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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-07457

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 6 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to use scrappage schemes to encourage drivers to switch to electric cars.

Question reference: S5W-07526

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 6 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with (a) COSLA and (b) each local authority regarding introducing (i) free town centre parking and (ii) access to bus or taxi lanes for electric vehicles, and whether it will publish any (A) correspondence and (B) minutes or notes of these meetings.

An e-cosse event was held on the topic of ‘Electric Vehicle – Local Incentives’ on 17 December 2015. All speaker presentations from the event can be found at http://urbanforesight.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/11th-E-cosse-Forum-Presentations-Merged.compressed.pdf

Transport Scotland officials were also invited to present on the topic of local electric vehicle incentives at the Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in Scotland (SCOTS) Business Meeting on 19 August 2016.

Following discussions between Transport Scotland officials and COSLA, a paper was tabled and agreed at the COSLA Development, Economy & Sustainability Executive Group meeting on 9 December 2016.

The outputs of these discussions are reflected in the ‘National Framework of Local Incentives for Electric Vehicles’, developed by Urban Foresight on behalf of Transport Scotland and SCOTS and published on 4 November 2016 http://urbanforesight.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/REP-1409-TS-A-National-Framework-for-Local-Incentives.pdf.

Question reference: S5W-07717

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S5W-07383

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 3 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of premises in (a) Orkney, (b) Shetland, (c) the rest of the Highlands and Islands and (d) the rest of Scotland can access superfast broadband, also broken down by the percentage that can access this because of the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband programme.

As of 30 September 2016, superfast coverage – through the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) programme and commercial deployment – is as follows:

Orkney – 48.8%

Shetland – 51.6%

Highlands & Islands – 65.2%

Rest of Scotland – 88.5%

These figures assume that commercial rollout is completed on time, and in line with plans submitted to the Scottish Government.

As of 30 September 2016, the percentage capable of receiving superfast broadband, directly as a result of the DSSB programme, is as follows:

Orkney – 48.8%

Shetland – 51.6%

Highlands & Islands – 44.3%

Rest of Scotland – 16.8%

Therefore, were it not for the investment made by the Scottish Government and partners in the DSSB programme, there would be no superfast broadband coverage at all on either Orkney or Shetland.

Question reference: S5W-07459

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 2 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to providing payment exemptions to electric vehicles on ferry operators in the (a) Northern Isles and (b) rest of Scotland.

Prior to the full roll-out of Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) on the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS) network, an electric vehicle discount scheme was implemented in March 2014 on the busy routes to Bute and Mull. This discount scheme provided a 50% discount on single electric car or electric motorbike tickets.

The electric vehicle discount scheme was subsequently superseded by the introduction of RET, which provides significantly reduced fares across the CHFS network. A benefit of RET is that it simplifies the fares regime, with no additional discounts.

This Government was elected in 2016 with a clear manifesto commitment to take action to reduce ferry fares to the Northern Isles. Work is well underway in this regard, including a major local consultation exercise. Consideration is currently being given to the views expressed as part of that consultation.

In the meantime ferry fares to the Northern Isles were frozen for 2017, the second consecutive year that prices have been kept on hold.

Question reference: S5W-07462

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 2 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how it will support fuel-efficient driver training.

The Scottish Government grant funds the Energy Saving Trust for a range of transport programmes, which includes fuel efficient driver training sessions. These sessions are promoted to organisations through the local EST transport advisor network and are usually promoted with further advice to businesses on reducing the carbon impact of their transport. Additionally, individuals can book a session through the Home Energy Scotland advice line.

These sessions are free to the participant and up to 3,000 places a year have been funded to 2016-17. Each session lasts approximately 50 minutes. Sessions are also available for Electric Vehicle drivers, which last approximately teo hours. More information is available at http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/scotland/businesses-organisations/transport/fuelgood-driver-training

Question reference: S5W-07198

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 2 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the survey of disabled people in the UK by the charity Scope, which suggested that (a) 53% have been bullied or harassed at work, (b) 21% have tried to hide their disability from their employers and (c) 58% felt at risk of losing their job due to their disability.

The Scottish Government is concerned about these findings. We believe in promoting opportunities and fair treatment for everyone in workplace, irrespective of personal and demographic characteristics.

We know that bullying and harassment in the workplace damages employers as well as workers. CIPD estimate its cost to UK employers as upward of £2 billion per year through 'sickness absence, staff turnover, reduced productivity for the victims and their colleagues as well as the cost of potential litigation'. And for the individual, the cost typically includes absence from work but may also include poorer mental health, particularly for workers who feel unable to defend themselves from the bullying behaviour.

This is why in A Fairer Scotland for Disabled People we describe a Scotland where we want equal opportunities for disabled people in education and employment. And improved awareness and understanding of discrimination, prejudice and barriers faced by disabled people including the physical environment, stigma and negative attitudes.

Question reference: S5W-07197

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 2 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support disabled people who are victims of bullying or harassment at work.

A Fairer Scotland for Disabled People describes a Scotland where we want equal opportunities for disabled people in education.

and employment, as well as improved awareness and understanding of discrimination, prejudice and barriers faced by disabled people including the physical environment, stigma and negative attitudes. It sets out a range of actions to support our ambition for decent incomes and fairer working lives, under the headline commitment to reduce barriers to employment for disabled people and seek to reduce by at least half, the employment gap between disabled people and the rest of the working age population.

Question reference: S5W-07231

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 2 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the timetable for the introduction of an islands bill.

As set out in the Programme for Government 2016-17 this Bill is part of the Scottish Government’s Year one legislative programme.

The Government sequences the introduction of Bills across the parliamentary year. The Minister for Parliamentary Business has met with relevant Committee Conveners to discuss timings and allocations of Government Bills, including that referred to by the member.

Question reference: S5W-07496

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 2 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government when it last discussed undertaking trials of connected and autonomous vehicles with (a) Scottish Enterprise, (b) the UK Government and (c) other bodies, and whether it will publish any (i) correspondence and (ii) minutes of meetings regarding this.

The Scottish Government recognises that the legislative and regulatory frameworks on autonomous vehicles are largely reserved to the UK Government but supports and encourages research, testing and development of autonomous vehicles in Scotland, subject to ensuring the safety of road users.

To that end, Transport Scotland liaise on a regular basis with Scottish Enterprise, the Department for Transport and the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles in this area. In addition, Transport Scotland is also liaising with other roads authorities across Europe on the introduction of driverless vehicles, in order to ensure that road authorities and operators are in a position to make informed decisions on facilitating automated driving as and when the technology develops.