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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.

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Question reference: S5W-26901

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 January 2020
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 16 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether Scottish Water is expected to meet the capital expenditure for the period 2015-21 that was agreed prior to that period commencing, and whether it considers that all the capital projects planned at the outset for the period for delivery within 2015-21 are capable of being delivered for the capital expenditure allowed.

Prior to the start of the 2015-21 regulatory period Scottish Water published its Delivery Plan setting out how it would deliver Ministers Objectives within the financing set out in the independent economic regulator’s Final Determination. Prior to each financial year Scottish Water publishes a Delivery Plan update. In its most recent update, in March 2019, Scottish Water stated that it is “continuing to outperform the challenging financial limits set out in the Final Determination 2014” and ”forecasting a closing cash balance for this period in the range of £60m to £160m once allowance is made to complete the SR15 financed investment”.

Question reference: S5W-26898

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 January 2020
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 16 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-26535 by Roseanna Cunningham on 9 December 2019, what the estimated expenditure is to complete (a) the Amlaird and Corsehouse strategic mains project from the September 2019 date referred to and (b) phase three of the wider Ayrshire Resilience Scheme.

Question reference: S5W-26900

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 January 2020
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 16 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-26120 by Roseanna Cunningham on 13 November 2019, whether the sums referred to as being reconciled on a regulatory accounting basis exclude any other capital expenditure incurred by Scottish Water in the period and which may not fall within the definition of "reconciled on a regulatory accounting basis".

Question reference: S5W-26902

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 January 2020
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 15 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how much a 1% increase in water charges raises from (a) household and (b) business customers.

Question reference: S5W-26897

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 January 2020
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 15 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government where the Water Industry Commission for Scotland reports Scottish Water's performance against the tramlines set in the determination of charges for the period 2015-21.

The Commission reports on Scottish Water’s overall performance against the tramlines and other key elements of the final determination in its annual Performance reports at https://www.watercommission.co.uk/view_Performance%20reports.aspx .

In addition to financial ratios, the Commission examines actual and forecast cash outperformance for the regulatory control period. Scottish Water reports its actual performance in its commentary to the regulatory accounts, which is published on the Commission’s website (see https://www.watercommission.co.uk/UserFiles/Documents/M%20Tables%20commentary%202019.pdf ) and its forecast cash balances which it publishes in its annual Delivery Plan update (see https://docs.google.com/viewerng/viewer?url=www.scottishwater.co.uk/-/media/ScottishWater/Document-Hub/Key-Publications/Delivery-and-Business-Plans/1604192019DeliveryPlanUpdateVersionForPublication.pdf ).

Question reference: S5W-26899

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 January 2020
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 15 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-26120 by Roseanna Cunningham on 13 November 2019, whether it will publish the Scottish Water Governance Direction 2009.

Question reference: S5O-03998

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 January 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 January 2020

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to be able to proceed with the R100 procurement for the North area, in light of the legal challenge from Gigaclear Ltd.

Question reference: S5W-26683

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 December 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 18 December 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how Skills Development Scotland determined the (a) membership and (b) terms of reference of its Gender Commission; whether details of the work of the Commission, including the minutes and agendas of its meetings, will be published online, and what the timescale is for the Commission to report.

The Gender Commission was set up in response to findings by the SAAB Group Board, which identified a need to provide visible industry leadership by setting up a commission to address gender imbalance within the work-based learning offer. Consequently the Scottish Apprenticeship Advisory Board’s (SAAB) Gender Commission has an employer-led membership.

The Commission’s terms of reference are available on the Skills Development Scotland (SDS) website https://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/ ). SDS provides governance support to the Gender Commission, its work however remains within the guidance and remit of the SAAB.

The membership is drawn from across the SAAB and its associated sub-groups and from other employers from relevant sectors, as well as from equalities experts and representatives from parent groups and education and trades unions. Where appropriate, meetings will be complemented by expert advice from key policy areas.

The Gender Commission is not a decision-making or approval group and will operate in line with SDS Governance guidelines. The Commission meetings take place in the form of a discussion forum, with action logs created and circulated among the members following the meetings.

Topics and timelines for future thematic meetings will be published on the SDS website in due course. Preliminary conclusions from the commission’s work are expected to be drawn in late 2020, with final recommendations and reporting to lead and shape business response to follow in Spring 2021.

Question reference: S5W-26613

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 December 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 18 December 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to update the 1996 guidance to NHS boards regarding patient transport and travel expenses.

The Scottish Government provides guidance for patients as part of its publication: “Are you entitled to help with health costs?”. The latest version of this publication was issued in November 2018.

The Scottish Government are currently reviewing the necessary revisions required to the guidance for NHS Boards, and will take account of any potential changes to benefits entitlements following the outcome of UK General Election.

Question reference: S5W-26535

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 November 2019
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 9 December 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what the total expenditure has been on the (a) Ayrshire strategic resilience, (b) Oban water treatment works, (c) Bradan water treatment works and (d) Amlaird and Corsehouse strategic main project since 1 April 2015.

Total expenditure for the requested projects is as follows:

Oban Water Treatment Works

Total investment is £32.3m. The project is now complete.

Bradan Water Treatment Works

Investment is £14.8m. The project is now complete.

Amlaird and Corsehouse strategic mains projects

The Amlaird and Corsehouse strategic mains projects are part of the Ayrshire Strategic resilience scheme. Investment to September 2019 is £54.2m.

Ayrshire Resilience Scheme

Delivery of the wider resilience scheme includes three phases with phases one (upgrading of Gorbals Pumping Station, Tank at Drumboy Hill and main to connect these) and two (main to connect from Drumboy Hill to Highlees) now complete. Investment to September 2019 is £77.5m.