Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-28243

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 June 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 10 July 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will conduct a comprehensive impact assessment of the potential legalisation of e-scooters, specifically focusing on the implications for disabled people and those with sight loss.

The legal use of electric scooters and decisions around their introduction is broadly a reserved matter for the UK Government. The UK Government has stated its intention to bring forward a new regulatory framework for vehicles such as electric scooters, however the timescales for this are unclear and it may take a number of years for such a new framework to be in effect.

Enabling the use of electric scooters through such a regulatory framework would also require amendments to devolved legislation, therefore the Scottish Government are monitoring developments in this area and will continue to engage with the Department for Transport on this matter.

As is recognised by Scotland’s Accessible Travel Framework, it is crucial that disabled people are involved in the design, development and improvement of transport policies, services and infrastructure. Therefore, before any changes are made to devolved legislation the Scottish Government would engage with all stakeholders and ensure all necessary impact assessments are carried out.

Question reference: S6W-28241

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 June 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 10 July 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what specific measures it plans to implement to ensure the safety of people with sight loss, in light of the anticipated legalisation and potential public hire trials of e-scooters.

The legal use of electric scooters and decisions around their introduction is broadly a reserved matter for the UK Government. The UK Government has stated its intention to bring forward a new regulatory framework for vehicles such as electric scooters.

Enabling the use of electric scooters through such a regulatory framework would also require amendments to devolved legislation, therefore the Scottish Government are monitoring developments in this area and will continue to engage with the Department for Transport on this matter. The timescales for this regulatory framework are unclear and it may take a number of years for such a new framework to be in effect, as such the Scottish Government has not yet given detailed consideration to measures to be implemented that ensure safety of people with sight loss.

No e-scooter trials are taking place in Scotland, and recent extensions to the trials do not enable onboarding of new areas. We do not anticipate that this is likely to change therefore no preparations for a Scottish trial are taking place.

Question reference: S6W-28242

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 June 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 10 July 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to involve and consult with disability advocacy groups, including those representing people with sight loss, in the development and implementation of any e-scooter legislation and trials.

The legal use of electric scooters and decisions around their introduction is broadly a reserved matter for the UK Government. The UK Government has stated its intention to bring forward a new regulatory framework for vehicles such as electric scooters, however the timescales for this are unclear and it may take a number of years for such a new framework to be in effect.

Enabling the use of electric scooters through such a regulatory framework would also require amendments to devolved legislation, therefore the Scottish Government are monitoring developments in this area and will continue to engage with the Department for Transport on this matter.

No e-scooter trials are taking place in Scotland, and recent extensions to the trials do not enable onboarding of new areas. We do not anticipate that this is likely to change therefore no preparations for a Scottish trial are taking place.

As is recognised by Scotland’s Accessible Travel Framework, it is crucial that disabled people are involved in the design, development and improvement of transport policies, services and infrastructure. Therefore, before any changes are made to devolved legislation the Scottish Government would engage with all stakeholders and ensure all necessary impact assessments are carried out.

Question reference: S6O-03622

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 June 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Edinburgh International Book Festival, in light of reports that the Fossil *Free* Books campaign has threatened its viability.

Question reference: S6O-03615

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 June 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide further details of the progress that it has made regarding the delivery of a railway station in Winchburgh, including the date by which it anticipates the business case and cost will be finalised.

Question reference: S6F-03229

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 10 June 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 June 2024

To ask the First Minister what progress the Scottish Government has made in reducing drug-related harm, in light of the latest quarterly statistics showing a 17% increase in suspected drug deaths.

Question reference: S6O-03555

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 June 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to address the rise in unemployment in Edinburgh as recently reported by the ONS.

Question reference: S6W-27352

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 May 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 21 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it is having with the UK Government regarding the elimination of cervical cancer in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-27353

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 May 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 21 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-24755 by Jenni Minto on 6 February 2024, whether it will provide an update on what the status of the Expert Group is that was established to lead on scoping work to consider and provide recommendations on how Scotland will work towards reaching the targets set by the World Health Organization (WHO) to eliminate cervical cancer; who the members of the Expert Group are; how many times the Expert Group has met, and what progress the Expert Group has made to date.

The inaugural meeting of the Cervical Cancer Elimination Expert Group took place on 25 April 2024. The Expert Group agreed to establish working groups to undertake in-depth modelling, to consider and analyse data, and to inform their recommendations around a Cervical Cancer Elimination target date.

Membership of the Expert Group includes representatives from Scottish Government, clinicians, Public Health Scotland (PHS), National Services Division Screening team and Third Sector organisations.

Question reference: S6W-27351

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 May 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 21 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has agreed a date by which cervical cancer will be eliminated in Scotland, as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The Expert Group established to lead on scoping work to consider and to provide recommendations on how Scotland will work towards reaching the targets set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to eliminate Cervical Cancer met for the first time on 25 April 2024. This group will consider what actions are required to achieve elimination of Cervical Cancer in Scotland, and the timelines required for this .

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