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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-03802

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 17 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 31 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the road equivalent tariff would have on fares if the Arran ferry service was moved from Ardrossan to Troon.

We are committed to supporting our lifeline ferry services and providing the best possible service for the communities, who rely on these. We understand concerns about the affordability of ferry fares, which is why we have rolled out Road Equivalent Tariff fares across the entire Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services network.

The impact on Road Equivalent Tariff fares, were the Arran ferry service to relocate to Troon, will form part of Ministers’ considerations, along with a range of other factors.

Question reference: S5W-03608

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 10 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 27 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what the average wifi connection speed is on ScotRail trains.

Question reference: S5W-03605

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 10 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 27 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many and (b) what percentage of train (i) routes run by ScotRail and (ii) stations have wifi available.

Currently just under 50% of the ScotRail train fleet has wifi fitted on train. The train fleet serve inter-city routes, Ayrshire, Inverclyde, Renfrewshire, North Berwick/ Dunbar, Central Scotland, Fife and Far North routes.

There are 59 stations with wifi available from 358 stations which equates to around 16%. Stations with wifi available include a mix of busy stations, interchange and key stations.

Question reference: S5W-03805

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 17 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 25 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will use any budget underspend to help third sector organisations meet their living wage commitments.

The fiscal departmental expenditure limit (DEL) cash underspend for 2015-16, which is provisional at this stage, is being carried into the current financial year in full. In the context of continued post-Brexit economic challenge and uncertainty this is helping to fund the £100 million capital stimulus and other initiatives announced as part of the Programme for Government which will boost confidence, stimulate economic activity and support business in Scotland. We have maintained our core third sector budget at £24.5 million, and across the Scottish Government there are significant sums being invested in third sector organisations.

Question reference: S5W-03453

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5O-00175 by Humza Yousaf on 22 September 2016 (Official Report, c. 100), on what date the minister wrote to the ScotRail Alliance to request the improvement plan; whether it will publish a copy of the letter; when the plan was agreed; whether it will publish the plan in full; by what date customers will see improved services, and what the improvements will consist of.

In line with the franchise’s agreed provisions, Transport Scotland wrote to ScotRail on 26 August 2016 to request the improvement plan. ScotRail’s response was received by Transport Scotland on 16 September.

The plan has now been published by ScotRail:

https://www.scotrail.co.uk/sites/default/files/assets/download_ct/performanceimprovementplanoctober2016.pdf

ScotRail have also provided a background statement: https://www.scotrail.co.uk/about-scotrail/news/scotrail-alliance-publishes-details-performance-improvement-plan

Question reference: S5O-00251

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 October 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making towards the full implementation of the Town Centre Action Plan.

Question reference: S5W-02855

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 27 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how many statutory quality (a) partnerships and (b) contracts have been introduced.

Question reference: S5W-02862

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 27 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of the town centre investment zones that have been established under the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015.

As pledged in our Town Centre Action Plan, we created powers for local authorities to establish a Town Centre Investment Zone using discretionary rates relief to encourage local business. The discretionary rates relief power was established by the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015, commenced in October 2015 and has already been used in 2016. It is up to local authorities whether and how to use this power, and we remain keen to discuss options for supporting a pilot Town Centre Investment Zone scheme with interested local authorities.

Question reference: S5W-02858

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 27 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how statutory quality (a) partnerships and (b) contracts for bus services are (i) monitored and (ii) audited.

Question reference: S5W-02852

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 27 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what it defines as "wholesale re-regulation" in relation to bus services.