- Asked by: Tess White, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 September 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 23 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the timeline for the introduction of its Public Health Bill.
Answer
The Public Health (Restriction of Promotions) Bill will be introduced this parliamentary year.
As set out in Programme for Government 2022-23, as a first legislative step in this session to meeting wider public health commitments, the Bill will include provisions for restricting food and drink promotions to protect public health.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 September 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 23 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the development of its aviation strategy, particularly in relation to improving lifeline services and island connectivity.
Answer
The online public consultation on developing a Scottish Government aviation strategy ran from 18 October 2021 until 21 January 2022. 93 responses were received, 38 from individuals and 55 from a broad range of stakeholder organisations. Officials also ran a series of online stakeholder workshops each of which focused on a particular area of the consultation document, namely international connectivity and airfreight; transition to low and zero-emission aviation; domestic connectivity; and governance arrangements in the Highlands and Islands.
On 6 April we published an independent analysis of the consultation responses, including summaries of the main points from the workshops noted above, and those responses where consent to publish was provided.
Work is ongoing across government to develop the aviation strategy, including in relation to Highlands and Islands connectivity, building on the suggestions from the consultation and relevant Scottish Government strategies and polices. The aviation strategy will also inform the development of the Islands Connectivity Plan.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 September 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 23 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the findings from the 2021 Scottish House Condition Survey.
Answer
The Scottish Government intends to publish the key findings from the 2021 Scottish House Condition Survey in February 2023. This was communicated to users through a ScotStat email and is published on forthcoming publications and Scottish Household Survey webpages on the Scottish Government website.
Any changes to this date will be communicated to users, in line with the code of practice for statistics .
- Asked by: Evelyn Tweed, MSP for Stirling, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 08 September 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 23 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to increase the uptake of the Young Persons' (Under 22s) Free Bus Travel Scheme, in light of reports from First Bus of just a 50% uptake since the scheme went live in January 2022.
Answer
We’re seeing many young people already benefitting from the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme, with well over 20 million journeys having been made since its commencement in January. We have now launched a national marketing campaign to increase awareness and understanding of the scheme and, ultimately, encourage more young people to apply and enjoy the benefits of free bus travel.
Transport Scotland has also provided communications and promotional resources for stakeholders at freebus.scot, and these have been shared with over 300 public, private and third sector organisations who work with young people and families, and within the transport sector.
- Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 08 September 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 23 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how many times enforcement action has been taken in relation to the alcohol ban on ScotRail trains, and what estimate it has made of how many times the ban has been breached.
Answer
Safety and security on our railways is reserved to UK Government and as such the member may wish to contact British Transport Police in relation to enforcement measures on ScotRail trains.
- Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 08 September 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 23 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what estimates it has made of any potential revenue loss to ScotRail of not selling alcohol on trains.
Answer
Transport Scotland does not normally hold this level of detail. Relevant revenue figures will not be available until the annual accounts for ScotRail Trains Ltd. have been audited, verified and published after the end of the financial year 2022-23.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 08 September 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 23 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the First Minister’s statement to the Parliament on the Programme for Government, on 6 September 2022, that a proposed Housing Bill would "implement key policies on short-term lets", whether this refers to enacted or new regulations on the matter.
Answer
This refers to the level of fines for some short-term let licensing offences. When we were developing the short-term let licensing legislation in 2020 we consulted on the maximum level of fines for operating without a licence; breaching a licence condition; and for providing false information. Provisions for this will be included in a forthcoming Housing Bill.
- Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 08 September 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 23 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how the alcohol ban on ScotRail trains is enforced, and who it is enforced by.
Answer
The alcohol ban on ScotRail trains and in stations is enforced by the British Transport Police who assist railway staff to ensure that the rules are being adhered to as far as possible.
- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 08 September 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 23 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government when the Minister for Transport last visited Glasgow Airport.
Answer
I have not visited Glasgow Airport during my time as Minister for Transport, however I look forward to meeting with the CEO of AGS Airports on 5 October 2022.
- Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 08 September 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 23 September 2022
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason Transport Scotland has reportedly exceeded its projected timescale of six months to carry out the roadworks between Cairnryan and Glenapp on the A77 by over four years, and whether it will provide (a) an urgent update on the status of these roadworks and (b) a timescale for their completion, in order to prevent any further disruption due to any single-lane traffic convoy systems for both HGV traffic, and other drivers, on the A77 arterial route.
Answer
I understand the frustration of local communities and users of the A77 and the difficulties and delays they cause, but these works are essential to maintain the safety and resilience of this section of the A77. Work at Carlock Wall commenced in February 2020 and was due to be completed by the end of that year. However, unforeseen adverse ground conditions were identified during construction. This included bed rock to support the new wall being much deeper than anticipated and significant volumes of unstable material on the existing slope face requiring additional stabilisation. Work started immediately to tackle both of these issues. Good progress has been made despite impacts associated with Covid-19. Carriageway re-opening to two way traffic is currently programmed to be completed by late Autumn 2022. Further landscaping and finishing works to areas remote from the carriageway will be complete in Spring 2023.