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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-28568

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 November 2015
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 1 December 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to ensure that the joint working between ScotRail and Network Rail will not (a) be commercialised and (b) compromise the safety of the railway infrastructure.

The Scottish Government is clear that a more integrated approach across the whole rail industry is in the best interests of Scotland’s railways. The closer collaboration between Network Rail Scotland and Abellio ScotRail places the needs of passengers at its heart through the delivery of high-quality, reliable services, and a more efficient management and operation of the rail network in Scotland.

The terms of the ScotRail Alliance agreement sets out the commercial principles and mechanisms included within the alliance as well as relevant safety obligations. A copy of the terms of the agreement can be accessed at: www.networkrail.co.uk/working-with-us/alliances/

The Scottish Government is clear that any initiatives identified and pursued through the alliance must be compliant with both Network Rail and ScotRail safety management systems and validation processes. The alliance is also subject to broader monitoring from the Office of Rail and Road to ensure legal compliance with regulatory obligations and that the arrangement is transparent and non-discriminatory.

Question reference: S4W-28460

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 16 November 2015
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 1 December 2015

To ask the Scottish Government how many da Vinci surgical systems for use in the treatment of prostate cancer there are, broken by NHS board area.

The robot assisted surgery service based at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, is not yet fully up and running as surgeons are still in training. The service is expected to become fully operational in January 2016, primarily for patients from the north of Scotland.

However, any man who is deemed clinically appropriate for robot assisted surgery for prostate cancer should be able to access the robot in Aberdeen, should they choose to do so, regardless of where in Scotland they live.

With the assistance of a £1 million capital contribution from the Scottish Government, a further robot assisted surgery service, based at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, is expected to be fully operational by summer 2016.

NHS Lothian has also been offered £1 million capital to support the introduction of a third robot assisted surgery service in the east of Scotland within the next two years.

Question reference: S4W-28523

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 November 2015
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 30 November 2015

To ask the Scottish Government on what date it will publish its plans regarding air passenger duty that were referred to in the transport section of its legislative programme.

Question reference: S4W-28294

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 November 2015
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 12 November 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what vessel will be deployed on the Mallaig to Armadale service when the Coruisk is removed from this route and whether it will be of a similar age and capacity as the Coruisk.

Question reference: S4W-28148

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 October 2015
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 10 November 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions Transport Scotland officials have had with representatives of the Electoral Commission since 1 July 2012.

Question reference: S4T-01160

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 09 November 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 November 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Loganair regarding safety, reliability and maintenance.

Question reference: S4W-27996

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 12 October 2015
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Burgess on 9 November 2015

To ask the Scottish Government whether the results of the 2014 cost-benefit analysis of the installation of fire suppression systems in new-build houses, flats, houses in multiple occupation and halls of residence have been published and, if so, where.

Question reference: S4W-28122

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 26 October 2015
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 5 November 2015

To ask the Scottish Government how many crimes and offences armed response police officers have dealt with in the Highlands since October 2014.

Question reference: S4W-28121

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 26 October 2015
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 5 November 2015

To ask the Scottish Government how many serious incidents meriting a firearms deployment armed police have responded to in the Highlands since October 2014.

Question reference: S4W-28140

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 October 2015
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 5 November 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what steps Transport Scotland has taken since 31 July 2015 to reduce the duration of the tendering period for the 2016-24 contract for Clyde and Hebrides ferry services in order to bring forward the announcement of the winning bidder to a date before the Scottish election on 5 May 2016.