Parliamentary questions
Jamie Greene
1,978 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
3 Oct 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many postgraduates are training to be secondary school teachers; how many graduated in STEM subjects, and how this compares with 2016-17.
Answer · John Swinney: The information requested is not currently available. 2015-16 data is the latest data available from the Higher Education Statistics Authority (HESA). 2016-17 data will be published in January 2018
3 Oct 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many children in Edinburgh were affected by school closures in 2016-17 because of concerns regarding building standards, and what the total number of school days lost was.
Answer · John Swinney: 8,370 children in Edinburgh were affected by school closures in 2016-17 because of concerns regarding building standards and none of these children lost more than 5 days of schooling.
3 Oct 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of the country's gas supply in each of the last 10 years was imported; how much this cost, and what the estimated figures are for each of the next 10 years.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: As outlined in the Oil and Gas Production Statistics 2016-17 publication, 82 per cent of all oil and gas production in the UK across this period was produced in Scotland (including Scottish adjacent waters). Looking at gas production only, Scottish production…
3 Oct 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the average number of schools not inspected has been in each local authority area in each of the last 10 years.
Answer · John Swinney: The figures provided are the numbers of schools not inspected in each local authority in each of the last 10 years, based on the Scottish Government list of schools as at September of the relevant inspection year, broken down by local authority for publicly f…
20 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on subsidising Inverness Airport in the last 16 years.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government does not provide funding directly to Inverness Airport. Inverness Airport is operated by Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL).We provide funding to HIAL to offset the difference between the cost of operating their 11 airports …
20 Sep 2017 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that young people from Scotland are not limited in their ability to go to university.
20 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it spent on promoting the new Queensferry Crossing.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: On 20 July 2017, The Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Jobs and Fair Work wrote to the Convenor of the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee and gave a commitment to provide an update on the Queensferry Crossing Opening Celebrations and overall summary o…
19 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-11110 by Humza Yousaf on 14 September 2017, for what reason the delivery date has been delayed by three months; what change there has been to the capital cost since the contract was signed; which Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd terminals can currentl…
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The decision to move the launch date was taken by the shipbuilder, Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd (FMEL), to enable a greater quantity of internal outfitting to be completed prior to the vessel’s launch after which all further work has to be completed whilst…
13 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the total annual salary for (a) cabinet secretaries, (b) ministers and (c) its special advisers (i) was in 2016-17 and (ii) will be in 2017-18.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government does not hold the salary information for Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers as the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body is responsible for paying their salaries. Special Advisers are appointed in accordance with Part 1 of the Constit…
13 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many special advisers and consultants are employed by Transport Scotland, and what their total annual salary is.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Transport Scotland do not directly employ any special advisers or consultants. At 31 March 2017 Transport Scotland had 67 consultants and contingent workers working on their behalf through contracted partner organisations and agencies. Transport Scotland do n…
13 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many staff are employed by Transport Scotland, and what their total annual salary is.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: At 31 March 2017 Transport Scotland had 394 permanent staff with a total annual staff cost of £17 million (Transport Scotland Annual Report & Accounts 2016-17).
