Seòmar agus comataidhean

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

Criathragan Hide all filters

Displaying 824 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S6W-11007

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 4 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to decarbonise the (a) Glasgow-East Kilbride, (b) Glasgow-Barrhead, (c) Fife Circle and (d) Borders Railway line.

I am pleased to confirm that the Scottish Government's rolling programme of electrification continues to make good progress.

Delivery has already commenced on electrification of the lines from Glasgow to Barrhead and East Kilbride.

Likewise, construction began earlier this year between Haymarket and Dalmeny, the first phase of electrification between Edinburgh and Fife.

Development work for decarbonisation of the Borders Railway is also progressing well.

Question reference: S6W-11008

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 4 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to decarbonise the rail network by 2035; how much of the £5 billion invested into this project has been spent to date, and whether it will provide a breakdown of how this money has been spent on specific capital projects.

To the end of financial year 22-23 the Scottish Government expects to have spent around £210m on the initial delivery of the Rail Decarbonisation Action Plan.

The answer to question S6W-11007 on 4 October 2022 explains the current Rail Decarbonisation projects underway .

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .

Question reference: S6W-11004

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 30 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is still committed to ensuring that 30% of state-owned ferries are low emission by 2032, in light of the pledge not being included in its 2022-23 Programme for Government.

Question reference: S6W-11006

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 30 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been allocated to the Future Transport Fund in each year up to 2025-26.

Question reference: S6W-11005

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 30 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider suspending Workplace Parking Levy regulations while businesses and workers are impacted by the cost of living crisis.

The power to implement Workplace Parking Licencing schemes was provided in The Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 (Part 7), and The Workplace Parking Licensing (Scotland) Regulations 2022 were laid before parliament in January this year. The regulations, which provide technical framework for local authorities, came in to effect on 4 March 2022. Decisions on whether to implement a Workplace Parking Licencing scheme will be made by local authorities. To date, no local authority has formally proposed a scheme under the regulations.

Question reference: S6W-11051

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 30 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how much Ferguson Marine is expected to pay for the ship towing contract that was published on 15 September 2022.

Question reference: S6W-11003

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 30 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the reported £37.6 million reduction to concessionary travel will have on the concessionary travel review, which was considering extending free bus travel and discounted travel on other modes of transport for those under the age of 26.

As part of our management of funding for bus services, the Scottish Government continually monitors forecasted spend against budget. As a result of the demand led nature of the concessionary travel schemes, we have reduced our forecast for remainder of this financial year due to lower than expected patronage. However, if patronage were now to rise above the forecasted levels, so would our expenditure on the schemes.

The Under 26 Concessionary Fares Review is a separate matter. Scottish Government has carried out analysis on a range of options including the cost of extending free bus travel and on concessionary travel across all modes of public transport to those under the age of 26. This included cost and benefit analysis. The review has concluded and is published on the Transport Scotland website at Under 26 Concessionary Fares Review | Transport Scotland

Question reference: S6O-01439

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 September 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to revive the bus industry following a slump in passenger numbers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Question reference: S6W-10653

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 29 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 27 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of ScotRail passenger journeys have been made with (a) an ordinary fare and (b) a season ticket since January 2022, broken down by month.

Question reference: S6W-10968

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 23 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when the Minister for Transport will next meet representatives from Glasgow Airport to discuss any challenges facing Scotland's aviation industry.

22-23	23-24	24-25	25-26	Total Allocation 2022-23 to 2025-26
£130m	£169m	£122m	£145m	£566m

Month	Ordinary Fare (%)	Season ticket (%)
January	88.7	11.3
February	87.5	12.5
March	87.3	12.7
April	90.4	9.6
May	90.6	9.4
June	89	11
July	89.6	10.4
August	90.8	9.2