Parliamentary questions
Graham Simpson
867 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
25 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how many customer complaints ScotRail has received since it was brought into public ownership.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: ScotRail submits complaints data to the rail regulator, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). This data is published quarterly on the ORR website and can be obtained via the following link:- Passenger rail service complaints | ORR Data Portal
21 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether there is any current expression of interest in buying Prestwick Airport.
Answer · Neil Gray: Glasgow Prestwick Airport periodically receives expressions of interest regarding purchase of the Airport. The management team at Glasgow Prestwick Airport follow due process in reviewing proposals to ensure that offers are credible and provide value for mone…
18 Apr 2023 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the constitution secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding engagement with the UK Government on a potential return to the Horizon Europe research programme.
29 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the publication of The 2021/22 audit of Ferguson Marine Port Glasgow (Holdings) Limited report, what action it is taking to address Ferguson Marine’s workforce challenges in order to ensure delivery of vessels 801 and 802.
Answer · Neil Gray: The recruitment, training and retention of the workforce at Ferguson Marine Port Glasgow (Holdings) Ltd (FMPG) is a matter for FMPG. The workforce at FMPG is diverse ranging from trades specialising in ship building as well as other professions and trades w…
29 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many different bonus schemes are available at Ferguson Marine, and, from these, how (a) much has been paid out and (b) many people have received bonuses, in each year since 2018.
Answer · Neil Gray: Scottish Government have been made aware of details of the bonus scheme for senior management at Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) (Holdings) Ltd. The scheme allocates payments on 3 levels with the CEO at level 1, directors at level 2 and other senior management…
29 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a further breakdown of the budget line for "Support for Active Travel", contained in the Scottish Budget 2023-24, and whether it will explain its rationale for increasing funding from £126.0 million in 2022-23 to £165.3 million in 2023-24.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government budget for 2023-24 for Active Travel is £189.2 million as follows. This is a step change increase from the 2022-23 budget, particularly in capital investment, as we progress towards the commitment to invest at least £320 million or 10%…
29 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether any impact assessment was conducted before the decision was made to end the Network Support Grant Plus on 31 March 2023, and, if so, whether it will provide further information on the key findings of any such assessment.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government provided £223 million of support to bus services throughout the Covid pandemic. The Network Support Grant Plus was always a temporary fund put in place to support bus services as patronage recovered following the Covid 19 Pandemic. Tra…
29 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the financial impact of the delay to the delivery of vessels 801 and 802, which are currently under construction at Ferguson Marine.
Answer · Neil Gray: An update will be provided to Parliament upon the conclusion of the due diligence being carried out on the cost estimates for the delivery of MV Glen Sannox (801) and Hull 802. We expect this work to be concluded soon.
29 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the publication of The 2021/22 audit of Ferguson Marine Port Glasgow (Holdings) Limited report, what actions it has taken to address the key issues identified in the report.
Answer · Neil Gray: Section 22 of the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000 enables the Auditor General to raise concerns of any public body. Audit Scotland, in their 2021-22 audit of Ferguson Marine Port Glasgow Ltd (FMPG) criticised the payment of bonuses to se…
29 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has begun carrying out a review of station accessibility to identify and remove barriers to travel and improve access for all, and what engagement it has had with groups that promote accessibility for people with disabilities.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: Recommendation 19 of the Strategic Transport Projects Review 2 (STPR2) recommends a review of station accessibility across Scotland. This will identify and remove barriers to travel and improve access for all to the rail network, prioritising those stations t…
29 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-15855 by Jenny Gilruth on 28 March 2023, when it plans to publish its updated market study of rail freight growth in Scotland, which was a key recommendation of the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2).
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) will inform the Scottish Government’s transport investment programme in Scotland over the next 20 years. The Scottish Government have set out 45 recommendations for future investment in Scotland’s strateg…
29 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) financial, (b) legal and (c) other costs have been incurred, to date, in the process of nationalising the Caledonian Sleeper rail service.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: Since the announcement on 2 March 2023 that Caledonian Sleeper services will be provided through the Scottish Government’s Operator of Last Resort arrangements on expiry of the current franchise agreement, there have been no costs charged to date on a) financ…
29 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding Ferguson Marine, whether it will provide an update on (a) any new contracts that have been awarded, (b) the number of bids submitted for work and (c) the total value of any bonuses paid, since 16 March 2023.
Answer · Neil Gray: 1. Ferguson Marine Port Glasgow Ltd (FMPG) have been awarded no new contracts since 16 March 2023. 2. Three bids have been submitted by FMPG since 16 March 2023. 3. FMPG have paid out a total of £23,608.83 in bonuses since 16 March 2023.
