Parliamentary questions
Colin Smyth
990 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
30 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £25 million announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills on 23 June 2020, to roll out the provision of digital devices to school pupils, remains to be allocated.
Answer · John Swinney: Almost £24 million of this fund has been allocated to local authorities. We are considering how best to invest the remaining £1 million.
30 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of how the £25 million announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills on 23 June 2020, to roll out the provision of digital devices to school pupils, was spent.
Answer · John Swinney: The breakdown of allocations to individual local authorities is set out in the following table. We are working with local authorities to collate and assure more detailed information on how their funding allocations have been spent. LA Allocation Aberdeen C…
30 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of the processes it used to decide where to allocate the £25 million announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills on 23 June 2020 to roll out the provision of digital devices to school pupils.
Answer · John Swinney: As agreed with COSLA, funding allocations to each local authority were based on a distribution formula calculated on the basis of deprivation (70%) and rurality (30%).
30 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many laptops or other devices were received by pupils as a result of the £25 million announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills on 23 June 2020 to roll out the provision of digital devices to school pupils, broken down by (a) type of device and (b) local authority ar…
Answer · John Swinney: Local authorities are responsible for distributing devices from the initial tranche of 24,485 chromebook devices, and for securing and distributing further devices and connectivity solutions from their grant allocations. We are working with local authorities …
29 Sep 2020 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to make the transport system more affordable and accessible for people living in poverty.
29 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the (a) Abellio ScotRail and (b) Serco Caledonian Sleeper Emergency Measures Agreement (EMA) for the period from 20 September 2020.
Answer · Michael Matheson: It is the intention of the Scottish Government to publish redacted versions of the current Emergency Measures Agreements, in place from September to January 2021, on the Transport Scotland website in the coming weeks.
29 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the extension of the Abellio ScotRail Emergency Measures Agreement (EMA) from 20 September 2020, whether discussions can commence with trade unions regarding the outstanding 2020-21 staff pay award.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government has already provided around £250 million of additional financial support which has allowed Abellio ScotRail and Serco Caledonian Sleeper to maintain full employment for their staff despite the significant drop in passenger revenue duri…
29 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the initial Abellio ScotRail Emergency Measures Agreement (EMA) included funding for a management fee for the operator but did not include funding for the 2020-21 staff pay award.
Answer · Michael Matheson: In order to maintain rail passenger service continuity throughout this period, the Scottish Government released significant funding of £250m which enabled Abellio ScotRail to maintain full employment of staff. The management fee associated with the earlier Em…
29 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the total rolling stock lease cost is that it paid under the initial (a) Abellio ScotRail and (b) Serco Caledonian Sleeper Emergency Measures Agreement (EMA) for the period until 20 September 2020.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The global figure for all rolling stock costs during the EMA period until 20 September 2020 is £84.8m. Disaggregated information cannot be provided due to the commercial sensitivities for both Train Operating Companies as well as the Rolling Stock Companies i…
28 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-31747 by Michael Matheson on 23 September 2020, whether it expects any parts of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 to be fully in place by the end of the current parliamentary session, and, if so, which.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The implementation of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 has been affected by the Covid 19 pandemic. However, Part 1 of the Act requires the publishing of a National Transport Strategy, and this was brought into force on 15 January 2020. Provisions around Regi…
28 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-31754 by Fergus Ewing on 22 September 2020, what the remaining capital budget will be used for; how its intended use differs from the aims of the Sustainable Agriculture Capital Grant Scheme, and when detailed proposals for allocating this funding w…
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Scottish Government officials are continuing to investigate other opportunities to encourage low carbon and more sustainable farming and food production through the Agricultural Transformation Fund allocation for 2020-21. Parliament will of course be updated …
28 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the publication of the Autumn Budget Revision, whether it will provide a full breakdown of all changes made in the Transport, Connectivity and Infrastructure budget since March 2020.
Answer · Kate Forbes: Through the two budget revisions to date a total of £583m has been added to the Transport and Infrastructure and Connectivity Budget in respect of Covid-19 and other funding changes. This has been partly funded through £193m reprioritisation of existing portf…
28 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-31754 by Fergus Ewing on 22 September 2020, what it plans to use the financial transactions funding for; what discussions it has had with farmers and crofters on its use, and when it will set out detailed proposals for its use.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Further to the answer to question S5W-31754 given on 22 September 2020, while the Scottish Government is continuing to investigate if there are any suitable opportunities to utilise this funding, I need to be confident that any proposal identifies a gap in th…
25 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of Serco Caledonian Sleeper’s reported decision not to engage the services of ACAS to attempt to resolve the RMT's dispute with it regarding worker safety and fatigue.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Caledonian Sleeper advise it has engaged with ACAS and is taking its advice regarding on-going discussions.
