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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: S5F-02607

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 17 September 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 September 2018

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will provide an update on the Scottish Breast Screening Programme, in light of reports that many women were not contacted for their final check-up.

Question reference: S5W-18197

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 5 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the upgrades to Ardrossan Harbour, and whether the home port will be moved to Troon while the upgrades are being made.

Work on the details of the preferred option for infrastructure improvements to the harbour is progressing well.

The Ardrossan Task Force is looking at arrangements for the continuity of ferry services during construction works at Ardrossan. The Task Force is committed to maintaining regular and reliable ferry services to Arran, and will endeavour to maximise the number of sailings operating out of Ardrossan as far as possible, subject to safety and operational constraints.

Question reference: S5W-18190

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 4 September 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to upgrade Ardrossan Harbour station.

There are no plans at this time to upgrade the station. Ardrossan Harbour Station will be considered within the wider Ardrossan Harbour Masterplan project. Engagement with partners is ongoing on the aspirations of improving the connectivity between the Ferry Hub and Rail Station.

The Ardrossan Harbour Masterplan project will deliver a package of improvements at Ardrossan. The proposals by Peel Ports and North Ayrshire Council include significant marine and landside infrastructure upgrades at Ardrossan Harbour including aspirations to improve connectivity with public and active travel modes and strengthen links to Ardrossan town.

Question reference: S5W-17936

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 29 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to converting the ScotRail fleet to make use of hydrogen technology.

The Scottish Government is investing significantly in the ScotRail fleet and electrification projects which will deliver important user benefits such as improved journey times, lower emissions, and reduced maintenance costs across the rail network in Scotland.

The Scottish Government's Programme for Government 2017-18 also indicated that we would develop new proposals to continue the reinvigoration of the Scottish rail network, including potentially introducing hybrid electric trains. The scope of the hybrid trains project will now be extended to consider hydrogen technology.

The work is in its early stages and will proceed in a way that ensures the safety of the network and yields viable results.

I shall provide an update to MSPs once substantive progress has been made.

Question reference: S5W-17934

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 29 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether the redevelopment of Glasgow Queen Street station is projected to be completed within the £120 million budget.

Network Rail has confirmed it currently anticipates the redevelopment of Glasgow Queen Street Station, part of the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP), being delivered within the original estimate of £120 million.

Scottish Ministers announced in March 2018 a further £80 million investment in the North Hanover Street car park site at the station. This investment, which is separate from EGIP, will deliver extensive retail, food and beverage opportunities resulting in an enhanced economic return. The development deck which will also be delivered will unlock wider development opportunities in the area, delivering substantial benefits for Glasgow.

Question reference: S5W-17935

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 29 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government when the roll-out of the Hitachi class 385 trains will be complete.

The latest output schedule from Hitachi shows that they plan to deliver all 70 class 385 trains to Scotland by next April. This will allow ScotRail to introduce the full fleet by the May 2019 timetable change date across various central belt routes.

The next tranche of trains to be accepted will support further driver training and the next service introduction milestone will see another three pairs introduced onto the Edinburgh/Glasgow (E-G) via Falkirk High route during September. As more new Hitachi trains enter passenger service across the central belt this in turn will allow more class 380 trains to be transferred back to Inverclyde services.

Question reference: S5W-18035

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 29 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government which railway stations are to be given improved accessible facilities for disabled people from the Access for All fund in 2019.

At the end of July 2018, the Department for Transport (DfT) formally launched the Inclusive Transport Strategy and invited Transport Scotland to nominate stations to be considered for future Control Period 6 Access for All funding.

Transport Scotland is currently working to identify which stations will be submitted for nomination. It is expected that the DfT will conclude the selection process early in 2019 and a list of the stations that have successfully secured funding will then be confirmed and advertised.

Question reference: S5W-17937

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 03 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 29 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how much it will spend on railway line electrification in the current parliamentary session.

The Scottish Government currently has three projects underway which involve railway line electrification; the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP), Shotts Electrification and Stirling Dunblane Alloa Electrification. On completion of each project, Network Rail will confirm the Final Costs which will include the specific spend against the works associated with railway line electrification.

The Scottish Government is currently determining the scope of projects to be undertaken in Control Period 6 (March 2019 – 2024) and therefore it is not possible to provide a cost estimate for future electrification projects up to 2021 at this time.

Question reference: S5W-18042

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 27 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether Bank of England notes are legal tender in Scotland and should be accepted as payment in stores.

No banknote, including Bank of England notes or notes issued by the Scottish banks, qualifies for the term 'legal tender' in Scotland. However, the term legal tender does not in itself govern the acceptability of banknotes in transactions. Whether or not notes have legal tender status, their acceptability as a means of payment is essentially a matter for agreement between the parties involved. Bank notes, including those issued by the Bank of England, continue to be accepted as a form of payment across Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-17901

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 July 2018
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 16 August 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that all public sector staff receive the same or similar pay increases regardless of the department or service for which they work.

Our approach to setting our public sector pay policy reflects the value the Scottish Government places on its public sector workforce and underpins our drive to create a more successful country focussing on business growth, jobs and fair work. Leading by example we have taken positive steps to address years of austerity by being the first UK government to lift the 1% pay cap. We have taken in to account cost of living and affordability to deliver a pay policy for 2018-19. A policy which balances the need for fairness and consistency across all public sector workforces with the flexibility for individual bodies to address local pay issues, working to advance earnings growth, particularly for those on lower incomes.

The pay policy set the framework for pay negotiations on public sector pay increases for both staff pay and senior appointments within the Scottish Government and its Associated Departments, Executive Agencies, Non-Departmental Public Bodies and Public Corporations in Scotland over the period 2018-19, a combined workforce of 37,500. The pay policy provides a guaranteed increase for lower paid staff and a cap for the highest earners but allows individual employers the flexibility to apply variable increases to address local pay issues such as pay inequalities and/or recruitment and retention. Details of the 2018-19 pay policy and who it applies to are detailed on the public sector pay webpages: www.gov.scot/publicsectorpay