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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: S5W-30901

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 13 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how many schoolchildren it estimates travel to school on (a) dedicated school and (b) public transport.

The Scottish Government does not collect data about the number of school children that use either dedicated school transport or public transport. This information may be held by local authorities.

The Scottish Household survey showed that in 2018 14 per cent of pupils travel by school bus and 5 per cent by service bus (public transport). The data is available at: https://www.transport.gov.scot/publication/transport-and-travel-in-scotland-results-from-the-scottish-household-survey-1/4-personal-travel/ - see figure 11.

The “Hands Up Scotland Survey” showed that in 2019 16% of school pupils said they normally travel to school by bus (public and dedicated school services). The survey is available at https://www.sustrans.org.uk/our-blog/projects/2019/scotland/hands-up-scotland-survey .

Question reference: S5O-04495

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 August 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government on what date it plans to implement the disclosure provisions under the Management of Offenders (Scotland) Act 2019.

Question reference: S5W-30496

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 11 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will list the monthly subsidy payments received by Serco NorthLink for the six-month extension to the Northern Isles Ferry Services contract, which was announced by Transport Scotland on 6 February 2020.

In order to complete the award process and allow an adequate mobilisation period, the Scottish Government announced on 6 February 2020 that the Northern Isles Ferry Services (NIFS) contract was to be extended by a period of up to six months to ensure continuity of services.

Following effective mobilisation the new contract commenced early on 30 June 2020.

The total amount of subsidy for the extension period has not been finalised given Covid-19 impacts and the contract expiring at the end of June 2020. It is anticipated that the finalised subsidy payments for the period requested will be available at the end of September 2020. As with the member’s previous question on financial aspects of support on NIFS, reference (S5W-25115 on 17 September 2019) we will provide full costs for the extension period when these have been finalised and requested.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

Question reference: S5W-30493

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 4 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government when it will place a copy of the 2020-26 Northern Isles Ferry Services contract on the Transport Scotland website.

Question reference: S5W-30495

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 4 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the incident on 25 June 2020 when the MV Arrow, reportedly under charter with Serco NorthLink, ran aground in water off Aberdeen Harbour.

The Scottish Government have not conducted any discussions with the UK Government regarding the incident on 25 June 2020 involving the MV Arrow.

The MV Arrow, is owned by Seatruck and was on short term hire to substitute for the regular vessel MV Helliar on the Northern Isles ferry services, as she attended her 14 day dry dock for scheduled maintenance in Rosyth. The MV Arrow and her crew commenced freight services on 17 June 2020 and had operated successfully on the Northern Isles routes before.

The MV Arrow grounded on approach to Aberdeen Harbour on 25 June 2020. Aberdeen Harbour tugs were able to move the MV Arrow and she successfully berthed in Aberdeen Harbour where all freight disembarked.

Serco NorthLink Ferries (SNF) were not the ship operator therefore were under no regulatory obligation to inform external bodies. That obligation rests with Seatruck Ferries, as owners of the vessel, with the vessel operating under their ISM system. SNF did however make courtesy calls to the Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA) and Isle of Man Ship Registry (IOMSR) to ensure that they were aware of the issue at the time of the incident.

Question reference: S5W-30588

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 30 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government when each section of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 will come into force.

The implementation of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 has been affected by the Covid 19 Pandemic. This has impacted particularly on the development of guidance and regulations and the related consultation processes. RTP section 122 came into force in March 2020. Officials will recommence work on other aspects of the Act as soon as it is appropriate and practicable, and Parliament will be kept updated accordingly.

Question reference: S5W-30781

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 17 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 29 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether the £10 million allocated to the bus priority rapid deployment fund is in addition to spending set out in the 2020-21 budget, and whether any of this funding has (a) come from the £10 million allocated to bus priority infrastructure in the 2020-21 budget and (b) been reallocated from elsewhere in the 2020-21 budget.

Question reference: S5W-30694

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 27 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of reports of plans to worsen the terms and conditions, including sick pay, of staff employed at the Trump Turnberry resort.

Employment legislation, including statutory sick pay (SSP), is a reserved matter and we have made no formal assessment of the reported situation at Trump Turnberry.

The Scottish Government encourages all employers to apply Fair Work practices and a flexible approach to dealing with the impacts of COVID-19. Employers should look to pay their workers throughout this crisis to protect them from financial hardship, making use of Government support available.

The Cabinet Secretary for Economy wrote to the Chancellor on 26 May raising a number of concerns relating to the Job Retention Scheme and reiterating Scottish Ministers’ ask that the UK Government make Statutory Sick Pay more responsive; including extending SSP to all workers irrespective of earnings levels during the current situation, and to increase the rate to at least the living wage.

Question reference: S5W-30692

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 21 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to encourage and support the Trump Turnberry resort to retain its workforce and avoid redundancies.

We recognise this is an extremely difficult time for businesses but ultimately, it is for employers to maintain jobs and pay their workers throughout this crisis. We have provided over £2.34 billion in business support to help businesses through this. We would expect the Trump Turnberry resort to have applied for all relevant sources of help and support, as other businesses have done.

We recognise that despite this package of support, businesses continue to find the situation extremely challenging and, while we encourage businesses to retain their staff as much as possible, businesses are no doubt having to make difficult decisions to ensure their viability.

We are committed to supporting the tourism and hospitality sector bounce back from this crisis.

Question reference: S5W-30693

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 20 July 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the likely impact on the local community of the reported proposals to make at least 67 employees redundant at the Trump Turnberry resort.

At this stage we have little local data. The tourism and hospitality sector has been shaken across Scotland and it is unfortunate to hear the Turnberry resort is considering these proposals.

We recognise however that this is a business decision and at this time, many businesses are having to make difficult decisions like this. We also recognise that it does not make it any easier for the employees affected however.

Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) is the Scottish Government’s initiative dedicated to helping individuals and employers with the advice and support they need when faced with redundancy. PACE advice and support will be available to all affected employees should this decision be implemented.