Parliamentary questions
Colin Smyth
990 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
2 Oct 2019 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the impact on Scotland of Northern Ireland having a different economic relationship with the EU than the rest of the UK.
25 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will encourage local authorities to take a consistent approach toward the implementation and application of workplace parking levies.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The amendments introduced at Stage 2 of the Transport (Scotland) Bill provide the discretionary power for a local authority to introduce a workplace parking levy (WPL). The provisions enable local authorities to work together to introduce a joint WPL. It is f…
25 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on introducing a sunset provision for the duration of workplace parking levies, as is the case for business improvement districts.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The amendments introduced at Stage 2 of the Transport (Scotland) Bill provide the discretionary power for a local authority to introduce a workplace parking levy (WPL). It is for a local authority proposing a WPL to set out the duration of any scheme and arra…
25 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its plan to introduce workplace parking levies, whether it is updating or reviewing the advice and support that it offers to firms regarding developing workplace travel plans.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Transport Scotland funds existing schemes which remain valid, offering employer the opportunity to develop workplace travel plans relevant to local circumstances. The Way to Work website signposts directly to all available support tools and funding streams wh…
25 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact the introduction of workplace parking levies might have on business support for the establishment or renewal of business improvement districts.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The amendments introduced at Stage 2 of the Transport (Scotland) Bill provide the discretionary power for a local authority to introduce a workplace parking levy (WPL). It is for a local authority proposing a WPL to set out the scope of the scheme it proposes…
25 Sep 2019 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported 11% increase in crime in Dumfries and Galloway in 2018-19.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The biggest contributor to the increase in police recorded crime in Dumfries & Galloway was growth in drug possession – which could to some extent be due to operational decisions in prioritising enforcement. Nevertheless, the harmful impact problem drug use h…
19 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether it is able to issue an extension to the existing contract with Serco NorthLink Ferries Ltd for Northern Isles Ferry Services by direct award to the incumbent for a period commencing from 31 October 2019.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-25428, on 20 September 2019. 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/parliamentarybusi…
17 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how its respiratory care action plan will help increase the number of specialist nurses available for people with (a) idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and (b) interstitial lung disease.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-25366 on 26 September 2019. 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/parliamentarybusin…
17 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how its respiratory care action plan will support the early diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis to help ensure that patients get early access to high resolution CT scanning.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-25366 on 26 September 2019. 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/parliamentarybusin…
17 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how its respiratory care action plan will ensure that there is an interstitial lung disease specialist in each hospital.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-25366 on 26 September 2019. 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/parliamentarybusin…
16 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to improve care for people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Our Respiratory Care Action Plan for Scotland is under development with work being taken forward with specialist clinicians and third sector, including Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland and the British Lung Foundation representing patients interests. The Plan…
10 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will publish the updated Vessel Replacement and Deployment Plan.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The next version of the Vessel Replacement and Deployment Plan is currently being drafted following consultation with key stakeholders and will be published in Autumn 2019.
10 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects Pentland Ferries’ complaints to the European Commission regarding the (a) retendering of the Northern Isles Ferry Services (NIFS) contract and (b) extension of the Road Equivalent Tariff scheme to the NIFS routes serving Orkney to be resolved.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government continues to engage with the European Commission on Pentland Ferries’ complaints about the tendering of the Northern Isles Ferry Services and proposals for introducing Road Equivalent Tariff and involving commercial operators. At this …
10 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of the crew accommodation facilities on the (a) Glen Sannox and (b) vessel 802, which is under construction at Ferguson Marine Engineering.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: There has been no change to the crew accommodation facilities on the (a) Glen Sannox and (b) vessel 802; these remain in line with specification requirements.
4 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the National Concessionary Travel Scheme will be extended to provide free bus travel for people accompanying eligible disabled children under the age of five.
Answer · Michael Matheson: We aim to extend the scheme to provide free bus travel to those accompanying eligible disabled children under age five during the coming financial year, 2020-21.
