Parliamentary questions

Neil Bibby

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

1 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the Ayrshire Rural and Islands Ambition (ARIA) Fund 2022-23, what the process was for selecting members of the Ayrshire Local Action Group (LAG); whether any Ayrshire LAG members and the organisations that they represent are eligible to apply to the Fund, and what potenti…

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Local Action Group (LAG) Membership has continued with the LEADER membership that was based on a skills matrix. Plans to recruit new LAG members through a procurement process are planned. Representation will be drawn from the public sector, businesses/third s…

1 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in allocating the Ayrshire Rural and Islands Ambition (ARIA) Fund, and (a) how much and (b) what percentage of the available funding has been allocated to the Ayrshire Local Action Group to cover staffing and resourcing costs in connection with the distributio…

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Ayrshire Local Action Group received 7.2% of the overall allocation made by Scottish Government to the Community Led Local Development Fund equating to £533,604. The Scottish Government set a maximum amount each LAG could spend on staffing and resourcing.…

1 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many organisations, including local authorities, have applied for funding from the Ayrshire Rural and Islands Ambition (ARIA) Fund 2022-23.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Twenty seven organisations applied for funding from the Ayrshire Rural and Islands Ambition (ARIA) Fund. There were no direct applications from the Local Authorities.

1 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether local authorities should be considered as potentially suitable recipients of the Ayrshire Rural and Islands Ambition (ARIA) Fund 2022-23, whether it will provide a breakdown of the funding that has been allocated to each local authority area, and what is t…

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: A Local Authority cannot apply alone for funding. This funding is not intended to replace core/statutory duties of Local Authorities. Local Authorities may however allocate funding to facilitate the commissioning of recruitment, upskilling and the rebuilding …

27 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it (a) spent in 2021-22 and (b) has allocated to spend in 2022-23 on public service obligation flights, broken down by each route.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The following table provides the information requested. Route Spend in 2021-22 (£) Projected outturn in 2022-23 (£) Glasgow to Campbeltown, Tiree and Barra 5,243,762.91 5,508,045.82 Dundee to London City 703,732 741,000 Wick to Aberdeen 0 1,000,00…

26 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it (a) holds information and (b) can provide figures on how many people currently make use of a (i) Veterans, (ii) Two Together, (c) Senior, (d) Friends and Family, (e) Disabled Persons (f) 26-30 and (g) 16-25 Railcard.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: As all the Railcards listed are GB wide national rail products and not ScotRail products, neither the Scottish Government or ScotRail holds information on how many people make use of the cards listed. The member may wish to contact the Rail Delivery Group fo…

26 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it estimates the uptake of usage for the Young Scot National Entitlement Card is, based on the latest information available.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: As of the end of the day on 7 November 2022, there had been a total of 31,118,359 journeys made under the Young Persons’ (Under 22s) Free Bus Travel Scheme. 40.6% of these journeys were made by cardholders aged 5-15. 59.4% of these journeys were made by cardh…

26 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide updated figures on how many young people to date have received a free bus pass through the Young Persons’ (Under 22s) Free Bus Travel scheme, broken down by local authority, based on the latest information available.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The following table shows the number of cardholders under the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme as of the end of the day on 31 October 2022, broken down to local authority level. This data is supplied by the National Entitlement Card Programme Office (NE…

26 Oct 2022 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how it is reducing waiting times for child and adolescent mental health services.

19 Oct 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered all the implications of a border between an independent Scotland and England.

5 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the roll-out of ECO4 energy efficiency measures in Renfrewshire.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) is a UK Government scheme. Last year Scottish Ministers proposed a more flexible approach to how the new ECO4 scheme would operate in Scotland. Unfortunately the UK Government did not agree to this and has repeatedly failed…

5 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it will provide to households to use alternative transport methods to the car, in light of the cost of living crisis and the increase in fuel prices.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government is committed to finding ways to make sustainable travel modes more attractive, and supporting people to take fewer journeys by car. We recognise that accessible and reliable public transport services, as well as active travel options, …

5 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the procurement process will begin for the replacement of the incumbent contract novated from Abellio for a Ticket Issuing System for use by ScotRail, and what the timetable is for this process.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: ScotRail novated several contracts for the provision of Ticket Issuing Systems, across all retail channels, to ensure continuity of service and a smooth transition from Abellio ScotRail to ScotRail Trains Limited. At this time no definitive timetable for a f…

