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-04126

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 12 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the status of the Aerospace Response Group.

Question reference: S6O-00401

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 November 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with trade unions regarding the impact of winter pressures on the NHS workforce.

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-03723

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 when it took the reported decision not to proceed with double-tracking the East Kilbride line, and who took the decision.

The decision to proceed with the single track electrification option and a demand led infrastructure specification from Outline Business Case to Final Business Case was arrived at following an extensive joint railway industry business case development process in line with Scottish Government appraisal guidance.

It was a recommendation based on the evidence presented in the Outline Business Case. The final decision was endorsed by Transport Scotland’s investment decision makers on 7 September 2021.

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-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-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-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.