Parliamentary questions
Liam Kerr
2,165 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
16 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the average delay was on scheduled ScotRail services that were delayed in financial year (a) 2021-22, (b) 2022-23 and (c) 2023-24.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: This is an operational matter for Abellio ScotRail for the year 2021-22 and for ScotRail Trains for the years 2022-23 and 2023-24. The member may wish to contact ScotRail directly.
16 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many complaints ScotRail received in financial year (a) 2021-22, (b) 2022-23 and (c) 2023-24, broken down by the nature of the complaint.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: This is an operational matter for Abellio ScotRail for the year 2021-22 and for ScotRail Trains for the years 2022-23 and 2023-24. The member may wish to contact ScotRail directly.
16 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many scheduled ScotRail trains were cancelled in financial year (a) 2021-22, (b) 2022-23 and (c) 2023-24.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: This is an operational matter for Abellio ScotRail for the year 2021-22 and for ScotRail Trains for the years 2022-23 and 2023-24. The member may wish to contact ScotRail directly.
16 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the total cost was of providing (a) bus and (b) taxi replacement services for any cancelled scheduled ScotRail train services in financial year (i) 2021-22, (ii) 2022-23 and (iii) 2023-24.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: This is an operational matter for Abellio ScotRail for the year 2021-22 and for ScotRail Trains for the years 2022-23 and 2023-24. The member may wish to contact ScotRail directly.
16 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is considering adopting the European Train Control System (ETCS) on Scotland's Railway, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government High Level Output Specification for Network Rail required Network Rail to develop a Scottish signalling strategy. This work considered the costs and benefits of ETCS carefully, but did not recommend immediate adoption in Scotland.
16 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Aberdeen Route Upgrade contractors framework agreements have been awarded, and, if not, for what reason, and when they will be.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: No contractor has yet been appointed for the Aberdeen – Central Belt Service Improvement Project as the project is still in the design stage. The programme for implementation, and therefore contracting, of the scheme remains under consideration. I refer the m…
16 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the current size of the ScotRail Class 43 fleet is; how many are required to be operational on a normal working day; how many are operational on average on any given day; how any shortfalls are covered; whether diesel multiple units (DMUs) are substituted in from other services, and…
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: This is an operational matter for ScotRail. The member may wish to contact ScotRail directly.
16 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether an order for new ScotRail electric and battery electric multiple units (EMUs and BEMUs) was placed in 2023 as envisaged in the ScotRail fleet replacement plan.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: No orders were placed in 2023 for a new fleet of Suburban electric and battery multiple units. Plans for the procurement of a new fleet of EMU and BEMU Suburban trains are ongoing.
16 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the ScotRail rolling stock procurement plan is paused; whether procurement of new railway rolling stock is on track to deliver on the decarbonisation action plan, and whether diesel-powered passenger trains will be removed from the ScotRail network by 2035 as planned.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The ScotRail rolling stock procurement plan has not been paused. The Rail Services Decarbonisation Action Plan, which was published in July 2020 is currently being refreshed which will include consideration of the timescales for removal of ScotRail diesel st…
16 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it provides freight facilities grants for rail freight and coastal shipping terminals but not for wagons.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of modal shift to help achieve transport emission reduction targets. The Freight Facilities Grant scheme is designed to provide assistance to companies who wish to move freight by rail or water instead of by r…
16 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it ceased the Mode Shift Revenue Support scheme.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: In light of the budget settlement for 2024-2025, and the financial pressures being faced across the Scottish Government, the Mode Shift Revenue Support scheme in Scotland has been temporarily suspended to allow resources to be targeted at priority areas .
