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: S5W-15703

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 17 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what impact (a) changes to the value of property and (b) property being sold has had each year on the value of the equity stakes that it holds under the Help to Buy scheme.

Question reference: S5W-15706

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 17 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how much homeowners have paid each year (a) in total and (b) on average on legal fees incurred by solicitors regarding discharging the standard security under the Help to Buy scheme.

Question reference: S5W-15168

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 21 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14810 by Humza Yousaf on 8 March 2018, what Transport Scotland's timetable is for the introduction of the Class 385 trains, and whether it will provide the information that was requested and confirm by what date it expects the trains to be introduced for service.

The date for introduction of the new class 385 trains is a matter for ScotRail, Hitachi and Caledonian Rail Leasing (owners which lease trains to ScotRail) to agree once approval for the fleet is granted by the ORR. Various technical and manufacturing issues still need to be resolved by Hitachi before the trains can be accepted by ScotRail. This important work is currently on-going and includes feedback gathered from testing and engagement with drivers and their union representatives. Once these matters are progressed the final stage of testing and staff training can then be completed which will inform a more definitive introduction programme to be shared with Transport Scotland by ScotRail.

Question reference: S5W-14809

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 14 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it first expected Class 385 trains would be introduced for service.

Question reference: S5W-14810

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 8 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it expects Class 385 trains will be introduced for service.

ScotRail must ensure each new train is fully tested to meet the necessary safety and approvals standards before entering service and this will only be achieved after trains are approved by the independent, Office of Road and Rail (ORR). Feedback gathered from testing is vital and engagement with drivers and their union representatives is on-going as part of that important work. It is therefore imperative Hitachi and ScotRail work towards a solution to enable service introduction of the new fleet in the coming months.

Question reference: S5W-14808

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 7 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government who is responsible for the cost of resolving reported problems with windscreens following testing of Class 385 trains.

The cost of resolving any issues flagged up during testing will fall to the train manufacturer and any delays will need to be resolved within the commercially confidential agreement between Hitachi (manufacturers), ScotRail (operators) and Caledonian Rail (owners - which leases fleet to ScotRail). Late delivery of the new trains as a consequence of Hitachi’s programme is not anticipated to result in additional costs to Scottish Ministers.

Question reference: S5O-01842

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Annabelle Ewing on 28 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government when it will announce the funding for anti-sectarianism initiatives for 2018-19.

We have invested £13 million since 2012 in tackling sectarianism with £9.8 million directly invested to support community based organisations deliver grassroots work. This unprecedented amount allowed the delivery of nearly 200 projects across Scotland including work with schools; football organisations; churches; youth groups; adult education organisations; employers; prisons; and local authorities. I am currently considering how best to build on all of this work and will make funding announcements about work to tackle sectarianism in due course.

Question reference: S5W-14225

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 27 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5O-01722 by Aileen Campbell on 24 January 2018, whether it will to provide an update on the funding of the Scottish Sports Association for 2018-19.

I recently met with the Scottish Sports Association (SSA) and members of the Scottish Parliament’s cross party group on sport to discuss how we develop a sustainable financial future for the SSA. I have also considered all representations received on this issue. I have subsequently agreed to provide £70,000 to the SSA in 2018-2019 to support improving the representation and participation in sport in Scotland.

This new funding will be to deliver specific outcomes from the SSA, such as boosting female and BME representation on the boards of sport governing bodies, and to provide direct support to our Women and Girls advisory board. It will also allow them to look at the availability and accessibility of sports provisions within local authorities, to ensure we are doing all we can to improve participation even further.

In addition, we will soon review how sports governing bodies of all sizes can best engage with the Scottish Government as we work to create the active, healthier Scotland that we all want.

Question reference: S5W-14426

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 20 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how much money has been held each month in the Scotland Reserve.

Question reference: S5W-14427

Asked by: James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 20 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the additional expenditure that has been set out in the Budget is being drawn from (a) the Scotland Reserve and (b) 2017-18 underspend.