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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

Filter your results Hide all filters

Displaying 1621 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S6W-35525

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 10 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 24 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what changes there have been to (a) rail passenger numbers and (b) the patterns of useage of rail services following the end of the removal of the peak fares pilot, including by passengers from lower income households.

Question reference: S6W-35528

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 10 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 24 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to update the ScotRail Peak Fares Removal Pilot Final Evaluation Report to cover the whole of the trial period.

Transport Scotland is currently analysing data to the beginning of March and expects to publish results shortly. This will cover the whole period of the pilot and beyond. As detailed in the answer to S6W-35525 on 24 March 2025, daily journeys have increased (on average) since the pilot ended and the analysis is exploring this further.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

Question reference: S6O-04421

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 March 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what additional focus areas it has identified, following the publication of the Women’s Health Plan 2021 to 2024: Final Report.

Question reference: S6W-34515

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 27 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-32276 by Siobhian Brown on 19 December 2024, whether the Independent Working Group on Antisocial Behaviour reported to ministers "by the end of 2024", as set out in its answer, and by what date (a) the report and (b) its response to it will be published.

A pre-publication version of the report of the Independent Working Group on Antisocial Behaviour was submitted to myself, COSLA and Police Scotland just before Christmas. The report has since been finalised and was published on Tuesday 25th February 2025. It is available at . Along with our lead partners, COSLA and Police Scotland, we are considering the recommendations and support for local community safety and multi-agency prevention work. We plan to provide a comprehensive response in the Summer with a progress update by Easter. I am grateful to the Group for their work and to all who contributed.

Question reference: S6O-04406

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 February 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 March 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to improve road safety.

Question reference: S6W-34472

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 25 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-31709 by Kate Forbes on 4 December 2024, whether it will provide an update on when it will reach a decision regarding extending the terms of reference for the inquiry into the death of Sheku Bayoh.

Firstly, let me put on record again, my deepest condolences to the family of Mr Bayoh.

Following their request for an extension of the terms of reference for the Sheku Bayoh Public Inquiry, to include both the initial prosecutorial decisions and the Victim’s Right of Review, I have undertaken extensive consultation with all core participants to the Inquiry and their legal representatives. I have also discussed the application for extension with the Chair of the Inquiry, who is a statutory consultee under section 5(4) of the Inquiries Act 2005 (“the 2005 Act”).

After careful consideration, I have decided not to grant the request. I understand that Mr Bayoh’s family will be disappointed by my decision.

As set out in legislation, I may amend the terms of reference if I consider the public interest requires this. This request to extend the Terms of Reference was formally made on 4 September, over four years after the current Terms of Reference were announced, and as the Inquiry was nearing the final module of evidential hearings and concluding statements. It is in the public interest for the Inquiry to come to a conclusion promptly and for its recommendations to be implemented as swiftly as possible.

Under the 2005 Act, an Inquiry is not permitted to determine or rule on civil or criminal liability. Prosecutorial decisions are a matter for the Crown and the Solicitor General has committed to assessing any new evidence which is brought to light by the Inquiry, having reserved the right to prosecute any of the individuals involved in future.

I am confident the current terms of reference are sufficiently broad to allow the Chair to present a substantial report with detailed findings and recommendations – including on the investigation and the extent to which Mr Bayoh’s actual or perceived race was a factor.

Question reference: S6O-04363

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 February 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 February 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it will reach a decision regarding extending the terms of reference for the inquiry into the death of Sheku Bayoh.

Question reference: S6W-32913

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 17 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates the ongoing review of the business case for the redevelopment of Ardrossan harbour will conclude.

The Scottish Government remain committed to ensuring the Arran ferry service is fit for the future, and to finding a solution at Ardrossan that can be delivered in a cost effective way, reflecting the needs of all of the partners involved. We understand and share frustrations at the pace of progress on the Ardrossan Harbour redevelopment.

Ongoing discussions and negotiations around the delivery of improvements at the port have been complex but the business case review is substantially complete, and project partners continue to work on this as quickly as practicable. The next meeting of the Ardrossan Task Force will be convened soon after the business case and cost review exercise has been submitted to Ministers for a decision.

Question reference: S6W-32910

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 17 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the National Transport Strategy Fourth Delivery Plan, whether it will list the ferry task forces that it is supporting to prepare robust business cases ahead of the commencement of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service 3 (CHFS3) contract on 1 October 2025.

Question reference: S6W-32912

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 January 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 16 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what the 2025 objectives are for reform of the tripartite governance arrangement between Transport Scotland, Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) and David MacBrayne Ltd.

I wrote to the convenor of the Scottish Parliament’s Economy and Fair Work committee on 19 December 2024. The letter noted that work is currently underway to ensure that Calmac would meet the definition of a Teckal compliant body in advance of the new Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service contract being put in place by 1 October 2025. It further highlighted that once this work is complete the intention to turn attention to the future reform of the bodies involved in delivering services, with the initial focus on the relationship between the three tripartite bodies of Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited, CalMac and Transport Scotland.