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: S5O-04944

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 January 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 January 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scottish Prison Service’s annual report for 2019-20.

Question reference: S5W-33651

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 November 2020
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 17 December 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is considering procuring a catamaran to operate on the Oban-Mull route and, if so, what stage its considerations are at.

The Scottish Government is aware of a potential opportunity to purchase a catamaran being promoted by the vessels owners. It is currently under construction in Indonesia.

We understand that discussions are taking place between the vessel’s owner and the Maritime Coastguard Agency to determine the ability of the ship to meet regulatory requirements for operating safely in Scottish waters. This is an essential criteria in the search for additional tonnage.

Should the vessels owners be able to confirm that this can be achieved, further consideration will be given to the purchase in line with the normal process for considering a new vessel. This would include operational suitability and cost, detailed cost benefit analysis and consideration of affordability of introducing an additional vessel into the fleet earlier than currently planned.

Question reference: S5F-04573

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 16 November 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 November 2020

To ask the First Minister when the Scottish Government expects a Freeport to open in Scotland.

Question reference: S5O-04765

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 November 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the latest police strength statistics.

Question reference: S5W-32694

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 October 2020
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 6 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made in planning for an upgrade of the A82 between Tarbet and Inverarnan.

Transport Scotland is currently taking forward the detailed development and assessment of the preferred option for the scheme, which includes giving detailed consideration to mitigating disruption to road users during construction of this extremely challenging scheme. This preparation work is essential to ensure a robust scheme is produced in line with existing legislation, which considers the needs of individuals, road users and the local community.

While there is still a lot of development work to be carried out, which is being informed by our enhanced understanding of the specific complexities associated with improving this iconic route, we continue to push forward the preparation stages to deliver this scheme as soon as possible.

Question reference: S5O-04719

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 October 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on ensuring that planning authorities do not reduce efforts to deliver new homes and other sustainable development during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Question reference: S5O-04678

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 September 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the 2019-20 Recorded Crime in Scotland statistics.

Question reference: S5F-04361

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 07 September 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 September 2020

To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government is helping airports to survive during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Question reference: S5W-31324

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 August 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 27 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has conducted of the long-term effect on the night-time economy of the ongoing closure of nightclubs and similar venues in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

While there are no specific Scottish Government statistics for nightclubs or the night-time economy more widely (as it is a wide descriptive term that covers tourism, hospitality, transportation and cultural activities), we do recognise their importance to supporting a vibrant nightlife across Scotland, attracting visitors and supporting Scotland’s electronic dance music industry.

The Scottish Government acknowledges the Night Time Industries Association Scotland’s (NTIAS) recent survey of its members ( https://www.ntia.co.uk/financial-armageddon-to-hit-scotlands-night-time-economy-with-83-of-businesses-set-to-make-staff-redundant-in-a-matter-of-weeks/ ) which indicated the number of jobs potentially at risk and the survival rate for businesses.

A SPICe spotlight from June 2020

( https://spice-spotlight.scot/2020/06/16/scotlands-night-time-economy-and-coronavirus-covid-19/#:~:text=The%20night-time%20economy%20is%20an%20important%
20driver%20of,%E2%80%93%20with%20a%20heavy%20weighting%20towards%20the%20weekends. ) examined the night-time economy, including challenges it faced both pre and post lockdown. It notes a figure of 550 nightclubs in Scotland, but focuses on the night-time economy more generally across Scotland’s four biggest cities, estimating that this sector, in its wider sense, employs 7-9% of all employment within these urban area.

We fully recognise the need for support for this sector. As well as funding provided to businesses through our in excess of £2.3 billion financial package, from which NTIAS members have benefitted, we have also cautiously lifted restrictions on sectors where the evidence shows that it is safe to do so. While our latest route map Phase 3 update, published 20 August, excludes nightclubs at present due to the higher virus transmission risk, we will ensure that these businesses can reopen as soon as it is safe to do so. We also continue to push the UK Government for additional support, especially a continuation of the furlough scheme, which they are set to withdraw in October, putting many jobs in this sectors at risk.

Question reference: S5O-04503

Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 August 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the powers that will come to Scotland once the Brexit transition period is concluded.