Parliamentary questions
Colin Smyth
990 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
28 May 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much was allocated to the Places for Everyone programme in the 2020-21 Budget; how much of this has been reallocated to the Spaces for People programme; how much remains in the Places for Everyone fund, and whether it will provide additional funding for the Places for Everyone progra…
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government allocated up to £50.8 million for the Places for Everyone programme in 2020-21. To date £30 million has been repurposed to the Spaces for People fund, leaving £20.8 million of the original allocation for the Places for Everyone program…
27 May 2020 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the eligibility criteria for the Newly Self-Employed Hardship Fund exclude those who have applied for Universal Credit.
21 May 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government at what phase of the COVID-19 routemap disabled people who require mobility assistance will be able to receive it from people outwith their household, such as guiding for blind and partially-sighted people.
Answer · Christina McKelvie: In order to minimise opportunities for the virus to transmit from one person to another, people should stay at home as much as possible. The route map sets out incremental progress, and allows for individuals should take into consideration their own circumsta…
18 May 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has given to local authorities to ensure that active travel infrastructure established under the initiative introduced in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, Spaces for People, will be accessible to blind and partially-sighted people.
Answer · Michael Matheson: To ensure Spaces for People infrastructure will be accessible to blind and partially-sighted people, support is provided to local authorities through our delivery partner Sustrans Scotland. If required by local authorities, they will facilitate specialist adv…
18 May 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the review of Cycling by Design will be completed.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The review of Cycling by Design is being progressed, led by representatives of Transport Scotland, Sustrans and local authorities working in partnership. The programme for delivery of this work is currently under review due to uncertainties around reduced ava…
18 May 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what work it has been carrying out with train operators regarding how passenger assist will be adapted as the COVID-19 lockdown eases, and how this will ensure that disabled passengers can continue to be assisted with boarding and leaving trains.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Transport Transition Plan was recently launched and guidance has been issued to public transport providers. Further information can be found at: https://www.transport.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/transport-transition-plan/guidance-for-transport-operato…
18 May 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether equality impact assessments will be carried out on traffic layouts established under the initiative introduced in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, Spaces for People.
Answer · Michael Matheson: We expect public bodies making temporary changes to road space in response to Covid-19 to comply with all relevant statutory duties including, where applicable, the public sector equality duty and requirements to carry out equality impact assessments. Sustra…
18 May 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what effect the initiative introduced in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, Spaces for People, might have on bus routes, and what action it is taking to ensure that people with limited mobility who use these routes will still be able to access essential buildings, including shops and med…
Answer · Michael Matheson: Individual local authorities are best placed to engage with all relevant parties to make an assessment of the impact of their Spaces for People projects on bus routes, and to make plans to ensure access to essential shops and services for those with limited m…
4 May 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support South of Scotland Enterprise will provide to small- and medium-sized enterprises to help reset, restart and recover from the COVID-19 outbreak.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: This is an operational matter for South of Scotland Enterprise. I have asked the SoSE Chief Executive to respond to you directly.
4 May 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact the COVID-19 outbreak has had on the (a) establishment and (b) governance arrangements of South of Scotland Enterprise.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: South of Scotland Enterprise was established and came into operation on 1 April 2020 in line with existing plans. To support robust governance arrangements the agency has an established Board; an Interim CEO who is their Accountable Officer, and a Leadership …
4 May 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered or is considering issuing ministerial directions to the agency under Section 17 of the South of Scotland Enterprise Act 2019 in response to the impact of COVID-19 and, if so, for what purposes.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Scottish Ministers are not currently considering issuing any Directions to South of Scotland Enterprise in response to the impact of COVID-19.
4 May 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many staff are employed by South of Scotland Enterprise; what impact the COVID-19 outbreak has had on this number, and how many it expects will be in position by March 2021.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: This is an operational matter for South of Scotland Enterprise. I have asked the SoSE Chief Executive to respond to you directly.
24 Apr 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the potential impact on communities in the south of Scotland of the UK Government easing or exiting the COVID-19 lockdown measures in the north of England.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-28694 on 7 May 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/28…
24 Apr 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government to achieve the correct UK-wide strategy and timescale for easing or exiting the COVID-19 lockdown measures.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government supports the Four Nations approach where this aligns with the science as part of our commitment to aligning decision making with evidence and expert advice. Where the evidence supports the case for different approaches, we will make de…
24 Apr 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the cost is of each business support scheme introduced in Scotland to mitigate the impact of COVID-19, broken down by funding (a) directly to businesses from the UK Government, (b) from the Scottish Government from additional Barnett consequentials and (c) from existing Scottish Gov…
Answer · Kate Forbes: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-28357 on 12 May 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/28…
24 Apr 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been carried out to determine the impact on communities in the south of Scotland of a different strategy and timescale between Scotland and England for easing or exiting the COVID-19 lockdown measures.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-28694 on 7 May 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/28…
24 Apr 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what specific financial support (a) Highlands and Islands Enterprise and (b) South of Scotland Enterprise has provided to businesses to mitigate the economic impact of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Answer · Kate Forbes: A collaborative multi-agency response to COVID-19 is being delivered by the enterprise and skills agencies. Highlands and Islands Enterprise and South of Scotland Enterprise are reviewing and reprioritising their spending plans for 20/21, so that existing fun…
24 Apr 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the cost to it of continuing business support schemes that are directly funded by the UK Government to businesses in Scotland.
