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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: S6O-00051

Asked by: Audrey Nicoll, MSP for Aberdeen South and North Kincardine, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 June 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what support it will make available to businesses in light of the continuation of the current COVID-19 restrictions.

Question reference: S6O-00064

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 June 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether funding allocations earmarked for new and existing teaching posts will be made permanent, to enable local authorities to award a greater number of permanent contracts.

Question reference: S6W-00588

Asked by: Siobhian Brown, MSP for Ayr, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 16 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider changing the current COVID-19 regulations regarding the docking of UK cruise ships to enable passengers to embark and disembark in areas in Level 2 or lower so that they have the same freedoms as people travelling between Scotland and England via plane, train or bus.

Question reference: S6W-00396

Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 June 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 16 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when it will begin its public consultation on Nicotine Vapour Products (NVPs), as proposed in the Respiratory Care Action Plan.

Question reference: S6W-00345

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 16 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a full itemisation of the (a) timetable and (b) economic impact of the breakdown of the MV Loch Seaforth, and on which dates an adjusted timetable was required, across the CalMac network.

The timetable impact of the breakdown of the MV Loch Seaforth is summarised below:

The MV Loch Seaforth was removed from service on 14 April and other vessels were redeployed to ensure continuity of service across the network.

CalMac were unable to charter any suitable vessels at short notice, meaning re-deployment of a vessel from within the current fleet was required. The MV Isle of Lewis was redeployed from Castlebay-Oban to cover daytime Stornoway-Ullapool sailings, and the MV Isle of Arran redeployed from Ardrossan-Brodick to cover the overnight freight service. The MV Lord of the Isles provided a combined Castlebay-Oban-Lochboisdale-Mallaig service. The MV Isle of Arran subsequently incurred a technical issue and was swapped with the MV Hebridean Isles on the Kennacraig-Islay service, maintaining Islay’s two vessel service and a dedicated freight service for Ullapool-Stornoway, with the Ardrossan-Brodick service reduced to a single vessel service and delayed the start of the summer only Ardossan-Campbeltown service which shares a vessel with Ardrossan-Brodick. Some additional capacity for Arran was provided by deploying a second vessel, MV Loch Linnhe, to the Lochranza-Claonaig service. These changes resulted in revised timetabling for the affected routes. CalMac operated additional sailings where possible, however this was restricted by crew hours and availability.

MV Loch Seaforth resumed full service on Stornoway-Ullapool on the evening of 31 May. All services were back to normal with their usual vessel deployment on 3 June.

We are aware of the significant impact on communities and businesses throughout this unacceptable period of service. This includes impacts on island producers, tourism and haulage businesses across the network. As I have stated to Parliament, we are looking at all options to provide greater resilience to minimise disruption during any future prolonged periods of disruption – as well as ensuring any lessons are learned that prevent further breakdowns where these could be avoided.

Question reference: S6W-00374

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 16 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that people in every community can access NHS dentistry.

Question reference: S6W-00356

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 16 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when Transport Scotland first considered chartering the MV Pentalina for service on routes set out in the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services contract.

Question reference: S6W-00325

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 June 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 16 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Abellio ScotRail pay awards for 2020 and 2021 remain outstanding, and whether it will meet representatives of the recognised trade unions to discuss this.

Question reference: S6W-00423

Asked by: Dean Lockhart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 16 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the (a) availability and (b) reliability of broadband coverage on public transport.

The availability and reliability of broadband by each mode of public transport is summarised in the following table:-

Broadband Coverage on Public Transport

Mode

(a) Availability and (b) Reliability

Bus

The installation of broadband on buses is a matter for each individual bus operator to consider and fund using their own commercial judgement on the implementation. A number of bus operators across Scotland already include fitted WiFi to their new buses and this is expected to increase further as fleets continue to be upgraded.

Ferries

Ferry operators use the existing fixed line and WiFi networks on board and in ports to provide service and take advantage of improvements in landline and broadband services, and mobile connectivity as they are delivered by telecoms providers.

Trains

All ScotRail trains have WiFi fitted and made available to customers for free.

Transport Scotland and Scottish Government are engaged with Network Rail to explore the potential to utilise the deployment of fibre optic cable on the rail network to facilitate a number of benefits in respect of train performance, safety, train connectivity and rural connectivity.

Question reference: S6W-00361

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 June 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 16 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when the roll-out of 1,140 hours of early learning and childcare across all 32 local authorities will be completed.