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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-20842

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 16 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether its respiratory action plan will recommend that GPs receive more training on interstitial lung disease.

Question reference: S5W-20840

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 16 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to raise public awareness of interstitial lung disease and its symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.

NHS Inform is Scotland's national health information service that aims to provide people with accurate and relevant information to help them make informed decisions about their own health. This includes information about symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of interstitial lung disease.

Scottish Government works closely with third sector organisations to raise awareness of respiratory conditions, including interstitial lung disease.

Question reference: S5W-20825

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 16 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the publication of its draft Budget, whether it will provide an update on its replacement and investment strategy for vessels on publicly subsidised ferry contracts.

High level indicative investment programmes for vessels and harbours were set out in the Ferries Plan 2013-2022 – these were and remain subject to affordability and changing priorities.

The most recent version of the Vessel Replacement and Deployment Plan was published on 31 January 2018. That plan gives an overview of how existing, planned and prospective vessels could be deployed across the Clyde and Hebrides network to deliver the commitments set out in the Scottish Ferries Plan. Work is progressing on an update to the Vessel Replacement and Deployment Plan and this will be published in the near future.

Question reference: S5T-01427

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 07 January 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken in response to recent delays and cancellations on the ScotRail network.

Question reference: S5W-20512

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 20 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that ScotRail rolling stock is maintained in Scotland.

I have formally written to Gemini Rail Services UK Ltd and requested the assurance from Gemini Rail Services that existing contracted work at Springburn will be completed at Springburn and not transferred anywhere else in the UK. TS officials meet with Rolling Stock owners on a regular basis and continue to encourage them to utilise the Scottish based supply chain where possible. The routine maintenance of ScotRail rolling stock is carried out in Scotland by ScotRail at its maintenance depots.

Question reference: S5W-20511

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 20 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that the lease is renewed on the ScotRail maintenance depot at Springburn prior to the March 2019 deadline.

Question reference: S5W-20510

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 20 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that ScotRail's property and facilities management function remains in-house.

Question reference: S5W-20280

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 14 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-17823 by Michael Matheson on 10 August 2018, which stations that are (a) partially and (b) not accessible it (i) plans to improve access at, broken down by the date that this improvement work will (A) commence and (B) be completed and (ii) does not plan to improve access at, broken down by reason.

A list showing the extent of accessibility at each of Scotland’s railway stations is available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib number 60294).

The Scottish Government priority list of stations for the Access for All Programme, a reserved matter and funded by the UK Government, for rail control period 6 (CP6) (2019 to 2024), is currently being considered by the UK’s Department of Transport. The UK Government sets the criteria that determines which stations can be included in the Access for All Programme.

The remaining rail control period 5 (CP5) accessibility improvement projects, at Kilmarnock and Kilwinning, are due to be completed by December 2018 and March 2019 respectively.

Furthermore, the Scottish Government has committed to improve accessibility at; Aviemore, Pitlochry, Livingston South, Cleland, Addiewell and Fauldhouse during CP6.

It is the policy of Scottish Ministers to have all rail matters, including accessibility, fully devolved to the Scottish Government. We will always look to improve accessibility as part of our wider rail investments and intend to make all stations fully accessible .

Question reference: S5W-20184

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 26 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 13 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how much Transport Scotland has received in committed obligation payment adjustments each year under the current ScotRail franchise.

Committed Obligation Payment Adjustments are financial payments for the late or unfulfilled delivery of Committed Obligations.

The values of individual Committed Obligation Payment Adjustments are redacted from the publicly available Franchise Agreement due to commercial interests and competitive sensitivities within ScotRail’s extensive supply chain. We are currently in discussion with ScotRail on whether an overall value can be released at this stage, given the live commercial nature of a number of key committed obligations with suppliers.

I will provide the member with a response to the question, following the conclusion of on-going commercial discussions with the ScotRail Franchisee.

Question reference: S5O-02723

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 December 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met Dumfries and Galloway Council, and what was discussed.