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-01217

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 July 2016
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 27 July 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the i6 contract between Police Scotland and Accenture, what the agreed total contract price was and how much had already been paid to Accenture at the time that the contract was cancelled on 1 July 2016.

Question reference: S5W-01219

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 July 2016
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 27 July 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that cancellation of the i6 contract between Police Scotland and Accenture resulted in “no financial detriment” to the Police Scotland budget, who is liable for meeting the costs of the contract (a) to date and (b) on cancellation.

Question reference: S5W-01222

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 July 2016
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 27 July 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact of the cancellation of the i6 contract between Police Scotland and Accenture will be on plans for the creation of a virtual service centre in place of existing police control rooms and service centres.

Question reference: S5W-01216

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 July 2016
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 19 July 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how many employers have notified the Energy Jobs Taskforce of employees in the oil and gas industry in Scotland and its supply chain who are at risk of redundancy.

Scotland’s Energy Jobs Taskforce was created by the First Minister early in 2015 to help tackle the immediate challenges facing the energy sector. The role and remit of the taskforce was to bring together a strong partnership of industry, public sector and trade union representatives to develop solutions to mitigate the immediate effects on the workforce from the oil and gas downturn, but also to take a longer-term look at the structural challenges affecting the industry. As part of its work, the task force receives regular updates on the number of employees in the oil and gas industry who may be at risk of redundancy.

Question reference: S5W-01225

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 July 2016
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 19 July 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been identified as being at risk of redundancy in the oil and gas industry in Scotland and its supply chain.

The Scottish Government continues to monitor the impact that low oil prices is having on the oil and gas industry and its wider supply chain. This includes an update on labour market information. This was discussed at the Energy Jobs Taskforce meeting on the 23 March 2016. The State of the Economy report from the chief economist, published on 3 June 2016, provides an update on the oil and gas sector, including notifications of jobs at risk. A link to the report, detailing this information, can be found at http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Economy/state-economy/latestSofE.

Question reference: S5W-01113

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 June 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 19 July 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-23025 by Keith Brown on 12 November 2014, and in light of the helicopter crash off the coast of Bergen on 29 April 2016, whether it will provide an update on what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding commercial pressures on offshore helicopter operations and their impact on the safe transport of offshore oil and gas workers.

Question reference: S5W-01112

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 June 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 19 July 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-23026 by Keith Brown on 12 November 2014, and in light of the helicopter crash off the coast of Bergen on 29 April 2016, whether it will provide an update on what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding an independent public inquiry into commercial pressures on offshore helicopter operations and their impact on the safe transport of offshore oil and gas workers.

<>The safety of offshore oil and gas workers in the North Sea remains of paramount importance to the Scottish Government.

The Scottish Government continue to have observer status on the governance body overseeing implementation of the recommendations in the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) review of offshore helicopter safety. The previous response outlined that we reserve the right to pursue the UK Government to hold an inquiry if we have any concerns about progress being made in implementing the CAA’s review. The Scottish Government are satisfied with the progress of implementing the recommendations and have therefore had no discussions with the UK Government regarding an independent public inquiry.

The preliminary reports into the accident on 29 April 2016 from the Accident Investigation Board Norway have not provided any evidence to suggest that safety is being compromised as a result of commercial pressure from the industry.

Question reference: S5W-00948

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 June 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 19 July 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by Keith Brown on 9 June 2016 (Official Report, c. 4), when ministers instructed Network Rail to commence a feasibility study into delivering rail improvements, including the “double tracking at key pinch points”, which it committed itself to in its news release of 28 January 2016, £254 million boost to Aberdeen, at the same time as the Aberdeen City Region Deal.

Question reference: S5W-00947

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 June 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 19 July 2016

To ask the Scottish Government which ministers have met Network Rail since January 2016 to discuss rail improvements, including the “double tracking at key pinch points”, which it committed itself to in its news release of 28 January 2016, £254 million boost to Aberdeen, at the same time as the Aberdeen City Region Deal, and on what dates.

The then Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities met with Network Rail and ScotRail Alliance officials on 28 January 2016 and set out his expectations regarding the additional £254 million investment which includes £200 million for rail improvements, alongside the Aberdeen city region deal. Subsequent discussions specifically on this matter have been conducted at official level, with early stage development works on going and in line with the timetable for delivery previously committed. Wider rail improvements across the Scottish network are discussed regularly between myself and Network Rail, the most recent of which was on 16 June 2016.

Question reference: S5W-00949

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 June 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 19 July 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by Keith Brown on 9 June 2016 (Official Report, c. 4), which north-east business and stakeholder groups (a) are involved in the steering group for and (b) will be consulted as part of the feasibility study into delivering rail improvements including the “double tracking at key pinch points”, which it committed itself to in its news release of 28 January 2016, £254 million boost to Aberdeen, at the same time as the Aberdeen City Region Deal.