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-23913

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 12 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it has put in place to ensure that its transport data collection is accurate and robust, in light of the reported impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on data collection methods.

Transport Scotland collects and uses a range of data on transport from a variety of sources. These incorporate collection methods that remained relatively unaffected by the COVID-19 pandemic, such as automated traffic counters, recorded ticket purchases, and other operational data.

Throughout the pandemic period, Transport Scotland published a range of data regarding travel, providing an ongoing insight into the impact of the pandemic ( https://www.transport.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/analysis/ ).

The key survey source for transport data is the Scottish Household Survey (SHS). The SHS collects a range of data on people’s transport and travel habits in Scotland, including a record of all the journeys they made the day before the survey interview.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the survey was adapted in 2020 and 2021, including a change from face-to-face interviewing to telephone. However, since 2022, the SHS has returned to being a face-to-face interview, primarily administered in people’s homes. The survey is operated using an established methodology and collects data from a representative sample of around 10,000 Scottish Households.

Question reference: S6W-23912

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 15 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 12 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what lessons it has learned from the launch of Glasgow’s Low Emission Zone (LEZ) enforcement, and how it plans to share these with Dundee, Edinburgh and Aberdeen ahead of their LEZ launches in 2024.

Glasgow’s Low Emission Zone (LEZ) was the first of its kind in Scotland and a landmark in tackling harmful air pollution, and protecting public health in this country. Glasgow’s pioneering LEZ is also informing the delivery of similar schemes in Aberdeen, Dundee, and Edinburgh.

The Minister for Transport and I co-chair the Low Emission Zone Leadership Group, a key ministerial forum, with representation from all four LEZ cities. In addition Transport Scotland officials meet regularly with the local authorities starting LEZ enforcement in 2024, and with Glasgow and the DVLA to share knowledge and experience gained from operating the Glasgow scheme. Experiences shared so far have related to technical and operational matters and the importance of effective communications.

Glasgow City Council is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the city's LEZ.

Question reference: S6W-23909

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 11 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-23449 by Mairi McAllan on 12 December 2023, what its position is on whether Fuel Duty and Vehicle Excise Duty would need to increase in order for it to achieve its target of a 20% reduction in vehicle km driven by 2030.

As outlined in the answer to S6W-23449, fuel duty and vehicle excise duty are wholly reserved to the UK Government. The UK government have acknowledged in their Net Zero Review that revenues from existing motoring taxes will decline sharply this decade as we transition away from fossil fuels and the taxes based on them. As fuel duty becomes obsolete, the UK Government needs to urgently look at a successor taxation regime for transport to reflect the changes in the sector. The Scottish Government wants a fair and progressive future transport tax system that better incentivises the transition to zero-emission vehicles, reduces emissions and raises revenues to fund policies to support a shift to more sustainable travel.

Question reference: S6W-24184

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 11 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how it uses planning powers and conditions to influence road risk standards in (a) development and (b) construction supply chains.

Depending on the nature, scale and location of a proposed development, planning authorities are required to consult specified statutory consultees before determining planning applications. For example, the relevant local roads authority, or Transport Scotland for trunk roads, must be consulted on proposed developments affecting existing roads or comprising the creation of a new road. It is for the relevant planning authority to take into consideration any responses from such consultees which raise material planning considerations in determining the application.

The use of planning conditions is subject to a series of tests, set out in Scottish Government Circular 4/1998. Case law has established that only matters which are relevant to planning can be the subject of a condition; furthermore planning conditions should only be used where they are necessary to make development acceptable (i.e. planning permission would be refused if not for the condition). In addition, planning conditions should not duplicate the effect of other legislative controls such as the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 or relevant Health and Safety legislation.

Question reference: S6O-02962

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 January 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the latest expression of interest in buying Glasgow Prestwick Airport.

Question reference: S6W-23862

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 10 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the bus industry receiving funding of £329 million from local and central government in 2021-22, what its response is to the Scottish Transport Statistics 2022, which show that, aside from the COVID-19 pandemic years, a historic low of 234 million journeys were made by bus in 2021-22.

Bus travel in Scotland and the UK was profoundly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, with emergency funding to support the industry continuing in 2021-22. Although lockdown measures had eased, restrictions on travel and daily activity remained in Scotland for large parts of 2021-22. This is evident from the Scottish Transport Statistics 2022 which show the lower number of passenger journeys taken over the period.

Question reference: S6W-23863

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 10 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government which local authorities currently operate Demand Responsive Travel schemes, and how it monitors the success rate of any such schemes.

Question reference: S6W-23861

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 10 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how it (a) monitors passenger numbers on local bus services and (b) assesses whether any local bus service routes are at risk due to low passenger numbers, particularly in light of any changes in passenger numbers since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Department for Transport publishes data and statistics about the local bus sector in Great Britain, which includes passenger journey numbers. This is used in the Scottish Transport Statistics publication, and the Scottish Government currently has no plans for further monitoring of passenger numbers.

The Scottish Government does not assess the commercial viability of individual bus service routes, Local authorities have a duty to identify where there is a social need for particular bus services and can seek additional information from bus operators to support that identification in cases where services have been varied or withdrawn.

Question reference: S6W-23859

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 10 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how it has considered the mobility needs of older people in its design of low traffic neighbourhoods and low traffic measures, including modal filters such as (a) bollards, (b) bus gates and (c) one-way streets.

The Scottish Government is not responsible for the design of low traffic neighbourhoods; local authorities are responsible for management and maintenance of local roads and paths in their area under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.

Low traffic neighbourhoods guidance provided alongside the Place Standard Tool on the “Our Place Scotland” website. Local authorities should undertake an equality impact assessment prior to any changes to ensure the needs of our most vulnerable people are taken into account.

The Scottish Government will also launch consultation early in 2024 on new draft guidance to support Inclusive Design for Town Centres and Busy Streets.

Question reference: S6W-23860

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 10 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to systematically monitor bus ticket prices.