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-08804

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 8 June 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review its policy on the control of woodland removal.

The current provisions for felling permissions are set out in the Forestry and Land Management (Scotland) Act 2018 and associated regulations, last updated in 2021.

Felling trees for the purposes of carrying out development, authorised by planning authorities, is exempt from the requirement for a Felling Permission. Here the Scottish Government’s Control of Woodland Removal Policy applies.

This policy includes a presumption in favour of protecting woodland. Removal should only be permitted where it would achieve significant and clearly defined additional public benefits. Where woodland is removed in association with development, developers will generally be expected to provide compensatory planting. The Scottish Government has no imminent plans to review its policy on the control of woodland removal.

Question reference: S6T-00745

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 May 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 31 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what contingency plans it has in place should train drivers reject the latest pay offer, in light of the reported hundreds of cancellations at the weekend.

Question reference: S6W-08553

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 13 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 26 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many diesel-powered buses are currently in use in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-08556

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 13 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 26 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when it will launch a marketing campaign for the Young Persons’ (Under 22s) Free Bus Travel Scheme.

The Scottish Government recognises that some people have found the application process for their National Entitlement Card complex. We therefore continue to work closely with the Improvement Service, which is ultimately responsible for the National Entitlement Card, to make further improvements to this process. Once these improvements have been implemented, we aim promote the scheme with a national marketing campaign.

In the meantime, we have undertaken extensive communications activities to increase awareness of the scheme; including sharing our robust communications toolkit with over 300 organisations who directly engage with young people and their families, and launching freebus.scot - providing simplified information regarding the application process and additional resources to promote the scheme.

Question reference: S6W-08557

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 13 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 26 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to launch a marketing campaign to increase bus use before removing the Network Support Grant Plus.

Question reference: S6W-08559

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 13 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 26 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of bus routes and services will stop across Scotland once the Network Support Grant Plus ends in summer 2022.

The Scottish Budget for 2022-23 provides up to £93.5 million in support for bus services, including £40 million in additional funding to support recovery. As we navigate our way out of the pandemic, it is important that the support we give transport operators through the Network Support Grant adapts and evolves, to make sure it remains fit for purpose and represents value for money.

Passenger numbers have been increasing since Covid restrictions eased earlier this year. We continue to engage with operators and local government to monitor patronage and service levels and to consider whether to adjust the level of support as passenger numbers recover. This ensures that our funding is financially sustainable and helps services to adapt to new travel patterns and demand as we emerge from the pandemic.

I would also refer the member to the answer to question S6W-08555 on 26 May 2022 for further information on how the Scottish Government are assisting operators in encouraging people back to bus.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .

Question reference: S6W-08558

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 13 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 26 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to help with the reported ongoing bus driver shortage.

My officials in Transport Scotland have been working with bus operators to monitor the impact on service levels and changes in vacancy levels. Officials are also in regular contact with the Department for Transport, DVLA and DVSA regarding issues about delays to licence applications and driver testing, which have affected recruitment and training of potential drivers.

In addition, Transport Scotland officials have convened a short-life group with operator reps, Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT), COSLA, Skills Development Scotland, DWP and Scottish Government employment and skills officials to seek and facilitate solutions to workforce issues through the Labour and Skills Shortages Action Plan, as well as connecting Local Employability Partnerships with bus operators (through the Confederation of Passenger Transport) who are aware of opportunities in their areas.

Question reference: S6W-08554

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 13 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 26 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to bus operators to upgrade depots with the necessary infrastructure needed for zero-emission buses.

The Scottish Government provided support for the acquisition of zero emission buses, and the associated charging infrastructure, through the Scottish Ultra Low Emission Bus Scheme (SULEBS) and its successor, the Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB). SULEBS provided 75% of the cost of infrastructure, and ScotZEB Phase 1 offered up to 75% of the cost of battery-electric infrastructure or 85% of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure.

In total to date, through SULEBS and ScotZEB, the Scottish Government has awarded £30.4 million to bus operators to upgrade depots with the necessary infrastructure for zero emission buses.

Question reference: S6W-08552

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 13 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 26 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many diesel buses have been replaced by zero-emission vehicles through the Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB) and the Scottish Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme (SULEBS) to date.

The Scottish Government has supported bus operators acquire a total of 548 zero emission buses through the Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB) and the Scottish Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme (SULEBS) combined, meaning there will be 548 fewer diesel buses on our roads. Full details are available on the Transport Scotland website at Scottish Zero Emission Bus challenge fund | Transport Scotland and Scottish Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme - completed bids | Transport Scotland .

Question reference: S6W-08555

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 13 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 26 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when it will launch a marketing campaign to encourage people to return to using buses.

Transport Scotland is continuing to engage with operators, delivery partners and other key stakeholders on the current Scottish Government Covid-19 guidance and recommended safe behaviours to ensure that the appropriate messaging is cascaded across the transport network. This engagement, which includes promoting the Scottish Government`s National “Covid sense” campaign, is supporting passengers to return to public transport with confidence as more people begin to return to workplaces and travel for leisure purposes more often.