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: S4W-02338

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 August 2011
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 15 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it gives to local authorities for the provision of cycle proficiency training to schoolchildren.

The Scottish Government provides grant funding to Cycling Scotland for the cycle training programme called Bikeability Scotland, which allows local authorities to make bids to Cycling Scotland for resources which enables more cycle training to take place.

Additionally, local authorities will receive £7.458 million of Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets grant this year for local projects. If local authorities wished to invest this funding on cycling infrastructure and training resources they would be free to do so.

Question reference: S4W-02335

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 August 2011
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 15 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that cycle proficiency training should be mandatory for all schoolchildren.

The provision of cycle proficiency training for schoolchildren, re-launched by Cycling Scotland earlier this year as Bikeability Scotland, is a valuable resource for all schools. Its provision is planned by a partnership of schools, police and local authority road safety units. The Scottish Government has no plans to introduce regulations to require local authorities to provide mandatory cycle training for all schoolchildren.

Local authorities are responsible for road safety on the local road network. The 1988 Road Traffic Act puts a ‘statutory duty’ on local authorities to deliver an appropriate road safety education service and for the provision of a safe local road network. This includes education and facilities for all road users including pedestrians and cyclists.

Question reference: S4W-02247

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 19 August 2011
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 12 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has the legal authority to conduct Scotland-wide referenda and, if so, whether it would consider allowing 16 and 17 year olds to vote in these.

Question reference: S4W-01968

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 01 August 2011
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 8 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-00101 by Alex Neil on 31 May 2011, what was discussed at the meeting in June 2011 and what actions it will take or changes in approach it will make as a result to progress the cause for a living wage.

My officials, having had discussions with the London Olympic Delivery Authority on their approach to the living wage in the context of work on the main Olympic Games site, understand that the living wage does not form a part of the competitive tendering process, rather that contractors are encouraged to pay their staff a wage which is at least equivalent to the London Living Wage.

This government continues to support the principles of the Scottish Living Wage campaign and that is why we made a commitment in our 2011-12 pay policy to ensure staff receive at least the Scottish Living Wage which was set at £7.15 per hour.

Question reference: S4O-00144

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 September 2011
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to encourage the adoption of the living wage by local authorities both for their own staff and for tendering and procurement processes.

Question reference: S4W-02094

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 05 August 2011
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 31 August 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it takes to encourage greater uptake of sustainable transport options.

The Scottish Government is encouraging greater uptake of sustainable options through support and funding for a wide variety of initiatives, including the development of cycling and walking infrastructure; promotion of alternative means of transport via travel planning (in workplaces, households and schools); the establishment of a network of car clubs; promotion of low carbon vehicles; development of public transport and freight modal shift.

The Scottish Government remains committed to its ambitious vision in the Cycling Action Plan for Scotland that by 2020, 10 percent of all journeys in Scotland will be made by bike. Since 2007, the Scottish Government has invested over £81 million in infrastructure and softer measures to encourage more active travel, particularly focussing on cycling (and walking). This includes funding to local authorities for Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets projects; to Sustrans for route development, and to Cycling Scotland for promotional activities such as the very successful Pedal for Scotland annual bike ride between Glasgow and Edinburgh as well as child cycle training (Bikeability Scotland).

The publication Low Carbon Scotland: Meeting the Emissions Reductions Targets 2010-2022 (the Report on Proposals and Policies), published in March 2011, outlines three themes for the development of sustainable transport in the coming decade, i.e., driving more efficiently; widening travel choices, and reducing the need to travel. Support for the delivery of these proposals is currently being considered within the context of the current Spending Review negotiations.

Question reference: S4W-02096

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 05 August 2011
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 31 August 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers to be the barriers to the increased use of public transport.

Scottish Transport Statistics (2010) show that rail and bus passenger journeys have increased over the last 10 years. However, further modal shift is required if we are to improve connectivity in a low carbon economy.

Barriers to switching to public transport include relative cost, convenience, habit and past experience.

The Scottish Government’s investment in concessionary travel schemes, the Bus Service Operators Grant, the Smarter Choices Smarter Places initiative and major projects such as the Edinburgh to Glasgow (Rail) Improvements Programme are contributing to breaking down these barriers through improving the quality, accessibility and affordability of our public transport services and infrastructure.

Question reference: S4W-02027

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 August 2011
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 26 August 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what savings it expects to make in the current parliamentary session by adopting recommendations from the Review of ICT Infrastructure in the Public Sector in Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-02092

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 05 August 2011
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 26 August 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to support the development of smartcard technology across the public sector.

The Scottish Government believes that smartcard technology has a useful role to play in improving the delivery of public services. It is continuing to support the Customer First programme’s smartcard technology element in the shape of the multi-application National Entitlement Card, which is used in concessionary travel, as the Young Scot Card and for Council services such as libraries and school meals.

I would also refer the member to the answer to question S4W-02093 on 22 August 2011, which affirms that the Scottish Government will continue to work to support the creation of a multi-modal smartcard ticket for use across the public transport system.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

Question reference: S4W-02026

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 August 2011
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 25 August 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to establish a National Oversight Board as recommended in the Review of ICT Infrastructure in the Public Sector in Scotland.