Answer · Kate Forbes: The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Self Employment Income Support Scheme are run by the UK Government and have been an essential part of our collective response so far. The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme is offered by banks across the…
21 Apr 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the First Minister’s media briefing of 22 March 2020, on what date (a) P&O Ferries and (b) Stena Line restricted non-essential travellers from using passenger ferry services from Cairnryan.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. P&O Ferries and Stena Line operate commercial ferry services connecting Scotland with Northern Ireland, including ensuring the movement of critical category 1 goods and essential workers. Questions regar…
21 Apr 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government on measures to mitigate the economic impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on (a) seafarers and (b) port workers in the ferry industry.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government has not held specific discussions with the UK Government regarding measures to mitigate the economic impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on seafarers and port workers in the ferry industry. However, there have been numerous general exchan…
21 Apr 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact that COVID-19 restrictions will have on the public contract for Northern Isles Ferry Services during 2020.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The contract is clear in that Scottish Ministers may from time to time issue a Variation Notice to the Operator in respect of any part of the Services. The contract allows Scottish Ministers to protect the operator from financial loss where appropriate as a r…
21 Apr 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact the COVID-19 outbreak has had on crew changeovers on the Serco NorthLink freight vessel, (a) Helliar and (b) Hildasay.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: COVID-19 outbreak has affected a range of areas within Serco NorthLink operations. For example, crew changeover on freight vessel Helliar and Hildasay was impacted due to travel restrictions. To accommodate the current travel guidance from UK Government and S…
21 Apr 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) passengers, (b) cars and (c) commercial/freight vehicles were carried on each publicly-subsidised ferry route during (i) January, (ii) February and (iii) March 2020.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The carrying statistics for Serco NorthLink Ferries in January, February and March 2020 are in the following table. Passengers *Non Commercial Vehicles Commercial Vehicles Jan-20 Feb-20 Mar-20 Jan-20 Feb-20 Mar-20 Jan-20 Feb-20 Mar-20 Aberde…
30 Mar 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether people with (a) interstitial lung disease (ILD) and (b) idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) are included in the "high risk" groups identified by the Chief Medical Officer in relation to COVID-19 and, if not, (i) for what reason and (ii) whether it will consider including them in …
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The four UK nations’ Chief Medical Officers have identified six categories of people at highest risk of severe illness from Covid-19. This includes people with severe respiratory conditions including all cystic fibrosis, severe asthma and severe COPD and, peo…
30 Mar 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether people with (a) interstitial lung disease (ILD) and (b) idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) will be able to access the support being offered by the British Red Cross in response to COVID-19 to people identified as being in "high risk" groups.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The four UK nations’ Chief Medical Officers have identified six categories of people at highest risk of severe illness from Covid-19. This includes people with severe respiratory conditions including all cystic fibrosis, severe asthma and severe COPD and, peo…
12 Mar 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much ScotRail has paid out in Delay Repay payments in each reporting period of the franchise to date.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The information on the number and values of ScotRail’s Delay Repay claims, broken down by each reporting of the franchise is available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib number 61438).
12 Mar 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many ScotRail trains have stop-skipped in each reporting period of the franchise to date, also given as a percentage of all trains that ran in each period.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The number of ScotRail trains that have skip stopped in each reporting period of the franchise to date is available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib number 61437).
11 Mar 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether phase 3 of the Bus Emission Abatement Retrofit (BEAR) programme is operating with a higher per-bus state aid threshold than previous phases.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Phase 3 of the Bus Emissions Abatement Retrofit scheme opened under the General Block Exemption Rules, offering the maximum amount of funding ‘per bus’ which is legally possible within the limits of State Aid. A decision remains outstanding with the European …
11 Mar 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications have been received in respect of the (a) rapid Scottish Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme and (b) phase 3 of the Scottish Bus Emission Abatement Retrofit (BEAR) programme; what the total value of applications is for each scheme, and when the final awards made under each…
Answer · Michael Matheson: Four applications totalling £5.3 million were submitted into the rapid Scottish Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme (SULEBS). Given the COVID-19 situation it is unlikely that bus operators would be able to take up any award from SULEBS, so the scheme is on hold whi…
11 Mar 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much the (a) Scottish Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme, (b) the Scottish Bus Emission Abatement Retrofit (BEAR) programme and (c) other bus retrofit programmes have been allocated in the 2020-21 budget.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme has been allocated £6.0 million in the 2020-21 budget. There is no capital funding provision in the 2020-21 budget for a BEAR 4 scheme or other bus retrofit programme, however this position will be evaluated if BEAR …