Parliamentary questions
Mike Rumbles
1,089 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
13 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it helps schools prevent pest infestations.
Answer · John Swinney: The health, safety and wellbeing of school pupils in Scotland is of paramount importance to the Scottish Government and it is the statutory responsibility of all local authorities to ensure they are providing safe and clean environments for our young people. …
13 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report in the Press and Journal on 12 March 2018 that, due to recruitment difficulties, NHS Grampian is not administering sufficient chronic pain treatment; how the situation at NHS Grampian compares with the other NHS boards, and how it is supporting NHS Gram…
Answer · Aileen Campbell: Scottish Government officials have been in correspondence with NHS Grampian over the last few months and have been advised of particular challenges within the Board in relation to delivering pain clinics. NHS Grampian has faced significant staff absences in t…
13 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the reported shortage of (a) chronic pain and (b) other specialist staff in the NHS.
Answer · Shona Robison: It is not possible to accurately identify from centrally held data all staff working in this discipline, as ‘chronic pain specialists’ is not a recognised speciality. Due to the multi-disciplinary roles involved in the delivery of chronic pain services, this …
8 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has committed to the Beef Efficiency Scheme, and how does this compare with the total amount available for this scheme through Pillar 2 payments.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: To date approximately £5.8 million has been committed to the scheme. The overall indicative budget through pillar 2 payments is £25.4m. However, it is important to note that this is an indicative budget, and we will continue to monitor scheme performance and…
8 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much of the total funding for the Beef Efficiency Scheme will be spent on (a) administration and (b) payments to participating farmers.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: To date approximately £4.1 million has been directly paid to farmers through the Beef Efficiency Scheme with a further £1.2 million being spent on the cost of the advisory services and the genotyping test which forms an integral part of the scheme for which f…
7 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which universities offer teacher training courses, and for what subjects.
Answer · John Swinney: There are 9 institutions currently offering Initial Teacher Education programmes. These are :- University of Aberdeen https://www.abdn.ac.uk/education/degrees-programmes/undergraduate--73.php University of Dundee https://www.dundee.ac.uk/study/ug/educati…
6 Mar 2018 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of information provided by the Scottish Parliament Information Centre suggesting that NHS Grampian has been underfunded by £165.6 million since 2008, whether it plans to provide additional funding to meet this shortfall.
5 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on (a) whether compensation from Network Rail to rail operators should be passed on to customers and (b) what should be done with compensation that is paid to rail operators but not claimed by customers.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Train Operating Companies (TOC’s) are compensated via standard industry processes whereby the principle of compensation reflects the direct loss of ticket sales as a result of the works, aiming to leave the operator in a financially neutral position. However,…
5 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with ScotRail regarding the introduction of automatic compensation for delayed passengers.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: ScotRail’s Passengers’ Charters currently includes ‘delay = repay’ compensation scheme based on delays to journeys where customers can claim online using ScotRail’s website or by post. This complies with the requirements specified in the ScotRail Franchise Ag…
1 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, following reports on 22 January 2018 that 99% of drivers on the A90 obeyed the speed limit in the third quarter of 2017, when it will publish accident statistics for that period.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Injury road accident data is provided by the police in arrears from the various operational Police Force areas across Scotland. Exactly when this is done for any part of Scotland is a matter for the Police as part of their wider operational resourcing and ove…
28 Feb 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action Transport Scotland has taken to notify and engage with local communities (a) during the construction of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR), (b) following the delay to the project and (c) regarding higher than normal levels of traffic experienced on local roads while…
Answer · Keith Brown: A range of communications methods have been used on the AWPR/B-T project. Local road users are kept informed with weekly traffic management updates on the project website and, as of 1 March 2018, 151 media releases have been issued and are used alongside Twit…
28 Feb 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the efforts of Transport Scotland to engage with local communities during the construction of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR), and following the delay to the project.
Answer · Keith Brown: The engagement process across the length of this 58km project continues to be extensive. There has been regular engagement with MSPs, MPs, Councillors and Community Councils, and bespoke meetings with Community Councils, business groups and professional organ…
28 Feb 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many fewer seats are available on ScotRail services as a result of the delay in rolling out 385 HST stock, and the consequent reduction to the number of carriages, and how this compares with the total number of seats normally available.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: There are 124 weekday services, 62 in each direction, on the Edinburgh-Glasgow via Falkirk High route. The allocation of carriages which are planned to operate until the introduction of the class 385 trains has taken account of measured passenger demand on…
28 Feb 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of delays to the construction of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Road (AWPR), whether it plans to compensate Aberdeenshire Council and Aberdeen City Council or help repair roads damaged due to higher than normal levels of traffic during the construction period and, if so, when.
