- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 06 June 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 15 June 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how much revenue it expects to be generated from ScotWind options payments in each of the next 10 years.
Answer
As outlined in my response to the answer to question S6W-08721 on 9 June 2022, the ScotWind lease option awards process has yet to be completed and the final figure raised through option agreements is still to be confirmed. The Scottish Government plans to draw down £660 million of lease option funding in the first two years of the Resource Spending Review period. 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 Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 06 June 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 15 June 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will deliver a supply chain plan to help support the development of the renewable energy supply chain as part of the upcoming Energy Strategy Refresh.
Answer
The Energy Strategy & Just Transition Plan (ESJTP) will be developed not only to ensure the delivery of a viable net-zero energy system but also to provide an action plan that enables the transition to that system in a fair and just way for all of Scotland and maximises the economic opportunity that Scotland’s resource provides.
To ensure the impacts of the ESJTP reflect the challenges and opportunities facing the supply chain, a co-design process is being carried out to ensure the supply chain are able to engage, contribute and help shape the ESJTP.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 06 June 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 15 June 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how it is ensuring that near-term net-zero projects are working with Scotland's renewable energy suppliers.
Answer
In 2020, the Scottish Government set up the Scottish Energy Task Force to focus on near-term, collaborative actions, which can stimulate investment in Scotland’s energy sector to support delivery of net-zero.
The Energy Task Force consists of 12 organisations, including renewable energy companies, who have helped to develop the Joint Business Plan for Unlocking Investment in Scotland’s Energy Sector which was published in May this year.
The Plan outlines actions which can be taken to make near-term progress on working towards net-zero. The Task Force will continue to work collaboratively to deliver these actions which support net-zero.
- Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 June 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Kate Forbes on 15 June 2022
To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many journeys have been taken using and (b) what the cost has been of the Government Car Service in each year since 2011, including 2021, also broken down by minister, including the First Minister.
Answer
The following table details the total cost of operation and number of journeys completed by the Government Car Service since 2011.
Year | Total cost (1) | Total number of journeys completed (2) |
2010 - 11 | £974,678 | 8,159 |
2011 - 12 | £1,074,714 | 9,201 |
2012 - 13 | £1,204,864 | 10,389 |
2013 - 14 | £1,156,208 | 9,543 |
2014 - 15 | £1,184,851 | 10,039 |
2015 - 16 | £1,145,521 | 10,619 |
2016 - 17 | £1,092,375 | 9,527 |
2017 - 18 | £1,177,398 | 10,050 |
2018 - 19 | £1,323,131 | 10,755 |
2019 - 20 | £1,344,978 | 8,604 |
2020 - 21 | £903,002 | 1,448 |
2021 - 22 | £1,044,967 | 3,353 |
Notes
1. Total costs include staff salaries, employer’s contributions, fuel, vehicle maintenance, private hire and travel and subsistence . Excludes Police Scotland costs associated in transporting First Minister.
2. Does not include First Ministers journeys completed by Police Scotland.
A full breakdown of journeys, excluding First Ministers journeys after April 2017, can be accessed via the following links.
Ministerial Car Journeys - 2007-2016 (webarchive.org.uk)
Ministerial engagements, travel and gifts - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
- Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 May 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 15 June 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will outline the changes in frequency to train services at (a) Shotts, (b) Airdrie, (c) Falkirk Grahamston, (d) Falkirk High and (e) Polmont railway station (i) from 23 May 2022 and (ii) as a result of the Fit for the Future timetable consultation.
Answer
The following table outlines the changes in frequency for the stations requested from ScotRail’s May 2022 Fit for the Future Timetable and ScotRail’s temporary timetable:-
Timetable data for standard weekday, correct as of 07 June 2022 |
Station | Timetable | Frequency (trains per hour [tph]) |
SHOTTS | May-22 | To/from Glasgow - 1tph all day.
To/from Edinburgh - 1tph all day.
