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-20817

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 17 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the introduction of the road equivalent tariff on the Scrabster-Stromness ferry route.

The Scottish Government is engaging with the European Commission following a complaint made on 8 June 2018 regarding our plans to reduce ferry fares to the Northern Isles.

Officials met with Commission officials in Brussels on 12 November 2018. The Scottish Government are awaiting a formal view from the Commission regarding the next steps.

The Scottish Government remains committed to pursuing all avenues to deliver reduced fares for Orkney.

Question reference: S5W-20841

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 17 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent in the current parliamentary session on raising public awareness of interstitial lung disease and its symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.

Question reference: S5W-20825

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 16 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the publication of its draft Budget, whether it will provide an update on its replacement and investment strategy for vessels on publicly subsidised ferry contracts.

High level indicative investment programmes for vessels and harbours were set out in the Ferries Plan 2013-2022 – these were and remain subject to affordability and changing priorities.

The most recent version of the Vessel Replacement and Deployment Plan was published on 31 January 2018. That plan gives an overview of how existing, planned and prospective vessels could be deployed across the Clyde and Hebrides network to deliver the commitments set out in the Scottish Ferries Plan. Work is progressing on an update to the Vessel Replacement and Deployment Plan and this will be published in the near future.

Question reference: S5W-20840

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 16 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to raise public awareness of interstitial lung disease and its symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.

NHS Inform is Scotland's national health information service that aims to provide people with accurate and relevant information to help them make informed decisions about their own health. This includes information about symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of interstitial lung disease.

Scottish Government works closely with third sector organisations to raise awareness of respiratory conditions, including interstitial lung disease.

Question reference: S5W-20842

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 16 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether its respiratory action plan will recommend that GPs receive more training on interstitial lung disease.

Question reference: S5W-20824

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 16 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what the (a) cost and (b) length of delay will be of the delivery of the contract between Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd and Fergusons Marine Engineering Ltd for two new hybrid-fuel ferries.

The two ferries were procured by Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) through open competition to a design and build specification at a fixed price of £97m.

Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd (FMEL) has recently submitted a contractual claim to CMAL. CMAL is considering that claim in detail.

Detailed discussions relating to contract variations or any additional costs are a matter for the contracting parties to resolve .

FMEL has formally indicated that the MV Glen Sannox (801) will be delivered during summer 2019 and the second vessel (802) in spring 2020.

CMAL have questioned whether the revised delivery dates can be achieved on the basis of current build progress. We continue to work with both parties to identify and minimise any slippage, since the importance of energy both vessels enter service on the earliest possible opportunity.

Question reference: S5T-01427

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 07 January 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken in response to recent delays and cancellations on the ScotRail network.

Question reference: S5W-20511

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 20 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that the lease is renewed on the ScotRail maintenance depot at Springburn prior to the March 2019 deadline.

Question reference: S5W-20510

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 20 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that ScotRail's property and facilities management function remains in-house.

Question reference: S5W-20512

Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 20 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that ScotRail rolling stock is maintained in Scotland.

I have formally written to Gemini Rail Services UK Ltd and requested the assurance from Gemini Rail Services that existing contracted work at Springburn will be completed at Springburn and not transferred anywhere else in the UK. TS officials meet with Rolling Stock owners on a regular basis and continue to encourage them to utilise the Scottish based supply chain where possible. The routine maintenance of ScotRail rolling stock is carried out in Scotland by ScotRail at its maintenance depots.