Parliamentary questions

Mike Rumbles

1,089 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

12 Mar 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered introducing legislation similar to the private members' bill recently considered in the House of Commons on a minimum height for letterboxes; what regulations on letterbox height apply in Scotland, and how these can be amended.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government has not considered introducing legislation on the minimum height for letterboxes. There are no regulations for the provision or location of letterboxes within the Scottish building regulations. Changes to these regulations and supporti…

7 Mar 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has discussed with the UK Government the impact of imported hormone treated beef entering Scottish markets if external trade deals are agreed with nations that allow the practice following Brexit, and what the outcome was.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Through our membership of the EU, farming and food production in Scotland is undertaken under some of the highest animal health and welfare standards for livestock in the world. Our products, including Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb and Specially Selected Pork are …

5 Mar 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of information provided by its officials in July 2018 regrading detrunking sections of the A92, and following the completion of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR), whether it has altered its plans for detrunking on this road since that date and, if so, for what reason.

Answer · Michael Matheson: No. Excluding the section at the A90/A96 Haudagain Improvement Project, the detrunking of sections of the new A92 will go ahead as planned on 1 April 2019 as per Detrunking Orders published in 2010. These Orders can be found at the following link: https://w…

5 Mar 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, following the completion of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR), whether it plans to detrunk the section of the A92 between the Charleston and Findon junctions and, if so, for what reason, and for what reason other sections of the A92 south of the Findon junction are not being …

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Detrunking Order published in 2010 sets out the detrunking requirements for the project. Our plans for detrunking were extensively discussed with Local Authorities prior to publishing the Orders and as a consequence of this we are not planning to detrunk …

28 Feb 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Human Tissue (Authorisation) (Scotland) Bill stipulates that a family member or close friend must present "evidence that would convince a reasonable person", and what consideration it has given to using the wording provided in the Human Transplantation (Wales) Act 201…

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Human Tissue (Authorisation) (Scotland) Bill includes safeguards which aim to ensure that evidence of a potential donor’s views about donation can be provided in order to ascertain whether or not donation is authorised. The provisions, including the Duty…

25 Feb 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the rural secretary has had with the transport secretary regarding the impact on the rural economy of the proposals in the Restricted Roads (20mph speed limit) (Scotland) Bill.

19 Feb 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of changes to General Medical Council guidance on the principle of informed consent, and the findings of the case, Montgomery v Lanarkshire Health Board, which saw the legal protection of patients’ autonomy enhanced, how it will ensure that (a) practitioners are informed about …

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The General Medical Council (GMC) review of consent guidance is currently underway and it expects to publish the final updated guidance towards the end of 2019. Once published the Scottish Government is committed to working with the GMC to support the implem…

5 Feb 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date Transport Scotland initially planned to detrunk the existing A90 trunk road through Aberdeen, following the completion of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The existing A92 (previously A90) trunk road through Aberdeen (excluding the section at the A90/A96 Haudagain Improvement Project) will be de-trunked on 1 April, following the opening of the final section of the AWPR. This is standard practice and aligns with…

5 Feb 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has carried out any assessment of the impact of delays to the detrunking of the existing A90 trunk road through Aberdeen on traffic, local communities and local authority planning and expenditure.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The final section of the AWPR opened on 19 February 2019, following which, the existing A92 (previously A90) trunk road through Aberdeen (excluding the section at the A90/A96 Haudagain Improvement Project) will be de-trunked on 1 April. This plan has been in …

5 Feb 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of delays to the completion of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route and the so-called Don Crossing, whether this will this result in further delays to the detrunking of the existing A90 trunk road through Aberdeen.

Answer · Michael Matheson: No. Following the opening of the final section of the AWPR on 19 February 2019, the existing A92 (previously A90) trunk road through Aberdeen (excluding the section at the A90/A96 Haudagain Improvement Project) will be de-trunked on 1 April, following the ope…

5 Feb 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when Transport Scotland plans to detrunk the existing A90 trunk road through Aberdeen.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The final section of the AWPR opened on 19 February 2019 and we are already receiving very positive reports of traffic reductions within the city. Following the opening of this last remaining section, the existing A92 (previously A90) trunk road through Aber…

