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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-14926

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 10 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to change the structure of the board of Scottish Rail Holdings, including the number of non-executive directors.

Question reference: S6W-15000

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 17 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the reported announcement of a review by the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service into the process for warrants to energy companies regarding the forced installation of meters, in light of the recent guidance issued by Lord Justice Edis to courts in England and Wales that applications for warrants of entry to domestic premises for the purpose of installing a pre-payment meter should cease with immediate effect.

The Scottish Government welcomes the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service announcement of a review into the process for dealing with warrants. The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service exercises its functions independently of Government - it is entirely a matter for the SCTS to consider what action is necessary here.

The guidance issued by Lord Justice Edis seeks to prevent utility warrant applications being made and considered in bulk. That is already the position in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-15314

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 24 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on local authorities pursuing parents for school meal debt during a cost of living crisis, and what plans it has to prevent this.

We recognise that rises in the cost of living are putting a huge strain on some families and they are facing unforeseen challenges.

The management of debt is an issue for education authorities and their finance departments. Councils have the power to make discretionary offers of free school meals to families, where they are experiencing financial hardship due to exceptional circumstances, who do not meet the regular eligibility criteria.

COSLA, working with partners from across Local Government, have developed a set of good practice principles for the management of school meal debt, which were published on 20 February 2023. The intended audience for these principles is local authority staff across a range of departments (including education, catering, finance and debt collection) as well as Head Teachers, class teachers and other school staff. The principles can be accessed through the following link: COSLA Publish Good Practice Principles for Managing School Meal Debt - 20th February 2023 | COSLA

Question reference: S6W-14927

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 10 February 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government who the current acting chief executive officer of Scottish Rail Holdings is; how long it is intended that they will be in this position; how many days they are contracted to work in the post, and what their remuneration is for these duties.

Question reference: S6W-14924

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 10 February 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how long the current board members of Scottish Rail Holdings (a) have been and (b) are due to be contracted in those positions.

Details of the current membership of Scottish Rail Holdings Board is available on Companies House via the following link:- https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/SC548826

The Chief Executive Officer, Rail Business Director, Finance Director and General Counsel of Scottish Rail Holdings are normally permanent roles. The Non-Executive Directors of Scottish Rail Holdings Board were appointed on an interim basis to the 31 March 2023.

Question reference: S6W-14855

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 February 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to abolish return fares on ScotRail services.

Question reference: S6W-14798

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 February 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can commit to setting a (a) start date and (b) timetable for its national conversation on rail services, as announced by the Minister for Transport in the Scottish Parliament on 9 February 2022.

The National Rail Conversation will be formally launched in April to mark the one year anniversary of ScotRail coming in to public ownership. Through the National Rail Conversation, we will listen to feedback from passengers, staff and stakeholders to shape a vision for ScotRail which best meets the needs of the people of Scotland. I will announce the timetable for the conversation at the launch.

Question reference: S6W-14802

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 February 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to expand the membership of Scottish Rail Holdings to include representatives of (a) Unite the Union, (b) the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association, (c) the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers and (d) the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen, which represent ScotRail workers.

Question reference: S6W-14799

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 February 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has plans to increase the number of apprenticeships working for ScotRail as (a) drivers and (b) engineers.

While recruitment is an operational matter for ScotRail to manage, the Scottish Government is supportive of ScotRail’s target to increase apprenticeships.

ScotRail, working in partnership with Skills Development Scotland and the Train Drivers union ASLEF, is developing a new Modern Apprenticeship Framework in Train Driving.

Over the past 2 decades ScotRail has offered apprenticeships in engineering across all 4 of its depots. The 2023 cohort will see a 100% increase in apprenticeship numbers on the previous year’s intake. ScotRail will continue to identify apprenticeship opportunities as part of the workforce planning activity to support skills needs and employment opportunities.

Question reference: S6W-14642

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 6 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what funding is available to local authorities towards the maintenance of defibrillators in schools.

Funding for Local Authorities is provided through the annual block grant settlement from the Scottish Government. Local authorities should use funding resources allocated to them in the manner which they believe will best meet local needs and circumstances within their respective areas.

Therefore, decisions on the installation and maintenance of defibrillators in schools is a matter for Local Authorities to consider at the local level.

A number of organisations provide advice and support for the purchasing and maintenance of defibrillators. This includes

The British Heart Foundation: https://www.bhf.org.uk/how-you-can-help/how-to-save-a-life/defibrillators/apply-for-a-public-access-defibrillator

St Johns Scotland Public Access Community Defibrillators | St John Scotland