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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-11275

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 22 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many special advisers and consultants are employed by Transport Scotland, and what their total annual salary is.

Question reference: S5W-11273

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 22 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of trains arrived on time in the second quarter of 2017.

The lateness of ScotRail services is measured using the industry standard of the Public-Performance-Measure (PPM), and reported by four-weekly periods. In the second quarter of calendar-2017, PPM was as follows:

Period 1,1-29 April	93.6%
Period 2, 30 April - 27 May	91.6%
Period 3, 28 May - 24 June	92.0%

More information on ScotRail’s performance can be found at this weblink: https://www.scotrail.co.uk/performance-and-reliability

Question reference: S5W-11274

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 22 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many staff are employed by Transport Scotland, and what their total annual salary is.

Question reference: S5W-11138

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 22 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to mitigate the potential disproportional impact on diesel car drivers when the proposed low emission zones come into effect, and whether it will introduce any (a) schemes to help drivers switch to petrol or electric cars and (b) transitional period for people living and working in low emission zones who could incur a charge as a result.

The Switched on Scotland Action Plan provides a range of incentives to local authorities and individuals to support the shift to electric vehicles including grants and loans.

The final design of individual low emission zones will be the responsibility of local authorities, but we recognise the importance of giving individuals and businesses sufficient opportunity to ensure their vehicles will be compliant. That is why the Building Scotland's Low Emission Zones consultation, which ends on the
28 November, is seeking views on the use of sunset periods, which would guarantee an exemption for residents during a set period.

Question reference: S5W-11099

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 September 2017
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 21 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to mitigate job losses in the oil industry following reports that 60,000 were lost in 2016.

While the total number of jobs across the UK supported by the industry witnessed a larger drop in 2016 than had previously been estimated by Oil and Gas UK, it is important to note that the pace of contraction has significantly decreased going into 2017. Of these 60,000 jobs lost it is estimated that around 20,000 were based in Scotland. In fact, Oil and Gas UK outlined in their recent Economic Report that the largest reductions in the workforce are likely to be behind us.

The North Sea still holds significant potential with industry estimates indicating that up to 20 billion boe remaining available for potential extraction if the correct market, fiscal and regulatory conditions are in place. However, it is curtail to note that, at present, the key economic and fiscal levers to support the industry remain reserved to the UK Government, and it is clear that further support is required. The Scottish Government will continue to do everything within our powers to support the industry and its workforce, while calling on the UK Government to improve the fiscal and regulatory regime to encourage on-going investment to support jobs and export led growth.

Our Energy Jobs Taskforce has delivered an exceptional range of support for industry and individuals in the sector, and the Oil and Gas Industry Leadership Group, which I co-chair along with industry, will continue to help drive forward the actions identified by the Taskforce, ensuring Scotland’s innovative oil and gas sector and its supply chain has a long-term future.

Question reference: S5W-11193

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 when it expects the reported congestion on the Queensferry Crossing to ease.

The first days of operation of the Queensferry Crossing have resulted in increased traffic congestion including outside of peak hours – most noticeably on 10 September. Additional signage and messaging has been implemented regarding the use of the full length of the slip roads to merge and this has resulted in traffic returning to near normal weekday patterns with no appreciable congestion outside of peak hours since 11 September. Some additional traffic to view and travel over the Queensferry Crossing is expected in the coming weekends but this is expected to decrease to normal levels during the next month. Traffic congestion is also expected to ease further when the Forth Road Bridge reopens as a dedicated public transport corridor and when the Queensferry Crossing becomes a motorway and the speed limit is raised to 70 mph.

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: 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-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.