Chamber and committees

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-20224

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 21 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the actual capital expenditure has been on the Glasgow Subway modernisation programme in each financial year from 2009-10 to date.

The Scottish Government is providing up to £246 million to SPT, towards the estimated total project cost of £287.5 million for the Subway modernisation programme, which includes: a smartcard ticketing system; new rolling stock and signalling; refurbished stations with improved accessibility.

To date, the Scottish Government has provided just over £142 million since 2011-12 to Subway Modernisation:

	Grant paid
2011-12	£15,000,000
2016-17	£20,000,000
2017-18	£88,845,000
2018-19	£18,587,000
Total	£142,432,000

Question reference: S6W-20069

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 16 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what specific action it is taking to grow international route development at Glasgow Airport.

The Scottish Government is committed to working with Scotland’s airports, including Glasgow Airport, to help them grow international connectivity, while not returning to previous levels of emissions. Our aim is for Scotland to be as well connected as peer nations and regions, and we have regular engagement with Glasgow Airport to discuss potential opportunities. Our engagement with Scotland’s airports is commercially sensitive and I am unable to share specific details.

Transport Scotland, in partnership with VisitScotland and Scottish Development International, works to help Scotland’s airports secure new routes that are essential for inbound tourism, business connectivity and the economy as a whole. In May, representatives from this cross government partnership attended the route development forum Routes Europe 2023, supporting Glasgow Airport and the other Scottish airports in attendance.

In March this year, the Scottish Government supported VisitScotland in rolling out a demand-building campaign to encourage travellers to seek direct flights to Scotland from across our key markets, with airlines serving Glasgow included in this campaign.

Question reference: S6W-19962

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 17 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 14 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will instruct Scottish Water to address any defects with the (a) structural condition, (b) external paintwork and (c) architectural lighting installations at the (i) Cranhill, (ii) Craigend and (iii) Garthamlock water towers.

Question reference: S6W-20443

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 07 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 14 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in exploring how Scottish higher education institutions can continue to benefit from Erasmus+ and pre-existing good relations with European higher education institutions following the UK's exit from the European Union.

As autonomous bodies, Scottish universities continue to strengthen pre-existing relationships with European higher education institutions through all available channels.

The Scottish Government is committed to addressing one of the most damaging consequences of Brexit for our universities and colleges – the fact that UK students can no longer take part in the Erasmus+ Programme.

Over the summer, the Scottish Government will work with partners to develop a 1-year Scottish Education Exchange test and learn pilot programme, to commence in 2023-24.

Question reference: S6W-20147

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 21 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 10 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can instruct Network Rail Scotland to prioritise Springburn railway station for step-free access improvement works, as part of the Access for All scheme.

The Access for All scheme is a UK Government scheme and as such is managed by the UK Department for Transport (DfT).

The Scottish Government has made a case for Springburn railway station to be nominated for Access for All scheme funding for Control Period 7 (2024-2029). We will continue to make representations to the UK Government on this matter.

The Department for Transport is expected to announce which stations will be prioritised for funding through the Access for All scheme this Autumn.

Question reference: S6W-20070

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 9 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with (a) AGS Airports Limited and (b) International Airlines Group, regarding the proposed expansion of British Airways Maintenance Glasgow (BAMG) through the construction of a new hangar facility to undertake maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of the entire narrow-body aircraft fleet across the International Airlines Group.

Question reference: S6W-19961

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 7 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether there should be an agreed standard for the wearing by Police Scotland of dress uniforms for passing out parades at the Scottish Police College and for high-profile public events, and whether it can instruct the Chief Constable of Police Scotland to adopt such a standard, in light of such policies reportedly being adopted by other police forces in the UK.

Uniform and appearance standards for Police Scotland are a matter for the Chief Constable. It is vitally important that the Chief Constable has the flexibility, subject to risk assessment, as to the appropriate uniform for specific events.

Police Scotland have a Standard Operating Procedure in place which states that dress uniforms shall only be worn on formal occasions or as directed by the Chief Constable, for example at passing out parades at the Scottish Police College. The Standard Operating Procedure can be found at: [ Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Review Template (scotland.police.uk) ]

Question reference: S6W-19912

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Emma Roddick on 1 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what specific provisions it is making for people from Hong Kong who have been granted leave on the British National (Overseas) visa to settle and integrate in Scotland.

The Scottish Government is committed to supporting the integration of former Hong Kong residents into our communities. We have published a dedicated British National (Overseas) welcome pack, in both English and Cantonese, on our website.

We continue to provide significant levels of funding to a range of organisations supporting the integration of migrants, refugees and people seeking asylum. This includes supporting organisations, such as COSLA, the Scottish Refugee Council and British Red Cross. We aim to ensure that all arrivals to Scotland are welcomed and supported to integrate into Scottish society from day one of arrival. This work will continue.

Question reference: S6W-20043

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 July 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 1 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider making an offer to the Commonwealth Games Federation for Glasgow to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games, in light of the withdrawal of the Australian state of Victoria as hosts.

Question reference: S6W-19501

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Emma Roddick on 1 August 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the factors that it considers are driving population decline in the west of Scotland, relative to the east of Scotland.

The Scottish Government’s 2021 Population Strategy sets out the factors driving population decline in some parts of the west of Scotland, recognising the different demographic challenges that individual communities face. It shows that areas are each uniquely shaped by natural change (births minus deaths) and net migration. We know that specific local factors influence population outcomes and that no single solution will apply to all communities.

We are assessing a range of factors affecting population outcomes in parts of the west of Scotland as we develop the Addressing Depopulation Action Plan, including: housing; transport and digital infrastructure; local and regional economic development; and public service provision and accessibility. Following this assessment, we will apply a place-based approach within the Action Plan and set out action at a national, regional and local level to address population decline and meet the discrete needs of communities.