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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-11795

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 28 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 11 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it (a) holds information and (b) can provide figures on how many people currently make use of a (i) Veterans, (ii) Two Together, (c) Senior, (d) Friends and Family, (e) Disabled Persons (f) 26-30 and (g) 16-25 Railcard.

Question reference: S6W-11794

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 28 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 10 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what it estimates the uptake of usage for the Young Scot National Entitlement Card is, based on the latest information available.

As of the end of the day on 7 November 2022, there had been a total of 31,118,359 journeys made under the Young Persons’ (Under 22s) Free Bus Travel Scheme. 40.6% of these journeys were made by cardholders aged 5-15. 59.4% of these journeys were made by cardholders aged 16-21.

This data is for total journeys made through the scheme and is not split into Young Scot branded and non-Young Scot branded National Entitlement Cards.

Question reference: S6W-11801

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 28 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 8 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how much it (a) spent in 2021-22 and (b) has allocated to spend in 2022-23 on public service obligation flights, broken down by each route.

The following table provides the information requested.

Route	Spend in 2021-22 (£)	Projected outturn in 2022-23 (£)
Glasgow to Campbeltown, Tiree and Barra	5,243,762.91	5,508,045.82
Dundee to London City	703,732	741,000
Wick to Aberdeen	0	1,000,000

While the Glasgow to Campbeltown, Tiree and Barra services are separate routes, they are tendered as a package for operational efficiency and therefore spend is combined for the three routes.

The Scottish Government contributes to the Dundee to London City service along with the Department for Transport and Dundee City Council. Dundee City Council is the contracting authority.

The Wick to Aberdeen service started in April 2022. The Scottish Government contributes to the service along with Highland Council. Highland Council is the contracting authority.

Question reference: S6W-11376

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 7 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will set out the reasons, including any economic benefits, for its reported decision to extend the incumbent contract with Trainline Plc for the provision of web ticket issuing services for ScotRail until April 2024 without a robust procurement test.

ScotRail advises that it extended its contract with Trainline Plc as a holding position to maintain continuity of service while waiting for details of the alternative approach to ticketing which has been promised as part of the proposed Great British Railways arrangements.

You will appreciate that the UK Government has now again postponed delivery of it proposed rail reform process. Such uncertainty and delay are unhelpful.

Question reference: S6O-01524

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 November 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on expenditure in West Scotland from the Tenant Grant Fund, including whether funding has been renewed as a result of its Programme for Government announcement to widen eligibility.

Question reference: S6W-11375

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 2 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when the procurement process will begin for the replacement of the incumbent contract novated from Abellio for a Ticket Issuing System for use by ScotRail, and what the timetable is for this process.

ScotRail novated several contracts for the provision of Ticket Issuing Systems, across all retail channels, to ensure continuity of service and a smooth transition from Abellio ScotRail to ScotRail Trains Limited.

At this time no definitive timetable for a future procurement exercise has been agreed. ScotRail Trains Limited will work with its holding company, Scottish Rail Holdings, to ensure services are procured as required to meet ScotRail’s needs going forward. I will raise this matter directly with SRT when we next meet.

Question reference: S6W-11424

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 1 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the roll-out of ECO4 energy efficiency measures in Renfrewshire.

The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) is a UK Government scheme. Last year Scottish Ministers proposed a more flexible approach to how the new ECO4 scheme would operate in Scotland. Unfortunately the UK Government did not agree to this and has repeatedly failed to engage with us on these matters.

We continue to work with local councils, energy suppliers and stakeholders to ensure as many households as possible benefit from the scheme in Scotland. Further information about delivery of ECO4 financed measures in Scotland will be published on the UK Government website: Household Energy Efficiency Statistics - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The Scottish Government would welcome a meaningful discussion with UK Government Ministers about how ECO4 can better tackle fuel poverty in Renfrewshire and more generally across Scotland. We will be writing again to UK Ministers seeking a dialogue about these issues, following the most recent changes in UK Government policy and Ministerial responsibilities.

Question reference: S6W-11336

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 27 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how its tendering process for new rail rolling stock will take into account principles of fair work.

Question reference: S6O-01504

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 October 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how it is reducing waiting times for child and adolescent mental health services.

Question reference: S6W-11381

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 October 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 26 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what support it will provide to households to use alternative transport methods to the car, in light of the cost of living crisis and the increase in fuel prices.

The Scottish Government is committed to finding ways to make sustainable travel modes more attractive, and supporting people to take fewer journeys by car. We recognise that accessible and reliable public transport services, as well as active travel options, can alleviate stresses on household incomes, as well as support our climate ambitions.

We are providing over £2.1 billion investment in bus services and infrastructure over the rest of this parliament. This financial year, we are forecasting spend of up to £300m to enable over 2 million people to travel by bus for free with the Young Persons Free Bus scheme which, in addition to other concessionary schemes, means that we are providing up to 50% of the population with access to free bus travel across Scotland. Rail fares will also be frozen until at least March 2023 and there are a number of schemes on offer for discounted rail travel such as Kids for a Quid and railcards giving around 1/3 off many fares.

The route map to achieving a 20% reduction in car km by 2030, published in January, sets out how we will support people to reduce their car use. For those who have access to a car, but are struggling with the costs of fuel, the route map interventions aim to support them to reduce the number of trips or the distances they need to drive by car, thereby saving them money, as well as supporting their health and wellbeing.

In the 2022 Programme for Government the Scottish Government set out immediate steps this government will take to help families and businesses to get through the cost of living crisis, outlining our ambition to create a better future beyond the immediate crisis. This includes a transport initiative to test a new mobility and scrappage scheme to help low income households to replace a polluting vehicle with the means to travel sustainably. It will be targeted to car-owning low income households and provide up to £1,000 per household of mobility credits for more sustainable options including the purchase of assets such as bikes or e-bikes and sustainable travel vouchers for bus, car clubs, and taxis.