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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-29042

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 12 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 10 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what the total cost has been of consultancy fees relating to Transport Scotland’s work on developing long- and medium-term resilient routes to replace the existing A83 Rest and Be Thankful corridor in each year since 2021.

The Scottish Government is committed to delivering medium and long term solutions to address the landslip risks at the A83 Rest and Be Thankful.

Delivery of a permanent and resilient solution is a priority and we will continue to seek ways to achieve that as quickly as possible. Following identification of a preferred option last year, the next step for the permanent solution, which is the detailed development and assessment of the preferred option, is progressing at pace and will conclude with the publication of draft Orders for comment, currently expected by the end of this year. As with all infrastructure projects, delivery of the scheme can only commence if approved under the relevant statutory authorisation procedures and thereafter a timetable for construction can be set.

At the same time, improvements to the existing Old Military Road (OMR) through the Glen Croe corridor are being made to make it a more resilient diversion route until the long term solution is in place.

The Scottish Government has spent the following amounts each year on the necessary design and assessment work for the A83 Rest and Be Thankful project:

Year	Spend
2021	£2,724,800.18
2022	£2,008,235.91
2023	£6,591,664.04
2024 (to 16 August)	£4,757,610.52
TOTAL	£16,082,310.60

These figures are inclusive of VAT where applicable and cover costs associated with design and assessment work on both the medium and long term solutions to the landslip risks at the Rest and Be Thankful from 2021 to 16 August 2024. This includes costs associated with engineering design, environmental assessment (including environmental survey work), traffic and economic assessment, stakeholder engagement, and supervision of ground investigation works and medium term solution works to the Old Military Road.

Question reference: S6W-29048

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 12 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 10 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has plans to increase the number of public electric vehicle (EV) charging points that are suitable for (a) light commercial vehicles, (b) heavy goods vehicles and (c) buses, and, if so, whether it can provide details of any such plans.

Through the £30 million EV Infrastructure Fund, the Scottish Government has provided each Local Authority with up to £140,000 to support the cost of carrying out analysis to identify future public EV charging requirements for cars and light commercial vehicles. This analysis is being used by each Local Authority to support bids for further funding to partner with private sector charge point operators to continue to expand the network. Funding for Dundee, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray and Highland Councils has already been announced, with further announcements expected later this year.

The Scottish Government will publish a draft Vision Implementation Plan by the end of 2024 for a public charging infrastructure network that works for all. The plan is being developed with input from owners and operators of light commercial vehicles, among others, to ensure that public charging meets the needs of users of cars and vans.

Electric charging for heavy vehicles is likely to be owned and operated by the private sector. The Scottish Government is working with transport operators including the HGV sector, charge point providers, electricity networks and trade bodies to develop a shared understanding of the energy infrastructure that will be required in the future. The first iteration of this work will be published shortly. Scottish Government will convene discussions with interested parties following this research to explore how to progress.

The second phase of the Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund, announced in July 2024, will deliver more than 200 new charger guns in bus depots across Scotland before 2026. Where possible these will be made available to other road users in addition to supporting the 252 new zero-emission buses delivered through the scheme.

Question reference: S6W-29488

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 10 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the impact on eligibility for the Winter Heating Payment in Scotland, what representations it has made to the UK Government regarding simplifying the application process for pension credit.

Pension Credit is reserved to the UK Government and is the responsibility of DWP. The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice has written to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to ask her to do more to increase take up rates.

The Scottish Government is keen to see further details of plans by the UK Government to merge the administration of Housing Benefit and Pension Credit, which should simplify the application process and improve take-up rates.

Question reference: S6W-29311

Asked by: Gillian Mackay, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 10 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how the requirements of the National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) Policy 3 pertaining to biodiversity enhancement will be integrated into the proposals for Grangemouth Flood Protection Scheme.

It is the responsibility of Local Authorities to plan, develop and deliver flood protection schemes and other flood resilience actions.

Policy 3 of the National Planning Framework requires that development proposals contribute to the enhancement of biodiversity and that any potential adverse impacts will be minimised through careful planning and design. We would expect all schemes progressed by local authorities to include appropriate measures to conserve, restore and enhance biodiversity

Question reference: S6W-29068

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 10 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide a breakdown of the number of CalMac scheduled sailings that were defined as (a) on time, (b) Level 1 Lateness and (c) Level 2 Lateness in each month since March 2023, including any penalties incurred.

Question reference: S6W-29041

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 12 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 10 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how much Transport Scotland has spent on new road signage in the Highlands and Islands region in each year since 2021.

Question reference: S6W-29489

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 10 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what promotional efforts it will make in conjunction with the UK Government to encourage any pensioners impacted by the loss of the Winter Heating Payment to apply for pension credit.

Pension Credit is reserved to the UK Government and is the responsibility of the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP). The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice has written to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to ask her to do more to increase take up rates. We have also offered to work with the DWP to improve take-up rates. This will include working with stakeholders across Scotland to increase awareness of Pension Credit and the link to eligibility for Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.

Our welfare advice services, supported by Scottish Government investment, also work very closely with people who may be entitled to benefits, devolved or reserved, but have not yet applied. These efforts include increasing the awareness and take-up of assistance to support people who are struggling financially.

This is why we have committed to investing over £12 million for the provision of free income maximisation support, welfare and debt advice services in 2024-25, including support for the Citizens Advice Scotland Money Talk Team Service, which last year supported over 9,000 older people.

Question reference: S6W-29067

Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 10 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether Transport Scotland will consider including a target for reliability of services in the next Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service contract.

Question reference: S6T-02090

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 09 September 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent reported dog attack in Aberdeenshire, what effect the restrictions on XL Bully-type dogs have had on the incidence of dog attacks.

Question reference: S6T-02092

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 09 September 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the Commonwealth Games potentially being hosted in Glasgow in 2026.