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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.

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Question reference: S6W-35527

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 10 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 25 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what action is has taken to encourage a modal shift to rail following the end of the removal of peak fares pilot, and how it is monitoring the effectiveness of any such interventions.

I have instructed ScotRail to continue to offer 20% discounts on season tickets until September 2025. The value for money of Flexipass remains permanently improved and recognising the increased popularity of this product since the end of the pilot, ScotRail has recently expanded its availability to cover all gated stations. ScotRail is committed to the ongoing development of this ticket type.

We are seeing an increase in passengers on our railway - passenger journeys on our publicly owned train services are up 4.5% for each 4-week period this year compared to the same period last year when the trial was running.

ScotRail will continue to develop fare initiatives to attract more passengers while providing savings and additional value to existing rail users, such as the launch of its new app ‘Tap&Pay’, which will automatically provide the best value fare.

Question reference: S6W-35526

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 10 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 25 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what the outcome was of the most recent research it has carried out into the affordability of rail fares for (a) average and (b) low income households.

Question reference: S6W-35528

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 10 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 24 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to update the ScotRail Peak Fares Removal Pilot Final Evaluation Report to cover the whole of the trial period.

Transport Scotland is currently analysing data to the beginning of March and expects to publish results shortly. This will cover the whole period of the pilot and beyond. As detailed in the answer to S6W-35525 on 24 March 2025, daily journeys have increased (on average) since the pilot ended and the analysis is exploring this further.

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

Question reference: S6W-35525

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 10 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 24 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what changes there have been to (a) rail passenger numbers and (b) the patterns of useage of rail services following the end of the removal of the peak fares pilot, including by passengers from lower income households.

Question reference: S6W-35524

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 10 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 24 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is a statutory requirement for initiatives that are aimed at increasing public transport use, in order to reduce emissions, to be cost neutral.

All initiatives that are aimed at increasing public transport use must represent Value for Money (VfM) and a good use of Scottish Government resources. The Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019, Section 24 states "(21) The plan must also set out an estimate of the costs and benefits associated with the policies set out in the plan" which would include any public transport incentivisation policies included in the Climate Change Plan. There is no requirement statutory or otherwise that they are cost neutral.

Transport interventions are assessed for VfM for Government spend. Major interventions, in line with the Scottish Public Finance Manual and the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG), are assessed against a range of criteria covering Economy, Climate Change, Environment, Health, Safety and Wellbeing and Equality and Accessibility.

Question reference: S6O-04421

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 March 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what additional focus areas it has identified, following the publication of the Women’s Health Plan 2021 to 2024: Final Report.

Question reference: S6W-34515

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 27 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-32276 by Siobhian Brown on 19 December 2024, whether the Independent Working Group on Antisocial Behaviour reported to ministers "by the end of 2024", as set out in its answer, and by what date (a) the report and (b) its response to it will be published.

A pre-publication version of the report of the Independent Working Group on Antisocial Behaviour was submitted to myself, COSLA and Police Scotland just before Christmas. The report has since been finalised and was published on Tuesday 25th February 2025. It is available at Report of the Independent Working Group on Antisocial Behaviour. Along with our lead partners, COSLA and Police Scotland, we are considering the recommendations and support for local community safety and multi-agency prevention work. We plan to provide a comprehensive response in the Summer with a progress update by Easter. I am grateful to the Group for their work and to all who contributed.

Question reference: S6O-04406

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 February 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to improve road safety.

Question reference: S6W-34472

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 25 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-31709 by Kate Forbes on 4 December 2024, whether it will provide an update on when it will reach a decision regarding extending the terms of reference for the inquiry into the death of Sheku Bayoh.

Firstly, let me put on record again, my deepest condolences to the family of Mr Bayoh.

Following their request for an extension of the terms of reference for the Sheku Bayoh Public Inquiry, to include both the initial prosecutorial decisions and the Victim’s Right of Review, I have undertaken extensive consultation with all core participants to the Inquiry and their legal representatives. I have also discussed the application for extension with the Chair of the Inquiry, who is a statutory consultee under section 5(4) of the Inquiries Act 2005 (“the 2005 Act”).

After careful consideration, I have decided not to grant the request. I understand that Mr Bayoh’s family will be disappointed by my decision.

As set out in legislation, I may amend the terms of reference if I consider the public interest requires this. This request to extend the Terms of Reference was formally made on 4 September, over four years after the current Terms of Reference were announced, and as the Inquiry was nearing the final module of evidential hearings and concluding statements. It is in the public interest for the Inquiry to come to a conclusion promptly and for its recommendations to be implemented as swiftly as possible.

Under the 2005 Act, an Inquiry is not permitted to determine or rule on civil or criminal liability. Prosecutorial decisions are a matter for the Crown and the Solicitor General has committed to assessing any new evidence which is brought to light by the Inquiry, having reserved the right to prosecute any of the individuals involved in future.

I am confident the current terms of reference are sufficiently broad to allow the Chair to present a substantial report with detailed findings and recommendations – including on the investigation and the extent to which Mr Bayoh’s actual or perceived race was a factor.

Question reference: S6O-04363

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it will reach a decision regarding extending the terms of reference for the inquiry into the death of Sheku Bayoh.