectivity Plan, with priority being given to a long-term plan and investment programme for vessels and ports, with the aim of publishing a draft consultation by the end of 2022. Work on the other elements of the Islands Conn…
19 Jul 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when the Project Neptune review of ferry governance will be published.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: We have committed to update Parliament regarding publication of the Project Neptune report and planned next steps and will do so after the summer recess.
5 Jul 2022 · Inspired Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide further information regarding the Lord Advocate’s reference to the Supreme Court on whether the question for a referendum on Scottish independence relates to reserved matters.
Answer · Dorothy Bain: I have decided to publish my reference to the Supreme Court made under paragraph 34 of schedule 6 to the Scotland Act 1998. The reference is available at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/reference-to-supreme-court-whether-the-question-for-a-referendum-on-s…
22 Jun 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the ministerial statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport on 4 February 2021, during which he stated that “progress will now be made in moving to the procurement phase for construction of [the A737 Improvements at Beith] scheme...I expect to see g…
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-09444 on 27 July 2022. 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…
22 Jun 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will take steps to ensure that the A737 Improvements at Beith scheme and future major roads projects that it commissions are progressed in a timely and efficient manner, including through the introduction of general timescales, in order to increase accountability and transpare…
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-09444 on 27 July 2022. 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…
22 Jun 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the A737 Improvements at Beith scheme, how much longer the “necessary governance procedures” cited by Transport Scotland as a reason for non-completion of the Outline Business Case are expected to take; how “necessary governance procedures” are defined, and for what reasons th…
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-09444 on 27 July 2022. 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…
22 Jun 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when plans for the A737 Improvements at Beith will be approved in order for the project to move to the procurement stage; when the project is expected to go out to tender, and, in line with the details set out in its Infrastructure Investment Plan 2021-2022 to 2025-2026, whether (a) cons…
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Transport Scotland is currently progressing through the necessary governance procedures and whilst the Scottish Government remains committed to taking the project forward, procurement will commence when sufficient funding is available to support its construct…
22 Jun 2022 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made in developing Scotland’s biotechnology sector.
Answer · Ivan McKee: Scotland’s biotechnology sector is developing at a remarkable rate. In fact, last year the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre reported that we were on track to meet the targets in the 2019 National Plan for Industrial Biotechnology ahead of 2025. As…
31 May 2022 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its priorities are for the Clyde islands.
18 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the impact will be on Scotland of UK Government plans to cut the number of civil servants by 91,000.
Answer · Ivan McKee: There are around 25,000 Civil Servants who are part of the reserved Public Sector in Scotland [1] . The UK Government has not provided details on how their planned Civil Service reduction will affect their staff working in Scotland. The UK Government’s pla…
9 May 2022 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the report published last Friday, Owning the Future: A framework of regulations for decarbonising owner-occupied homes in Scotland, commissioned by the Existing Homes Alliance.
25 Mar 2022 · Inspired Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide an update on progress regarding green freeports.
Answer · Kate Forbes: Following the statement by the Minister for Business , Trade, Tourism and Enterprise in February, I can confirm that the Green Freeports Prospectus for Scotland has now been published and the programme is open for applications. The Prospectus can be accessed …
22 Mar 2022 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement the constitution secretary has had with UK Government ministers regarding the post-Brexit funding arrangements, including the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which is due to launch this Friday, on 1 April.
22 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it estimates the financial impact of fuel and energy price increases will be on the public sector in the financial year 2022-23.
Answer · Tom Arthur: A large proportion of Scottish Public Sector organisations benefit from buying their Gas, Electricity and Liquid Fuels through National Framework Agreements. Scottish Procurement has a purchasing strategy that is overseen by a Risk Management Committee, with…
7 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many ferry sailings have been scheduled on the Ardrossan-Brodick ferry route in each year since 1999, and how many of these sailings did not take place due to (a) inclement weather, (b) mechanical breakdown and (c) other reasons, including COVID-19.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The number of scheduled sailings on the Ardrossan – Brodick route that did not take place in each year since 2007 is provided in the following table by contract year. Information prior to 1999 is not available and is not held by the operator, Calmac Ferries L…
3 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many council houses were built in each year from 1999-2000 to the most recent year for which figures are available, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government publishes figures relating to Local Authority New Build Completions in the ‘Local Authority Starts and Completions’ table found on our website here; https://www.gov.scot/publications/housing-statistics-for-scotland-new-house-building/…
3 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many instances of knife crime were recorded in each year from 1999-2000 to the most recent year for which figures are available, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Keith Brown: Police Recorded Crime statistics can only identify the likely presence of a knife for crimes of ‘possessing an article with a blade or point in a public setting’. Tables of the requested data have been placed within the Scottish Parliament Information Centre …
3 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many deaths were attributed to hospital acquired infections in each year from 1999-2000 until the most recent year for which figures are available, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Scottish Government does not centrally hold data for all hospital acquired infection deaths by Health Board, due to patient identifiable information. 2000 to 2020 data for registered deaths due to Clostridioides difficile infection and MRSA is available from…