- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 16 August 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 6 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle the reported 40% increase in sewage spills into rivers and seas in the last five years, and whether it plans to introduce binding targets to limit sewage pollution.
Answer
The combined sewer network is designed to spill during heavy rainfall to protect homes from flooding. The reported 40% increase in sewage spills in the last five years is primarily due to increases in total annual rainfall and rainfall intensity which are related to climate change. The Scottish Government is committed to reducing sewage spills into rivers and seas across Scotland.
We have introduced legislation through the Urban Waste Water Treatment (Scotland) Regulations 1994 and the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2011 to minimise the impact of sewage discharges on the water environment.
We are working closely with Scottish Water and SEPA to prioritise investment to reduce sewage spill frequency and impact on the water environment. As part of a long-term strategy, Scottish Water is aiming to transform its waste water services to meet the challenges presented by the impacts of climate change and population growth.
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 August 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 6 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Scottish National Party manifesto commitment to reform crofting law, what its position is on introducing an exemption for crofting tenancies from local authority care charges.
Answer
The issue of the legal protection of crofts from local authority care charges was the subject of a petition for consideration by the Public Petitions Committee. In response to this petition the Scottish Government has stated that consideration on how best to apply the regulations lies with local authorities.
The National Assistance (Assessment of Resources) Regulations 1992 and associated Charging for Residential Accommodation Guidance (CRAG), provide the framework for local authorities to charge for the residential care that they provide or arrange. It is for local authorities to interpret the Regulations in applying their policies.
- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 August 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 6 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what progress has been made with the delivery of the Infrastructure Investment Plan 2021-22 to 2025-26, and whether it will provide the Parliament with regular updates.
Answer
The first six-monthly update report on the progress of the pipeline of projects and programmes within the new five-year Infrastructure Investment Plan will be provided to Parliament in autumn 2021. The first full annual progress report of the Plan will be provided to Parliament in spring 2022.
- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 August 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 6 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government which new road-building projects will begin construction by the end of 2022.
Answer
The contract notice for the third section of the A9 to be dualled, Tomatin to Moy, was published on the Public Contracts Scotland portal on 19 August 2021. We anticipate the contract for this section to be awarded in the second half of 2022 with construction work starting thereafter.
It is also expected that the procurement process for the A737 Improvements at Beith project will commence later in 2021-22.
- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 August 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 6 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of the funding in the Infrastructure Investment Plan 2021-22 to 2025-2026 has been allocated to projects related to (a) utility networks, (b) transport and (c) digital communications.
Answer
The proportion of the total estimated Scottish Government investment at Annex D of the Infrastructure Investment Plan between 2021-22 to 2025-2026 in relation to a) utility networks, b) transport and c) digital communications is 8.7%, 27.2% and 5.4% respectively.
Further details relating to this estimated five-year planned investment are contained within the following table noting that gas and electricity network policy and regulation as well as digital infrastructure is reserved to the UK Government. The Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme (LCITP) funding covers a range of projects relating to low carbon infrastructure, some of which include heat networks. For the purposes of this answer, the full LCITP allocation has been included within the table as it is not currently possible to say what share is dedicated to utility networks.
SECTOR | PROJECT NAME | CAPITAL INVESTMENT (£M) |
Utility Networks | Scottish Water Investment Programme | 850 |
Utility Networks | Clyde Mission Low Carbon Infrastructure | 25 |
Utility Networks | Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme (LCITP) | 405 |
TOTAL | | 1,280 |
Transport | Support for Sustainable and Active Travel | 352 |
Transport | Active Freeways | 50 |
Transport | Future Transport Fund - capital to support a range of low and zero carbon investment | 287 |
Transport | Future Transport Fund – Bus Priority Investment | 495 |
Transport | Support for zero-emission bus fleet transition | 120 |
Transport | Road Adaptations Fund | 60 |
Transport | A9 Dualling Programme | 328 |
Transport | A96 Dual carriageway | 20 |
Transport | A82 Tarbet to Inverarnan | 136 |
Transport | A77 Maybole Bypass | 5 |
Transport | A92/A96 Haudagain Junction Improvement | 7 |
Transport | A737 Improvements at Beith | 10 |
Transport | A801 Improvement project | 22 |
Transport | STPR – potential pipeline projects | 45 |
Transport | Rail Major Project Enhancements | 1,200 |
Transport | Glasgow Subway Modernisation | 104 |
Transport | CMAL – Two new 100 metre ferries | 84 |
Transport | CMAL – Voted Loans – net vessel investment | 281 |
Transport | Piers and Harbours Grants | 306 |
Transport | Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd Air Traffic Control Services | 28 |
Transport | Additional transport links alongside City Region Deals | 68 |
TOTAL | | 4,008 |
Digital Communications | Digital Public Services Programme | 110 |
Digital Communications | eHealth | 25 |
Digital Communications | Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme (ESMCP) | 122 |
Digital Communications | Reaching 100% programme (R100) | 542 |
TOTAL | | 799 |
- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 August 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 6 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether the dualling of the A9 between Perth and Inverness will be completed by 2025.
