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: S4W-11425

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 3 December 2012

To ask the Scottish Government whether there is a nationally recognised accreditation scheme for alcohol counselling services.

There is currently no nationally recognised accreditation scheme for alcohol counselling services.

The UK Health and Social Care Act 2012 asked the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) for Health and Social Care (formerly the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence) to set up a scheme for people working within health and social care who are not required by law to be on one of the registers of the health and social work professional regulators in the UK. This includes counsellors and psychotherapists.

COSCA (Scotland’s professional body for counselling and psychotherapy) is working towards applying for its register of counsellors and psychotherapists to be accredited by PSA.

The PSA published its draft standards for consultation (accreditation standards for organisations that hold voluntary registers for health and social care occupations). PSA are currently analysing the responses.

Question reference: S4O-01533

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 November 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what is being done to boost co-operation between Scottish universities and their international counterparts to enhance research and student opportunities.

Question reference: S4W-10836

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 9 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government how the rail network is funded.

The rail network is managed by Network Rail. For financial planning purposes Network Rail works within five-year 'Control Periods' each one beginning on 1 April and ending on 31 March to coincide with the financial year. The next control period starts on 1 April 2014 and under current UK railways’ legislation, the Scottish Ministers are responsible for funding the rail network in Scotland. The responsibility for conducting a periodic review of Network Rail’s revenue requirements and regulatory outputs lies with the Office of Rail Regulation.

The rail infrastructure budget supports the costs of Network Rail maintenance and safe operation of the Scottish rail network and investment in infrastructure enhancement and is payable directly to Network Rail. The rail franchise budget includes funds which are paid by the franchisee to Network Rail to fund track access charges.

Question reference: S4W-10837

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 9 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what rail operating companies it provides funding to and how much each company receives.

Scottish Ministers have responsibility for procuring rail passenger services which operate wholly in Scotland. There is currently one main contract, the rail franchise operated by First ScotRail, and this is due to end in November 2014. The cost of this rail franchise in financial year 2011-12 was £305.3 million.

There is also a further minor contract with Arriva for £70k per year to operate one early morning weekday service from Dunbar to Edinburgh.

Question reference: S4W-10838

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 8 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what input it has into the tendering of cross-border rail services.

Cross border passenger rail services are specified by the Department for Transport.

The Scottish Government currently provides ‘non-binding’ advice to the Department on its expectation of the level of service provision specified for cross border rail franchises.

There is no legal or contractual relationship with either the Department or train operating companies in this regard.

Earlier this year I agreed with UK Ministers a closer role for the Scottish Government in the specification of the forthcoming InterCity East Coast franchise, and a role assisting in the evaluation of bids for this franchise as they affect Scottish services.

However, the terms of this arrangement are yet to be put in place by the Department, and it is unclear whether the timescale for this refranchising will be delayed following cancellation of the InterCity West Coast franchise procurement.

Question reference: S4W-10839

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 8 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government how many Network Rail staff are based in Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-10840

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 8 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government how many staff are employed by Network Rail to deal with the rail network in Scotland.

Question reference: S4O-01428

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 October 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to improve recycling rates.

Question reference: S4W-10615

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 26 October 2012
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Keith Brown on 29 October 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what the estimated cost is of the combined Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route and A90 Balmedie to Tipperty project.

The Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) is vital for jobs, the economy and improving the transport infrastructure of Aberdeen and the north east. Over the next three decades, the project is expected to bring in an additional £6 billion to the north east economy and create around 14,000 new jobs.

The unwanted delays caused by the protracted public local inquiry and legal challenges have resulted in a substantial increase in the overall cost of the project.

In 2008 the AWPR scheme was costed at £347 million at 2003 prices.

The revised cost of the AWPR following scope changes, the inclusion of standard risk costs and rebasing to 2012 prices totals £653 million.

Cost increases due to inflation total £230 million.

The estimated total cost of the combined AWPR and Balmedie to Tipperty project is £745 million at 2012 prices (excluding VAT) and is made up of a total scheme cost estimate of £653 million for the AWPR and £92 million for Balmedie to Tipperty.

The Scottish Government is meeting 81% of the costs of the Northern and Southern Leg elements of the AWPR with Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire councils contributing 9.5% each. The cost of the Fastlink section of the AWPR and the Balmedie to Tipperty project will be met entirely by the Scottish Government.

The Scottish Government and Transport Scotland have a strong record of delivering transport projects on time and on budget. This has included the successful delivery of the M80 Stepps to Haggs, the M74 Completion, the Clackmannanshire Bridge and the A96 Fochabers and Mosstodloch Bypass. Transport Scotland are committed to maintaining this record in delivering the AWPR and Balmedie to Tipperty project.

The AWPR and Balmedie to Tipperty project form a core part of our commitment to improving transport in the north east along with a new Inveramsay Bridge on the A96, improvements to the Haudagain roundabout and proposals to dual the A96 between Aberdeen and Inverness by 2030, which along with the action currently being taken to dual the A9 between Perth and Inverness will ensure that all Scotland’s cities are connected with a high-quality transport system that will generate economic growth.

Question reference: S4W-09824

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 September 2012
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 25 October 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) total value is and (b) cash balances are of local authority common good funds.