22 Jan 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Aberdeen City Council regarding the city's progress towards meeting its air quality targets.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Aberdeen City Council has produced an action plan containing a number of measures to improve air quality. The Scottish Government is working closely with the Council as it implements the measures contained in the plan and is providing practical and financia…

22 Jan 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Aberdeen City Council regarding the establishment of a low emission zone (LEZ), and what its response is to the report in the Press & Journal on 21 January 2019 that the local authority is not requesting funds to establish an LEZ in 2018-19.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Aberdeen City Council did not bid for support to deliver their low emission zone in August in part due to the early stage of their LEZ considerations. Transport Scotland met with council officials on the 17 January 2019 to discuss the potential for Aberdeen t…

21 Jan 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress withthe Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR); when the crossing over the River Don will be completed; what the total additional cost for contractor claims will be, and, if the project exceeds the predicted £750 million set out in the …

Answer · Michael Matheson: I provided a full update on project costs at my appearance at the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee on 5 December 2018. Please see a link to the Official Report for your reference: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=11829 …

15 Jan 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the Lord Advocate’s position is on its competency to authorise another referendum on Scottish independence without another section 30 order.

8 Jan 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what disabled facilities it has asked Serco to provide on the overnight cabins on the Caledonian Sleeper service, and whether it is considering setting out further stipulations.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Serco Caledonian Sleeper Ltd is required, under the terms of its Franchise Agreement, to provide at least one Accessible Coach on each of its new trains. Each Accessible Coach will contain one accessible berth with twin beds and one with a double bed. It will…

8 Jan 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what legal obligations are placed on Serco to provide toilet facilities for disabled passengers using overnight cabins on the Caledonian Sleeper service.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Equality Act, 2020 sets out legal requirements with which Serco has to comply. The EU's Persons with Reduced Mobility - Technical Specifications for Interoperability (PRM-TSI) sets out the provisions for Rail Vehicle Accessibility Compliance. This means a…

8 Jan 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what toilet facilities will be available for disabled passengers using overnight cabins on the new stock for the Caledonian Sleeper, and how will these facilities compare to those available for non-disabled passengers.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Each new sleeper train will contain at least one Accessible Coach containing two accessible controlled emission toilets compliant with the EU's Persons of Reduced Mobility-Technical Specifications for Interoperability (PRM-TSI). Other sleeper coaches will con…

8 Jan 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many claims for cost overrun it has received from contractors for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) project, broken down by the total value of these.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I have already confirmed to Parliament that Aberdeen Roads Limited has submitted a substantial claim regarding this project. These are commercially sensitive matters, and it would be inappropriate to discuss the detail.

14 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the ScotRail timetable changes on 9 December 2018 and the reduction in services travelling south from Stonehaven from 11 to three per day, what action it has taken to mitigate any inconvenience for passengers on this route; what plans it has to work with Network Rail and Sco…

Answer · Michael Matheson: ScotRail has worked closely with Transport Scotland, Nestran, Tactran, Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Councils in developing plans to deliver the greatest benefits to customers in the North East of Scotland from the additional trains we are bringing into ser…

3 Dec 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-19743 by Michael Matheson on 15 November 2018, whether it will provide the information that was requested regarding which minister (a) was responsible for producing and (b) signed-off the original contract for the construction of the Aberdeen Wester…

Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-19743 on 15 November 2018. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusine…

29 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many and (b) what proportion of ScotRail journeys met the threshold for the delay-repay scheme in each month since April 2015.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) Bib number: 60391

29 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what role the Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities played in the decision in December 2014 to award the contract for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) to Aberdeen Roads Ltd, and who had overall ministerial responsibility for this decision.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Scottish Ministers are impartial to the awarding of public contracts and therefore the Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities played no role in the decision making process to award the contract for the AWPR to Aberdeen Roads Limited (ARL)…

29 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Brexit uplift for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs announced by the UK Government, whether it has or plans to pass on its share of extra funding to support agriculture and the rural economy of Scotland.

Answer · Derek Mackay: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-20296 on 13 December 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusine…

29 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Brexit uplift for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs announced by the UK Government, what the value is of the consequential uplift that Scotland has received.

Answer · Derek Mackay: After the UK Government’s Spring Statement, it was announced that the Scottish Government would receive Barnett consequentials on those elements of the £1.5 billion of Brexit preparation funding allocated to areas of devolved responsibility within UK Departme…