Jamie Greene

17 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many complaints ScotRail has received in each of the last five years regarding the cleanliness of stations, broken down by station.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-41902 on 1 December 2025. 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-committe…

13 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many complaints ScotRail has received in each of the last five years regarding the cleanliness of trains, broken down by (a) route and (b) train type.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: This is an operational matter for ScotRail Trains Ltd. The member may wish to contact ScotRail Trains Ltd directly to obtain the information related to complaints received by it.

13 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what key performance indicators it uses to assess performance on west coast ferry routes, and which routes are the (a) best and (b) worst performing under each measure.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Key Performance Indicators are set out in Schedule 11 of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services Grant Agreement between The Scottish Ministers and CalMac Ferries Ltd. This information is available on the Transport Scotland website by following this link: G…

13 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the timeline is for permanent landslip mitigation on the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful, and by what date this will be completed.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government recognises the impacts the landslip risks at the Rest and Be Thankful have on the local community and businesses and is committed to developing a response as quickly as we are able.The situation is being treated with the seriousness an…

11 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will bring the A75 and A77 up to the standard required for major freight traffic to Cairnryan Port.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The A75 and A77 are vital components of Scotland’s strategic trunk road network, providing essential links between Cairnryan Port and the wider UK and European markets. Both routes are designed to higher standards than local roads, with features that su…

11 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has carried out any analysis relating to the impact of population decline on apprenticeship uptake in the South of Scotland region.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally.Skills Development Scotland (SDS) administers Scottish Apprenticeships on behalf of Scottish Government.

11 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to help businesses unable to fill vacancies in the South of Scotland region.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: As part of our £85 million commitment to the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal, Scottish Government will invest up to £7 million in developing skills in the South of Scotland. The project will work with regional partners to respond to the identifi…

11 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has spoken with businesses about labour shortages in the South of Scotland region.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Convention of the South of Scotland (CoSS) aims to strengthen alignment between the Scottish Government, Dumfries and Galloway Council, the Scottish Borders Council and public agencies delivering in the South of Scotland to drive inclusive growth. Labour …

11 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has done of historic population movement and projected labour market shortages in the South of Scotland region, broken down by sector.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: National Records of Scotland publish a wide range of statistical data with regards to population and migration in Scotland.Skills Development Scotland publish annual Regional Skills Assessments (RSAs), which provide detailed information on regional labour mar…

11 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has conducted into labour shortages in Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders, and what steps it is taking to reverse depopulation trends in rural South of Scotland communities.

Answer · Kaukab Stewart: Skills Development Scotland publish annual Regional Skills Assessments (RSAs), which provide detailed information on regional labour markets. The latest RSA for the South of Scotland region was published in October 2025.Through delivery of our Addressing Depo…

3 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported proposals to reduce wholetime firefighter posts in Inverclyde, and what assessment it has made of fire service resilience across Scotland.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: Consideration of the options for change included in the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) Service Delivery Review impacting Inverclyde have included extensive analysis of historic response data along with assessment of the current and future risks prese…

3 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting local organisations, such as Inverclyde Women’s Aid, to meet the needs of survivors of domestic abuse.

Answer · Kaukab Stewart: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that survivors of domestic abuse receive the support they need. We recognise the vital role that local organisations, such as Inverclyde Women’s Aid, play in delivering frontline services and supporting w…

28 Oct 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on pupils' learning outcomes of any increasing reliance by local authorities on supply teachers, in light of the reported £1.6 million spend by Inverclyde Council on supply teachers in one year.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Supply teachers play an important role in ensuring continuity and quality in education by guaranteeing that any teacher's absence from the classroom can be covered, while also providing flexibility for teachers who choose to work part-time.Like all teachers i…

28 Oct 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce any local authority reliance on supply teachers, in light of reports that Inverclyde Council spent £1.6 million on supply teachers in one year.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: We support the permanent employment of teachers by providing £186.5m to local authorities in 2025-26 to restore overall teacher numbers across the country to 2023 levels and maximise the number of teaching posts available. In addition, we are also provi…

30 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the suggestion in the paper, Scotland’s Future High Streets The Scottish Retail Consortium’s Manifesto for Town and City Centres, that a directly elected Provost should be established for Glasgow to help drive economic growth in the city.

