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: S6F-02152

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 22 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 May 2023

To ask the First Minister for what reason consultants have reportedly been hired to advise on the next Clyde and Hebrides ferry contract.

Question reference: S6W-17821

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 18 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to Phase 1 of ScotRail's procurement programme, what progress has been made towards procuring a new fleet of suburban trains to enter passenger service between 2027 and 2030.

Question reference: S6W-17820

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 18 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether ScotRail is still on track to replace 65% of its train fleet between 2027 and 2035.

Question reference: S6W-17822

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 18 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to purchase any additional rolling stock for the ScotRail fleet.

Question reference: S6W-17593

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 11 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how many customer complaints ScotRail has received since it was brought into public ownership.

Question reference: S6W-17524

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 10 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether there is any current expression of interest in buying Prestwick Airport.

Glasgow Prestwick Airport periodically receives expressions of interest regarding purchase of the Airport. The management team at Glasgow Prestwick Airport follow due process in reviewing proposals to ensure that offers are credible and provide value for money.

It is important that we safeguard the integrity of confidential and commercial discussions to avoid any detrimental impact on any negotiations, therefore further disclosure would not be possible.

We have committed to updating Parliament at the appropriate time on the sale of Glasgow Prestwick Airport.

Question reference: S6W-16714

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 3 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the financial impact of the delay to the delivery of vessels 801 and 802, which are currently under construction at Ferguson Marine.

Question reference: S6W-16717

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 3 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the publication of The 2021/22 audit of Ferguson Marine Port Glasgow (Holdings) Limited report, what actions it has taken to address the key issues identified in the report.

Section 22 of the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000 enables the Auditor General to raise concerns of any public body. Audit Scotland, in their 2021-22 audit of Ferguson Marine Port Glasgow Ltd (FMPG) criticised the payment of bonuses to senior managers of FMPG, particularly in light of the delays to delivery of vessels 801 and 802.

Scottish Ministers concur with the issue highlighted by Audit Scotland and do not support the payment of bonuses. That is why the Former Deputy First Minister’s Statement to Parliament on 16 March 2023, opened with an acknowledgment of the concerns and agreed with the criticism of payment of bonuses to senior managers at FMPG and committed to ensuring that new arrangements were being put in place to ensure that such as eventuality did not arise in the future.

The Scottish Government has been working closing with FMPG in formulating a revised remuneration model applicable to the senior management team at FMPG to apply in future years. Ministers will update Parliament as soon as details of this revised remuneration packages for the FMPG CEO and senior management team have been agreed.

Question reference: S6W-16715

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 3 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many different bonus schemes are available at Ferguson Marine, and, from these, how (a) much has been paid out and (b) many people have received bonuses, in each year since 2018.

Scottish Government have been made aware of details of the bonus scheme for senior management at Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) (Holdings) Ltd. The scheme allocates payments on 3 levels with the CEO at level 1, directors at level 2 and other senior management at level 3. Table 1 sets the total amount paid in bonus payments to FMPG Senior Management from 2018-19 to date.

Table 1 Bonus Payments at FMPG 2018-19 to 2022-23

18-19	1 staff member	£48.8k
19-20	9 staff members	£135k
20-21	0 staff member	£0
21-22	6 staff members	£87.9k
22-23	8 staff members	£47,218*

*£47,218 has been calculated as due in 2022-23 with the first instalment of £23,609 paid in April 2023, and second in June 2023.

Scottish Ministers acquired Ferguson Marine Engineering Limited from administration in December 2019 and a new company Ferguson Marine Port Glasgow (Holdings) Ltd (FMPG) was created. Not all data and information before this date has been made available to Scottish Government and this answer is based upon the information we have available to date.

Question reference: S6W-16718

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 3 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the publication of The 2021/22 audit of Ferguson Marine Port Glasgow (Holdings) Limited report, what action it is taking to address Ferguson Marine’s workforce challenges in order to ensure delivery of vessels 801 and 802.

The recruitment, training and retention of the workforce at Ferguson Marine Port Glasgow (Holdings) Ltd (FMPG) is a matter for FMPG.

The workforce at FMPG is diverse ranging from trades specialising in ship building as well as other professions and trades which are transferable to other sectors.

Apprenticeships continue to be a valued part of Scotland’s future workforce in cultivating fresh talent in sustaining specialised trades for our future industries. There are 52 apprentices gaining valuable industry recognised qualifications at the ship building yard in Port Glasgow.