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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: S5W-35462

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 February 2021
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 9 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many electrical charging points there are on the A9.

Question reference: S5W-35463

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 February 2021
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 4 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its consultation on free bus travel for under-19s who are resident in Scotland.

The consultation on free bus travel for people resident in Scotland aged under 19 was carried out between 26 October and 7 December 2020, attracting over 3,000 responses.

An analysis of these responses was published on 21 January 2021 together with the responses themselves where consent had been given. Both the analysis and the responses are available on the Scottish Government’s Consultation Hub at Consultation on free bus travel for people resident in Scotland aged under 19 - Scottish Government - Citizen Space .

The responses to the consultation informed the draft National Bus Travel Concession Scheme for Young Persons (Scotland) Order 2021, which was laid in Parliament on 21 January 2021. If approved, this will enable the creation of a new scheme to provide free bus travel to all Scottish residents aged under 19. The scheme is intended to become operational as soon as practicable during the financial year 2021-22.

Question reference: S5W-35464

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 February 2021
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 3 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-34432 by Fiona Hyslop on 20 January 2021, whether it is now in a position to provide an update on the cost estimate for the two vessels under construction at Ferguson Marine in Port Glasgow.

Question reference: S5O-05044

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 February 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 February 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures value for money when investing in private companies.

Question reference: S5F-04757

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 25 January 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 January 2021

To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government is helping flat owners affected by dangerous cladding.

Question reference: S5O-04944

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 January 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scottish Prison Service’s annual report for 2019-20.

Question reference: S5W-33651

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 17 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is considering procuring a catamaran to operate on the Oban-Mull route and, if so, what stage its considerations are at.

The Scottish Government is aware of a potential opportunity to purchase a catamaran being promoted by the vessels owners. It is currently under construction in Indonesia.

We understand that discussions are taking place between the vessel’s owner and the Maritime Coastguard Agency to determine the ability of the ship to meet regulatory requirements for operating safely in Scottish waters. This is an essential criteria in the search for additional tonnage.

Should the vessels owners be able to confirm that this can be achieved, further consideration will be given to the purchase in line with the normal process for considering a new vessel. This would include operational suitability and cost, detailed cost benefit analysis and consideration of affordability of introducing an additional vessel into the fleet earlier than currently planned.

Question reference: S5F-04573

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 16 November 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 November 2020

To ask the First Minister when the Scottish Government expects a Freeport to open in Scotland.

Question reference: S5O-04765

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 November 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the latest police strength statistics.

Question reference: S5W-32694

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 October 2020
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 6 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made in planning for an upgrade of the A82 between Tarbet and Inverarnan.

Transport Scotland is currently taking forward the detailed development and assessment of the preferred option for the scheme, which includes giving detailed consideration to mitigating disruption to road users during construction of this extremely challenging scheme. This preparation work is essential to ensure a robust scheme is produced in line with existing legislation, which considers the needs of individuals, road users and the local community.

While there is still a lot of development work to be carried out, which is being informed by our enhanced understanding of the specific complexities associated with improving this iconic route, we continue to push forward the preparation stages to deliver this scheme as soon as possible.