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-03725

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 10 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what impact its reported decision not to proceed with double-tracking the East Kilbride line will have on the (a) redevelopment of (i) East Kilbride and (ii) Hairmyres railway station and (b) ambition to increase rail services between East Kilbride and Glasgow to four per hour.

The decision to deliver the full electrification of the single track option between East Kilbride and Busby does not impact on the redevelopment of (i) East Kilbride and (ii) Hairmyres railway station. The project will deliver enhanced station facilities at East Kilbride and the construction of the new Hairmyres station with the enhanced facilities will be transformational in providing an active travel hub for passengers along this vital route.

This project will deliver for local communities with much needed accessibility improvements at key stations along the length of the route and the full electrification of the corridor will deliver a step change in capacity by using greener trains. Should passenger demand levels increase post Covid-19, this demand can be met by using increased train capacity rather than providing additional services.

Question reference: S6W-03724

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 10 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what representations Network Rail made to (a) it and (b) Transport Scotland regarding its reported decision not to proceed with double-tracking the East Kilbride line.

The decision to proceed to Final Business Case with full electrification with single track option of the East Kilbride to Busby route was made collaboratively with Network Rail and considering evidence from rail industry partners, as part of the rail projects pipeline business case development process.

The Final Business Case development work will now assess how the existing infrastructure can be optimised to support a more resilient timetable and how the electrification of passengers services along the route can be achieved. This is a key stage in ensuring a robust business case which would underpin any future investment decision by the Scottish Government.

Question reference: S6W-03368

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 18 October 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether civil servants who have been tasked with preparing plans for an independence referendum will be redeployed to assist the Scottish Ambulance Service, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

We recognise the extreme pressure facing the Scottish Ambulance Service due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and our thanks go out to the paramedics, technicians and wider ambulance staff for the continued work they are doing in exceptionally challenging circumstances.

Last month, the Scottish Government an additional package of support for the Scottish Ambulance Service, backed by an additional £20 million, which will help increase capacity and improve response times and staff wellbeing.

On 7 September 2021, the Scottish Government published the which confirmed that the Scottish Government will start work on a detailed prospectus for an independent Scotland. The Scottish Government is now determining how this work will proceed and the resourcing it requires, as we do for delivering all commitments in the Programme for Government. It is the role of the civil service to support delivery across the full range of Government commitments.

Question reference: S6W-03077

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 4 October 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can confirm that ScotRail Trains Ltd will not seek to make any changes to the existing final salary pension scheme for ScotRail workers.

Question reference: S6W-02993

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 30 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Scottish National Party manifesto commitment to "remove a majority of fossil fuel buses from public transport in Scotland by 2023", what analysis it has undertaken of the capacity of domestic bus manufacturers to deliver this.

Manufacturers are represented on the Bus Decarbonisation Taskforce, a joint initiative between industry and government to co-design a pathway to a fully zero-emission bus fleet. At the Taskforce meeting on the 15 July representatives from the manufacturing sector expressed enthusiasm to rise to the decarbonisation challenge, and confirmed that the supply of zero-emission buses in the coming months and years would not constrain progress. Details of the work of the taskforce and minutes from the meetings can be found on the CPT website -

Question reference: S6W-02994

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 30 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration was given to domestic manufacturers prior to awarding £4 million of funding from the Scottish Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme to manufacturers in China.

The Scottish Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme (SULEBS) provided support to purchase new ultra low emission buses. The scheme was open to bus operators, local authorities and companies leasing buses to authorities/bus operators who run local registered bus services in Scotland. The bids included information about the buses that would be acquired, including the manufacturer, but whether the manufacturer was domestic or otherwise was not factored into the assessment of the bids. Scotland is bound by World Trade Organisation (WTO) subsidy control rules and the WTO’s principle of National Treatment prohibits discrimination between imported and domestically produced goods, however of the 272 buses purchased under this scheme 207 have been ordered from Alexander Dennis Ltd, the bus manufacturing company based in Larbert, Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-02995

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 30 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether domestic manufacturers will be (a) considered and (b) given priority in future bids for Scottish Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme funding.

The Scottish Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme has now been replaced by the Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB). Bidders are strongly encouraged to put in place arrangements with partners or collaborators, to minimise the level of subsidy being requested. Bids from domestic manufacturers, or involving domestic manufacturers, will be assessed on the same basis as bids from other eligible parties. Scotland is bound by World Trade Organisation (WTO) subsidy control rules and the WTO’s principle of National Treatment prohibits discrimination between imported and domestically produced goods.

Question reference: S6W-03078

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 30 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to establish a group similar to the Rail Industry Recovery Group in England and, if so, (a) whether the recognised train unions will be (i) invited to participate in the group and (ii) permitted to propose items for discussion, (b) what the remit of the group will be and (c) whether it would expect Abellio ScotRail to be a member of the group.

Question reference: S6W-03079

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 30 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether ScotRail Trains Ltd will be responsible for commencing negotiations with the recognised trade unions regarding the 2022 pay award for ScotRail staff, which has an anniversary date of 1 April 2022.

Question reference: S6O-00247

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 September 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 October 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the decision to remove the cohesion target from the National Performance Framework, how it is monitoring whether the employment gap is narrowing between the best and worst performing areas.