Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-03721

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 16 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, what the anticipated benefits were of the double-tracking and electrification of the East Kilbride line in relation to (a) modal shift, (b) rail passenger numbers and (c) any potential increase in timetabled services, and how each of these have been impacted by its reported decision not to proceed with double-tracking.

The benefits of the project, post Covid-19, remain the same in terms of delivering a carbon free journey for rail passengers along the entire length of the route and has been improved by the inclusion of a range of accessibility improvements at key stations. This includes a new station at Hairmyres which will also be an active travel and interchange hub.

This preferred option was recommended by and agreed with rail industry partners Network Rail and ScotRail following detailed consideration of a wide range of options, the business case appraisal of which has followed appropriate Scottish Government processes. This analysis took account of ScotRail’s pre-covid passenger count data and the industry’s forecasted post-Covid demand patterns, which the preferred combined electrified double and single track option will be able to serve fully and more reliably than the current diesel train operation.

Question reference: S6W-03722

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 15 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the funding allocated to the East Kilbride line electrification and upgrade project will be reallocated, in light of its reported decision not to proceed with double-tracking between Busby and East Kilbride railway stations.

I am pleased to confirm that, notwithstanding the severe financial pressures caused by the Covid Pandemic, sufficient funding can be made available to complete fully the preferred option for the electrification and significant enhancement of both the East Kilbride and Barrhead routes.

This preferred option was recommended by and agreed with rail industry partners Network Rail and ScotRail following detailed consideration of a wide range of options, the business case appraisal of which has followed appropriate Scottish Government processes

Question reference: S6W-04127

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 15 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what the outcome has been of any action it has taken to support Rolls Royce employees affected by redundancy in finding employment or training.

The Scottish Government have, and continue to, provide support to former Rolls-Royce employees through our PACE initiative for responding to redundancy situations. This provides affected individuals with the necessary skills and employability support to get back into work as quickly as possible. This includes utilising the National Training Transition Fund to help people take advantage of jobs available in growth areas of the economy, such as digital and green technologies.

In addition, Skills Development Scotland undertook the “Aerospace Workforce Survey” using both online and telephone questionnaires in May and June of this year with a response rate of 65% (195 responses from 298 contacts). More than half of those surveyed had found work in another sector in Scotland, and one in eight had found alternative work in the Scottish Aerospace sector. Those with higher level qualifications were most likely to have found another aerospace job.

A further 14% had found aerospace related work in England. Those who had left the aerospace sector were most likely to have gone into the Medical or Defence sectors, with others going into Manufacturing, Marine Engineering, Renewables and Scientific Instruments.

Just under one in ten of those responding were currently unemployed and looking for work and a further 3% were retraining. Those with lower level qualifications were much more likely to be unemployed, or retraining to improve their employment prospects. Those who were able to find another aerospace job were more likely to be working at a similar or higher level to their previous position. Those who had changed sector were much more likely to be working at a lower level; with lower earnings or less responsibility.

At the time of leaving employment all employees were invited to participate in PACE Redundancy support seminars and ,as a follow up to the survey, individuals received follow up contact from SDS Careers Advisors and opportunities continue to be promoted to those consenting to further contact.

Question reference: S6W-04125

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 12 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government for what reasons the Rolls Royce Working Group was reportedly disbanded, and on which date this was communicated to task force members.

Following the decision by the Rolls-Royce workforce to accept a Memorandum of Understanding that guaranteed manufacturing at the Inchinnan facility for at least the next five years, the Rolls-Royce Working Group membership took the joint decision at a meeting in 11 March 2021 to transition toward a new strategic relationship between Scotland and Rolls-Royce. This would enable the business and the Scottish Government to consider potential opportunity areas in line with our shared ambitions.

Question reference: S6W-04126

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 12 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the status of the Aerospace Response Group.

Question reference: S6O-00401

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 November 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with trade unions regarding the impact of winter pressures on the NHS workforce.

Question reference: S6W-03725

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 10 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what impact its reported decision not to proceed with double-tracking the East Kilbride line will have on the (a) redevelopment of (i) East Kilbride and (ii) Hairmyres railway station and (b) ambition to increase rail services between East Kilbride and Glasgow to four per hour.

The decision to deliver the full electrification of the single track option between East Kilbride and Busby does not impact on the redevelopment of (i) East Kilbride and (ii) Hairmyres railway station. The project will deliver enhanced station facilities at East Kilbride and the construction of the new Hairmyres station with the enhanced facilities will be transformational in providing an active travel hub for passengers along this vital route.

This project will deliver for local communities with much needed accessibility improvements at key stations along the length of the route and the full electrification of the corridor will deliver a step change in capacity by using greener trains. Should passenger demand levels increase post Covid-19, this demand can be met by using increased train capacity rather than providing additional services.

Question reference: S6W-03724

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 10 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what representations Network Rail made to (a) it and (b) Transport Scotland regarding its reported decision not to proceed with double-tracking the East Kilbride line.

The decision to proceed to Final Business Case with full electrification with single track option of the East Kilbride to Busby route was made collaboratively with Network Rail and considering evidence from rail industry partners, as part of the rail projects pipeline business case development process.

The Final Business Case development work will now assess how the existing infrastructure can be optimised to support a more resilient timetable and how the electrification of passengers services along the route can be achieved. This is a key stage in ensuring a robust business case which would underpin any future investment decision by the Scottish Government.

Question reference: S6W-03723

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 10 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when it took the reported decision not to proceed with double-tracking the East Kilbride line, and who took the decision.

The decision to proceed with the single track electrification option and a demand led infrastructure specification from Outline Business Case to Final Business Case was arrived at following an extensive joint railway industry business case development process in line with Scottish Government appraisal guidance.

It was a recommendation based on the evidence presented in the Outline Business Case. The final decision was endorsed by Transport Scotland’s investment decision makers on 7 September 2021.

Question reference: S6W-03368

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 18 October 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether civil servants who have been tasked with preparing plans for an independence referendum will be redeployed to assist the Scottish Ambulance Service, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

We recognise the extreme pressure facing the Scottish Ambulance Service due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and our thanks go out to the paramedics, technicians and wider ambulance staff for the continued work they are doing in exceptionally challenging circumstances.

Last month, the Scottish Government announced an additional package of support for the Scottish Ambulance Service, backed by an additional £20 million, which will help increase capacity and improve response times and staff wellbeing.

On 7 September 2021, the Scottish Government published the 2021/22 Programme for Government which confirmed that the Scottish Government will start work on a detailed prospectus for an independent Scotland. The Scottish Government is now determining how this work will proceed and the resourcing it requires, as we do for delivering all commitments in the Programme for Government. It is the role of the civil service to support delivery across the full range of Government commitments.

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