Parliamentary questions
Liam Kerr
2,171 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
7 Jul 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the European Parliament’s reported decision to support the classification of some gas and nuclear energy projects as environmentally sustainable will have an impact on Scotland and Scottish Government policy-making, and what its position is on whether gas and nuclear projects can…
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government supports the principles underpinning the green taxonomy, especially the need to establish criteria for sustainable economic activity, to give investors certainty on the sustainability of projects, and to combat greenwashing, and we loo…
28 Jun 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many complaints from (a) passengers and (b) staff were received by ScotRail services between 1 and 30 June 2022, broken down by the reason for the complaint.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The number of passenger complaints received by ScotRail, through their official complaints process, is set out on the table below for the period 1 and 30 June 2022. The complaints may involve incidents that occurred before 1 June 2022. The average recorded n…
26 Jun 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the NHS and Scottish Government guidance for general practices, published on 7 September 2021, has been updated; for what reason some general practices are reportedly still operating a full triage system, and what steps it plans to take to increase the number of face-to-face GP a…
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The current guidance for General Practice is Appendix 22 - Community Infection Prevention and Control COVID-19 Pandemic which was first published on 29th June. The pandemic has been the biggest shock our NHS has ever faced. It has necessitated the impositi…
23 Jun 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many public electric vehicle (EV) charging points were installed in Scotland between 1 June 2021 and 31 May 2022.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-09455 on 27 July 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-committee…
23 Jun 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide the precise number of public electric vehicle (EV) charging points in Scotland as at 1 June 2022.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: According to the latest published statistics (April 2022) there were 2953 electric vehicle charge points in Scotland at this time. This figure includes 2257 from ChargePlace Scotland, Scotland’s publicly funded electric vehicle charging network.
23 Jun 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many complaints from (a) passengers and (b) staff were received by ScotRail services between 1 and 31 May 2022, broken down by the reason for the complaint.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The number of passenger complaints received by ScotRail, through their official complaints process, is set out in the following table for the period 1 and 31 May 2022. The complaints may involve incidents that occurred before 1 May 2022. The average recorded…
21 Jun 2022 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the £33 billion estimate in its Heat in Buildings Strategy to decarbonise Scotland's buildings remains an accurate forecast amount.
19 Jun 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-08743 by Jenny Gilruth on 14 June 2022, whether it will provide the information requested regarding when it will replace the 25 Class 43 HSTs in the ScotRail fleet; whether it will confirm whether Transport Scotland's position remains that such repl…
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The replacement of train fleets in Scotland, including the HSTs, is aligned with the phases of the Decarbonisation Action Plan, a link to which is provided here:- Rail Services Decarbonisation Action Plan | Transport Scotland This timescale is of course su…
19 Jun 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports of Haizea Wind exiting the plans for the UK’s largest offshore wind tower factory at the Port of Nigg, whether Haizea Wind has received any (a) of the £110 million finance package and (b) public funds from the Scottish Government in relation to this project; what the…
Answer · Michael Matheson: The overall financial model, is a commercial negotiation between Global Energy Group and Haizea Wind Group, but I can confirm that Haizea has received no public funding. This government is supportive of the efforts by Global Energy Group, owners of the port o…
19 Jun 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has allocated any money to bidding to host the Eurovision song contest in 2023 and, if this is the case, how much has been allocated, and from which budget.
Answer · Angus Robertson: The Scottish Government has not allocated any money towards bidding to host the Eurovision song contest in 2023. Hosting Eurovision 2023 would be a great honour for any country, and we look forward to seeing how plans for next year’s contest develop.
14 Jun 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the estimated £33 billion required to decarbonise heating in Scotland’s homes, as set out in the Heat in Buildings Strategy, is still currently an accurate assessment of the cost, and, if not, what the revised estimate is.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: As set out in the Heat in Buildings Strategy, £33 billion is the estimated total gross capital cost of converting our entire building stock, domestic and non-domestic, to zero emissions heat. This estimate is purely indicative and based on a single technology…
14 Jun 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of homes available for social rent it estimates currently have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of band C or above.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The 2019 Scottish House Condition Survey (SHCS) estimates that 56% of social housing is in EPC band C or better. This is the most recent data available from the SHCS. Following the suspension of face-to-face interviewing in March 2020 to help prevent the spr…
1 Jun 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-08994 by Jenny Gilruth on 1 June 2022, which states, "This scheme forms part of a rolling programme that is expected to see electrification extended to Dundee and Aberdeen", when it anticipates electrification will reach (a) Dundee and (b) Aberdeen,…
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: As set out in the Transport Scotland Rail Services Decarbonisation Action Plan, it is planned to electrify the route to Dundee and Aberdeen by 2035. The decarbonisation of the lines to Dundee and Aberdeen form later phases of the rolling programme, they are …
31 May 2022 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is ensuring uptake by farmers of rural payments schemes, including in relation to agroforestry.
