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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: S6W-15007

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 15 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) Transport Scotland, (b) Network Rail and (c) Strathclyde Partnership for Transport has engaged with Landsec regarding the proposed £850 million redevelopment masterplan for the Buchanan Galleries in Glasgow, and any potential investment opportunities for infrastructure improvements at Glasgow Queen Street Railway Station and Buchanan Bus Station.

Question reference: S6W-14925

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 10 February 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 15 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what criteria it uses to select board members of Scottish Rail Holdings.

There is a job profile created for each individual role and this is used to assess the suitability of the candidates.

Job profiles are designed to attract the best people for the roles - high quality candidates with specialist knowledge and qualifications, where required, in relation to specific roles such as Safety and Audit and Risk. It is also important to us that candidates possess strong governance, diversity and leadership skills and a knowledge of constitutional devolution and how it affects public services in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-15749

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 15 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether the "keeping pace" power, as set out in the Policy Memorandum for the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Act 2021, has been used to update Scottish legislation on (a) drinking water standards, (b) food and livestock updates and (c) digital content and services.

For the period between the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity)(Scotland) Act 2021 coming into effect and 31 August 2021, information relating to the Scottish Government's use or considered use of the section 1(1) power of the Act is in the public domain and can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/constitution-europe-external-affairs-and-culture-committee/correspondence/2022/eu-alignment--continuity-act--6-may.pdf

For the period 1 September 2021 - 31 August 2022 information is also in the public domain and can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/constitution-europe-external-affairs-and-culture-committee/eu-continuity-act--draft-annual-report-for-laying--final--27-oct-2022.pdf

The Scottish Government has used the section 1(1) power in respect of The Public Water Supplies (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2022, relating to drinking water standards. These amended the Public Water Supplies (Scotland) Regulations 2014 to implement partially Directive (EU) 2020/2184 on the quality of water intended for human consumption. The section 1(1) power has not been used in relation to food and livestock updates or digital content and services.

Question reference: S6W-15031

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 February 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 15 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many times Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd has time chartered the MV Arrow for service on publicly-contracted ferry routes in Scotland from January 2012 to date, and what the (a) duration and (b) cost was of the time charter in each instance.

Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) have never chartered the MV Arrow, which is owned by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company. Any charter has been between the publicly funded ferry operator and the owner of the vessel.

The following table details, from January 2012, when either CalMac Ferries Ltd or Serco NorthLink Ferries have chartered the MV Arrow.

Operator	Network *	Period of Charter
Serco NorthLink	NIFS	18-10-14 to 12-11-14
Serco NorthLink	NIFS	02-11-17 to 12-11-17
Serco NorthLink	NIFS	22-11-17 to 30-11-17
Serco NorthLink	NIFS	18-01-18 to 19-02-18
Serco NorthLink	NIFS	14-09-18 to 07-10-18
Serco NorthLink	NIFS	14-10-18 to 07-11-18
Serco NorthLink	NIFS	31-10-19 to 23-11-19
Serco NorthLink	NIFS	13-01-20 to 26-01-20
Serco NorthLink	NIFS	16-06-20 to 25-06-20
Serco NorthLink	NIFS	10-05-22 to 24-05-22
Serco NorthLink	NIFS	07-11-22 to 28-11-22
CalMac Ferries	CHFS	16-07-21 to 09-09-21
CalMac Ferries	CHFS	01-11-21 to 13-11-21
CalMac Ferries	CHFS	14-01-23 to 15-03-23

*	CHFS – Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services NIFS – Northern Isles Ferry Services

The cost of any charter is commercial in confidence between the respective ferry operator and owner of the MV Arrow.

Question reference: S6W-14998

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 15 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £500 million fund for bus infrastructure, announced by the First Minister in September 2019, has been allocated to the M8 westbound, and what plans it has to allocate any further funds to the M8 westbound relating to bus infrastructure.

In 2019, the £500 million investment in bus included reallocation of roadspace on the Glasgow motorway network. The design development and business case work to support infrastructure to improve bus journey time reliability on the M8 through Glasgow and also on the M77 and M80, is currently moving towards completion.

Until this work is completed it is not possible to confirm the exact level of investment that will be required.

Question reference: S6W-15447

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 15 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the adequacy of current staffing levels for lung cancer nurse specialists within the (a) West of Scotland Cancer Network, (b) North Cancer Alliance and (c) South East Scotland Cancer Network.

The Scottish Government has overall responsibility for health and social care policy in Scotland, however the statutory responsibility for delivering or commissioning services lies with health boards. Operational decisions, including whether there is a need for lung cancer specialist nurses, is therefore, a matter for them.

Scottish Government officials have weekly cancer calls with health boards where issues with staffing can be addressed and supported.

Question reference: S6W-15450

Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 15 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of how many new lung cancer patients per whole-time equivalent lung cancer nurse specialist there were in September (a) 2020, (b) 2021 and (c) 2022.

Question reference: S6W-15066

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 15 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has sought advice from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service regarding any implications of licensing muirburn.

Proposals to amend legislation relating to muirburn were included in our Wildlife Management in Scotland consultation. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service provided a full response to this consultation and their responses are being taken into account as the provisions for the Bill are developed.

I recently met with Bruce Farquharson, Deputy Assistant Chief Officer and Head of Training for SFRS to discuss their consultation response in more detail.

Question reference: S6W-15064

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 15 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service on the development of regulatory proposals for muirburn, in light of its potential role in mitigating wildfire risk.

Question reference: S6W-15530

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 15 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what funding it plans to provide for student mental health services within universities and colleges in light of Scottish Funding Council funding for mental health support ending in July 2023.

No decision has yet been taken with regard to Scottish Government funding to support student mental health services within colleges and universities beyond the end of the current Academic Year.

We have met our manifesto commitment to provide more than 80 additional counsellors in Further and Higher Education over four years.

In this, the final Academic Year of the commitment, despite an extremely challenging fiscal environment, we have confirmed a further £2 million to the end of this financial year and are committed to provide further funding for the remainder of this Academic Year, which falls into the Government’s next financial year. Details of this will be confirmed in due course, as part of the budget setting exercise for 2023-24.

We are producing an evidence and evaluation-informed Student Mental Health Plan. The Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Working Group, which I chair, is driving this work forward. The Plan will provide a framework for mental health services in colleges and universities, recognising the existing eco-systems of services available for students, and will be linked to the wider Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy.