- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 April 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 10 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government when it will report the findings of the peak fares removal pilot to the Parliament.
Answer
The ScotRail Peak Fares Removal Pilot has been extended to 28 June 2024. An interim evaluation is underway to examine the impacts on rail travel patterns and other modes as well as a formal value for money assessment. A final evaluation will be undertaken at the end of the pilot and the Scottish Government will inform further decisions setting future fares.
- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 April 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 10 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on the delivery of recommendation 11 of the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2).
Answer
Since the publication of the draft of STPR2 in January 2022, a multi-partner working group consisting of Transport Scotland (TS), Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) and Glasgow City Council (GCC) has been established to better define the scale of work that Clyde Metro might represent and the associated resource and programme requirements. This is overseen by a Programme Steering Group comprising of the Chief Executives of those organisations. SPT are leading the current stage of Clyde Metro, known as the case for investment stage, working alongside Glasgow City Council and with Transport Scotland providing support in a project assurance role. This key stage, which is currently underway, will define the Clyde Metro network. I understand that SPT have recently appointed consultants for some early work, with procurement of a framework for multi-disciplinary consultancy services for later phases of the case for investment currently ongoing.
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 April 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 10 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it can take to secure the improvement of Ardrossan Harbour, in light of recent reported criticism by CalMac of the harbour’s owner, Peel Ports.
Answer
CalMac are right to raise any concerns they have around infrastructure maintenance at the ports which they use to provide services for our island communities. Transport Scotland continue to engage regularly with Peel Ports Group as owner of Ardrossan Harbour and fully expect facilities to be maintained appropriately in line with operating agreements to support ferry services. Ministers are currently awaiting the completion of essential business case and cost review work for the longer-term investment proposals at Ardrossan, and I hope to provide an update on this to Parliament before the summer recess.
- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 April 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 10 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent on the delivery of recommendation 11 of the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) to date, and what any funding has been used for.
Answer
Since the publication of the draft of STPR2 in January 2022, a multi-partner working group consisting of Transport Scotland (TS), Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) and Glasgow City Council (GCC) has been established to better define the scale of work that Clyde Metro might represent and the associated resource and programme requirements. This is overseen by a Programme Steering Group comprising of the Chief Executives of those organisations. SPT are leading the current stage of Clyde Metro, known as the case for investment stage, working alongside Glasgow City Council and with Transport Scotland providing support in a project assurance role.
Since the publication of STPR2, Transport Scotland took a lead on delivering the recommendation on behalf of the Programme Steering Group and have spent approximately £921,000 on early consultancy services aimed at defining the scope, governance, programme and budget of Clyde Metro. This does not include spend incurred by SPT and GCC.
- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 May 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 10 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the timeline and process towards delivering its commitment to introducing Low Emission Zone (LEZ) schemes in (a) Edinburgh, (b) Aberdeen, and (c) Dundee.
Answer
Low Emission Zones (LEZs) were formally introduced in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow on 31st May 2022, with grace periods beginning at this point.
Enforcement in Glasgow began on 1 June 2023 (with an additional year for residents within the zone). Enforcement in Dundee will begin on 30 th May 2024 and in Aberdeen and Edinburgh on 1 June 2024.
Transport Scotland continues to work closely with local authorities and DVLA to ensure consistency in the approach to LEZ enforcement.
Transport Scotland is confident that these measures will lead to a reduction of harmful emissions in our city centres.
- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 May 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 10 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-20438 by Fiona Hyslop on 29 August 2023, whether it will provide a progress update on the National Speed Management Review.
Answer
The National Speed Management Review is due to be completed in the coming weeks and we will then consider the proposed outcomes.
The review process will thereafter include a stakeholder and public consultation to consider their views on whether any changes to speed limit policies and speed management measures should be introduced as part of our speed management plan. The stakeholder and public consultations will take place in the coming months.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 26 April 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Natalie Don on 9 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-23633 by Jenny Gilruth on 21 December 2023, whether it has now completed the work to develop a clear picture of the scale and uptake of breakfast provision across Scotland, which was scheduled to be completed in spring 2024, and whether it will consider publishing, or otherwise making available, this work.
Answer
The Scottish Government has committed to develop plans to deliver free breakfasts to all primary and special school children.
As noted in the response to question S6W-22746 on 17 November 2023, the Scottish Government is currently working with Assist FM and Improvement Service to develop a clear picture of the scale, uptake and delivery models of breakfast provision across Scotland both at Local Authority and schools' level. We expect the data from that exercise to be submitted to Scottish Government in June 2024. This will then inform the government’s approach.
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 .
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 April 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 9 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many buildings that are listed as category (a) A, (b) B and (c) C contain reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), broken down by local authority area.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold information on the number of buildings listed as category (a) A, (b) B and (c) C containing reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC). Assessment for the presence of RAAC and for putting in place appropriate measures is a matter for individual building owners, informed by guidance such as that available from the Institution of Structural Engineers and, in the case of listed buildings, Historic Environment Scotland.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 April 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 9 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government how many school technicians were employed in Scotland in each of the last 10 years, broken down by local authority area.
Answer
Management information on the weekly hours of school support staff for 2020-2023 and of full-time equivalent school support staff for 2019, including technicians, can be found here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/school-support-staff-management-information/
Data on full time equivalent support staff for 2010 to 2016 (not comparable to the 2020-2023 management information), including technicians, can be found here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/teacher-census-supplementary-statistics/
- Asked by: Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 May 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 9 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what support is in place for disabled and
neurodiverse legal practitioners in Scotland's courts system.
Answer
The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service is entirely independent of the Scottish Government. The operation of the courts is the responsibility of the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service under the leadership of its independent board headed by the Lord President.
The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service is committed to mainstreaming equality and diversity, providing responsive and accessible services for all court users and legal practitioners which recognise their diverse needs.
The Law Society of Scotland has a responsibility to support its members and promote the interests of the solicitor profession.