Answer · Keith Brown: The AWPR/B-T project was promoted in partnership with Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Councils. Each local road authority has a statutory duty to manage and maintain all local roads in their area. Other than specific larger roads the AWPR/B-T contractor must…
28 Feb 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact the rollout of 385 HST stock will have on the capacity of other rail services, and whether it will provide details of capacity being created and reduced elsewhere.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The new fleet of 70 C385s will enable 26% more seats to be provided when all Edinburgh-Glasgow services are operated by 7-car class 385 trains and this will rise to 44% more seats when 8-cars run on all peak time services compared to 6-car class 170s. The C38…
28 Feb 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact the delay to the opening of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) will have on roads in the area and those roads presently being used to divert traffic.
Answer · Keith Brown: The project contractor, Aberdeen Roads Limited (ARL), is required to keep any disruption throughout the delivery of the AWPR to a minimum. ARL is required to consult with key stakeholders including the relevant local roads authority and Police Scotland. We ar…
26 Feb 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14490 by Humza Yousaf on 23 February 2018, whether it will provide the information that was requested regarding how the subsidy for the Caledonian Sleeper has been used.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Subsidy from the Scottish Government supports measures pursuant to SCSL's achievement of obligations and commitments as agreed in the Franchise Agreement. Specifically it has supported the purchase of a brand new fleet of trains and enhanced facilities at sta…
26 Feb 2018 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government for how long peak trains between Edinburgh and Glasgow will operate with reduced carriages.
22 Feb 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14284 by Humza Yousaf on 22 February 2018, whether it will provide the information that was requested regarding how many ScotRail trains have skipped stops in the last year, and how this compares with previous years.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: In terms of how many ScotRail trains have skipped stops in the last year and in previous years, the situation is as follows: Year/period Skip-stopped trains No. of services Services skip-stopped % 2015-16 3,000 752,639 0.40% 2016-17 4,531 745,…
20 Feb 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that it has not provided pre-application advice on the international nature designations for the proposed Coul Links golf course development in Embo.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Pre-application advice to developers on international nature designations in Scotland is provided (on request) by Scottish Natural Heritage.
12 Feb 2018 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the potential environmental impact of developing on the green belt around Aberdeen.
7 Feb 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the changes to the cost of tickets on the Caledonian Sleeper service since it has been operated by Serco.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Caledonian Sleeper operates in a highly competitive market for Anglo-Scottish travel, with alternatives available by road, air or other rail operators. Fares charged by the Caledonian Sleeper are therefore unregulated. Serco has worked to rationalise the …
7 Feb 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether any subsidy for Caledonian Sleeper achieved value for money.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Serco Caledonian Sleeper Ltd delivers its obligations in terms of the Franchise Agreement, its bid for the franchise having been deemed the most advantageous in terms of cost and quality. The subsidy provided by the Scottish Government to the current Caledon…
7 Feb 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how any subsidy for Caledonian Sleeper has been used.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The subsidy provided by the Scottish Government to the current Caledonian Sleeper franchisee has helped to deliver a 21% increase in the number of people using the Caledonian Sleeper.
6 Feb 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the local community regarding the proposed golf links development at Dornoch.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has had no engagement with the local community regarding the proposed Coul Links development at Dornoch. For developments at this stage of the planning process, any such engagement is a matter for the relevant planning authority.
6 Feb 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on granting access for (a) developers and (b) interest groups to (i) ministers and (ii) senior civil service staff and its officials, and what procedures it has in place to ensure that there is fair and transparent access for all developers and interest groups.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: 23 February 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/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx
6 Feb 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, following the reported public concern regarding the development of Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeenshire, what action it took to ensure that access to (a) ministers and (b) its officials is fair and transparent.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Scottish Ministers and Scottish Government officials operate under the guidance of the rules set by the Scottish Ministerial, relevant professional and Civil Service Codes.
6 Feb 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what communication it has had with (a) The Highland Council, (b) Scottish Natural Heritage and (c) Highlands and Islands Enterprise regarding the proposed golf links development at Dornoch.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: This question is addressed by the Scottish Government’s response to information request FOI/18/02978 which was published on 10 January 2018 and is available via the following web link: https://beta.gov.scot/publications/foi-18-02978/ There has been no furthe…
6 Feb 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) ministers and (b) officials have offered support to representatives of the United States developer, Todd Warnock, regarding the proposed golf links development at Dornoch.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Scottish Government Ministers and officials have not offered any support to the developer or his representatives regarding the proposed golf links development at Coul Links near Dornoch.
6 Feb 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many times (a) ministers and (b) officials have met with representatives of the United States developer, Todd Warnock, regarding the proposed golf links development at Dornoch.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: 20 November 2017 (since when there have been no further meetings). 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/parliamentarybusiness/28877.a…