16 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the trial in 2020 of bringing timber out of Caithness by rail has not been meaningfully followed up, in light of it reportedly being successful.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The movement of freight is a commercial matter and the Scottish Government’s leadership in support for rail freight is outlined in our 2016 rail freight strategy, and put into practice with significant investment, a freight-first approach, and through our reg…
16 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it discontinued the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme, and what its position is on what any repercussions of that decision will be.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Smarter Choices, Smarter Places (SCSP) programme was a long-established cornerstone of the way the Scottish Government approached promoting the popular shift to more active and sustainable ways of making our everyday journeys. With its origins in the 200…
16 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on (a) what the outcomes were of the Lifting the Spirit trial at Elgin in 2013 and (b) whether it was operationally successful, and what it did to build on that trial.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The movement of freight is a commercial matter and the Scottish Government’s leadership in support for rail freight is outlined in our 2016 rail freight strategy, and put into practice with significant investment, a freight-first approach, and through our reg…
16 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on freight movements commencing or ending at (a) Craiginches Down and (b) Raith’s Farm, and what it is doing to increase the use of these facilities.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The movement of freight is a commercial matter and the Scottish Government’s leadership in support for rail freight is outlined in our 2016 rail freight strategy, and put into practice with significant investment, a freight-first approach, and through our reg…
16 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what data it has on the (a) uptake and (b) outcomes of support from the Mode Shift Revenue Support scheme in each year of its operation.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The following table shows the level of Mode Shift Revenue Support grants awarded by the Scottish Government since the introduction of the scheme plus details of the committed traffic. Year MSRS - Grants Awarded Containers Moved by Rail or Water 2010-2011 …
7 May 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the constitution secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding the delivery of its commitment to invest at least £100 million more in culture and the arts by the financial year 2028-29.
30 Apr 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the housing minister has had with ministerial colleagues regarding the potential impact of the New Build Heat Standard on the completion of new homes.
29 Apr 2024 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the reported funding gap facing Scotland’s colleges.
24 Apr 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-23633 by Jenny Gilruth on 21 December 2023, whether it has now completed the work to develop a clear picture of the scale and uptake of breakfast provision across Scotland, which was scheduled to be completed in spring 2024, and whether it will cons…
Answer · Natalie Don: The Scottish Government has committed to develop plans to deliver free breakfasts to all primary and special school children. As noted in the response to question S6W-22746 on 17 November 2023, the Scottish Government is currently working with Assist FM and …
23 Apr 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many school technicians were employed in Scotland in each of the last 10 years, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Management information on the weekly hours of school support staff for 2020-2023 and of full-time equivalent school support staff for 2019, including technicians, can be found here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/school-support-staff-management-informatio…
22 Apr 2024 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what impact he anticipates the Scottish Government's decision to remove the target to reduce emissions by 75% by 2030 will have on infrastructure projects throughout Scotland.
16 Apr 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it anticipates the impact will be of reported reductions to college budgets in the north east.
9 Apr 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to figures showing that there has been a decrease in the number of new homes started in 2023 compared with 2022.
24 Mar 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of any reduction in funding to Skills Development Scotland on the skills base for retrofitting homes in line with Scotland's Climate Change Plan.
Answer · Graeme Dey: In 2024-25 Skills Development Scotland (SDS) will receive around £200m in funding from The Scottish Government to deliver against our priorities, including our net zero ambitions as outlined in key strategies such as the upcoming Just Transition Plans and Gre…
19 Mar 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-08117 by Jenny Gilruth on 6 May 2022, whether all of the deliverables of the rail improvement project are expected to be completed by the end of 2026, and what has been achieved by the project since the previous question was answered in May 2022.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Given the extremely challenging financial climate, due to UK Government capital budget cuts, we need to consider the time over which the project can be completed. I have asked that a review is undertaken and will ensure that an update is provided to the Parli…
13 Mar 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-24425 by Jenny Gilruth on 22 January 2024, whether it will provide an update on whether it has established the cost of (a) consulting on, (b) establishing, (c) launching and (d) the ongoing running of the Centre for Teaching Excellence (CTE); whethe…
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government has been engaging with stakeholders since the intention to establish a Centre for Teaching Excellence was announced in October last year. The Co-Production Group has also now been established and stakeholders are involved in detailed d…
13 Mar 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether a survey report, as provided for in schedule 1 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 (Prescribed Documents) Regulations 2008, should contain an assessment of the presence or otherwise of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in the subject building.
Answer · Paul McLennan: The Home Report single survey is based on a visual inspection of the home by a chartered surveyor. It provides information about the home, its condition, its accessibility and any repairs needed. Any defects identified during the property inspection would be …
13 Mar 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on introducing guidance in schools on prohibiting the use of mobile phones throughout the school day, which is equivalent to the UK Government's Mobile Phones in Schools guidance, and, if it is the case that it plans to introduce such an initiative, what the timescal…
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: In December I announced plans to provide refreshed guidance to schools on the use of mobile phones, as part of the joint action plan to respond to the Behaviour in Scottish Schools Research. The existing guidance was produced in 2013 and it is right that this…
5 Mar 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports of rising wildlife crime across Scotland.