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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S6W-20147

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 21 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 10 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can instruct Network Rail Scotland to prioritise Springburn railway station for step-free access improvement works, as part of the Access for All scheme.

The Access for All scheme is a UK Government scheme and as such is managed by the UK Department for Transport (DfT).

The Scottish Government has made a case for Springburn railway station to be nominated for Access for All scheme funding for Control Period 7 (2024-2029). We will continue to make representations to the UK Government on this matter.

The Department for Transport is expected to announce which stations will be prioritised for funding through the Access for All scheme this Autumn.

Question reference: S6W-20070

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 9 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with (a) AGS Airports Limited and (b) International Airlines Group, regarding the proposed expansion of British Airways Maintenance Glasgow (BAMG) through the construction of a new hangar facility to undertake maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of the entire narrow-body aircraft fleet across the International Airlines Group.

Question reference: S6W-19961

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 7 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether there should be an agreed standard for the wearing by Police Scotland of dress uniforms for passing out parades at the Scottish Police College and for high-profile public events, and whether it can instruct the Chief Constable of Police Scotland to adopt such a standard, in light of such policies reportedly being adopted by other police forces in the UK.

Uniform and appearance standards for Police Scotland are a matter for the Chief Constable. It is vitally important that the Chief Constable has the flexibility, subject to risk assessment, as to the appropriate uniform for specific events.

Police Scotland have a Standard Operating Procedure in place which states that dress uniforms shall only be worn on formal occasions or as directed by the Chief Constable, for example at passing out parades at the Scottish Police College. The Standard Operating Procedure can be found at: [ Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Review Template (scotland.police.uk) ]

Question reference: S6W-19912

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Emma Roddick on 1 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what specific provisions it is making for people from Hong Kong who have been granted leave on the British National (Overseas) visa to settle and integrate in Scotland.

The Scottish Government is committed to supporting the integration of former Hong Kong residents into our communities. We have published a dedicated British National (Overseas) welcome pack, in both English and Cantonese, on our website.

We continue to provide significant levels of funding to a range of organisations supporting the integration of migrants, refugees and people seeking asylum. This includes supporting organisations, such as COSLA, the Scottish Refugee Council and British Red Cross. We aim to ensure that all arrivals to Scotland are welcomed and supported to integrate into Scottish society from day one of arrival. This work will continue.

Question reference: S6W-20043

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 1 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider making an offer to the Commonwealth Games Federation for Glasgow to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games, in light of the withdrawal of the Australian state of Victoria as hosts.

Question reference: S6W-19501

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Emma Roddick on 1 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the factors that it considers are driving population decline in the west of Scotland, relative to the east of Scotland.

The Scottish Government’s 2021 Population Strategy sets out the factors driving population decline in some parts of the west of Scotland, recognising the different demographic challenges that individual communities face. It shows that areas are each uniquely shaped by natural change (births minus deaths) and net migration. We know that specific local factors influence population outcomes and that no single solution will apply to all communities.

We are assessing a range of factors affecting population outcomes in parts of the west of Scotland as we develop the Addressing Depopulation Action Plan, including: housing; transport and digital infrastructure; local and regional economic development; and public service provision and accessibility. Following this assessment, we will apply a place-based approach within the Action Plan and set out action at a national, regional and local level to address population decline and meet the discrete needs of communities.

Question reference: S6W-19913

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 31 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19295 by Maree Todd on 5 July 2023, whether the entire allocation for the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund was spent in the financial year 2022-23, and, if not, how much was left over.

A grant of £15 million for the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for Adults was distributed to Third Sector Interfaces across Scotland in August 2022, to support local, grassroots community organisation. £14,975,678.28 had been distributed by the end of March 2023. Third Sector Interfaces reported a total underspend of £24,321.72 for that year.

A grant of £1,136,695 was provided to support administration costs and the capacity building efforts of Third Sector Interfaces in 2022-2023. Third sector interfaces reported a total underspend on the administration grant of £4,948.63.

Question reference: S6W-19860

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 07 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 31 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on the Healthy Working Lives online platform in each financial year since its creation.

The Scottish Government recognises improving population health as a key priority and invests in a range of initiatives to support people with health conditions to sustain or return to work, including Healthy Working Lives (HWL). HWL is a programme delivered by Public Health Scotland (PHS) and the detail of the spend on the online platform is a matter for PHS. The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.

Question reference: S6W-19861

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 07 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 31 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many employers have used the Healthy Working Lives digital platform since its launch in 2022.

The Scottish Government recognises improving population health as a key priority and invests in a range of initiatives to support people with health conditions to sustain or return to work, including Healthy Working Lives (HWL). HWL is a programme delivered by Public Health Scotland (PHS) and statistics on the online platform is a matter for PHS. The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.

Question reference: S6W-19857

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 07 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 31 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19056 by Fiona Hyslop on 29 June 2023, for what reason, in Strathclyde Partnership for Transport's (SPT) application for an accessibility standards exemption for the new Glasgow Subway trains, under the Rail Vehicle Accessibility (Applications for Exemption Orders) Regulations 2010, published on 6 February 2023, it reportedly states that "The first new trains are scheduled to enter passenger service January 2023 to March 2023", in light of its answer stating that "Introductory dates for the new trains into passenger service have not been set by SPT nor has SPT previously set out proposed introductory dates in reporting", and what the revised schedule is for the new trains to enter passenger service.

Introduction of the new trains into passenger service is a matter for Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) given SPT is responsible for both the Glasgow Subway modernisation programme and the operation of the Glasgow subway and is not the responsibility of the Scottish Government.

The Scottish Government understands that SPT did make an application, as part of the regulatory process, for an exemption from the Department for Transport (DfT) under the Rail Vehicle Accessibility (Applications for Exemption Orders) Regulations 2010 for the headroom in the new trains which incorrectly stated the first new trains would enter passenger service January 2023 to March 2023. SPT has advised that this incorrect statement was clarified and rectified with the DfT at the time.

Testing of the new trains and development of the safety case is ongoing and the trains will not be handed over to SPT until the fault free run testing is complete, with introduction of the fleet expected to be autumn 2023 as set out in SPT’s Partnership Report on Subway Modernisation - progress update for its 23 June 2023 meeting .