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-02647

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 November 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 December 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the reported problems with teacher recruitment.

Question reference: S5W-19848

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 28 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the development of the Laurencekirk Junction Improvement Scheme, and when it expects work on this to begin.

Significant progress has been made in developing an appropriate technical solution for this important junction. Having let the local community and road users see and comment on the preferred option for the Laurencekirk Improvement scheme in a series of public exhibitions held on 20 July and 24 August of 2018, the next stage of design and assessment work, which is the detailed development and assessment of the preferred option, is well underway leading to publication of draft Orders in 2019 for formal comment.

Progress thereafter is dependent on the level and nature of representation received in response to the published draft Orders and whether a Public Local Inquiry is required to consider objections made and not withdrawn.

Construction of the scheme itself can only commence if the scheme is approved under the relevant statutory procedures and thereafter a timetable for its progress can be set.

While there is still a lot of essential development work to be carried out we continue to push forward the design preparation stages to deliver this scheme as soon as possible. Once complete, it will bring improved road safety and economic benefits to road users and the local community in Laurencekirk and across the north east.

Question reference: S5W-19796

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 27 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity on 1 November 2018 (Official Report, c.57), by what date the remedial works on the Don Bridge will be completed, and whether it will publish details of any analysis that it has carried out regarding how differing levels of severity of adverse weather might impact on this target date.

As I outlined in my statement to Parliament on Thursday 1 November, on the River Don Bridge minor defects were identified in a localised area while post-tensioning a small number of concrete panels. On 26 October 2018, Transport Scotland was informed that a greater scope of works would be necessary to repair the defects and ARL intimated that December was a more realistic date for opening this final section. This is supported by the Galliford Try trading announcement on 7 November.

It is important to allow the contractor and its designers the time it requires to undertake the necessary repairs in a safe manner. Our primary focus is on ensuring the works are completed safely and to the required standards.

Question reference: S5W-19797

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 27 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity on 1 November 2018 (Official Report, c.57), whether it was aware that the Don Bridge had a technical issue when it was sent a letter dated 23 October 2018 referring to weather and the collapse of Carillion as the issues delaying the opening of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR).

Neither my officials nor I have received any correspondence dated 23 October 2018.

In May 2018 ARL first reported of concreting issues at the River Don Crossing. Minor defects were identified in a localised section of the structure while post tensioning a small number of concrete panels. On 26 October 2018, Transport Scotland was informed that a greater scope of works would be necessary to repair the defects and ARL intimated that December was a more realistic date for opening this final section. This is supported by the Galliford Try trading announcement on 7 November.

Question reference: S5F-02829

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 26 November 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 November 2018

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on reforming the rules regarding the temporary release and parole of prisoners.

Question reference: S5W-19799

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity on 1 November 2018 (Official Report, c.57), whether it will confirm the date that it was advised of the issues delaying the opening of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR), and what subsequent action it has taken with Aberdeen Roads Limited to deal with these issues.

As I outlined in my statement to Parliament on 1 November, ARL first reported concreting issues at the River Don Crossing in May 2018. Repairs were undertaken through the summer and ARL remained confident of achieving a late autumn opening. On 26 October 2018, Transport Scotland was informed that a greater scope of works would be necessary to repair the defects and ARL intimated that December was a more realistic date for opening this final section. This is supported by the Galliford Try trading announcement on 7 November.

For some months, Transport Scotland has been investigating the potential to open the 31.5km section of new road from Craibstone to Stonehaven and Charleston. I explained to Parliament on November 1 that opening this section requires a variation to the contract. I and my officials have been involved in a series of high-level meetings with ARL since then, designed to remove any obstacle to the road being opened. I continue to urge it to pursue the necessary approvals with its lenders without further delay.

Question reference: S5W-19798

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity on 1 November 2018 (Official Report, c.57), whether it was its position that the contractual nexus between Aberdeen Roads Limited and its lenders required to be revised when it was sent a letter dated 23 October 2018 referring to weather and the collapse of Carillion as the issues delaying the opening of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR).

Neither my officials nor I have received any correspondence dated 23 October 2018.

As confirmed in my statement, I was disappointed to receive a letter from Peter Truscott, CEO of Galliford Try, on 31 October 2018, suggesting Aberdeen Roads Limited (ARL) had yet to agree with its lenders the contractual variation. This variation, which had been on the table for some considerable time, is required to open the 31.5km section of road between Craibstone to Stonehaven and Charleston. Furthermore, ARL had yet to even advise its lenders of the draft terms.

I and my officials have been involved in a series of high-level meetings with ARL since then, designed to remove any obstacle to the road being opened while remedial works at the Don progress.

Question reference: S5W-19845

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether Aberdeen Roads Limited is subject to a public announcements clause as part of its contract to build the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR).

Aberdeen Roads Limited (ARL) comprises Balfour Beatty Investments Ltd, Carillion Private Finance (Transport) Ltd and Galliford Try Investments Ltd. Each of these companies is required to provide market updates, the content of which is not available to Scottish Ministers in advance.

As part of the AWPR/B-T contract with ARL, it is obliged to obtain approval for any public announcements. This ensures the factual accuracy of any information being disseminated. No such request has been rejected at any time by this Government.

Question reference: S5W-19817

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 November 2018
Current Status: Answered by Ash Denham on 22 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to the Edinburgh Bar Association’s decision to stop accepting court appointments in summary cases where the accused is prohibited from carrying out their own defence.

Question reference: S5O-02620

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 November 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 November 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the views of business groups regarding its position on Brexit and wider constitutional affairs.