Additional services at peak times. |
SHOTTS | Temporary | To/from Glasgow - 1tph all day.
To/from Edinburgh - 1tph all day.
Additional services at peak times. |
AIRDRIE | May-22 | To/from Glasgow - 4tph until evening, then 2tph.
To/from Edinburgh - 2tph all day.
Additional services at peak times. |
AIRDRIE | Temporary | To/from Glasgow - 4tph all day.
To/from Edinburgh - 2tph all day.
Additional services at peak times. |
FALKIRK GRAHAMSTON | May-22 | To/from Glasgow - 1tph all day.
To/from Edinburgh - 2tph until evening, then 1tph.
To/from Dunblane - 2tph until evening, then 1tph.
Additional services at peak times. |
FALKIRK GRAHAMSTON | Temporary | To/from Glasgow - 1tph all day.
To/from Edinburgh - 1tph until final gap of 4 hours.
To/from Dunblane - 1tph all day.
Additional services at peak times. |
FALKIRK HIGH | May-22 | To/from Glasgow - 2tph all day.
To/from Edinburgh - 2tph all day.
Additional Services at peak times. |
FALKIRK HIGH | Temporary | To/from Glasgow - 2tph until final gap of 2 hours.
To/from Edinburgh - 2tph until final gap of 2 hours. |
POLMONT | May-22 | To/from Dunblane - 2tph until evening, then 1tph.
To/from Edinburgh - 4tph until evening, then 3tph.
To/from Glasgow - 2tph all day.
Additional services at peak times. |
POLMONT | Temporary | To/from Dunblane - 1tph all day.
To/from Edinburgh - 3tph until final gap of 2 hours.
To/from Glasgow - 2tph until final gap of 2 hours.
Additional services at peak times. |
- Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 May 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 15 June 2022
To ask the Scottish Government when it was first informed of the changes by ScotRail to the train timetable that were introduced on 23 May 2022.
Answer
Transport Scotland was informed of the temporary timetable proposal by Scottish Rail Holdings Ltd on 11 May 2022.
- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 May 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 15 June 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has conducted any analysis of the operation of Transport for London’s Veteran Oyster Card scheme, and whether it will consider rolling out a similar scheme in Scotland.
Answer
Transport for London’s Veteran Oyster Card scheme is specifically tailored to London’s ticket and fare system. Whilst there are no current plans to roll out such a scheme in Scotland, I have asked my officials in Transport Scotland to meet with TfL to learn more about the scheme’s operation and where we might be able to learn lessons in Scotland.
- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 May 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 15 June 2022
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with veterans groups to discuss concessionary travel proposals.
Answer
There have been no recent meetings between veterans' groups and the Scottish Government to discuss concessionary travel. However, I will be meeting Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans in the near future to discuss issues including concessionary travel.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 10 June 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 15 June 2022
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason £97 million has been removed from the Scottish Water budget in 2022-23, and then £98 million in each of the next four years, in the Resource Spending Review.
Answer
The Scottish Government Budget for 2022-23 sets out that during this financial year, the Scottish Government intends to lend £170m per annum in capital funding and to receive some £105m income per annum which is the interest on loans issued to Scottish Water. Across the 2021-27 period Ministers have committed to lend Scottish Water up to £1.03bn. Lending in future years will be agreed in future Budget Acts.
The quoted figure of -£97m is the resource budget for the Water Industry portfolio. This reflects some £105m income of interest payments by Scottish Water less amounts of spend on Hydro Nation and Private Water activities. The breakdown of spend is included within table 9.16 of the Budget.
Scottish Water is financed through revenue raised from customer charges and loans issued by the Scottish Government. The spending review has simply confirmed the intention to lend £170m per annum to Scottish Water and hence it has no impact on customers’ bills.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 10 June 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 15 June 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether the removal of £489 million from the Scottish Water budget in the Resource Spending Review will have any impact on water charges for customers.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-09008 on 15 June 2022. 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
