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: S5W-32024

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 2 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide copies of the review that it carried out on testing returning air passengers for COVID-19.

Question reference: S5W-32023

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 2 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide all of the evidence it received relating to the effectiveness and feasibility of testing returning air travellers for COVID-19.

The initial evidence considered was developed by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and has now been published online. It looked at how testing and a shorter quarantine period would compare with other approaches to reducing the risk of people arriving from other countries with COVID-19 causing transmission. The paper uses modelling and is based on a number of significant assumptions. It found that a quarantine period of 8 days on arrival with a PCR test on day 7 (assuming the test result 1 day after the test is taken) could reduce the number of infectious arrivals in the community by an average of 94%, compared to having no quarantine and no testing. By contrast, a 14-day quarantine period (our current approach for high risk countries) would reduce the number of infectious arrivals in the community by an average of 99%.

The Scottish Government has consistently stated that it will prioritise minimising potential health risks but is open to alternative approaches such as utilising testing returning air travellers. To that end we are working with representatives from Scottish airports to explore whether testing offers a viable alternative to a 14 day quarantine period.

As yet, no detailed advice has been given to ministers and no decisions have been taken.

The Scottish Government is committed to transparency and we will always publish material whenever possible.

Question reference: S5W-32022

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 2 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the analysis it has received regarding the effectiveness and feasibility of testing returning air travellers for COVID-19.

Question reference: S5O-04672

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 September 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to make the transport system more affordable and accessible for people living in poverty.

Question reference: S5W-31980

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 30 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the option to run the ScotRail franchise via the operator of last resort from January 2021.

Transport Scotland has well developed contingency plans in place, in the event we are required to ensure continuity of rail services as an Operator of Last Resort.

However, these plans remain a last resort option, in accordance with existing legislation. Our key focus remains to work with our operators during this difficult period, who are best placed to manage the current challenges, whilst maintaining stability for passengers and staff.

Question reference: S5W-31976

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 30 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what management fee is due to (a) Abellio ScotRail and (b) Serco Caledonian Sleeper following the expiry of the initial Emergency Measures Agreements on 20 September 2020, and how these amounts were calculated.

To date no management fees have been paid to Abellio ScotRail or Serco Caledonian Sleeper under the Emergency Measures Agreements (EMAs) as this will be calculated once a full reconciliation has taken place.

This includes both franchisees submitting a report containing information on their performance in relation to the EMA criteria of Operational Performance, Customer Experience and Good and Efficient Operator. The evidence will then be assessed by Transport Scotland over the coming weeks/months.

Question reference: S5W-31979

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 30 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made towards its commitment to put in a public sector bid for the ScotRail franchise when the current contract expires in March 2022.

A public sector bid would only be relevant if there is another rail franchising process in Scotland under the UK government railway legislation. This Government has stated for some time that the franchising model is no longer fit for purpose, and that full devolution of our railways is necessary to ensure that we can deliver the high performing and responsive services that Scotland’s communities and its economy deserves.

Question reference: S5W-31867

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 28 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to rectify any defects in the new Caledonian Sleeper rolling stock, and by what date this work will be completed.

Since the introduction of the new rolling stock in April 2019, rectification works have been underway to improve the reliability of the new Caledonian Sleeper trains. This the responsibility of the manufacturer CAF.

With the introduction of newly designed rolling stock, teething issues are usually to be expected. Since introduction, CAF has instigated a Modification Programme to address train quality and system reliability issues, such as water systems, toilets, and aesthetic defects. This is being programmed to reduce any inconvenience to passengers.

It is anticipated that this will be completed across the whole fleet by spring 2021.

Question reference: S5W-31751

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 25 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how the £275 million regeneration fund announced in the Programme for Government will be allocated; when this funding will become available, and over how many years it will be spent.

Question reference: S5W-31745

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 24 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it still aims to have zero or ultra-low emission city centres by 2030.

Scottish Ministers are steadfastly committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions across the economy. In light of the COVID pandemic the focus on emissions in cities shifted from consultation to delivery of the £39 million Spaces for People Programme, and in the Programme for Government we have committed to working with local government to take forward ambitions for 20 minute neighbourhoods where people can live, work and learn in communities close to home. We will take forward engagement on city centre emission reduction with stakeholders in this context.

We also remain committed to introducing Low Emission Zones in order to improve air quality and protect public health. In light of the COVID pandemic, the new indicative timeline is for Low Emission Zones to be introduced into Scotland's four biggest cities between February and May 2022.