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 1957 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S6W-02357

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 13 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether fully electrifying the East Coast Main Line between Edinburgh Haymarket and Aberdeen is required for it to achieve its ambition to decarbonise Scotland's Railway.

As made clear in the Scottish Government’s Rail Decarbonisation Action Plan published last year, electrification offers clear advantages over other rail decarbonisation technologies for both passenger and freight services on busy main line routes, such as the Central Belt to Aberdeen routes.

Delivery and development work for Scotland’s enviable rolling programme of electrification proceeds apace, and the plans for future phases will be announced in due course, consistent with the wider Strategic Transport Projects Review 2 Process.

Question reference: S6W-02355

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 13 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what solutions it proposes to fully decarbonise Scotland's Railway; whether it (a) is able and (b) plans to fully electrify the East Coast Main Line between Edinburgh Haymarket and Aberdeen, and, if so, when it will begin any related procurement process to achieve this.

(a) Transport Scotland is progressing the commitment to deliver the decarbonisation of Scotland’s railway by 2035. (b) As confirmed in answer‎ S6W-01654 on 16 August 2021, Network Rail is to undertake ground investigation and survey works of the Edinburgh to Aberdeen route during autumn 2021. These works will help determine the appropriate decarbonisation solution which will in turn help inform the programme. Network Rail will only then be in the position to undertake an efficient procurement process which delivers value for money.

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-02399

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 13 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) engagement it will have with and (b) assistance it will provide for (i) heat pump manufacturers and (ii) other related stakeholders to ensure that any of its schemes or programmes that are aimed at tackling poverty can benefit from the anticipated increase in heat pump installations.

The Scottish Government funds the Energy Saving Trust to deliver a sustainable energy supply chain programme to help develop capacity amongst installers. This initiative provides support and training in low and zero emissions heating technology installations, webinars and events as well as support for training costs which we deliver in partnership with the Energy Skills Partnership.

Information about procurement opportunities related to our fuel poverty programmes is published on the Public Contracts Scotland website. The Scottish Government and local authorities responsible for delivery of our Area Based Schemes also participate in regular “Meet the Buyer” events organised by the Supplier Development Programme (SDP).

Question reference: S6W-02667

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 13 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reported delays associated with road surfacing and flooding of the gas network, whether it will provide an update on the delivery timescale for the completion of the A92/A96 Haudagain roundabout improvements.

Question reference: S6W-02398

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 13 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to increase consumer awareness of heat pumps, and whether it has a strategy to roll out such a programme.

In our draft Heat in Buildings Strategy we committed to developing and implementing a bespoke public engagement strategy for heat in buildings. This will have a focus on raising the profile of energy efficiency and zero emissions heating options so that people are aware of their benefits, as well as enabling people to actively participate in shaping the development of policy, incentives, and local level heat and energy efficiency planning; and promoting the support that is on offer to maximise take up.

Question reference: S6W-02565

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 13 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-01498 by Graeme Dey on 6 August 2021, whether it will provide a detailed plan for how the £198.32 million, that remains from the £200 million, will be spent to reduce journey times between Aberdeen and the central belt, and in which financial year(s) it will be spent.

Question reference: S6W-02564

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 13 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a detailed plan for how the funding for rail infrastructure under the Borderlands City Deal will be spent and in which financial year(s); whether any of the funding will be used for a feasibility study on the rail extension from Tweedbank to Carlisle via Hawick, and, if so, what the timescale is for the (a) commencement of the study and (b) publication of its report.

The Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal includes a commitment to progress work to assess the benefits and challenges of extending the Borders Railway. The Deal also states that the Scottish Government will progress the evidence base for extending the Borders Railway from Tweedbank to Carlisle through the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) process which is ongoing through Transport Scotland. This forms the strategic case for extending the Borders Railway from Tweedbank to Carlisle. STPR2 is being funded separately from the Deal and will report later this year. A decision on progressing feasibility work will be made following the conclusion of STPR2.

Question reference: S6W-02464

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 13 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-01360 by Graeme Dey on 16 August 2021, for what reason the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service has no zero-emission vehicles in its fleet; whether it has provided COPFS with funding to obtain zero-emission vehicles and, if so, how much funding it has provided, and when.

The 2019-20 Programme for Government outlined our commitment to phase out the need for all petrol or diesel cars in the public sector fleet by 2025 and for all other new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030.

Crown office and Procurator Fiscals office (COPFS) is committed to moving its entire fleet to zero emission vehicles by 2025, has begun to install EV charging stations and will purchase its first zero emission vehicles before the end of the financial year.

Question reference: S6W-02345

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 13 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-01513 by Graeme Dey on 6 August 2021, in what areas of the world it is searching for charter vessels, and whether this is limited to Scotland, the UK, Europe or worldwide.

Question reference: S6W-02668

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 13 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its cooperation agreement with the Scottish Green Party, whether it will provide an update on the progress of the A90 Montrose link road and whether any changes will be made to the delivery of the project.