Chamber and committees

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: S5W-12130

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 7 November 2017

To Ask the Scottish Government how many carriages ScotRail has; how many will operate in winter 2017-18; how it will ensure that they all have adequate heating, and whether it has concerns that some might not.

There are 803 carriages in the Abellio ScotRail (ASR) fleet and they will operate over winter 2017-2018. In the coming months ScotRail will gradually introduce new electric Class 385 trains.

Transport Scotland monitors the franchisee’s quality of facilities at stations and on train through a Service Quality Incentive Regime (SQUIRE). This includes on-train heating to ensure that the temperature in use should not fall below 10 degrees Celsius.

Since the franchise commenced the audits have recorded isolated occurrences where trains have failed to meet the standards as a result of temperature issues.

Question reference: S5W-12140

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 7 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many snow ploughs were required to clear trunk roads in winter 2016-17, and how many are available for 2017-18.

As the trunk road authority in Scotland, legislation requires Transport Scotland to take such steps as it considers reasonable to prevent snow and ice endangering the safe passage of pedestrians and vehicles over public roads. Transport Scotland discharges this duty by having contracts in place with Operating Companies who ensure the trunk road network is safe, efficient and well managed.

With a fully mobilised winter fleet, our winter service capability has never been higher; and our pre-winter preparations, audits, scenario workshops and weekly winter calls will ensure that there is no room for complacency in our winter service despite the recent mild winters.

We are continually investing in our winter service and for 2017-18 we have 208 vehicles, available for spreading salt and ploughing snow. The number of vehicles servicing trunk roads has been maintained from 2016-17 for this season. All frontline and reserve fleet have ploughing capability.

Dependent on the forecast weather conditions, up to 122 gritters with ploughing capability are deployed to provide precautionary salt treatments to trunk roads. A further 51 gritters are routinely deployed as required to patrol and provide additional salt treatments. The remaining 35 gritters are available to provide support to the frontline and patrol vehicles, as well as to cover breakdowns and essential maintenance.

Question reference: S5W-12127

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 7 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what preparations have taken place to help ensure that rail services face minimal disruption over winter 2017-18; how many snow ploughs it has invested in to help clear tracks; what resources has ScotRail has determined that it requires to ensure that services can continue to operate over the period, and what (a) funding and (b) support it has provided to the operator to do so.

Transport Scotland is working with the ScotRail Alliance to prepare for potential severe winter weather and expect to see further improvements in operational and customer services and travel advice offered. The preparedness will include snow clearing equipment and machines.

ScotRail will implement a robust communications plan ensuring passengers are prepared for adverse weather, including customer road shows at key stations throughout December, and the creation of a dedicated website and social media campaign for key messages.

ScotRail is obliged to provide the resources to operate the services as set out in the Franchise Agreement, which includes those required for winter preparation measures.

Question reference: S5W-12152

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 2 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to deal with fuel shortages during winter 2017-18, and whether it plans to stockpile resources in rural and remote areas.

The Scottish Government has no statutory functions in relation to the security of energy supplies, including fuel. This is a matter reserved to the UK Parliament and UK Government Ministers.

However, Scottish Ministers take the wellbeing of customers and communities very seriously and to ensure, through our resilience framework, that preparedness is optimised. As part of Resilience Week (6 - 10 November 2018), the Scottish Government is encouraging everyone to think about their own readiness for disruptive events such as severe weather and power failure or difficulties in having their oil or LPG supplies refuelled.

Question reference: S5W-12369

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S5W-12143

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 1 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many flights from each airport were cancelled in winter 2016-17 because of the weather; how many runways were closed; what the economic impact was, and what action it is taking to help ensure that the airports are runways remain operational in winter 2017-18.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on flight cancellations.

The operation of airports is a matter for the management of individual airports. Scotland’s airports have long standing processes in place for dealing with inclement weather. Working towards winter 2017-18 Scotland’s airports have reviewed their winter operational plans, invested in additional equipment where appropriate, ensured healthy de-icer stocks and commenced winter operations staff training.

Question reference: S5W-12154

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 1 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been allocated under the Bellwin scheme to each local authority in each of the last five years to deal with flooding.

Additional revenue funding allocated to local authorities over the last five years under the Bellwin Scheme as a result of flooding was as follows:

2013-14 – No claims made.

2014-15 – No claims made

2015-16 – Aberdeenshire Council received £2,065,929;

Angus Council received £362,165;

Perth and Kinross received £750,691; and

Scottish Borders Council received £3,797,731.

2016-17 – No claims made.

2017-18 – No claims have been made to date.

Question reference: S5W-11789

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 1 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it plans to have the new 35km of cycle track completed to connect the A9 route to the wider national cycle network to encourage more cycling on the North Coast 500 route.

35 km of new cycle track will be included as part of the A9 Dualling Programme, which is scheduled to be completed by 2025. The first section of new dualled carriageway between Kincraig and Dalraddy became fully operational from 30 September. As part of this scheme a surfaced 7.5km path, suitable for cyclists, is being constructed to the west of the new carriageway, which could potentially enable connection to the National Cycle Network.

Question reference: S5W-11790

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 1 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) adults and (b) children were diagnosed as obese in 2016.

Most recent figures from the Scottish Health Survey (2016) indicate that 65% of adults were overweight, including (29%) who were obese. For children, around (29%) were at risk of being overweight including (14%) who were at risk of obesity. We aim to continuously improve the data and evidence on obesity. Our recently published consultation document 'A Healthier Future - Action and Ambitions on Diet, Activity and Healthy Weight' therefore sets out our current approach and invites views on further action.

Question reference: S5W-11802

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 25 October 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scottish Health Survey findings that (a) the average body mass index (BMI) is at its highest level since 2003 and (b) two-thirds of people are overweight or obese.

Improving weight and diet is a top priority for this government as we made clear in the Programme for Government. We will shortly publish and consult on our new Diet and Obesity Strategy which will be brought forward this year. In developing that strategy we look forward to hearing stakeholder views on what further action can be taken, within the powers of this Government, to impact on moving and supporting Scotland's population towards better and healthier lifestyle choices.