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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: S6W-24651

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 19 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 2 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what impact assessment was conducted regarding its decision to remove all funding from the "Regional Transport Partnership" budget line in its Budget 2024-25.

In an extremely challenging financial climate, and following a worst case scenario UK Autumn Statement in which UK Ministers prioritised tax cuts over public spending, we have had to take difficult decisions in setting this budget. The amount Scotland has available to spend is still largely driven by the block grant, which is derived from the UK Government's spending decisions and continuing constraint on public expenditure. The block grant has fallen by 1.2% in real terms since 2022-23 and, because of the UK Government's failure to inflation-proof capital budgets, our capital spending power is due to contract by almost 10% in real terms over 5 years.

Despite this, I am pleased that this Government has committed £4.7 billion in capital and resource in 2024-25 for activities that will have a positive impact on delivery of our climate change goals, and funding of almost £3.9 billion for transport across Scotland. The total budget for my portfolio increases by £47.7 million in 2024-25, which is a £27.9 million (0.6%) reduction in real terms using GDP deflators published in November 2023.

A significant proportion of the expenditure in my portfolio is legally and contractually committed, and I have ensured that those commitments are met in full in this budget as well as allocating funding to support critical maintenance and renewal expenditure to ensure that the people of Scotland have access to a safe and reliable transport system.

I have considered equalities and fairer Scotland duties and progress towards our statutory targets for climate change and child poverty in prioritising the budget available to me. I refer to the Equalities and Fairer Scotland Budget Statement and Carbon Assessment published alongside this budget.

Question reference: S6W-24670

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 2 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what good practice guidance it has provided to local authorities regarding their consideration of the mobility needs of older people in the design of low-traffic neighbourhoods.

Question reference: S6W-24665

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 1 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact that the £12.9 million reduction to the “Travel Strategy and Innovation” budget line will have on the Mobility as a Service (MaaS) pilots.

Question reference: S6W-24663

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 1 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-23861 by Fiona Hyslop on 10 January 2024, what its response is to reported concerns that people who rely on bus travel in order to access public services are unable to do so due to the decisions of local authorities to withdraw bus service routes.

Recent reports of bus service withdrawal have tended to concern commercial routes. The majority of services in Scotland operate in an open de-regulated market and the provision of local bus services is a matter for individual bus operators who use their own commercial judgement on service routes, frequencies and vehicle types.

Under the Transport Act 1985, where there is a social need for particular bus services which are not being provided commercially, local authorities can subsidise these at their discretion. This procedure allows local transport authorities to influence the frequency, routing of services or vehicle types used however this is entirely a matter for the local authority to consider and action.

Question reference: S6W-24662

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 31 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-23861 by Fiona Hyslop on 10 January 2024, what information it holds on any criteria that must be met before a local authority can decide to withdraw a bus service route.

The decision to withdraw services is solely a matter for the local council or transport authority to consider and must comply with guidance as set out by the Office of the Traffic Commissioner who is the licensing authority in Scotland. They must give 42 days notice to the Office of the Traffic Commissioner of the cancellation, from the date that the Office of the Traffic Commissioner receives it.

The majority of bus services in Scotland are operated on a commercial basis by private bus companies in the open de-regulated market. Provided an operator registers a service with the Office of the Traffic Commissioner they can set routes, timetables and fares. Commercial viability and patronage on individual routes is considered commercially sensitive information, and is not currently shared with the Scottish Government.

Full guidance on the rules which must be adhered to can be found on the website of the Office of the Traffic Commissioner - Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) .

Question reference: S6F-02770

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 29 January 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 February 2024

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to reports that Scottish Water plans to increase charges by 29% over three years.

Question reference: S6W-24317

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 29 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-08733 by Jenny Gilruth on 15 June 2022, whether any discussions have taken place with Transport for London about its Veteran Oyster Card, and whether it has considered introducing such a scheme in Scotland.

Transport Scotland undertakes regular engagement with Transport for London on a range of issues relevant to public transport provision. Transport Scotland has not specifically considered replicating the Transport for London Oystercard Veterans initiative.

The current National Concessionary Travel Scheme provides free bus travel for disabled people, irrespective of the cause of their disability. In addition, in 2021 the veterans rail card was launched, providing discounted rail travel.

The Fair Fares Review has been completed and will be published in the coming weeks. This will provide an opportunity to discuss and debate how to improve Scotland’s public transport system to deliver in a fairer and simpler way, whilst progressing towards achieving our Government’s priorities on equality, opportunity, and community.

Question reference: S6W-24648

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 19 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 26 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what impact assessment was conducted regarding the £1.1 million reduction to Scottish Water's budget in its Budget 2024-25.

There has been no reduction to Scottish Water’s budget. The Scottish Government Budget for 2024-25 sets out that during the financial year, the Scottish Government intends to lend £170m per annum in capital funding and to receive some £105.5m income per annum which is the interest on loans issued to Scottish Water. Across the 2021-27 period Ministers have committed to lend Scottish Water up to £1.03bn. Lending in future years will be agreed in future Budget Acts.

The quoted reduction of £1.1m is for the Water Industry portfolio. This reflects additional income from interest payments made by Scottish Water as well as a reduction in spend on some Hydro Nation activity. The impact is outlined in the answer to S6W-24199.

Question reference: S6O-03045

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 January 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 February 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when a decision will be made regarding the Scottish Funding Council's recommendation to end the regional colleges arrangement in Lanarkshire and Glasgow.

Question reference: S6W-24334

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 January 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 22 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what the anticipated methane slip is on the (a) Glen Sannox and (b) Glen Rosa.

CalMac are continuing to develop the LNG workstream for Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa, including through discussions with Wartsila the engine manufacturer. The methane slip in service would be influenced by the route the ship is to operate on and the amount of venting produced by the number of times changing over fuel source or when slowing down suddenly for navigational purposes. For these reasons the rate of methane slip will not be fully known until the ships are deployed and fully operational.