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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: S4W-18561

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 November 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 9 December 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to ensure that the pension arrangements of staff on the Caledonian Sleeper Service are not adversely affected by the separation of the franchise from the ScotRail franchise.

Discussions are at an advanced stage regarding the details of the Railway Pension Scheme that staff of the (future) Caledonian Sleeper Franchisee will have access to. Scottish Ministers have committed to continue to ensure that Franchisees will maintain pensions within the Railway Pensions Scheme for both Franchises and to ensure that the pension arrangements for staff on the future Caledonian Sleeper Franchisee are not adversely affected by the separation of the Caledonian Sleeper Franchise from the main ScotRail Franchise.

Question reference: S4W-18565

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 November 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 9 December 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what the partnering relationship will be between Transport Scotland and the Caledonian Sleeper Service franchisee.

Question reference: S4W-18560

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 November 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 9 December 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what pension scheme the staff of the Caledonian Sleeper Service will have access to.

Question reference: S4W-18562

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 November 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 9 December 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what capital investment it will make for (a) rolling stock refurbishment and (b) stations in relation to the Caledonian Sleeper Service.

Question reference: S4W-18564

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 November 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 9 December 2013

To ask the Scottish Government who, other than the franchisee, will receive Caledonian Sleeper Service investment funding and how much.

Question reference: S4W-18563

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 November 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 9 December 2013

To ask the Scottish Government how the £100 million investment for improved service provision on the Caledonian Sleeper Service will be allocated.

The precise mix of investment that delivers a transformative whole-journey experience will be determined by the winning bidder. However, at least £50 million of public money has been made available for rolling stock improvements. However, that is not fixed and we remain open to proposals of up to £60 million from bidders where the additional investment offers a financial return. Up to a further £6 million has been made available for investment in station facilities.

Significant enhancements to the rail infrastructure, including improvements to the Highland Main Line, have already been committed for delivery from April 2014. Totalling over £100 million alone, this investment in the infrastructure will support improvements to the operation of Caledonian Sleeper services. In line with the ORR’s Determination for CP5 the Scottish Government will also ensure payment of the proportion of track access cost charges allocated to the new, separate Caledonian Sleeper franchise.

Question reference: S4O-02604

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 November 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 November 2013

To ask the Scottish Government when it last discussed student numbers with Colleges Scotland and the Scottish Funding Council.

Question reference: S4W-17626

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 October 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 25 October 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17247 by Keith Brown on 1 October 2013, which rail services use the Winchburgh tunnel; what the diversionary routes will be for each service, and whether the franchise holder will receive compensation for extended journey times.

The following rail services currently use the Winchburgh tunnel:

Edinburgh to Glasgow via Falkirk High

Dunblane to Edinburgh

Alloa to Edinburgh

East Coast

Arriva cross country

ScotRail West Highland Sleeper

The diversionary route for these services will be via Dalmeny. Compensation will be paid to the franchise holder for the disruption caused by the Winchburgh tunnel closure. The closure is currently estimated to last 44 days with a current estimate for compensation of £10 million. Ongoing work continues to be undertaken by the relevant parties to reduce these figures further.

Question reference: S4W-17248

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 September 2013
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 1 October 2013

To ask the Scottish Government how much it would cost to include the Dalmeny chord in the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme using a (a) flat and (b) grade-separated junction.

Question reference: S4W-17247

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 September 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 1 October 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Winchburgh tunnel will be closed during the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme construction works and, if so, for how long.

Whilst further work is required to reach a definitive position, Network Rail have confirmed that, having examined all the options with a view to minimising disruption, a closure will be necessary. However, Network Rail also advise that this closure will be significantly less than the 12 weeks that have been reported elsewhere. The works will be carried out during the summer months and all connections will be maintained via diversionary routes.