Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-28278

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 June 2024
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 2 July 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what recommendation has been made regarding the peak fares removal trial, following the ScotRail board meeting on 18 April 2024.

Question reference: S6W-28279

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 June 2024
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 2 July 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how it has consulted trade unions representing the workers in the rail industry during the ScotRail peak fares removal trial.

Question reference: S6W-28093

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 07 June 2024
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 20 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how it engages with rail companies that employ staff in Scotland, and in what ways it expects the Fair Work Framework principles to be applied.

Our vision is for Scotland to be a leading Fair Work Nation by 2025, where fair work drives success, wellbeing and prosperity for individuals, businesses, organisations and society. In the absence of powers over employment legislation, the Scottish Government encourages all employers in Scotland to adopt Fair Work practices and play their part in making Scotland a leading Fair Work Nation.

The Scottish Government expects public bodies to show leadership in that regard, and implement and promote Fair Work First in all relevant procurement processes (and suppliers delivering public contracts).

Scottish Rail Holdings (SRH) oversees the delivery of rail operations by ScotRail Train Limited and Caledonian Sleeper Limited, which moved into the public sector in April 2022 and June 2023 respectively. SRH has responsibility for engaging with its subsidiaries to promote fair work practices . In addition, the Scottish Ministers set out in their High Level Output Specification for the current 5 year railway funding period (2024 -2029) that they expect Network Rail in Scotland to follow the Scottish Government’s Fair Work principles.

Most cross-border passenger railway operators are the responsibility of the UK Government and this level of operational detail is not covered through Scottish Government engagement. The Scottish Government does not engage to this level either with ‘open-access’ operators which include all rail freight operators and rail charter operators.

Question reference: S6W-28094

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 07 June 2024
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 20 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what communication it has had with Avanti West Coast regarding the current dispute with the RMT union, in which catering staff have reportedly highlighted concerns regarding the disruption to work-life balance as a result of rosters being frequently amended at very short notice.

Whilst we expect public bodies to implement and promote Fair Work First in all relevant procurement processes, (and suppliers delivering public contracts) Avanti West Coast is contracted by, and reports directly to, the UK Government and the Scottish Government does not have the details of Avanti West Coast’s employment practices. The Scottish Government has not had any communication with Avanti West Coast on this matter, it is an operational matter for Avanti West Coast as employer.

Question reference: S6W-28092

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 07 June 2024
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 20 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the employment practices for caterers at Avanti West Coast are compliant with the Fair Work Framework.

Our vision is for Scotland to be a leading Fair Work Nation by 2025, where fair work drives success, wellbeing and prosperity for individuals, businesses, organisations and society. Whilst the Scottish Government expects public bodies to implement and promote Fair Work First in all relevant procurement processes (and suppliers delivering public contracts) Avanti West Coast is contracted by, and reports directly to the UK Government and the Scottish Government does not have the details of Avanti West Coast’s employment practices.

Question reference: S6O-03609

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 June 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 June 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many homes provided by social landlords have been identified as containing reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.

Question reference: S6O-03503

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 May 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates the first payment of Employment Injury Assistance will be made.

Question reference: S6O-03445

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 May 2024
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the owners of the Grangemouth refinery, its workers and trade unions regarding the future of the site.

Question reference: S6W-27069

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 April 2024
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 8 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of international research and the European Chemicals Agency’s evidence-based assessment for banning microplastic 3G crumb rubber infills, whether it will now take steps to immediately start phasing out this reported pollutant.

We will give full consideration to new research in this area, and we are supportive of efforts to examine evidence on the wider impacts of microplastics which will be material to helping shape any future regulation.

EU legislation designed to protect the environment from exposure to microplastics means that, from 2031, rubber crumb infill material will no longer be available for use on artificial pitches within the EU. We are working with the UK and Welsh Governments to better understand the impacts microplastics have on the environment and will consider the need for future legislation under for example the UK REACH regulation on the safety of chemicals.

sport scotland are following the study being conducted in the UK to measure the migration of micro plastics from pitches with the mitigation measures in place as per the CEN code of practice. This will conclude in 2025.

Question reference: S6W-27070

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 April 2024
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 8 May 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will conduct an assessment of any environmental impact of replacing grass pitches with artificial turf pitches that includes a full life-cycle assessment of the manufacture, use and disposal of artificial turf pitches and crumb rubber from playgrounds.

We will give full consideration to new research in this area, and we are supportive of efforts to examine evidence on the wider impacts of microplastics which will be material to helping shape any future regulation.

sport scotland are following the study being conducted in the UK to measure the migration of micro plastics from pitches with the mitigation measures in place as per the CEN code of practice. This will conclude in 2025.

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