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: S4O-02604

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 November 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 November 2013

To ask the Scottish Government when it last discussed student numbers with Colleges Scotland and the Scottish Funding Council.

Question reference: S4W-17626

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 October 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 25 October 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17247 by Keith Brown on 1 October 2013, which rail services use the Winchburgh tunnel; what the diversionary routes will be for each service, and whether the franchise holder will receive compensation for extended journey times.

The following rail services currently use the Winchburgh tunnel:

Edinburgh to Glasgow via Falkirk High

Dunblane to Edinburgh

Alloa to Edinburgh

East Coast

Arriva cross country

ScotRail West Highland Sleeper

The diversionary route for these services will be via Dalmeny. Compensation will be paid to the franchise holder for the disruption caused by the Winchburgh tunnel closure. The closure is currently estimated to last 44 days with a current estimate for compensation of £10 million. Ongoing work continues to be undertaken by the relevant parties to reduce these figures further.

Question reference: S4W-17248

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 September 2013
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 1 October 2013

To ask the Scottish Government how much it would cost to include the Dalmeny chord in the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme using a (a) flat and (b) grade-separated junction.

Question reference: S4W-17247

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 September 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 1 October 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Winchburgh tunnel will be closed during the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme construction works and, if so, for how long.

Whilst further work is required to reach a definitive position, Network Rail have confirmed that, having examined all the options with a view to minimising disruption, a closure will be necessary. However, Network Rail also advise that this closure will be significantly less than the 12 weeks that have been reported elsewhere. The works will be carried out during the summer months and all connections will be maintained via diversionary routes.

Question reference: S4W-17065

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 September 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 19 September 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides or is considering to assist students with the cost of travel at peak times.

The SFC’s rules for further education student support allow eligibility for travel allowance when a student lives more than two miles from the college he/she attends. This allowance is dependent upon the student’s personal circumstances.

Eligible students studying higher education level courses are awarded travel assistance as part of the overall higher education student support package, administered by the Students Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS).

Question reference: S4O-02411

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 September 2013
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 19 September 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether the disposal of land at 55 Clark Street, Paisley was subject to Crichel Down rules.

Question reference: S4O-02342

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 August 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 September 2013

To ask the Scottish Government when Transport Scotland received Aecom's initial recommendations on public transport infrastructure options relating to Glasgow Airport.

Question reference: S4O-02264

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 June 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 June 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to the private housing sector.

Question reference: S4W-14638

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 17 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government with whom it is consulting on developing a form of local taxation based on the ability to pay and what it considers to be affordable types of such taxation.

Question reference: S4W-14635

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 17 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government when local taxation was last discussed at the Cabinet.

The current council tax system is unfair, which is why the Scottish Government has frozen the tax at 2007-08 levels.

This policy has proved overwhelmingly popular with people across Scotland. We are committed to continuing the freeze for the duration of this Parliament, by which time the policy will have saved the average household around £1,200.

We will consult with others to produce a fairer local tax based on ability to pay later in this Parliament.

The Scottish Cabinet routinely discusses issues of importance to the people of Scotland.