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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-25870

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 October 2019
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 30 October 2019

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish guidance regarding the provision of bus services by transport authorities.

The Transport (Scotland) Bill was passed on 10 October and is anticipated to receive Royal Assent before the end of this year.

A good deal of preparatory work will be undertaken on the significant volume of regulations and guidance required in relation to the new provisions on bus services. My officials will be engaging with local transport authorities and operators over the coming months in taking this work forward with a view to beginning commencement of the provisions during 2020.

Question reference: S5W-25815

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 14 October 2019
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 30 October 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) revenues or (b) inter-group loans from Serco Group plc have been used to fund the operation of the current Northern Isles Ferry Services contract with Serco NorthLink Ferries since July 2012.

The Scottish Government can confirm that no revenues, or intergroup loans, from Serco Group plc have been used to fund the operation of the current Northern Isles Ferry Services (NIFS) contract with Serco NorthLink Ferries since July 2012.

Commercial revenues received within the NIFS contract are taken into account when determining the subsidy received from the Scottish Government. i.e. increased revenue received from operating the ferry services reduces the level of Scottish Government subsidy required.

Question reference: S5W-25817

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 14 October 2019
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 30 October 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the annual cost to (a) public funds and (b) Serco NorthLink from the planned (i) maintenance and (ii) dry docking of the publicly-owned fleet during the 2019-27 Northern Isles Ferry Services contract.

We initially estimated the total contract value at some £370 million. It is for the operator to deliver costed service solutions that fall within that initial value.

Although annual subsidy requirements will be published on a retrospective basis, financial details of the successful bidder's tender, including planned maintenance and dry docking will remain commercially confidential.

This remains a live procurement and there is a limit on what further information can be provided at this time. A redacted version of the signed contract will subsequently be made available on Transport Scotland's website.

Question reference: S5W-25818

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 14 October 2019
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 30 October 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the cost to (a) public funds and (b) Serco NorthLink of planned improvements to the terminal facilities at Hatston, Kirkwall during the 2019-27 contract for Northern Isles Ferry Services, and when it expects those improvements to be completed.

We initially estimated the total contract value at some £370 million. It is for the operator to deliver costed service solutions that fall within that initial value.

Although annual subsidy requirements will be published on a retrospective basis, financial details of the successful bidder's tender, including improvements to the terminal facilities at Hatston, Kirkwall, will remain commercially confidential.

Question reference: S5W-25814

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 14 October 2019
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 30 October 2019

To ask the Scottish Government on what (a) cost, (b) quality or (c) other grounds David MacBrayne Ltd’s bid for the Northern Isles Ferry Services contract from 31 October 2019 was unsuccessful.

Question reference: S5W-25872

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 October 2019
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 30 October 2019

To ask the Scottish Government when it will announce the levels of funding for the next phase of the Learning Estate Investment Programme, and what the timescale will be for local authorities to bid for this.

Question reference: S5W-25816

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 14 October 2019
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 30 October 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether there is a subsidy claw back provision in the 2019-27 contract for Northern Isles Ferry Services awarded to Serco NorthLink.

Question reference: S5W-25855

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 October 2019
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 29 October 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with COSLA on its Programme for Government announcement to invest an additional £15 million in additional support for learning.

The Scottish Government has had a number of discussions with CoSLA about our commitment to invest an additional £15 million in additional support for learning.

We are engaging with CoSLA to agree how this commitment will be implemented across Scotland to build capacity within education authorities and schools to respond more effectively to the individual needs of children and young people; and enhance learning outcomes to ensure young people reach their future potential.

Question reference: S5W-25854

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 October 2019
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 29 October 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how many additional support for learning staff have been employed during each of the last 10 years, also broken down by local authority.

We want all children and young people to receive the support they need to reach their full potential.

We are clear that all school staff provide additional support for learning, not just support for learning staff.

Information on the number of staff employed during each of the last 10 years, broken down by local authority can be found here:

https://www2.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education
/SupportStaff

https://www2.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/
teachcenssuppdata

https://www.webarchive.org.uk/wayback/archive/20180515164130/
http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2010/02/09090009/110 .

Question reference: S5W-25873

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 October 2019
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 29 October 2019

To ask the Scottish Government on what date it (a) received or (b) expects to receive the report by the Planning and Environmental Appeals Division on the public inquiry on the Whitesands Flood Protection Scheme, and when it will announce its decision whether to proceed with or reject the scheme.