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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 MSPs 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-37371

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 14 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential implications of zonal electricity pricing for fuel poverty levels in Scotland, including any projected distributional impacts by income decile.

Question reference: S6W-37369

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 14 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the compatibility of potentially introducing zonal electricity pricing with the objectives of its forthcoming Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan.

Question reference: S6W-37364

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 14 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what its position is on any proposal to introduce zonal electricity pricing, and what evidence underpins that position.

Question reference: S6W-37245

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 14 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government when a decision will be made on reallowing alcohol at certain times on ScotRail services.

The First Minister announced to the Scottish Parliament on 6 May 2025 that we intend to remove the ban on alcohol on trains and replace it with new restrictions which will allow alcohol consumption between from 10am to 9pm every day. ScotRail will reserve the right to implement alcohol restrictions on specific services where BTP and rail industry intelligence indicates it necessary, for example major concerts or sporting events.

The current ban will be lifted and the new rules will come into force on 2 June 2025.

Question reference: S6W-37241

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 13 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the greenhouse gas emissions attributable to transporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) by road to the bunkering point for the MV Glen Sannox, including (a) the total CO2-equivalent emissions per tonne of LNG transported and (b) a comparison with the emissions profile of delivering an equivalent energy quantity of marine diesel.

In 2014, Transport Scotland, supported by Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd and CalMac Ferries Ltd (CFL), set out the case to procure two new dual-fuel vessels for the Clyde and Hebrides ferry network which included analysis of fuel emissions and estimated operating costs. In November 2023, Transport Scotland requested a report from CFL on expected carbon emissions relating to Liquified Natural Gas, including end-to-end transportation. CFL completed a detailed assessment and provided their findings to Transport Scotland in a report in January 2024. This report has been released and is available on the Scottish Government website via the following link:

https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/foi-eir-release/2024/06/foi-202400412376/documents/eir-202400412376---information-released---annex-a---c/eir-202400412376---information-released---annex-a---c/govscot%3Adocument/EIR%2B202400412376%2B-%2BInformation%2Breleased%2B-%2BAnnex%2BA%2B-%2BC.pdf

CFL have set out a range of activities and actions around fuel use and emissions monitoring in their 2024 – 2027 Environmental Plan and we will continue to work with them to reduce carbon emissions and improve environmental sustainability of ferry operations in the coming years.

Question reference: S6W-37242

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 13 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what modelling it has undertaken of the whole-life greenhouse gas emissions arising from the combined use of marine diesel and liquefied natural gas by the MV Glen Sannox, and how these projections compare with the emissions profile of a comparable conventional diesel-only ferry operating on the same route.

Question reference: S6W-37243

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 13 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to (a) monitor and (b) publish data on the (i) actual volumes of marine diesel and liquefied natural gas consumed by the MV Glen Sannox once it is in service and (ii) associated fuel-related greenhouse gas emissions.

Under the CHFS (Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service) contract, the Scottish Government monitors fuel consumption by all vessels operating on the CalMac network. However, there are no plans to publish this data at present.

The Scottish Government does not monitor or publish greenhouse gas emissions produced by, or associated with, vessels operating on the CalMac network. However, CalMac have a reporting requirement under UK MRV (Monitoring, Reporting and Verification) regulations on total carbon emissions for all vessels in their fleet over 5,000 GT (Gross Tonnage).

Question reference: S6W-37240

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 13 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the (a) expected number of road-tanker deliveries of liquefied natural gas (LNG) that will be required each year to supply the MV Glen Sannox, (b) loading terminals from which these deliveries will depart, including the country of origin of the LNG, and (c) arrangements that are in place to ensure security of supply for the vessel.

CalMac Ferries Ltd (CFL) expect around 80 deliveries of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) to be required per year to supply MV Glen Sannox. Delivery of LNG will come by road from the Isle of Grain terminal in Kent. The country of origin can vary depending on the global market. In terms of supply security, this is a matter for CFL as the operator; the Scottish Government has no involvement in these contracts.

Question reference: S6W-37237

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 13 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) Aberdeen City Council and (b) hydrogen suppliers regarding securing alternative fuel supplies for the hydrogen-bus project while life-extension works are carried out at Kittybrewster and Cove, and what the outcomes were of any such discussions.

Scottish Government and Aberdeen City Council officials undertake regular engagement relating to hydrogen in Aberdeen. This has involved discussions relating to the city’s bus fleet, including in the context of the Energy Transition Fund grant to the Aberdeen Hydrogen Hub project over the period 2021-22 to 2024-25. Decisions on hydrogen supply to the fleet are a matter for the Council. The Scottish Government has not engaged in any direct discussions with hydrogen suppliers for that fleet.

Question reference: S6W-37239

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 April 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 13 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the MV Glen Sannox, what estimates it has made of the (a) annual consumption of (i) marine diesel and (ii) liquefied natural gas (LNG) and (b) proportion of the vessel’s total propulsion energy that it expects to be provided by LNG in the first full year of scheduled operation.

The Scottish Government has not made any estimates or assumptions around the level of fuel consumption by MV Glen Sannox as this is a matter for CalMac Ferries Ltd (CFL) as the operator.

CFL have confirmed, however, that total marine diesel consumption is estimated to reach around 1,800m3 per year. The vessel is expected to consume around 1,700 metric tonnes of LNG per year. The proportion of annual propulsion by LNG is expected to be around 70%, but this is under constant review.