Answer
The Scottish Government is committed to dualling the A9 between Perth and Inverness. We have underlined this commitment by commencing procurement of construction the section of the A9 between Tomatin and Moy. The procurement for this £115M section commenced with publication of a contract notice on the Public Contracts Scotland Portal on 19 August 2021, and the contract for construction is expected to be awarded in the second half of 2022.
Design work is progressing well with the statutory process well underway for seven of the remaining eight schemes. Made orders for two adjoining schemes, Glen Garry to Dalwhinnie and Dalwhinnie to Crubenmore were published on 30 July 2021. An additional two schemes, Tay Crossing to Ballinluig and Pitlochry to Killiecrankie, are due to be published in the coming weeks. The only section not to have started the statutory process is between Pass of Birnam and Tay Crossing, which was the subject of a co-creative process with the local community. Work is currently underway to identify the preferred route for this section.
A market consultation exercise commenced earlier this year to inform assessment of procurement options for remaining sections when the statutory processes are complete. Determination of the optimal procurement option is a complex exercise which is considering a pipeline of work in a form that can be delivered by the industry, supports the economic recovery post COVID and minimises disruption to users if this lifeline route.
It is expected this analysis will be completed in the coming weeks and will inform decision making on our procurement approach and phasing.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 August 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 6 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-01498 by Graeme Dey on 6 August 2021, whether its response at (b)(ii) means that it no longer plans to meet the commitment, as part of the Aberdeen City Region Deal, to reduce journey times between Aberdeen and the central belt by 20 minutes, or whether the "maximum benefits" referred to are anticipated to at least meet that commitment, and, if it is still committed to reducing journey times between Aberdeen and the central belt by 20 minutes, when it plans to achieve this.
Answer
Transport Scotland remains committed to working with key industry partners to achieve, by 2026, the 20 minutes journey time saving between Aberdeen and Edinburgh (average journey time of 2 hours 10 minutes for express services). This outcome was agreed at the final meeting of the Aberdeen to Central Belt Reference Group.
The Reference Group also endorsed a service specification, previously set out in Network Rail’s 2016 Scotland Rail Study of:
1. an average journey time of 1 hour 10 minutes or less for inter-city services between Aberdeen and Dundee;
2. an average journey time of 2 hours 30 minutes or less for inter-city services between Aberdeen and Glasgow;
3. half-hourly services from local stations into Aberdeen and Dundee during peak times;
4. an hourly stopping service between Aberdeen and Dundee; and
5. new freight paths.
- Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 August 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 6 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had regarding introducing a tax on waste incineration services.
Answer
The Climate Change Plan sets out the Scottish Government’s commitment to develop a Routemap to meet our ambitious 2025 waste and recycling targets in a way that maximises carbon saving potential. The Scottish Government is working with partner organisations to develop the Routemap.
The Scottish Government has no plans to introduce a tax on waste incineration services. We will however consider the role of fiscal incentives, such as a waste tax, in the context of the planned Routemap and the Climate Change Plan
We have also committed to review the role incineration plays in Scotland’s waste hierarchy, taking account of all available evidence. An update will be provided to Parliament this month regarding the plans for this.
- Asked by: John Mason, MSP for Glasgow Shettleston, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 August 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 6 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with ScotRail regarding the public release of the recent internal report that is reportedly recommending service cuts, ticket office closures and a reduction in the workforce.
Answer
Professor Iain Docherty’s report was commissioned by Abellio ScotRail to look at the future of rail across Scotland’s railway and the challenges and options facing the railway as the industry recovers from the pandemic. The Scottish Government was therefore not required to have any discussions regarding the public release of the report as this was a decision between Abellio ScotRail and Professor Iain Docherty.
- Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 August 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 6 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-01363 by Graeme Dey on 6 August 2021, whether it will provide a more precise date by which it will publish the route map for meeting its target to reduce car use.
Answer
As set out in the Scottish Government’s Climate Change Plan update published in December 2020, a route-map will be produced by the end of 2021, assuming the pandemic has moved to a phase to allow this.