5 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will set out the reasons, including any economic benefits, for its reported decision to extend the incumbent contract with Trainline Plc for the provision of web ticket issuing services for ScotRail until April 2024 without a robust procurement test.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: ScotRail advises that it extended its contract with Trainline Plc as a holding position to maintain continuity of service while waiting for details of the alternative approach to ticketing which has been promised as part of the proposed Great British Railways…

3 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how its tendering process for new rail rolling stock will take into account principles of fair work.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Any future procurement activity undertaken by ScotRail Trains Ltd to secure new rolling stock for Scotland’s Railway will be governed by the Public Procurement Regulations, as all such procurements are. ScotRail advise they apply the Fair Work Policy across …

3 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how its tendering process for new rail rolling stock will support manufacturing and maintenance jobs in Scotland.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-10615 on 22 September 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-commi…

23 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's fiscal statement on 23 September 2022, when it will publish the draft Budget (Scotland) Bill 2023-24.

Answer · John Swinney: I jointly agreed with the Finance and Public Administration Committee that the 2023-24 Scottish Budget will be published on 15 December 2022. The draft Budget (Scotland) Bill 2023-24 will be introduced in the Scottish Parliament within 7 days of that date.

23 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-10865 by Jenny Gilruth on 23 September 2022, whether the Minister for Transport has contacted the British Transport Police about the enforcement of the alcohol ban on ScotRail trains, and, if this is the case, (a) on what dates and (b) by what metho…

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I last met with Gill Murray, Chief Superintendent, Scotland Division of British Transport Police on 15 June to discuss various aspects of my concern around women’s safety and anti-social behaviours on rail services in Scotland. Additionally, Additionally I wi…

21 Sep 2022 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care last met with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, and what issues were discussed.

7 Sep 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has allocated in the financial year 2022-23 for it and its agencies to spend on social media advertising.

2 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the decision was taken to extend the alcohol ban on all ScotRail trains.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: As a publicly owned and controlled railway, it is important that ScotRail plays its part in delivering Scottish Government ambitions for its success. As part of that, ScotRail quite rightly reviewed the ban on alcohol and brought forward proposals for conside…

2 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the consequences are for passengers who consume alcohol and breach the ban on ScotRail trains.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Safety and security on our railways is reserved to UK Government and as such it would be inappropriate for Scottish Ministers comment on enforcement measures. Your office may wish to contact British Transport Police BTP (D-Division Scotland) directly, who can…

2 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the alcohol ban on ScotRail trains is enforced, and who it is enforced by.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The alcohol ban on ScotRail trains and in stations is enforced by the British Transport Police who assist railway staff to ensure that the rules are being adhered to as far as possible.

2 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what estimates it has made of any potential revenue loss to ScotRail of not selling alcohol on trains.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Transport Scotland does not normally hold this level of detail. Relevant revenue figures will not be available until the annual accounts for ScotRail Trains Ltd. have been audited, verified and published after the end of the financial year 2022-23.

2 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many times enforcement action has been taken in relation to the alcohol ban on ScotRail trains, and what estimate it has made of how many times the ban has been breached.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Safety and security on our railways is reserved to UK Government and as such the member may wish to contact British Transport Police in relation to enforcement measures on ScotRail trains.

2 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to make consuming alcohol on trains in Scotland illegal.

2 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether alcohol should be banned on (a) LNER, (b) Avanti, (c) Cross Country and (d) TransPennine express services when in Scotland.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: LNER, Avanti, Cross Country and TransPennine Express are cross-border railway passenger operators whose contracts are specified and managed by the Department for Transport, under UK Government railway legislation which the Scottish Government does not have de…

29 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much money has been spent from the Bus Partnership Fund to date.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: £25.8m has been allocated to date through the Bus Partnership Fund (BPF) and has been awarded to support local authorities, in partnership with bus operators and Regional Transport Partnerships, to deliver bus priority infrastructure. Funding has been awarde…

29 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of what projects the Bus Partnership Fund will be supporting.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-10694 on 27 September 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-commi…

29 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what share of the £500 million long-term investment to deliver targeted bus priority measures on local and trunk roads, announced as part of its response to the climate emergency, has been allocated to the Bus Partnership Fund.