- Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 13 March 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 22 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what the total spend has been on its policy, Language Learning in Scotland: A 1+2 Approach.
Answer
Since the introduction of the 1+2 approach to language learning in 2013 until the current 2022-23 financial year, the Scottish Government has provided local authorities with a total of £36.8 million in additional funding to support them to implement this approach in schools.
In the same period we have offered grant funding of approximately £15 million to organisations undertaking activities which support the 1+2 approach or complement its broader aims.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 22 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide a list of any disused train (a) stations and (b) lines that it is currently considering reopening.
Answer
Transport Scotland has a highly successful record of reintroducing stations and routes to the network, reconnecting and bringing new opportunities to Scotland’s communities. These include the Airdrie to Bathgate line and the Borders Railway, and most recently, the reopening of Reston Station. A new station at East Linton is expected to open before the end of this control period. Work is well underway on the Levenmouth Railway, which will enter service in 2024, reversing historical closure and returning stations and new journeys and economic opportunities to the communities surrounding Leven and Cameron Bridge.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 22 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on the number of (a) Scottish and (b) non-Scottish firms that Cemre Marin Endustri has signed an agreement with to provide products and/or services, as part of the contract for the two vessels for Islay, awarded by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL).
Answer
As part of the contract for two vessels for Islay, Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) could not have stipulated that only Scottish or UK suppliers could be used as the Regulations require them to treat economic operators equally & without discrimination and restrict them from artificially narrowing competition by unduly favouring or disadvantaging any particular economic operator.
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.
- Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 13 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 22 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government how much money (a) the Serco Caledonian Sleeper and (b) ScotRail has received from Network Rail, following national strike days since July 2022, as a result of any indemnification arrangements.
Answer
I am advised that Clause 14.2 of the regulated Track Access Contracts which govern such arrangements between train operating companies and Network Rail require such information to be held confidential during and after the continuance of the contracts.
The regulation of such contracts is the responsibility of the Office of Rail and Road, acting within the UK Government’s railway legislation.
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 24 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 22 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government how many times the Minister for Transport has (a) visited in-person and (b) met representatives from (i) Glasgow Airport, (ii) Edinburgh Airport, (iii) Glasgow Prestwick Airport and (iv) Aberdeen International Airport since being appointed.
Answer
Since my appointment as Minister for Transport, I have visited Edinburgh Airport and met officials on one occasion in person with a further meeting held virtually. I have met virtually the CEO of AGS Airports, who own both Aberdeen and Glasgow Airports, for a meeting. I have visited Glasgow Airport on two occasions when flying for Ministerial engagements. I have not visited Aberdeen Airport during my time as Minister for Transport. I have not visited Prestwick Airport as Prestwick is not within my Ministerial portfolio.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 March 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 21 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many people to date have repaid their interest-free loans through the Access Bikes scheme.
Answer
The Access Bikes scheme closed in February 2022. During the life of the scheme, 4 loans were distributed, and 3 of those have been repaid.
A new Access Bikes scheme has been running since April 2022 which focuses on assisting those facing challenges to access a bike through various means. There is no loan aspect provided in the new scheme.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 March 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 21 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it anticipates meeting the target of 10% of everyday journeys to be taken by bicycle.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-13420 on 19 January 2023. 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: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 March 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 21 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many applicants to the Access Bikes scheme have received an interest-free loan to date, broken down by local authority area.
Answer
The Access Bikes scheme closed in February 2022. During the life of the scheme, 4 loans were distributed, though we do not hold information on the recipients or local authority area.
A new Access Bikes scheme has been running since April 2022 which focuses on assisting those facing challenges to access a bike through various means. There is no loan aspect provided in the new scheme.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 March 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 21 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government which specific organisations have been involved in distributing funding allocated to the Access Bikes scheme, and how much funding was allocated to each.
Answer
The Access Bikes scheme closed in February 2022. The scheme was run by Cycling UK, who partnered with Capital Credit Union and ScotWest Credit Union as a mechanism for offering the loans. £250,000 was originally provided for financial transactions, though only £7,000 of this was distributed to successful applicants.
A new Access Bikes scheme has been running since April 2022 which focuses on assisting those facing challenges to access a bike through various means. This scheme is also run by Cycling UK.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 March 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 21 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government how many additional miles travelled by bicycle, that have replaced miles travelled by vehicles, it estimates there have been as a result of the Access Bikes scheme.
Answer
We do not hold information on mileage travelled by the recipients, but from follow-up surveys for the new Access Bikes scheme running since April 2022, we can confirm that 76% of scheme recipients have swapped car journeys for bike journeys.