Questions and answers

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 ��˿�� 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: S6W-36228

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 28 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 17 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what community benefit requirements have been included in the contract for the Small Vessel Replacement Programme under the terms of the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014.

CMAL has confirmed that it included two strands of community benefit commitments in its contract with Remontowa. The first provides opportunity for three Scotland-based shipbuilding apprentices per vessel, 21 in total, to attend optimisation and sea trials for training purposes when the vessels are delivered. The second is that Remontowa shipyard will match CMAL’s funding for its Corporate Social Responsibility programme over the course of the build, which supports charity initiatives across local communities in the Clyde and Hebrides region.

Question reference: S6W-36423

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 11 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made regarding trade union recognition at the HMP Glasgow construction site.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

HMP Glasgow is a nationally important infrastructure project which is committed to working with, and employing, local people.

Whilst this is a matter for the contractor, I understand Kier Construction has been actively engaged with representatives of Unite and met with them as recently as 1 April for further discussions.

Question reference: S6W-36135

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 10 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the UK Government and BAE Systems campaign for the Type 26 frigate to win the Norwegian Future Frigate competition, in light of the potential subcontracting opportunity for Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) Limited.

Question reference: S6W-36041

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 4 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will undertake a feasibility study on emulating the Common User Facility (CUF) model at the Australian Marine Complex in Perth, Western Australia, and Osborne Naval Shipyard near Adelaide, South Australia, at the (a) Newark Shipyard facility, which is owned by the Scottish Ministers via Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) Limited, and (b) Inchgreen Marine Park, which is owned by Peel Group and operated in a joint venture with Inverclyde Council.

The Scottish Government provides a range of support to shipbuilding, marine engineering, harbours and ports across Scotland, but has no plans to undertake a feasibility study to emulate a Common User Facility for shipyards in Australia and Scotland, as the skill sets of the staff at the respective yards will differ.

This Government took a proactive approach to preserve commercial shipbuilding on the Clyde at Ferguson Marine and remains committed to invest in the skills and capabilities needed to secure a sustainable future for the shipyard.

Question reference: S6W-36040

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 4 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish details of Project Chia's consideration of the social value of Ferguson Marine Port Glasgow.

Question reference: S6O-04500

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 1 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to incentivise the restoration and reuse of listed buildings in Glasgow that are considered to be at risk.

Responsibility for maintenance and upkeep of a listed building lies with the owner of the property. Consequently, the removal of VAT on these repairs would be a strong incentive for owners to undertake necessary work.

The Scottish Government will continue to make representations to UK Government requesting the implementation of a VAT reduction in the context of encouraging maintenance and energy efficiency improvements in traditional buildings.

Additionally, through Historic Environment Scotland’s Grants programme, we invest around £13.5 million a year to support building repairs, ancient monuments, archaeological work, and conservation.

Question reference: S6W-36023

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 21 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 1 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will promote collaboration between the Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council's Strategic Investment Model Stage 1 project on enabling (a) crew transfer and (b) service operation vessel fabrication with the analysis of future market opportunities for UK-built ships in offshore wind, which the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, in partnership with the National Shipbuilding Office and the Crown Estate, has appointed Cammell Laird to carry out.

Question reference: S6O-04531

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 March 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will accelerate the full implementation of bus franchising powers in the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019.

Question reference: S6W-35590

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 25 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish a comprehensive response to the Community Trade Union (a) report, Steel Reforged, and (b) recommendation that "the first priority should be upgrading our existing plate mill at Dalzell".

The Scottish Government will carefully consider the Community Trade Union’s report as part of our continued commitment to the vitally important sector. We acted at pace in 2016 to secure the future for the Dalzell and Clydebridge steel works, rescuing more than 100 jobs, and retaining steel plate production in Scotland. To protect the interests of the Scottish workforce, the Scottish Government maintains regular engagement with the plant owners, the UK Government and other partners; and we will shortly respond to the UK Government consultation on the Plan for Steel.

Question reference: S6W-35621

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 14 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 25 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to answer to question S6W-35211 by Fiona Hyslop on 11 March 2025, what its response is to claims that not incorporating the existing heavy rail connection to East Kilbride within the scope of Clyde Metro does not represent effective, joined-up, public policymaking.

The Scottish Government is not aware of any suggested claims regarding the East Kilbride rail line within the context of Clyde Metro. If the member believes that this should be included with the scope of the Clyde Metro’s network development then I would encourage him to contact Strathclyde Partnership for Transport ([email protected]) who are leading the work for the ongoing Case for Investment stage.