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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-30774

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 18 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 4 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what the anticipated timescale is for the electrification of the Maryhill railway line in Glasgow.

Question reference: S6W-30589

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 1 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to (a) ensure that its (i) directorates and (ii) agencies provide migraine-friendly workspaces, (b) support staff who experience migraines to request reasonable adjustments to their working environment and (c) share good practice in supporting staff who experience migraines.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all employees are fully supported and are empowered to carry out their role to their maximum potential. Where staff experience migraines, lighting and desk location can be altered to mitigate symptoms. In addition, the Scottish Government has a dedicated workplace adjustments team who can arrange for more specialist equipment, with input from health and safety colleagues and our external occupational health provider as appropriate.

Available support can include anti-glare monitors and coloured overlays to reduce strain from reading documents. Assistive software can be installed to enable staff to dictate work or have documents read to them, potentially reducing eye strain. Staff are also encouraged to take regular micro-breaks to ensure they have time away from laptops or other screens, and to use flexible working to help manage symptoms/triggers. The flexibility provided by hybrid working, where available, can also be helpful.

Scottish Government staff can use an employee passport to set out the workplace adjustments needed to support them at work. The passport provides a framework to help discussions with managers and improve understanding of the impact of health conditions, including migraines.

Staff from the Scottish Government’s workplace adjustments team regularly attend the civil service Workplace Adjustments Network to ensure we share good practise around migraines and other health conditions. Alongside assisting staff experiencing Migraines, the workplace adjustments team will advise line managers and business areas on available adjustments and good practise around this, to ensure staff are fully supported. Peer support and advice can also be found through the Scottish Government’s staff networks including the Disabled Staff Network.

Please note this information pertains to all core Scottish Government Directorates and associated agencies who receive an HR service from core SG.

Question reference: S6W-30409

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 31 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish its submission to the Strategic Defence Review.

The Scottish Government welcomes the opportunity we have been given to contribute to the ongoing Strategic Defence Review. Whilst Defence is a reserved matter, the decisions made within it can have far reaching implications for our Armed Forces community in Scotland, as well as devolved areas of responsibility such as industry, public services and the economy.

We will look to publish our submission to the review in the near future, once we have fully consulted with the relevant stakeholders on any sensitivities around the material included within it.

Question reference: S6O-03897

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 October 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 November 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what it is doing to support people seeking asylum in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-30507

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Kaukab Stewart on 29 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Office of National Statistics mid-year population estimates for the UK and its constituent countries for mid-2023, which shows that Scotland experienced a natural population decline of 19,100 between 2022 and 2023.

Scottish Government welcomes the mid-year 2023 population estimates, which show inward migration driving the biggest single-year increase in Scotland’s population since the 1940s. Scotland continues to be an attractive and welcoming country which people from across the UK and internationally are choosing to call home.

With deaths continuing to outnumber births, these statistics underline the importance of delivering our Population Strategy’s ambition to make Scotland as family friendly as possible, and for collaboration between the Scottish and UK Governments to deliver tailored migration approaches which meet Scotland’s needs, including our Rural Visa Pilot proposal.

Question reference: S6W-30516

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 28 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any impact on its energy policy and strategy, what its position is on the reported calls on the UK Government by Scottish Renewables and other trade bodies to rule out zonal pricing under the Review of Electricity Market Arrangements (REMA), and to instead commit to a Reformed National Market (RNM) programme.

The Scottish Government is aware that the introduction of zonal pricing could have a significant impact on all market participants, including industry, communities and consumers. It is therefore important that any such proposal is considered in the round in wider electricity market reform, which considers how we can establish an energy system that ultimately delivers investment, energy security and translates the lower costs of renewables through to consumers.

The Scottish Government welcomes the constructive engagement we have had with Ofgem, NG ESO, the UK Government and industry on the reform of electricity markets, however, it is crucial that the UK Government urgently provides clarity on the timetable and direction of travel on this key piece of work.

Question reference: S6W-30441

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 28 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made with the BP & EnBW enabling (a) crew transfer vessel and (b) service operation vessel fabrication project in the Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council Strategic Investment Model.

These projects have been classed as referral projects in the Strategic Investment Model process and have been referred to their local enterprise agency to continue discussions on ways in which the projects can be supported. Full details about the route forward for each of the project categories are available online: Full SIM Stage 2 List published | Offshore Wind Scotland.

While the Scottish Government supports the industry-led Strategic Investment Model, the decision to prioritise projects for investment through the Strategic Investment Model was made by industry – not the Scottish Government.

Question reference: S6W-30434

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 28 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with American Axle & Manufacturing, in light of the planned closure of its Glasgow manufacturing site, formerly Albion Automotive, on 4 October 2024, with the reported loss of 100 jobs.

The Scottish Government was disappointed to hear of the decision to close the Albion Automotive site in Glasgow. This has obviously been a very worrying time for the workforce, their families and the local area.

Scottish Enterprise worked closely with the company to explore all viable options to retain these highly skilled jobs in Scotland, but unfortunately a solution could not be found.

The Scottish Government’s initiative for responding to redundancy situations, Partnership Action for Continuing Employment, has been working with the company to support the affected staff and will continue to provide support as required. We understand that a number of staff have secured alternative employment.

Question reference: S6W-30385

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 25 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when the off-peak 15-minute express rail service frequency between Glasgow Queen Street's high level terminus and Edinburgh Waverley will be restored.

Whilst services on the main Edinburgh to Glasgow via Falkirk High route ran every 15 minutes prior to the Covid pandemic, ScotRail reported an underutilisation of resources, which was addressed with ScotRail’s ‘Fit for Future’ timetable re-shuffle in 2022.

With 4 services per hour in peak times, and 2 services per hour off peak on week days, this route is currently served well and provides the required capacity at the times people need it.

ScotRail monitors the passenger demand closely and wherever possible, increases capacity where it is required. As part of May 2023 timetable change ScotRail increased the number of services on Saturdays, which is now the busiest day on this route. As a result, passengers enjoy 4 services per hour on Saturdays during the day.

Question reference: S6W-30481

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 07 October 2024
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 25 October 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement (a) it and (b) its agencies have had with (i) the New Gorbals Housing Association and (ii) Glasgow City Council regarding the development of the North Laurieston regeneration masterplan.

The Scottish Government is aware that the regeneration masterplan is being developed for North Laurieston although there has been limited engagement to date.

The Scottish Government is a partner in Transforming Communities: Glasgow (TC:G) along with Glasgow City Council and Wheatley Homes Glasgow to oversee the delivery of a regeneration and development programme across 8 Transformational Regeneration Areas (TRA). The North Laurieston area falls within the Laurieston TRA. The masterplan development is being led by New Gorbals Housing Association and Glasgow City Council planning department, but it is anticipated that TC:G partners will be a consultee in the masterplan going forward.