- 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 7 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding recommendation 6 of the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2), how much has been spent on (a) active travel infrastructure and (b) behaviour change initiatives since 2012.
Answer
The Active Travel Budget is an annually set allocation from the overall Scottish Transport Budget. The Active Travel Programme contains a blend of Grants awarded in accordance with the Scottish Public Finance Manual, contracts drawn down from Scottish Government procurement frameworks, and budget transfers to support investments managed in other areas of the portfolio. A breakdown of years 2012-13 to 2023-23 is set out below, our figures for 2023-24 are also shown with the caveat that these should be considered as indicative of the year end process completing;
FY | Infrastructure | Behaviour Change |
2012-13 | £19,314,314.25 | £9,692,941.14 |
2013-14 | £14,389,759.76 | £25,026,007.98 |
2014-15 | £36,341,933.11 | £9,664,056.74 |
2015-16 | £32,800,821.03 | £8,902,716.68 |
2016-17 | £31,062,521.10 | £12,040,896.15 |
2017-18 | £33,826,092.21 | £6,866,952.92 |
2018-19 | £65,306,920.23 | £12,743,060.69 |
2019-20 | £70,968,560.22 | £13,725,623.59 |
2020-21 | £85,821,798 | £14,728,849.66 |
2021-22 | £90,638,802.70 | £25,533,023.69 |
2022-23 | £108,969,823.75 | £40,713,179.94 |
2023-24 | £116,948,994 | £33,095,085 |
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 April 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 7 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential economic impact of using Air Departure Tax for "demand management".
Answer
The Scottish Government has not committed to managing aviation demand through Air Departure Tax and therefore no analysis or assessment has been undertaken.
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 29 April 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 7 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government how many people who applied for a free personal care package died before they received one in each year since 1999, also broken down by local authority area.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not collect data on the number of people who have applied for a free personal care package, but have died before receiving it.
It is the local authority’s responsibility to assess each person and consider whether their needs call for the provision of social care services. Local authorities set their eligibility threshold based on local guidance, and it may not be consistent across local authorities. However, those at critical or substantial risk are more likely to receive them sooner, than those who are assessed as moderate or low risk.
- Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Date lodged: Friday, 26 April 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 7 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken, since the publication of Out of hospital cardiac arrest: strategy 2021 to 2026, to ensure that defibrillators are (a) placed in positions that are as accessible as possible to the public and (b) available 24/7.
Answer
The Scottish Government is a member of the Save a Life for Scotland (SALFS) Partnership. Through SALFS, work is ongoing to increase the strategic placement of defibrillators in Scotland.
The Scottish Government have provided funding to support the Resuscitation Research Group’s development of a tool to help defibrillator guardians make informed decisions about where to place their device in order to have most impact.
In order to maximise defibrillator availability they are usually best mounted on the outside of buildings, and placed in unlocked cabinets. SALFS partners work with defibrillator guardians across Scotland to encourage such placement and availability.
- Asked by: Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Date lodged: Friday, 26 April 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 7 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding defibrillators in schools, what action it has taken to encourage the installation of defibrillators in publicly accessible positions for use by the wider community, rather than in locked rooms within the schools.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-27095 on 7 May 2024. 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: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 April 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 7 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has held with its New Deal for Business Group regarding using Air Departure Tax for "demand management".
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-27063 on 7 May 2024. 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 Fiona Hyslop on 7 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any new passing loops that are (a) completed and (b) in progress, on the Highland Main Line, as per the recommendation in the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2).
Answer
Phase one of the Highland Main Line Improvement Project was delivered in December 2012, increasing services from 9 to 11 trains per day in each direction, and reducing journey times by an average of 6 minutes at a cost of £1.2 million.
Highland Mainline Improvement Project Phase Two was completed in March 2019 at a cost of £57m. This phase delivered signalling upgrades at Aviemore and Pitlochry stations, along with an extension of the passing loop at Aviemore and the reconfiguration and extension of the platforms at Pitlochry. The infrastructure work delivered already and an integrated approach to passenger and freight timetable patterns have created capacity for additional rail freight on the Highland Main Line.
There are no active enhancement projects on the Highland Main Line. However, Transport Scotland continues to revise its programme of works against priorities in the context of available funding. This ensures Transport Scotland can deliver the right projects at the right time as it seeks to progress its rolling programme of decarbonisation, whilst also delivering rail passenger and freight services that meet user expectations.
- 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 7 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of rail passenger numbers, and what impact this has had on progress of recommendation (a) 15, (b) 16 and (c) 17 of the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2).
Answer
ScotRail, in public ownership, regularly monitors passenger numbers which enables it to deliver services which respond to the needs of people of Scotland.
Since ScotRail moved into public sector, we have added over 200 additional services each weekday, offering seven per cent more seats. Passenger numbers have increased by 75% from 46.7 million in 2021-22 to around 82 million in 2023-24.
In respect of STPR2, Transport Scotland’s programme of works continues to be reviewed against priorities in the context of available funding. This ensures Transport Scotland can deliver the right projects at the right time as we seek to progress our rolling programme of decarbonisation, whilst also delivering rail passenger and freight services that meet user expectations.
- 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 7 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates that recommendation 12 of the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) will be progressed.
Answer
The delivery of many of the STPR2 recommendations is not the sole responsibility of Transport Scotland and will require a collaborative approach with Regional Transport Partnership and Local Authorities. This approach is already being taken in the other two mass transit recommendations for Glasgow (STPR2 Recommendation 11) and Aberdeen (STPR2 Recommendation 13).
Whilst STPR2 provides the strategic business case for enhancing the cross-boundary mass transit public transport system for the whole Edinburgh and South East region, the outline business case for Recommendation 12 remains to be developed.
The next appropriate step in this process will include agreement on a suitable way forward for development of the project, therefore Transport Scotland continues to work collaboratively with and advise the local authorities and SEStran on the mobilisation of this recommendation.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 April 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 7 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government when the next routine maintenance is scheduled to be carried out on each junction of the A9 between Perth and Inverness.
Answer
Programmes of routine maintenance on all trunk roads are developed based on need and are delivered on a prioritised based within the limits of available funding. On occasion other programmes of work, for example road safety, may recommend works that upgrade trunk road signage and road markings.
A number of schemes have been completed on the recently through this budget as part of a package of short term works to improve safety prior to the dualling of the remainder of the A9. Cyclic maintenance is also carried out across trunk roads. This work including grass cutting at junctions to keep visibility splays clear and bollard cleaning to maintain their reflectivity.
The following list highlights a diverse range of schemes currently being prepared for the A9:
- A9 Pitlochry Hospital signs – sign renewal in advance of the southbound off slip and the northbound off slip to Pitlochry. This work is provisionally programmed between 29-04-24 and 03-05-24.
- A9 Inshes countdown signs – replacement of countdown marker signs in advance of the Inshes junction (northbound off slip). This work is provisionally programmed between 27-05-24 and 31-05-24.
- A9 South of Bogbain junction ditching. This drainage work is provisionally programmed between 08-07-24 and 12-07-24.
Additional routine maintenance schemes may be developed and delivered this financial year. This will depend on feedback from weekly inspections and perceived need.
