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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.

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Question reference: S6W-09383

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 27 June 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 25 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether the maximum performance fee for the Serco Caledonian Sleeper Temporary Measures Agreement is capped at 1.5% of the cost base of the franchise, as was the case for its previous Emergency Measures Agreement, and, if that is not the case, what level it is capped at.

Question reference: S6W-09526

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 June 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 12 July 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to exclude P&O Ferries owner, DP World, from the consortiums bidding for a Green Freeport in Scotland.

The Green Freeports bidding process closed on 20 June and five bids were submitted from: North East Scotland Green Freeport; Clyde Green Freeport; Forth Green Freeport; Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport; and Orkney Green Freeport. Neither P&O Ferries nor DP World are involved in any of these bids.

The Scottish Government has been clear that fair work practices sit at the heart of Green Freeports and any application which does not show a clear commitment to fair work practices will not be supported by the Scottish Government. We are determined to ensure that Green Freeports will create significant numbers of good, green jobs, and deliver positive benefits for Scotland’s businesses, workers and communities.

Question reference: S6W-08838

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 May 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 21 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it was consulted by ScotRail on the reduction in train services that came into effect on 23 May 2022.

Question reference: S6W-08835

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 May 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 17 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how long it anticipates the temporary timetable introduced by ScotRail on 23 May 2022 will be in place.

ScotRail’s temporary timetable aims to provide the best possible service to as many passengers as possible with the available resources. The major determining factor is driver availability by rostered hours, location and with the necessary competencies, which fluctuates daily.

ScotRail has regularly reviewed the temporary timetable to take account of stakeholder feedback, wherever possible, and changes to driver availability and just recently was able to add additional services. With the positive progress made on pay negotiations with ASLEF, I have tasked ScotRail with reintroducing the previous timetable as soon as possible.

Question reference: S6O-01275

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 June 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will outline the role of Skills Development Scotland in delivering its economic recovery plans.

Question reference: S6W-08834

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 May 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 15 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when it was first informed of the changes by ScotRail to the train timetable that were introduced on 23 May 2022.

Question reference: S6W-08836

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 May 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 15 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will outline the changes in frequency to train services at (a) Shotts, (b) Airdrie, (c) Falkirk Grahamston, (d) Falkirk High and (e) Polmont railway station (i) from 23 May 2022 and (ii) as a result of the Fit for the Future timetable consultation.

The following table outlines the changes in frequency for the stations requested from ScotRail’s May 2022 Fit for the Future Timetable and ScotRail’s temporary timetable:-

Timetable data for standard weekday, correct as of 07 June 2022
Station	Timetable	Frequency (trains per hour [tph])
SHOTTS	May-22	To/from Glasgow - 1tph all day. ‎ To/from Edinburgh - 1tph all day. ‎ Additional services at peak times.
SHOTTS	Temporary	To/from Glasgow - 1tph all day. ‎ To/from Edinburgh - 1tph all day. ‎ Additional services at peak times.
AIRDRIE	May-22	To/from Glasgow - 4tph until evening, then 2tph. ‎ To/from Edinburgh - 2tph all day. ‎ Additional services at peak times.
AIRDRIE	Temporary	To/from Glasgow - 4tph all day. ‎ To/from Edinburgh - 2tph all day. ‎ Additional services at peak times.
FALKIRK GRAHAMSTON	May-22	To/from Glasgow - 1tph all day. ‎ To/from Edinburgh - 2tph until evening, then 1tph. ‎ To/from Dunblane - 2tph until evening, then 1tph. ‎ Additional services at peak times.
FALKIRK GRAHAMSTON	Temporary	To/from Glasgow - 1tph all day. ‎ To/from Edinburgh - 1tph until final gap of 4 hours. ‎ To/from Dunblane - 1tph all day. ‎ Additional services at peak times.
FALKIRK HIGH	May-22	To/from Glasgow - 2tph all day. ‎ To/from Edinburgh - 2tph all day. ‎ Additional Services at peak times.
FALKIRK HIGH	Temporary	To/from Glasgow - 2tph until final gap of 2 hours. ‎ To/from Edinburgh - 2tph until final gap of 2 hours.
POLMONT	May-22	To/from Dunblane - 2tph until evening, then 1tph. ‎ To/from Edinburgh - 4tph until evening, then 3tph. ‎ To/from Glasgow - 2tph all day. ‎ Additional services at peak times.
POLMONT	Temporary	To/from Dunblane - 1tph all day. ‎ To/from Edinburgh - 3tph until final gap of 2 hours. ‎ To/from Glasgow - 2tph until final gap of 2 hours. ‎ Additional services at peak times.

Question reference: S6W-08668

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 May 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 10 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what the overall percentage weighted score is for bids for Green Freeports in Scotland that have, or will only have, contracts with companies that have recognition agreements with trade unions.

The framework for assessing applications for Green Freeport status is described in the joint bidding prospectus published on 25 March, which can be accessed at Green Freeports in Scotland: bidding prospectus - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) . Applicants’ commitments in relation to fair work practices will be considered under the lead objective: promote regeneration and high quality job creation. Only applications which achieve a high score on this objective will be shortlisted for ministerial consideration.

Question reference: S6W-08671

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 May 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 10 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take in to ensure that workers in Green Freeports in Scotland will have access to trade unions with collective bargaining rights.

Question reference: S6W-08669

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 May 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 10 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the in the application for Green Freeports in Scotland, what the maximum percentage score is that is awarded for the applicants’ commitment to fair work practices.