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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: S6W-18524

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 3 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme, what the total (a) number and (b) value of vouchers issued has been to date.

As of 28 June 2023, a total of 3,551 vouchers have been issued through the Reaching 100% (R100) Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme.

2,985 of those vouchers have had their build confirmed at a total Scottish Government investment of £5,470,355.80.

The remaining 566 vouchers have been issued – however, as build for these has not yet been completed, we have not received invoices for them. As such, the additional voucher value of these cannot be confirmed at this time.

Question reference: S6W-19160

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 23 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when the replacement for the Scottish Capital Investment Manual process will be in place.

Question reference: S6W-19161

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 23 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has suspended the Scottish Capital Investment Manual process, and, if so, when.

Question reference: S6W-19162

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 23 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what projects are impacted by the reported suspension of the Scottish Capital Investment Manual process.

Question reference: S6W-18327

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 21 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to monitor and evaluate the impact of full fibre roll-out on digital poverty levels.

The Scottish Household Survey 1 is published annually and contains statistics on internet access and use by a number of categories. The publication contains statistics covering internet access by household income, Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) quintile, tenure, and urban-rural classification, as well as internet usage by age, disability, household income, and SIMD quintile. Additionally, the publication contains information on access to smart appliances, methods of access (e.g. smartphone, tablet, personal computer, laptop etc.), and confidence in using the internet by age and tenure

Furthermore, the Scottish Government is taking forward evaluations of digital infrastructure projects which will enable understanding of the impacts of investment. We have published the Digital Appraisal Manual for Scotland 2 and, informed by this guidance, are taking forward evaluations of the Scottish 4G Infill Programme, and R100 Programme. Evaluations will involve research engaging with affected areas and communities, and allow for gathering of evidence on how people and businesses are using this infrastructure, the associated benefits (e.g. productivity, wellbeing, environmental), and barriers to access.

By embedding best practice in appraisal and evaluation in digital policy making in Scotland, we will not only be able to monitor the effectiveness of our investments as impacts materialise, but we will also be best placed to refine our evidence base and develop effective policies in future.

1. Scottish Household Survey: publications - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

2. Digital appraisal manual for Scotland: guidance - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Question reference: S6W-18525

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 21 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what recent engagement it has had with low Earth orbit satellite provider, Starlink, regarding any potential future participation in the Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme.

In 2021, Scottish Government officials began exploring with Starlink the possibility of becoming a Reaching 100% Programme Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme (R100 SBVS) supplier.

At that time, Starlink chose not to register as a provider for the scheme.

Earlier this year, officials requested a further meeting with Starlink to explore whether they might reconsider their position.

Although not currently registered as an R100 SBVS supplier, Starlink do offer commercial services across most parts of Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-18475

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 02 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 16 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to decarbonise the rail network between Aberdeen and the Central Belt.

No date has been set for the decarbonisation of the lines between Aberdeen and Edinburgh, and Aberdeen and the electrified network at Dunblane. However, in line with the Rail Decarbonisation Action Plan, these routes are under consideration for decarbonisation through electrification by Transport Scotland, with plans at an early stage of development.

As out in the Decarbonisation Action Plan, the order and pace in which decarbonisation is undertaken will depend on business cases and available budgets.

Question reference: S6W-18474

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 02 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 16 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects contracts to be awarded totalling at least £200 million as part of the rail enhancement project to reduce the average journey times between Aberdeen and the Central Belt by 20 minutes by 2026.

Question reference: S6W-18473

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 02 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 16 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of the improvements that will be carried out as part of the rail enhancement project to reduce the average journey times between Aberdeen and the Central Belt by 20 minutes by 2026, and whether it can provide a timetable for when each of these improvements will be completed.

Question reference: S6W-18472

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 02 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 16 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how much of the £200 million that was committed to be spent to reduce the average journey times between Aberdeen and the Central Belt by 20 minutes by 2026 has been spent.