25 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to address reported concerns regarding (a) worker safety and fatigue and (b) lack of rest berths for workers on the Serco Caledonian Sleeper.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Transport Scotland has held individual discussions with both parties and has encouraged both to engage meaningfully to have the matter resolved.
25 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with representatives of Serco Caledonian Sleeper regarding the RMT's dispute with it concerning worker safety and fatigue.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Transport Scotland hold regular discussions with Caledonian Sleeper. Transport Scotland has also discussed the issue with RMT directly and has encouraged both parties to engage meaningfully to have the matter resolved.
23 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide copies of the review that it carried out on testing returning air passengers for COVID-19.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-32023 on 2 October 2020. 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…
23 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide all of the evidence it received relating to the effectiveness and feasibility of testing returning air travellers for COVID-19.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The initial evidence considered was developed by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and has now been published online. It looked at how testing and a shorter quarantine period would compare with other approaches to reducing the risk of peopl…
23 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the analysis it has received regarding the effectiveness and feasibility of testing returning air travellers for COVID-19.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-32023 on 2 October 2020. 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…
23 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to begin group discussions to take forward the initiatives it has to support the aviation sector in its aims to return to growth.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government’s support for the aviation sector is focussed upon action led engagement in those areas where it can exert greatest influence. For example, we have been pressing the UK Government for a tailored substitute to the CJRS to help secure jo…
23 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what communications the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity has had with trade union representatives from the aviation sector to discuss short-, medium- and long-term support for the sector in the face of COVID-19.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government has regular meetings with the STUC and unions to discuss the impact of Covid-19 on the transport system including the aviation sector. I continue to welcome any specific suggestions that trade union representatives may have on additio…
23 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity has to meet trade union representatives from the aviation sector to discuss what action can be taken to support the sector.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-32020 on 9 October 2020. 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…
23 Sep 2020 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Autumn Budget Revision.
22 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made towards its commitment to put in a public sector bid for the ScotRail franchise when the current contract expires in March 2022.
Answer · Michael Matheson: A public sector bid would only be relevant if there is another rail franchising process in Scotland under the UK government railway legislation. This Government has stated for some time that the franchising model is no longer fit for purpose, and that full de…
22 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the option to run the ScotRail franchise via the operator of last resort from January 2021.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Transport Scotland has well developed contingency plans in place, in the event we are required to ensure continuity of rail services as an Operator of Last Resort. However, these plans remain a last resort option, in accordance with existing legislation. Our…
22 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the terms of Abellio ScotRail’s extended Emergency Measures Agreements permit the commencement of pay talks in relation to the April 2020 pay award for ScotRail employees.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government has already provided around £250 million of additional financial support which has allowed Abellio ScotRail and Serco Caledonian Sleeper to maintain full employment for their staff despite the significant drop in passenger revenue duri…
22 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what management fee is due to (a) Abellio ScotRail and (b) Serco Caledonian Sleeper following the expiry of the initial Emergency Measures Agreements on 20 September 2020, and how these amounts were calculated.
Answer · Michael Matheson: To date no management fees have been paid to Abellio ScotRail or Serco Caledonian Sleeper under the Emergency Measures Agreements (EMAs) as this will be calculated once a full reconciliation has taken place. This includes both franchisees submitting a report…
22 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the fee for Abellio ScotRail and Serco Caledonian Sleeper remains capped at 2% of the franchise cost base for the period from September 2020 to January 2021.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The EMAs covering the period September 2020 to January 2021, will only pay management fees which will be based on levels of performance achieved by the operators and are capped at a maximum of 1.5%.
22 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reasons it considers that the current arrangements for rail infrastructure management in Scotland prevent it from running rail passenger services via a publicly-owned company.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Under current UK rail legislation, other than in circumstances where their duty to act as “Operator of Last Resort” is engaged, Scottish Ministers have no power or authority to operate railway services themselves via a government owned company. The Operator o…
22 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the extended Emergency Measures Agreements (EMAs) for Abellio ScotRail and Serco Caledonian Sleeper for the period from 20 September 2020 to January 2021 mirror the initial EMAs, or whether they have been amended in anyway.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The EMAs which expired on 20 September included a small management fee to be paid at the end of the variation period and were capped at 2%. Under the new EMAs the payment of any management fees to Abellio ScotRail or Serco Caledonian Sleeper will depend enti…