4 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what options it is considering in relation to extending public transport concessions to people under the age of 26, and when it will report on progress on this work.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Transport Scotland is working with stakeholders to consider an extension to discounts available on public transport to those under the age of 26. This review will incorporate an appraisal of options and a cost- benefit analysis, as any changes to concessionar…
4 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether any of the £500 million for improved bus infrastructure that was announced in its Programme for Government 2019-20 will be spent on upgrading or replacing buses.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The £500 million will be invested in improved bus priority infrastructure to tackle the negative impacts of congestion on bus services.
4 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Green Bus Fund and the Bus Emissions Abatement Retrofit Programme will be continued in 2019-20.
Answer · Michael Matheson: We are currently awaiting State Aid approval for a new capital fund for green buses developed in consultation with the bus industry. It remains our intention to launch the fund this financial year. The Bus Emissions Abatement Retrofit Programme will continue…
4 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it remains its plan to extend the National Concessionary Travel Scheme to modern apprentices and, if so, when.
Answer · Michael Matheson: We are currently working with stakeholders with a view to introducing a time-limited local pilot of free bus travel for modern apprentices later this financial year, following which we will decide whether or not to extend the scheme nationally.
4 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to update the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002 to strengthen the ban on fox hunting.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: As I set out during my parliamentary statement on 9 January 2019, the Government is progressing the development of a fox hunting Bill. Introduction of a Bill in this parliamentary session is subject to final decisions on the content of the Government’s next l…
4 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when its planned Crofting Bill will be brought forward.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer in my statement, ‘Creating a sustainable future for crofting’, of 10 September which is available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/or…
4 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the question S5W-21620 by Paul Wheelhouse on 26 February 2019, what the total, final subsidy payment was to Serco NorthLink in year 7 of the current contract, and whether it will provide details of the total, final subsidy payments in each year of the 2012-19 No…
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I refer the member to S5W-18860 answered on 3 October 2018 which details the estimated subsidy costs for operation of the Northern Isles Ferry Service over the 18 month period between April 2018 and October 2019. The total amount paid for contract year 7 (Ju…
2 Sep 2019 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the recent disruption on ScotRail services.
28 Aug 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it expects the £23.3 million of funding provided to the South of Scotland Enterprise Partnership for the financial years 2018-19 and 2019-20 to be allocated to projects in its entirety by the end of 2019-20.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has made £23.3 million available across financial years 2018-19 and 2019-20 to support the activities of the South of Scotland Economic Partnership (SOSEP) and to establish the new enterprise agency. A list of projects and activities s…
28 Aug 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications it has received for funding from the South of Scotland Enterprise Partnership partners since it was established.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has received 31 applications for project funding from the South of Scotland Economic Partnership since it was established.
28 Aug 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which projects have been awarded funding from the South of Scotland Enterprise Partnership since it was established, and how much funding each project received.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The 24 projects that have been awarded funding since the establishment of the South of Scotland Economic Partnership are detailed in the following table. PROJECT LOCATION DESCRIPTION FUNDING AWARDED JOHNSTON SCHOOL KIRKCUDBRIGHT refurbishing and dev…
28 Aug 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making on the development of its Learning Estate Strategy, and when this will be published.
Answer · John Swinney: On 9 September, the First Minister, Councillor Macgregor and I launched the Learning Estate Strategy at Peterhead Academy.
28 Aug 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the funding model for upcoming Schools for the Future investment.
Answer · John Swinney: The funding model for the Learning Estate Investment Programme was agreed with COSLA leaders on 30 August. In addition, the first phase of projects to benefit from the Programme was announced on 9 September by the First Minister, Councillor Macgregor and I.
28 Aug 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made on the North West Community Campus Root Cause Analysis; when the review will be completed, and when it will publish the findings.
Answer · John Swinney: The Root Cause Analysis review is complete and the report is currently being finalised with Dumfries and Galloway Council and other stakeholders. We expect that process to be complete in the coming weeks, after which Scottish Futures Trust will publish the re…
28 Aug 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5O-01295 by John Swinney on 27 September 2017 (Official Report, c.13), what plans it has to provide additional funding from the Schools for the Future programme to allow Phase 2 of the Dumfries Learning Town project to go ahead.
Answer · John Swinney: Dumfries and Galloway Council did not put forward a priority project to be considered as part of the first phase of the Learning Estate Investment Programme. The Council advised that it is reviewing its estate as a whole to understand where investment should …