Answer · Shona Robison: Growing our economy is one of this Government’s top priorities. Scotland’s regional economies, and Regional Economic Partnerships (REPs), are key to delivering this, and we are committed to enabling effective regional decision-making.We have worke…

30 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the suggestion in the paper, Scotland’s Future High Streets The Scottish Retail Consortium’s Manifesto for Town and City Centres, that a directly elected Police and Crime Commissioner be elected to replace the Scottish Police Authority.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Police Authority (SPA) was created via the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 and is the primary governance body for policing in Scotland, holding the Chief Constable to account and to promote, support and oversee improvement in policing.…

24 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had or plans to hold with the Parole Board on the plans to provide victims with a summary of reasons behind its decisions, as set out in section 29GD of the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Government have held discussions with the Parole Board for Scotland (PBS) on the changes set out in section 29GD of the Bill. The Government will continue to engage with PBS, and other stakeholders, over the coming months to jointly develop robust operati…

24 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it (a) has had and (b) plans to have with victim support organisations regarding the effect and promotion of the regulations relating to exclusion zone conditions, as set out in section 29J of the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill.

Answer · Angela Constance: I, with officials, recently met with victims who have an interest in the regulations and changes that will be made to exclusions zones in licence conditions. The Government will also, and shortly, engage further with Victim Support Scotland, and other stakeho…

24 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will bring forward legislative instruments to amend Parole Board rules, following the passing of section 29I of the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Government are taking forward work on the legislative requirements necessary to make changes to the Parole Board Rules, following the passing of the Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill. The Government intend to lay the required instrumen…

24 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will bring forward legislative instruments to amend Parole Board rules, following the passing of section 29H of the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Government are taking forward work on the legislative requirements necessary to make changes to the Parole Board Rules following the passing of the Victims Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill. The Government intend to lay the required instruments…

24 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it (a) has had and (b) plans to have with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service regarding a review of processes and procedures, following the passing of section 29ZB in the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill.

Answer · Angela Constance: Following Royal Assent, the Scottish Government will engage with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, as well as other stakeholders, in respect of implementation of the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill, including the provision…

8 Sep 2025 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will review its policy on public sector settlement agreements, in light of reports that £4 million of public money was spent on public sector pay-offs in 2023-24.

3 Sep 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase the availability of residential social care beds in the west of Scotland, in light of reported closures and service reductions in the region.

26 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports of 23 assaults on prison officers at HMP Greenock between 2020 and 2024, and what measures it is taking to ensure the safety of staff at the facility.

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:SPS has a zero-tolerance approach to violence towards staff and has support mechanisms in place to assist prison officers who have been …

21 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has assessed how devolved social security spending per capita varies across different local authority areas, and, if so, whether it will provide details for each of the last five years.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Social Security Scotland does not currently publish statistics on spending per capita. Expenditure for each individual benefit is included in its Official Statistics publications available on the Social Security Scotland website.Social Security Scotland recen…

20 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent in total on prisoner rehabilitation and reintegration programmes in each of the last five years, and what percentage of the total Scottish Prison Service budget this represented in each year.

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:SPS do not currently calculate the total spent on prisoner rehabilitation and reintegration programmes therefore this level of detail is…

19 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides for schemes that assist people leaving prison to reintegrate into the community, and how much funding it has allocated to any such programmes in each of the last five financial years.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government currently provides funding to Upside, the national voluntary throughcare service. Upside launched on 1 April 2025, replacing the previous Public Social Partnerships ‘New Routes’ and ‘Shine’, which had been in pl…

18 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the average waiting time for households applying to the Warmer Homes Scotland Scheme to move from initial application to installation, broken down by local authority area in each year since 2018.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Warmer Homes Scotland scheme has a key performance indicator (KPI) recording the percentage of customer journeys, from referral by the Energy Saving Trust to completion of installation for full jobs, completed within 65 working days.We do not have analysi…

15 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to help local authorities fill or repurpose vacant retail space in high streets and town centres.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government is supporting local authorities to address vacant retail spaces in our high streets and town centres through a range of measures and we remain committed to supporting the broader retail sector where possible, using the levers available…

14 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-36360 by Fiona Hyslop on 6 June 2025, what proportion of its active travel budget was allocated to each partner organisation in each of the last three financial years, and whether it can provide an update on what proportion of the active travel budg…

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The spend achieved on the Sustainable and Active Travel budget for 2024-25 was £147,700,000. This equates to 85% of the value allocated for investment at the start of the 2024-25 financial year.The Scottish Government is transparent on all investments t…