Parliamentary questions

Neil Bibby

1,029 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

6 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care has used WhatsApp to discuss government business.

Answer · George Adam: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-15654 on 14 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-committee…

6 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Minister for Drugs Policy has used WhatsApp to discuss government business.

23 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent Prostate Cancer UK report into regional inequalities in diagnoses of prostate cancer, what its response is to the reported possibility that, in the course of diagnosis, pre-biopsy MRIs are not being routinely undertaken and assessed by a radiologist, thereby omitt…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: We have noted this Prostate Cancer UK research and are discussing it with various clinicians and experts in the NHS. Currently, pre-biopsy MRIs are not mandated in Scotland. However the National Cancer Quality Steering Group utilise ‘Patients with prostate ca…

15 Feb 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in light of January's Prostate Cancer UK data on regional inequalities in prostate cancer diagnoses.

9 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much money (a) the Serco Caledonian Sleeper and (b) ScotRail has received from Network Rail, following national strike days since July 2022, as a result of any indemnification arrangements.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I am advised that Clause 14.2 of the regulated Track Access Contracts which govern such arrangements between train operating companies and Network Rail require such information to be held confidential during and after the continuance of the contracts. The re…

6 Feb 2023 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that M&Co will close all of its 170 stores, resulting in almost 2,000 job losses.

31 Jan 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has had from COSLA regarding the local government financial settlement.

26 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Community Bus Fund will launch.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: My officials in Transport Scotland are working with ATCO and COSLA on the development of the Community Bus Fund for launch within the financial year 2023-24.

26 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which local authorities have expressed interest in the Community Bus Fund.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: No expressions of interest have been received by the Scottish Government as the Community Bus Fund has not launched. Officials have engaged with local authority representatives ATCO and CoSLA, who have indicated the general feedback from local authorities on …

26 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what communications it has had with local authorities on the Community Bus Fund.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government has worked closely with COSLA and ATCO throughout the development of the Community Bus Fund and will continue to engage with them going forward to ensure the fund works in the best interests of local authorities and the Scottish Govern…

23 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether there are any plans to alter or replace the Franchising Policy Statement, which was published by Transport Scotland in March 2021.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The current UK railway legislation, which the Scottish Ministers have no power to change, requires that the Scottish Ministers produce a Franchising Policy Statement. Delays to the reform of the UK railway legislation continue to cause uncertainty on the way …

19 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation breakdown is of those who are eligible for, but do not currently have (a) a young persons and (b) an older persons bus pass.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: From data provided in the 2019 Scottish Household Survey, the percentage of people aged 60+ without a concessionary bus pass (National Entitlement Card (NEC)), broken down by the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) quintiles, was as follows: Scotti…

17 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-13027 by Mairi Gougeon on 23 December 2022, whether it will confirm which organisation failed the technical check process, and what the technical check was that it failed.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Please refer to my previous answer to question S6W-13027 for the details of which organisations failed the technical checks process and the reasons for this. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search…

11 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans regarding proposed amendments to ticket office opening hours at many railway stations, in light of Transport Focus's consultation on those proposals, which reportedly found opposition to them.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-13225 on 13 January 2023. 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…

11 Jan 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its response to the announcement from Amazon that it is to close its Gourock site.

9 Jan 2023 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister, in light of the extension of bus fare caps in England, whether the Scottish Government supports capping bus fares in Scotland for those aged between 22 and 60.

14 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, as of 19 December 2022, how many people (a) are eligible for, (b) have applied for and (c) have received an under-22 bus pass through the Young Persons’ (Under 22s) Free Bus Travel scheme.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: There are an estimated 930,000 people eligible for the Young Person’s Free Bus Travel Scheme. This refers to the number of people aged 5-21 who have become eligible for concessionary travel as a result of the Young Person’s Scheme. (b) Transport Scotland doe…

14 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it (a) has taken and (b) is taking to encourage under-22s to apply for the Young Persons’ (Under 22s) Free Bus Travel scheme.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: In Autumn 2022 Transport Scotland launched a national marketing campaign across TV, radio, digital and social media and outdoor advertising channels. This has significantly increased awareness and understanding of the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme, an…

6 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-12031 by Mairi Gougeon on 17 November 2022, which 16 organisations that applied to the Ayrshire Rural and Islands Ambition (ARIA) Fund progressed from the technical check stage to the assessment stage; which organisation failed the technical check p…

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The outcome of the technical checks is detailed in the following table: Project/Organisation Decision Carbon Reduction – Adventure Centre for Education Approved Dunlop Dairy Cheese Shop & Tasting Room Deferred Disabled access plus Disabled Toilet and A…

6 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-11899 by Mairi Gougeon on 17 November 2022, how many applications for funding from the Ayrshire Rural and Islands Ambition (ARIA) Fund indirectly included local authorities as beneficiaries, and how many, if any, progressed to the assessment stage.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: There were no applications to the Ayrshire Rural and Islands Ambition (ARIA) Fund that indirectly included local authorities as beneficiaries.

6 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-11897 by Mairi Gougeon on 17 November 2022, (a) how much and (b) what percentage of its overall allocation to the Community Led Local Development Fund has been allocated by Local Action Groups to staffing and resourcing, and (i) how much and (ii) wh…

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: For staffing and resourcing, the Scottish Government set a maximum staffing support rate of 15% of their total allocation or £57,143 for individual Local Action Group (LAG) areas. However, LAGs could use their revenue allocation to source additional freelance…

6 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many active working groups there are that fall under the remit of transport, and whether it will provide a list of these groups.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government lead a number of working groups that fall under the remit of transport. The groups are appointed to study and report on a particular question or make recommendations based on its findings hence the longevity of each group will vary. Th…

29 Nov 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports parents who are required for jury service with childcare.

23 Nov 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure NHS staffing levels are maintained at appropriate levels.

16 Nov 2022 · SPCB Oral Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how it will support any Members’ staff who are dealing with added financial challenges and pressures after the homeworking allowance payment was discontinued in October.

16 Nov 2022 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met COSLA and what issues were discussed.

7 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of reports that Ayrshire Local Action Group is carrying out unspecified "technical checks" in relation to applications to the Ayrshire Rural and Islands Ambition (ARIA) Fund 2022-23 that are separate to determining whether organisations are eligible to apply to the Fu…

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Ayrshire LAG and South Ayrshire Council Internal Audit have approved and undertaken technical checks on all projects applying for funding. Guidance on these checks is in the public domain. https://www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/media/5979/ARIA-Fund-Applicant-…

2 Nov 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on expenditure in West Scotland from the Tenant Grant Fund, including whether funding has been renewed as a result of its Programme for Government announcement to widen eligibility.

2 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason ScotRail staff are reportedly subject to the public sector pay policy whereas CalMac staff are not.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The default position for new public bodies is that they will be subject to the Scottish Government’s Public Sector Pay Policy (PSPP). However, the decision was taken that David MacBrayne Ltd (DML), the public body which owns CalMac Ferries Limited (CFL), be e…

1 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the Ayrshire LEADER programme (2014-2020), whether any analysis, by local authority area, has been carried out of the distribution of funding; what organisations were successful in securing funding, and what impact analysis has been carried out of the outcomes secured by …

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Within the Ayrshire LEADER 2014-2020 Programme there were 90 projects (61 organisations) supported over the funding period. Project awards were as follows:34 projects funded in East Ayrshire with £1,836,762;14 projects funded in North Ayrshire with £808,123;4…