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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-11192

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 21 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to improve connectivity between Inverness Airport and the central belt.

We are continuing to take forward extensive investment to improve connectivity between Inverness, including Inverness Airport and the central belt. Included within these plans are proposals to dual the A9 and A96, including the section of the A96 immediately adjacent to the airport. On the rail network, there are planned upgrades to the Aberdeen to Inverness rail corridor and on the Highland Main Line from Inverness to Perth. In addition, there is a proposal for a new station at Dalcross, located adjacent to Inverness Airport.

Question reference: S5O-01293

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 September 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that young people from Scotland are not limited in their ability to go to university.

Question reference: S5W-11191

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 20 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of each of the proposed options to establish a rail link with Glasgow Airport as part of the Glasgow and Clyde Valley City Deal, including what the economic impact would be (a) locally and (b) nationally.

Question reference: S5W-11188

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 20 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is regarding the construction of an Aberdeen Airport rail link.

Scottish Government currently has no plans to construct a direct rail link to Aberdeen Airport.

However, Transport Scotland officials met with Aberdeen City Council to hear their proposals for an Airport rail link in November 2016. As is normal in such circumstances, we have advised promoters that they should follow the appropriate Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) process to allow proper consideration of the issues, options and proposed schemes.

We are not aware of any appraisal work being undertaken but look forward to reviewing the information when available.

Question reference: S5W-11194

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 20 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to encourage more airlines to operate from Scotland's airports.

To support route development at Scotland’s airports, the Scottish Government adopts a Team Scotland approach. This sees Transport Scotland, Scottish Enterprise and VisitScotland work in partnership with Scotland’s airports to provide support to airlines in a way which can be instrumental in an airline deciding to start a new route or develop an existing service. We can provide support to airlines in the form of attractive cooperative marketing packages, and also provide market intelligence and data to airlines on the potential of the Scottish market. Additional support can be considered for airlines who wish to base aircraft in Scotland in order to facilitate the economic benefits, including job creation, that comes with such a development.

Improving Scotland’s air connectivity is one of this Government’s top priorities, as it will help build strong business links and provide a real boost to our tourism industry. Our support has helped Scotland’s airports secure new routes to other parts of the UK, Europe, the Middle East and North America. The Scottish Government will continue to promote Scotland as a destination which can sustain more direct air services and better global hub connectivity and we will continue to work with all Scotland’s airports to achieve these objectives.

Question reference: S5O-01263

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 20 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the future of railway policing in Scotland.

Work on the integration of railway policing into Police Scotland is being taken forward by a Joint Programme Board led by the Scottish and UK Governments and with membership from British Transport Police, Police Scotland and both Authorities. The Scottish Government has made a commitment to provide ongoing reports to Parliament on progress towards integration, with the next update expected in October.

Question reference: S5W-11100

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 19 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has conducted an assessment into the feasibility of rail or road connections between Scotland and Ireland.

The Scottish Government has not conducted any assessment into the feasibility of rail or road connections between Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of providing good transport links between Scotland and Northern Ireland via the Cairnryan Port facilities and over the last ten years has invested approximately £80 million on improvements to the A75 and A77. We are also committed to delivering the A77 Maybole Bypass, with construction expected to begin in 2018.

Furthermore, we will shortly take forward the “Programme for Government” commitment to commence work for the second Strategic Transport Projects Review in the Dumfries and Galloway area including looking at access to the ports at Cairnryan.

Question reference: S5W-11098

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 19 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what the projected cost is for its electric bicycle scheme as set out in its Programme for Government.

We are currently working with all our partners to decide the best and most cost effective way to deliver on the Programme for Government commitment on the promotion of electric bikes. We will ensure that the £80 million funding announced as part of the Programme for Government promotes an inclusive agenda for all ages and abilities in delivering our Active Nation Vision for Scotland. Announcements will be made in due course.

Question reference: S5W-11136

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 19 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what it expects the cost will be of enforcing the proposed low emission zones.

Question reference: S5W-10924

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 August 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 19 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of reported concerns regarding train delays in the west of Scotland.

The situation for train performance in the West of Scotland, including delays, is advised to the Scottish Ministers on a regular basis. ScotRail publish their performance statistics for each sector on a four-weekly basis:

https://www.scotrail.co.uk/performance-and-reliability

https://www.scotrail.co.uk/sites/default/files/assets/download_ct/schedule_7_web_upload_p1718_05.pdf

This reporting is analysed to assess ScotRail’s performance against their contractual benchmarks.