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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: S4W-18872

Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 December 2013
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 8 January 2014

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the staff of National Museums Scotland Enterprises Ltd are not covered by the Scottish Government public sector pay policy.

National Museums Scotland Enterprises Ltd. (NMSE) was established as a commercial company to generate income in support of the public services provided and funded by National Museums Scotland. NMSE receives no public subsidy, being run as a wholly commercial enterprise operating in a competitive commercial marketplace. Since its establishment in 1998, NMSE staff have historically, not been subject to public sector pay policy. The Scottish Government will review this position with the National Museums.

Question reference: S4W-18350

Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 November 2013
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 26 November 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport will meet Sri Lankan Government ministers or officials during her visit to that country.

The Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport attended a number of meetings and events in Sri Lanka organised as part of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. During her visit she briefed the Sri Lankan Sports Minister about Scotland and Glasgow’s preparations for hosting the games. Ms Robison also had a short impromptu meeting with the Sri Lankan Minister for Investment in the margins of the Commonwealth Business Forum where they discussed the activities of Scottish higher education institutions in Sri Lanka and opportunities in the renewables sector.

Throughout her visit Ms Robison emphasised that Glasgow 2014 is being delivered in line with Commonwealth Games values. In her speech at a sports breakfast hosted by the Commonwealth Games Federation on 16 November 2013, the minister made clear that the Commonwealth Games values of humanity, equality and destiny are universal, cherished in Scotland, and that the Scottish Government expects all participating nations to reflect on these essential rights and values as they prepare to compete in the Glasgow Games.

Question reference: S4W-18351

Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 November 2013
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 26 November 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport will raise human rights issues during her visit to Sri Lanka.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-18350 on 26 November 2013.

The Scottish Government condemns human rights abuses wherever they occur. The Scottish Government uses its international engagement activity to help increase respect for, and understanding of human rights, and is committed to raising concern if and where appropriate and in a diplomatic and culturally sensitive manner.

The minister was briefed by Amnesty International in advance of her visit and will have a follow up meeting in the coming weeks.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

Question reference: S4W-18298

Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 November 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 20 November 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17994 by Keith Brown on 7 November 2013, what impact its proposals will have on the (a) frequency of trains, (b) level of service and (c) routes on the Maryhill railway line prior to electrification.

Question reference: S4W-18292

Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 November 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 20 November 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17994 by Keith Brown on 7 November 2013, for what reasons the adapted plans excluded the electrification of the Maryhill railway line.

Question reference: S4W-18295

Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 November 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 20 November 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-18000 by Keith Brown on 7 November 2013, when (a) it and (b) Transport Scotland last discussed with Strathclyde Passenger Transport the (i) future of the Maryhill railway line and (ii) Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme and control period (CP) 5 proposals and what the outcome was.

Transport Scotland officials met with SPT 1 November 2013 to discuss the (i) future of the Maryhill railway line and (ii) Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme and control period (CP) 5 proposals, with SPT being updated on current progress.

To re-iterate, the future of the Maryhill line is safe. We remain committed to Maryhill services using the direct route from Anniesland to Queen Street station.

Question reference: S4W-18294

Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 November 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 20 November 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17994 by Keith Brown on 7 November 2013, in what cost period the electrification of the Maryhill railway line will be included.

Question reference: S4W-18297

Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 November 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 20 November 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions (a) it and (b) its agencies have had regarding the linking Maryhill and North Clyde railway lines.

Question reference: S4W-18293

Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 November 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 20 November 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17994 by Keith Brown on 7 November 2013, for what reason the electrification of the Maryhill railway line was not subsequently included in the control period (CP) 5 proposals.

The Scottish Ministers’ High Level Output Specification for control period 5 (CP5) included a requirement for the rail industry to develop and deliver a rolling programme of electrification covering 100 single track kilometers per annum following the completion of the initial phase of Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme. In their strategic planning for CP5 the rail industry did not prioritise the route via Maryhill for delivery within the CP5 rolling programme.

Question reference: S4W-17804

Asked by: Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 14 October 2013
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Burgess on 11 November 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to consolidate housing legislation.

The purpose of consolidating legislation is to give effect to recommendations of the Scottish Law Commission, or of the Scottish Law Commission and the Law Commission jointly. We have no plans to introduce such legislation. However, it is our intention to introduce a Housing Bill later this year which will give effect to this government’s policies on the following issues: the right to buy; resolving housing disputes in the private rented sector; social housing tenancies and management of stock; licensing of mobile homes; the regulation of letting agents; and local authority powers over the condition of private housing.