13 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of trains arrived on time in the second quarter of 2017.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The lateness of ScotRail services is measured using the industry standard of the Public-Performance-Measure (PPM), and reported by four-weekly periods. In the second quarter of calendar-2017, PPM was as follows: Period 1,1-29 April 93.6% Period 2, 30 Apri…
13 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the cost of the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme has been to date; what the final cost will be, and how this compares with the original estimate.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The original estimate for the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP) as per the Final Business Case published on 27 January 2014 confirmed £742 million anticipated final costs (AFC). Following the EY Major Projects Review in September 2016 the Netwo…
12 Sep 2017 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the future of railway policing in Scotland.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Work on the integration of railway policing into Police Scotland is being taken forward by a Joint Programme Board led by the Scottish and UK Governments and with membership from British Transport Police, Police Scotland and both Authorities. The Scottish Gov…
11 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the impact is of the current rate of Air Passenger Duty on Scotland's airports.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The current Air Passenger Duty rate amounts are set by the UK Government, which is responsible for assessing the impact of the tax on Scotland and the rest of the UK. Our aim is to reduce the burden of Air Departure Tax (ADT) by 50% and to abolish the tax a…
11 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to encourage more airlines to operate from Scotland's airports.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: To support route development at Scotland’s airports, the Scottish Government adopts a Team Scotland approach. This sees Transport Scotland, Scottish Enterprise and VisitScotland work in partnership with Scotland’s airports to provide support to airlines in a …
11 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects the reported congestion on the Queensferry Crossing to ease.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The first days of operation of the Queensferry Crossing have resulted in increased traffic congestion including outside of peak hours – most noticeably on 10 September. Additional signage and messaging has been implemented regarding the use of the full length…
11 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to improve connectivity between Inverness Airport and the central belt.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: We are continuing to take forward extensive investment to improve connectivity between Inverness, including Inverness Airport and the central belt. Included within these plans are proposals to dual the A9 and A96, including the section of the A96 immediately …
11 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of each of the proposed options to establish a rail link with Glasgow Airport as part of the Glasgow and Clyde Valley City Deal, including what the economic impact would be (a) locally and (b) nationally.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The development of proposals to improve access to Glasgow Airport as part of the Glasgow City Region Deal is being taken forward jointly by Glasgow City and Renfrewshire Councils. As such, the two councils are responsible for establishing a robust business c…
11 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is regarding the construction of an Aberdeen Airport rail link.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Scottish Government currently has no plans to construct a direct rail link to Aberdeen Airport. However, Transport Scotland officials met with Aberdeen City Council to hear their proposals for an Airport rail link in November 2016. As is normal in such circ…
7 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to expand Inverness Airport.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government is committed to continuing to work with Highlands and Islands Airports Limited to build on the success of Inverness Airport’s recent growth in passenger numbers. We will continue to provide funding for projects, such as the recently co…
7 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it will offer diesel car drivers, in light of reports that up to three quarters of them could be prevented from entering city centres once the proposed low emission zones come into effect.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-11138 on 19 September 2017. 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/parliamentarybusine…
7 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to mitigate the potential disproportional impact on diesel car drivers when the proposed low emission zones come into effect, and whether it will introduce any (a) schemes to help drivers switch to petrol or electric cars and (b) transitional period for people liv…
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Switched on Scotland Action Plan provides a range of incentives to local authorities and individuals to support the shift to electric vehicles including grants and loans. The final design of individual low emission zones will be the responsibility of loc…
7 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it expects the revenue from fines issued through the proposed low emission zones to be, and whether it expects this revenue to be invested back into transport projects.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Building Scotland’s Low Emission Zones consultation is currently seeking views on a number of issues around low emission zones, including a national penalty scheme for LEZs. The public body recipient of monies generated by penalties has still to be confir…
7 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it expects the cost will be of enforcing the proposed low emission zones.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Enforcement costs of Low Emission Zones (LEZ) will depend on the type and scale of enforcement used to monitor and enforce each LEZ. The Building Scotland's Low Emission Zones consultation is currently seeking views on the establishment of LEZs including Auto…
6 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd is making with the construction of new vessels; what capital costs have been allocated to the contract, and what the delivery dates are for the vessels.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd at Port Glasgow is continuing to make progress on the construction of the two 100 metre ‘dual-fuel’ ferries with the anticipated launch of the first vessel, the MV Glen Sannox, on 21 November 2017. The value of the contracts …
6 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its projection is of the benefits of reducing air passenger duty as set out in its Programme for Government.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Air Departure Tax (Scotland) Act provides for Air Departure Tax (ADT), which will replace UK Air Passenger Duty (APD) in Scotland. Reducing the burden of Air Departure Tax would help to improve connectivity and boost Scotland’s economy. The Scottish Gove…
6 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has conducted an assessment into the feasibility of rail or road connections between Scotland and Ireland.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government has not conducted any assessment into the feasibility of rail or road connections between Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Scottish Government recognises the importance of providing good transport links between Scotland and Northern…
6 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to mitigate job losses in the oil industry following reports that 60,000 were lost in 2016.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: While the total number of jobs across the UK supported by the industry witnessed a larger drop in 2016 than had previously been estimated by Oil and Gas UK, it is important to note that the pace of contraction has significantly decreased going into 2017. Of t…
6 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the projected cost is for its electric bicycle scheme as set out in its Programme for Government.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: We are currently working with all our partners to decide the best and most cost effective way to deliver on the Programme for Government commitment on the promotion of electric bikes. We will ensure that the £80 million funding announced as part of the Progra…