- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 05 September 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 17 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has engaged with trade unions and train operators with experience and knowledge of other intercity rail fleets within the UK, to learn from their best practices when specifying key aspects of the commercial tender to procure a new fleet of trains for ScotRail's Intercity rail network, including in relation to required luggage capacity, toilet provisions, appropriate furnishings, the provision of plug sockets, catering services, size and position of saloon windows, information screens, and onboard ventilation and air conditioning.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-29572 on 17 September 2024. 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-committees/written-questions-and-answers.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 August 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 17 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the cost of travel on intercity journeys within Scotland of comparable length can reportedly be up to 50% more expensive than those in the south west of England, and what is being done to further reduce fares for ScotRail passengers to ensure that green transport options are accessible and affordable for all.
Answer
The Scottish Government has kept fares comparatively lower, on average, than across the rest of GB network, and this has been the case for over a decade.
ScotRail offers a range of products and discounts to its passengers to make rail travel more affordable in Scotland.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 August 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Kaukab Stewart on 17 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Government how much each action in the New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy Delivery Plan with a deadline of 2024-25 will cost.
Answer
The Scottish Government is committed to providing over £3.8m of grant funding towards the delivery of the New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy in 2024-25. This includes funding for Scottish Refugee Council to provide a comprehensive, nationwide Refugee Support Service. There is also funding made available to progress a Family Reunion service with the British Red Cross, a contribution to the continuation of Bridges Programme's Refugee Doctors Project, and partner resourcing to ensure actions they are responsible for delivering are progressed.
Additionally, we continue to fund a number of third sector organisations to support refugee integration. This funding totals £488,000 in 2024-25, with a number of these organisations working to the outcomes of the New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 August 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Kaukab Stewart on 17 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that the free bus travel for asylum seekers pilot referenced in the New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy Delivery Plan will no longer proceed due to emergency spending controls, whether it expects that any other actions in the strategy will be cancelled in the current financial year.
Answer
Scottish Government are continuing to work with our partners COSLA and Scottish Refugee Council on the implementation of the actions set out in the Delivery Plan. There are no plans to cancel other actions.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 August 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Kaukab Stewart on 17 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Government how much money was allocated to the delivery of the New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy in its 2024-25 Budget; whether this allocation has changed due to its emergency spending controls, and, if so, what the revised total allocation is for the current financial year.
Answer
The Scottish Government has ensured that we have enhanced the support we are providing to new Scots in 2024-25, despite a very challenging financial context. We have provided over £3.8m of grant funding towards the delivery of the New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy in 2024-25.
Additionally, we continue to fund a number of third sector organisations to support refugee integration. This funding totals £488,000 in 2024-25.
This investment represents an increase in the funding the Scottish Government has provided in previous years, to mitigate the impact of the end of EU funding.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 September 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 17 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ensure that the forthcoming commercial tender to procure a new fleet of Intercity trains will include a clause to allow the option to order additional trains in the future, which would allow ScotRail to increase its fleet size as passenger demand requires or to support potential future uplifts in service levels without any additional costs that could be associated with completing a further procurement process.
Answer
A full ScotRail fleet strategy is being developed and refined, taking into account the fiscal constraints as well as other relevant government policies.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 September 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 17 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Government to what extent it has engaged with key stakeholders, such as rail workers and passengers, in relation to the development of the forthcoming commercial tender to procure a new fleet of Intercity trains to ensure that (a) the specification for this new fleet is reflective of the needs and wants of staff and service users and (b) they provide a comfortable environment with, for example, an increase in the number of table seats rather than airline-style seats and ensuring that seats align with windows, which is reportedly a proven driver in making rail travel an attractive alternative to car travel.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-29572 on 17 September 2024. 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-committees/written-questions-and-answers.
ScotRail will engage with various stakeholders during the process in order best to meet passenger needs.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 September 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 17 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ensure that (a) the forthcoming commercial tender to procure a new fleet of Intercity trains will build upon any benefits already delivered by the existing High Speed Train fleet and (b) this new fleet will provide (i) an uplift in capacity and (ii) adequate facilities to support an increase in leisure and tourist travel, such as family-friendly facilities, ample bicycle and luggage storage, and improved catering provisions, which have reportedly played a key role in supporting ScotRail’s post-COVID-19 pandemic recovery.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-29572 on 17 September 2024. 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-committees/written-questions-and-answers.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 September 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 17 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether the forthcoming commercial tender to procure a new fleet of Intercity trains will include a requirement for level boarding, so that ScotRail can play a leading role in ensuring that Scotland has a safe and universally accessible rail network.
Answer
ScotRail is to undertake the procurement. The timescales for replacement and the exact type of train to replace the HST Fleet are dependent on the outcomes of the procurement.
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 September 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 17 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Government to what extent the forthcoming commercial tender to procure a new fleet of Intercity trains will increase capacity across Scotland’s intercity rail network, and what considerations have been made in calculating long-term passenger estimates to ensure that the new fleet provides ample capacity for ScotRail’s long-term future.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-29572 on 17 September 2024. 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-committees/written-questions-and-answers.