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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: S6W-22771

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 21 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry, which is investigating the construction of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, and the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, and Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Edinburgh, is likely to deliver its findings.

In a meeting between myself and Lord Brodie on 15 November 2023, Lord Brodie provided an update on the Inquiry’s progress and the forthcoming hearings on both Edinburgh and Glasgow hospitals. Whilst no date for presenting recommendations has been published, the Chair provided assurances of his dedication to concluding the Inquiry promptly whilst ensuring the focus remains on fulfilling the Inquiry Terms of Reference.

Question reference: S6W-22619

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 15 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has tabled any formal proposals to the recognised trade unions regarding an extension of driver-only operation on the ScotRail network.

Question reference: S6W-22622

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 10 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the RMT union about a further extension of driver-only operation on the ScotRail network.

Question reference: S6W-22620

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 10 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce driver-only or driver-controlled operation on any newly electrified routes, including the (a) Barrhead, (b) East Kilbride and (c) Kilmarnock routes.

Question reference: S6W-22621

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 November 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 10 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to fulfil the 2016 agreement between ScotRail and the RMT union that there would be a guaranteed safety critical conductor on every new electrified train.

Question reference: S6O-02707

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 November 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that notice of industrial action has been served on Scottish Water.

Question reference: S6W-22273

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 31 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the waiting time is for knee replacement surgery in each NHS board area as of October 2023.

Question reference: S6W-21960

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 23 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what steps have been taken to increase station and booking office staffing levels, including filling all current vacancies, to meet any anticipated increase in passenger usage during the ScotRail peak fares removal pilot.

ScotRail officials advise that, independently from ScotRail Peak Fares Removal pilot, it is working to reduce the number of current vacancies by introducing a new recruitment method to advertise externally with more general adverts now being used rather than advertising for specific roles. This will enable ScotRail to recruit for various roles simultaneously to speed up the process of filling vacancies.

ScotRail has also secured additional external support to work alongside its internal recruitment team, which is now in place.

Question reference: S6W-21961

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 23 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) reduced and (b) extended opening hours are under consideration for any booking offices on the ScotRail network.

There are no plans to close any ScotRail booking offices, unlike plans from UK Government to close ticket offices operated by its train operators. The importance of staff being deployed appropriately across the network to enhance passenger safety and control of antisocial behaviour is clear.

It is important to consider how best to continue to offer services that support those customers who need staff assistance, while also taking into account the substantial increase in ticket purchases made across digital platforms.

Question reference: S6W-21964

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 23 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of new train stations that opened in the parliamentary session (a) from 12 May 1999 to 6 May 2003, (b) 7 May 2003 to 8 May 2003, (c) 9 May 2007 to 10 May 2011, (d) 11 May 2011 to 11 May 2016, (e) 12 May 2016 to 12 May 2021 and (f) 13 May 2021 to date, broken down by those that include (i) staffed booking office facilities and (ii) ticket machines.