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-15855 by Jenny Gilruth on 28 March 2023, by what percentage has rail freight increased in Scotland since March 2018.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: While the decision to use rail is for the freight customer and its logistics provider, the Scottish Government has shown leadership in facilitating modal shift to rail with significant investment and innovative regulatory targets for 2019 to 2024 and 2024 to …
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many electric vehicle chargers were added to the public charging network in Scotland between September 2022 and February 2023.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: Between September 2022 and February 2023, 112 electric vehicle charge points were commissioned on to the ChargePlace Scotland network. The Scottish Government does not routinely collate data on electric vehicle charge points added to other public charging net…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-15653 by Jenny Gilruth on 21 March 2023, what (a) monitoring and (b) analysis it has conducted on the impact of road pricing on (i) rural travellers and (ii) those on low incomes.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The demand management research referred to in S6W-16545 considers carefully the analysis of possible equality impacts of demand management options including road pricing, along with potential mitigations such as exemptions, allowances and complementary measur…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the estimated annual daily traffic flow on the A1 within the Scottish Borders was in each year since 2016, broken down by year.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: Transport Scotland is unable to estimate the annual daily traffic flow (AADT) for the entire A1 trunk road within the Scottish Borders. However, the following table provides the AADT taken from the two traffic counters Transport Scotland operate on the A1 tru…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications it has received for freight grants under the (a) Mode Shift Revenue Support and (b) Freight Facilities Grant scheme, in each year since 2018.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: (a) Transport Scotland received the following number of applications for the Mode Shift Revenue Support scheme since 2018: 2018-19 2 applications for support in Scotland and contributed to 6 cross border flows. 2019-20 2 applications for support in Scotland…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-15856 by Jenny Gilruth on 22 March 2023, when it expects dedicated express logistics services to run between Scotland’s cities.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: Freight works on a commercial basis so the decision to move products by rail is a decision for the customer and its logistics provider. However, I can confirm that a dedicated express rail logistics service is currently running into Scotland. This service w…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason a proposal to fully dual the A1 between Edinburgh and the border with England was not included in the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2).
Answer · Kevin Stewart: A range of potential improvements to the trunk road and motorway network, including the A1, were considered and appraised in STPR2. Full dualling was not included in the final 45 recommendations because the transport appraisal concluded that, in line with the…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that high overstay charges at electric vehicle (EV) charging points are discouraging motorists from purchasing electric vehicles.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government recognises that overstay fees have a role to play in ensuring the public charging network is used efficiently and that bays are not occupied by a single user, and therefore unavailable to others, for extended periods of time. Responsi…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-15852 by Jenny Gilruth on 27 March 2023, whether it is the case that Transport Scotland has not reviewed or increased the Network Support Grant base rate since 2012, and, if it is the case, what the reason is for this.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Network Support Grant was introduced in April 2022 and is intended to keep bus services more extensive, and fares more affordable than would otherwise be the case. The return to pre-Covid levels of bus subsidy was agreed with the bus sector as part of the…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-15852 by Jenny Gilruth on 27 March 2023, whether it will publish the minutes of the Bus Taskforce meetings, and, if so, when it will do so.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Bus Taskforce is due to conclude in June 2023, and whilst there are currently no plans to publish minutes from these meetings, a report of the Taskforce’s work and recommendations will be published in Autumn 2023.
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it supports the introduction of congestion charges in Scotland’s cities to reduce car use.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-15126 on? 15 March 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-committe…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-15653 by Jenny Gilruth on 21 March 2023, when it will publish the research that it has commissioned on exploring equitable options for demand management to discourage car use, including pricing.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government will publish the commissioned demand management research in the coming months.
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many fines ChargePlace Scotland has issued to electric vehicle owners for overstaying, and what the total value is of any such fines.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The shift to electric vehicles is an important part of responding to the climate emergency. To help incentivise this shift, Scottish Government and Transport Scotland have since 2011 invested over £65 million to support a range of organisations to install pub…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what preliminary work has been completed on its Car Demand Management framework.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: Transport Scotland is taking an evidence-based approach to what might work to discourage unnecessary car travel including learning from what others are doing across the UK and in other countries. We have commissioned research on equitable options for car dema…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported concerns that the publication of its Car Demand Management framework, scheduled for 2025, will come too late to achieve a 20% reduction in car km by 2030.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government welcomes the recognition of the need for urgent action in order to deliver our climate policies and deliver a net zero Scotland by 2045. As outlined in our route map to achieving a 20% reduction in car kilometres by 2030, jointly devel…
28 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions ChargePlace Scotland has had with the commercial sector regarding the setting of a maximum fee for overstay charges.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The shift to electric vehicles is an important part of responding to the climate emergency. To help incentivise this shift, Scottish Government and Transport Scotland have since 2011 invested over £65 million to support a range of organisations – including lo…
23 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made any assessment of the number of jobs that sustainable aviation fuel could create in Scotland.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-16183 on 5 April 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…