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-16230

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 July 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 23 July 2013

To ask the Scottish Government for what reasons it did not take forward the proposal to construct a railway line between Inverkeithing and Halbeath as one of the 29 transport projects and programmes identified in the Strategic Transport Projects Review Final Report, published in 2009.

Despite the Scottish Government’s capital budget being cut by 26% in real terms since 2010-11, we remain committed to delivering the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) recommendations.

The Scottish Ministers have prioritised a number of projects for delivery. These include the Queensferry Crossing, the Edinburgh to Glasgow Rail Improvements Programme, the Highland Main Line, rail improvements from Aberdeen to Inverness and the dualling of the A9 between Perth and Inverness.

Given that the STPR covers a 20 year period, the pace at which the other STPR projects will be delivered, including a railway line between Inverkeithing and Halbeath will be determined by the availability of resources in future spending reviews, taking account of the benefits they offer and the contribution they make to this Government’s objectives.

Question reference: S4W-15830

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 June 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 18 July 2013

To ask the Scottish Government when it asked the Scottish Funding Council to consider the implications of the reclassification of colleges by the Office for National Statistics.

Question reference: S4W-15831

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 June 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 18 July 2013

To ask the Scottish Government when the Scottish Funding Council provided information to the college sector regarding the implications of the reclassification of colleges by the Office for National Statistics.

Following ONS’ decision on the reclassification of colleges in 2010, there followed a period of extensive negotiation with HM Treasury on the basis for the decision, the timing of implementation and the scope for mitigating its implications in Scotland.

Once it became apparent that HM Treasury would offer no flexibility or mitigation, on 13 May 2013, Michael Russell, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, and John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth, along with representatives of the Scottish Funding Council (SFC), met with college Chairs, Principals and Regional Leads to discuss the impact of the decision.

Since then a project team, led by SFC staff and supported by SG officials and external experts including college representatives, has been established and has held a number of constructive meetings with the college sector.

Question reference: S4W-16228

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 July 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 18 July 2013

To ask the Scottish Government which sections of the rail network continue to use Victorian-style signalling.

Question reference: S4W-15806

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 June 2013
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 9 July 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the announcement by the Minister for Learning, Sciences and Scotland's Languages on 18 June 2013, which schools have received musical instruments following the £1 million investment programme, broken down by local authority.

The information requested is not available at a school level.

The £1 million musical instrument fund is being distributed in two phases. 50% (£500,000) has already been distributed to local authorities on the basis of the formula used for the Government’s Youth Music Initiative. The remaining 50% is being distributed based on bids submitted by local authorities with criteria designed to ensure disadvantaged young people have increased opportunities to access a musical instrument. This funding is still in the process of allocation.

Question reference: S4W-14848

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 10 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 8 July 2013

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) college and (b) university students it has paid the tuition fees for in each year since 2005-06.

The following table shows the number of students whose tuition fees were paid in full by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland. Students who received part payment of fees (such as the fee differential for students with previous study prior to the fees increase in 2006-07) are not included:

Academic session	College	University
2005-06	22,170	86,330
2006-07	22,420	87,135
2007-08	22,305	87,585
2008-09	22,920	88,970
2009-10	24,690	92,565
2010-11	26,190	93,045
2011-12	27,110	93,495

Note: Student numbers in this table have been rounded up or down to the nearest 5 (e.g. 1, 2 round to 0; 3, 4 round to 5).

Information on number of students awarded tuition fees for 2012-13 will be published in October in the National Statistics publication Higher Education Student Support in Scotland 2012-13.

Question reference: S4O-02262

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 June 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 June 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what rail infrastructure investments it plans for the Perth to Edinburgh route.

Question reference: S4W-15107

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 30 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the (a) UK Government, (b) Welsh Assembly Government and (c) Northern Ireland Executive since October 2010 regarding the decision of the Office for National Statistics to reclassify colleges as part of central government in Scotland.

There has been a series of written communications, discussions and meetings with HM Treasury, both formal and informal, to discuss the basis of the decision, the implications of implementing this change in Scotland and the timing of that implementation. There has also been informal communication with BIS, the Welsh Assembly and the Northern Ireland Executive, which covered respective positions, and associated activity, in relation to ONS classification.

Question reference: S4W-15106

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 30 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with (a) HM Treasury and (b) the Office for National Statistics since October 2010 regarding the decision to reclassify colleges as part of central government in Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-15108

Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 30 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what consultation it has carried out with the college sector and other stakeholders since October 2010 regarding the decision of the Office for National Statistics to reclassify colleges as part of central government in Scotland.

Colleges were notified of the change in 2010. Since then Scottish Ministers have been negotiating with HM Treasury on the basis for the decision, the timing of implementation and the scope for mitigating the implications. Full engagement with the sector could be undertaken only once these issues had been resolved.

The Cabinet Secretaries for Education and Lifelong Learning and Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth held a positive and constructive meeting with college Chairs and Principals on 13 May to discuss the impact of reclassification.

The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning met with the Regional Leads on 14 May. A Project Team has also been established and met with the college Finance Directors on 23 May.