27 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has carried out of the environmental impact of removing 700 ScotRail services.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I have not instructed ScotRail to undertake an environmental impact assessment on what is a temporary change. There is positive progress being made on pay negotiations with ASLEF in Scotland, and I am hopeful that additional services will be added in the near…
27 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has carried out of the economic impact of removing 700 ScotRail services.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: ScotRail has not undertaken an economic impact assessment on what is a temporary timetable change. There is positive progress being made on pay negotiations with ASLEF in Scotland, and I am hopeful that additional services will be added in the near future.
27 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many of the travel cards issued to date as part of the Young Persons’ (Under 22s) Free Bus Travel Scheme have been used on more than 10 occasions since being issued, and, of those, what proportion have been used to take more than 10 journeys per week.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Since the launch of the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme around 390,000 National Entitlement Cards (NEC) have been issued to young people across Scotland. The scheme aims to embed sustainable travel behaviours, open social, education, employment and le…
26 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it will offer to ports not successful in the Green Freeports Programme to help them become supply chain and manufacturing bases for offshore renewables.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government will engage with all bidders for Green Freeport status, to examine relevant opportunities and build on the strategies they have set out. As Co-Chair of the Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council (SOWEC), I am leading on work to impleme…
26 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will introduce a financial support mechanism for small- and medium-sized supply chain businesses to help them to develop their renewable energy capabilities.
Answer · Ivan McKee: In line with the Programme for Government, we are helping manufacturing businesses to make the transition to net zero and realise the opportunities of a low carbon economy The recently launched Low Carbon Manufacturing Challenge Fund will provide research an…
26 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting Scotland's renewable energy suppliers to export to international markets.
Answer · Ivan McKee: In 2019 we published “Scotland: a trading nation”; a plan to grow Scotland’s exports which highlighted energy as a key sector. This year will also deliver a Renewable Energy Sector export plan showing our long term growth plan for exports. Scottish Developme…
26 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will deliver a supply chain plan to help support the development of the renewable energy supply chain as part of the upcoming Energy Strategy Refresh.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Energy Strategy & Just Transition Plan (ESJTP) will be developed not only to ensure the delivery of a viable net-zero energy system but also to provide an action plan that enables the transition to that system in a fair and just way for all of Scotland an…
26 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is ensuring that near-term net-zero projects are working with Scotland's renewable energy suppliers.
Answer · Michael Matheson: In 2020, the Scottish Government set up the Scottish Energy Task Force to focus on near-term, collaborative actions, which can stimulate investment in Scotland’s energy sector to support delivery of net-zero. The Energy Task Force consists of 12 organisation…
26 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether a green industrial strategy is being prepared and, if so, by what date it will be published.
Answer · Lorna Slater: One of the key pillars of the National Strategy for Economic Transformation is to strengthen Scotland’s position in new markets and industries to generate well-paid jobs and support a just transition to net zero. The Strategy sets out a range of actions to de…
26 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the A96 Corridor Review questionnaire includes questions seeking respondents' personal information such as ethnicity, sex and religious affiliation, which are numbered 106 to 114 in the PDF version, and how these questions will inform (a) the identification of existing pr…
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The answers to the questions on ethnic background, gender, religion and sexual orientation (alongside answers to other questions) are used to understand if the response received to the survey is representative of the population of the study area and Scotland …
25 May 2022 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of electricity generated in Scotland in 2020 was from nuclear.
23 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the steering group to implement the recommendations on safety performance in response to the Carmont rail accident will be convened, and when it anticipates it will report.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Now that the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the steering group have been developed, it is anticipated that the group will convene shortly. The agenda for the first meeting will include endorsement of those ToR by the stakeholders.
23 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the conclusion of the Rail Accident Investigation Branch into the Carmont rail crash, when it will replace the 25 Class 43 HSTs in the ScotRail fleet, and, if Transport Scotland's position remains that this will occur only when "Network Rail has completed the electrification…
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The RAIB report into the Carmont accident did not state that the High Speed Trains (HSTs) are unsafe. There is a need to identify the optimum programme of any practicable changes that may emerge from the analysis of duty holders and safety bodies in following…
23 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates Transport Scotland will (a) commence and (b) conclude its review of ScotRail's rolling stock.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The appropriate rolling stock for ScotRail’s services is kept under consideration at all times and changes and investment decisions will be announced from time to time in the normal manner.
23 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when Transport Scotland will publish the post-completion noise monitoring reports for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Although there is no legislative requirement to publish noise reports for major roads projects Transport Scotland has previously published these where appropriate to be helpful, transparent and open. Following introduction of the Data Protection Act 2018, T…
23 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when residents of Aberdeen city and Aberdeenshire who have been directly affected by the construction of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route will receive any compensation that they are due.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: As for all major road projects, owners of land purchased for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route will receive fair compensation, independently assessed by the District Valuer. Negotiations are ongoing between the District Valuer and claimants for the remai…