Parliamentary questions
Graham Simpson
867 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
22 Apr 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is offering to people who want to file a legal complaint against a solicitor but cannot afford to, in light of reports that none of the members on the Pursuers Panel in Scotland are taking on cases funded by legal aid.
Answer · Ash Regan: The Pursuer Panel is a group of lawyers with expertise in dealing with professional negligence claims, and in particular claims against solicitors. About half of the firms represented are registered to carry out civil legal aid, but whether or not the lawyers…
11 Apr 2022 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it has allocated in its Budget for port upgrades ahead of Hulls 801 and 802 being completed.
28 Mar 2022 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what immediate improvements the Scottish Government plans to deliver for passengers when it takes control of ScotRail on 1 April.
23 Mar 2022 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce neurodevelopmental assessment waiting times in Lanarkshire.
14 Mar 2022 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that Ferguson Marine is competitive, in light of the reported decision to award the contract to build two new CalMac ferries to the Turkish ship builder, Cemre Marin Endustri.
3 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to allow local authorities to trial the use of e-scooters in public places.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-05219 on 17 January 2022. 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/parliamentarybusines…
3 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been prosecuted for riding an e-scooter in the last 12 months.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government criminal proceedings database does not hold information on the specific type of powered transporters involved in charges prosecuted in Scottish Courts. Please note: The Criminal Proceedings database is not a live system and the latest…
1 Mar 2022 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the country's transport system can help to improve economic growth.
25 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason Transport Scotland uses kilometres in its publications instead of miles.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Scottish Transport statistical publications utilise transport data from sources including the UK Government Department for Transport who provide this in kilometres.
24 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how many people have applied for a free bus pass through the Young Persons’ (Under 22s) Free Bus Travel Scheme, and how many passes have been issued.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Improvement Service (IS), which manages the application process, has confirmed that at close of business on 15 March 2022 there had been a total of 226,484 online applications submitted. Because the offline application process is undertaken by local aut…
24 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Transport Scotland Fair Fares review will be published in full.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Fair Fares Review is part of a broad package of work being undertaken to ensure that there is a viable and sustainable transport system for the future. As part of this work we are taking forward activities to facilitate a safe and confident return to publ…
24 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what support it is providing to young people who have applied for a free bus pass under the Young Persons’ (Under 22s) Free Bus Travel Scheme, but are yet to receive their pass and are paying for bus travel.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-06745 on 10 March 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-committee…
23 Feb 2022 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with rail unions regarding the nationalisation of ScotRail.
16 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether eligible persons who have experienced a delay in receiving their free bus pass having applied under the Young Persons’ (Under 22s) Free Bus Travel Scheme will be compensated.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: To access the scheme, all those aged 5-21 must be carrying a new card. A valid card must be presented to obtain free travel. Until a valid card is received applicants are required to pay the fare of any journeys required. Transport Scotland will not provide r…
15 Feb 2022 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to ensure that islanders are not left without food supplies due to the reported lack of resilience of the ferry fleet.
15 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to conduct its consultation regarding changes to freedom of information law in Scotland.
Answer · George Adam: The Scottish Government is currently developing its consultation exercise, to seek views on future legislative change to the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. This follows the report of the former Public Audit and Post-legislative Scrutiny Committee…
31 Jan 2022 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported problems with applying for free under-22 bus travel passes.
11 Jan 2022 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to help residents in flats that have unsafe cladding.
14 Dec 2021 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to close the attainment gap in light of the report, Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) Levels 2020-21.
3 Dec 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress of the Electric A9 project, including (a) how many electric vehicle (EV) charge points (i) have been installed to date, (ii) will be installed in total and (iii) have been installed by ChargePlace Scotland, and (b) what the planned comple…
Answer · Graeme Dey: There are now over 150 chargers throughout the Electric A9 corridor, in a variety of locations including charging hubs and rural communities. The number of chargers will continue to grow as the number of electric vehicles in Scotland does, providing electric…
30 Nov 2021 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report, A Vision for Scotland's Railways, produced for Scotland's rail unions.
29 Nov 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether Abellio will be able to report its experience of running the ScotRail franchise after the service has been nationalised.
Answer · Graeme Dey: Abellio will be able to report its experience of running the ScotRail franchise however what is discussed would need to give appropriate regard to the confidentiality aspects of the Franchise Agreement.
29 Nov 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to extend the concessionary travel scheme to include free rail travel for under-22s as part of the nationalised ScotRail fares strategy.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The new statutory National Concessionary Bus Travel Scheme for Young People currently covers bus travel only, as does the existing statutory National Concessionary Travel Scheme for Older and Disabled People. The schemes do not extend to other modes of travel.
29 Nov 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it has spent to date on legal costs associated with the nationalisation of ScotRail, broken down by any work (a) undertaken by Scottish Government solicitors and (b) outsourced to external solicitors, and what the total anticipated legal costs are.
Answer · Graeme Dey: Since the announcement on 17 March 2021 that ScotRail services will be provided through the Scottish Government’s Operator of Last Resort arrangements on expiry of the current franchise agreement, no costs have been charged for legal work in connection with t…
29 Nov 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has for any ongoing agreements with Abellio once its franchise ends, such as leasing, uniform provision and rolling stock maintenance.
Answer · Graeme Dey: No leasing, uniform provision and rolling stock maintenance agreements are expected to remain in place with Abellio once the current franchise ends. A number of existing contracts between Abellio ScotRail Ltd and its suppliers will transfer from Abellio ScotR…
29 Nov 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the age is of ScotRail's (a) newest and (b) oldest rolling stock, and what the average age is of ScotRail's rolling stock.
Answer · Graeme Dey: ScotRail’s (a) newest rolling stock are the seventy class 385 trains which were introduced in 2018-19 and (b) oldest rolling stock are the twenty-five Inter-city High Speed Trains which were introduced from the late 1970s and extensively re-engineered and ref…
29 Nov 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it anticipates any voluntary redundancies or voluntary early retirement schemes to be offered to ScotRail employees as part of the nationalisation of ScotRail.
Answer · Graeme Dey: Transport Scotland has no plans for voluntary redundancies or voluntary retirement schemes to be offered to ScotRail employees at the present time.
29 Nov 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Network Rail about the arrangements for the nationalisation of ScotRail.
Answer · Graeme Dey: A series of Transport Scotland led workshops has been held from June 2021 with Network Rail and ScotRail. The purpose of these workshops has been to develop the policies and strategies for the new ScotRail Trains Limited arrangements. Transport Scotland is …
29 Nov 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in the event that current ScotRail employees transfer to a new nationalised organisation under Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) (TUPE) regulations, which groups or grades of employees will remain on terms and conditions that include (a) bonuses, (b) car allowances and…
Answer · Graeme Dey: Abellio ScotRail staff will transfer to the new operator, ScotRail Trains Limited on 1 April 2022. In accordance with the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) (TUPE) regulations, all employees will transfer on their current contractual terms an…
29 Nov 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what formal discussions have been held with ScotRail employees about the arrangements for the nationalisation of ScotRail.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The information necessary for formal consultation with ScotRail employees is being prepared between Transport Scotland, its advisors and Abellio ScotRail with a view to commencing staff consultation in early 2022 as is properly required for staff who will tra…