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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.

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Question reference: S6F-01962

Asked by: Douglas Ross, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 March 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 March 2023

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6F-01963

Asked by: Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 27 March 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 March 2023

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6W-15009

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 27 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any plans to develop Glasgow Central Station so that it is capable of acting as the northern terminus of the HS2 network.

The procurement of HS2 trains and their operation are the responsibility of the UK Government, and therefore the information provided within this answer reflects the information the Scottish Government has received from the UK Government to date.

Despite there now being no firm plans by the UK Government to bring HS2 to Scotland it has been previously proposed that Glasgow Central will operate as the northern terminus of the HS2 network from day one of HS2 operation. Since HS2 trains will be fully compatible with the existing rail network there is no expectation by the Scottish Government that the station will require any alteration to accommodate them.

The UK Government’s consideration of yet another delay to the planned opening of HS2 is lamentable. They should be bringing forward plans for an earlier opening so that the benefits to Scotland and the rest of the UK may be realised sooner and the overall cost be reduced.

Question reference: S6W-14797

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 27 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on the number of (a) Scottish and (b) non-Scottish firms that have been set out in the specification or maker's list, as part of the contract for two vessels for Islay, awarded by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL).

Kongsberg have an agreement in place with Cemre Marin Endustri for Fin Stabilisers, with the production facility based in Dunfermline. Fifty-eight companies (overseas or based in England) are also set to provide products and/or services for the new build vessels. Forty of these companies have signed agreements, with the remaining 18 companies obtaining signed agreements as the shipyard build programme progresses.

Question reference: S6W-16208

Asked by: Natalie Don-Innes, MSP for Renfrewshire North and West, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 March 2023
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Ben Macpherson on 27 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the payment of the Winter Heating Payment.

As at Friday 24 March, Social Security Scotland had concluded the final processing of client data and expect all automatic payments to be made by 31 March.

This means that throughout February and March almost 400,000 low income households will have automatically received £50 financial support towards their energy bills for this winter.

In line with our policy, every eligible household in Scotland will have received reliable support, regardless of the weather or where they live. At a time when energy bills are increasing, this investment of over £20 million will have provided an important financial contribution to many low income households, including those with disabled people, young children and older people, many of whom would not have received a £25 Cold Weather Payment in previous years.

Even though there is no statutory requirement to do so, I have already made the decision to uprate Winter Heating Payment in April 2023 by 10.1%, to £55.05, recognising the difficulties people are facing and will be facing going forward.

There are a very small number of payments requiring manual intervention prior to being processed, for example where we are awaiting further information from the eligible person, and Social Security Scotland is taking all measures to ensure that those final payments are made as soon as possible.

A first release of Official Statistics on Winter Heating Payment will be published on
‎ 6 June 2023 and then on an annual basis in future. These will be available on Social Security Scotland’s statistics publication page at:

https://www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/about/statistics/social-security-scotland-statistics-publications .

Question reference: S6W-16205

Asked by: Jackie Dunbar, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 March 2023
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Mairi McAllan on 27 March 2023

To ask Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its response to Environmental Standards Scotland’s improvement report following its investigation into air quality.

Question reference: S6W-15791

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 27 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Transport Scotland report, Women's and girls' views and experiences of personal safety when using public transport, which was published on 7 March 2023.

The research on Women and Girls’ safety on Public Transport Scotland makes 10 recommendations Transport Scotland will continue to work with stakeholders and operators to identify actions in the recommendations and work towards progressing those. As part of this work a Summit is being organised to bring together stakeholders and experts to discuss the recommendations and identify any specific policy actions for Transport Scotland, as well as any actions for operators, police authorities and local authorities.

A number of partner organisations are working to specifically challenging men’s behaviour through a number of education and training programmes. Transport Scotland continue to support other policy areas on the systemic issue of gender based violence. The outcomes of this research have been shared with colleagues in the Scottish Government Violence Against Women and Girls Team who are working to deliver the Government’s Equally Safe Strategy.

Question reference: S6W-15772

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 27 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, for each ferry in the CalMac fleet, what the (a) age of each vessel was at the start of 2023, (b) total length of service of each vessel has been with the CalMac fleet and any previous operators and (c) expected length of service of each vessel was at design.

The following table provides the answer to:

1. age of each vessel was at the start of 2023

2. total length of service of each vessel has been with the CalMac fleet and any previous operators.

Vessel	Built	Entry into CFL Service	Current age (Years)	Time with CFL (Years)
Ali Cat	1-1-2000	10-1-2002	23.0	20.3
Argyle	9-1-2006	5-1-2007	16.3	15.7
Argyll Flyer	5-1-2001	6-1-2011	21.7	11.6
Bute	2-1-2005	7-1-2005	17.9	17.5
Caledonian Isles	5-1-1993	8-1-1993	29.7	29.4
Carvoria	8-1-2017	9-1-2017	5.4	5.3
Catriona	12-1-2015	8-1-2016	7.1	6.4
Chieftain	3-1-2007	6-1-2020	15.8	2.6
Clansman	3-1-1998	7-1-1998	24.9	24.5
Coruisk	5-1-2003	8-1-2003	19.7	19.4
Finlaggan	6-1-2010	6-1-2011	12.6	11.6
Hallaig	12-1-2012	10-1-2013	10.1	9.3
Hebridean Isles	7-1-1985	12-1-1985	37.5	37.1
Hebrides	8-1-2000	3-1-2001	22.4	21.9
Isle of Arran	12-1-1983	4-1-1984	39.1	38.8
Isle of Cumbrae	12-1-1976	4-1-1977	46.1	45.8
Isle of Lewis	4-1-1995	7-1-1995	27.8	27.5
Isle of Mull	12-1-1987	4-1-1988	35.1	34.8
Loch Alainn	4-1-1997	7-1-1997	25.8	25.5
Loch Bhrusda	3-1-1996	6-1-1996	26.9	26.6
Loch Buie	10-1-1991	7-1-1992	31.3	30.5
Loch Dunvegan	3-1-1991	5-1-1991	31.9	31.7
Loch Frisa	9-1-2015	5-1-2022	7.3	0.7
Loch Fyne	6-1-1991	9-1-1991	31.6	31.4
Loch Linnhe	5-1-1986	7-1-1986	36.7	36.5
Loch Portain	3-1-2003	6-1-2003	19.9	19.6
Loch Ranza	12-1-1986	4-1-1987	36.1	35.8
Loch Riddon	9-1-1986	10-1-1986	36.4	36.3
Loch Seaforth	3-1-2014	2-1-2015	8.8	7.9
Loch Shira	12-1-2006	6-1-2007	16.1	15.6
Loch Striven	5-1-1986	7-1-1986	36.7	36.5
Loch Tarbert	2-1-1992	7-1-1992	30.9	30.5
Lochinvar	5-1-2013	5-1-2014	9.7	8.7
Lochnevis	5-1-2000	11-1-2000	22.7	22.2
Lord of the Isles	3-1-1989	5-1-1989	33.9	33.7

In answer to (c)

The expected length of service would only be defined in the original design specification documentation, as operator CalMac Ferries Limited do not hold this. In general, commercial vessels are expected to last 20 – 25 years unless they are specified at design for a longer life.

Question reference: S6W-15775

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 27 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, for each ferry in the CalMac fleet, how many vessels have had (a) Changing Places toilets, (b) other accessible toilets and (c) no accessible toilets, in each of the last 10 years.

Question reference: S6W-15777

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 27 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) passenger, (b) car and (c) lorry capacity increases have been achieved on each ferry route in the CalMac network in each of the last 10 years.