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 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: S7W-00450

Asked by: Joe Fagan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 5 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many battery energy storage applications have been (a) granted and (b) rejected by the Energy Consents Unit.

Question reference: S7W-00445

Asked by: Joe Fagan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 5 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on integrated smart ticketing across bus and rail in the Strathclyde area.

The Scottish Government supports the development of integrated smart ticketing across bus and rail, including in the Strathclyde area, as part of its wider commitment to improving public transport.

As set out in the Smart, Digital, Integrated Ticketing and Payments Delivery Strategy (2024), the Scottish Government’s vision is To increase the use of sustainable public transport by providing smart and integrated ticketing, payment, and journey planning data enhancements, contributing to a healthier, fairer and more prosperous Scotland.

In the Strathclyde area, multi-modal flexi-tickets, including one-day capped tickets based on the zones travel will take place in, are already available through Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT). These are available to download onto any compatible smartcard and covers travel by ScotRail, Subway and most buses in the SPT area.

At the national level, the National Smart Ticketing Advisory Board (NSTAB), established in 2023, brings together operators, local transport authorities and passenger representatives to provide strategic advice to Ministers on smart ticketing, including the technological standard for smart ticketing.

NSTAB will also support improvements to smart ticketing and progression for development of options for a new national integrated ticketing system, reflecting passengers’ desire for integrated contactless payment and digital ticketing. Its first recommendations were laid before Scottish Ministers in October 2025, in the form of the STAR (Standards and Technology Advisory Report), which was approved at a strategic level by Ministers in January 2026.

The delivery of a Scotland wide integrated ticketing system is, however, dependent on future funding allocation and any legislation that may be required.

Question reference: S7W-00441

Asked by: Joe Fagan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 5 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will set out what its role is in relation to the development of ScotRail timetables.

Timetable development is a complex and iterative process and primarily a matter managed by ScotRail working in collaboration with Network Rail and other passenger and freight operators. Network Rail considers key constraints such as headways (safe spacing between trains), junction margins, and platform availability (headways, junction margins, and platform availability can be particular constraints on the approaches to and inside in busy stations such as Glasgow Central). Transport Scotland ensures that Scottish Government policies and strategies inform service planning decisions.

Question reference: S7W-00442

Asked by: Joe Fagan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 5 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that there is capacity to increase the frequency of rail services on the East Kilbride line.

Thanks to investment from the Scottish Government, the East Kilbride line has recently been electrified, with the majority of services now operated by modern electric trains - delivering enhanced reliability, comfort and excellent value for money for passengers, further strengthened by our decision to remove peak fares for good and a 12-month ScotRail fare freeze from 1 April 2026.

This investment also included double tracking of part of the line which enables the resilient delivery of 4 trains per hour in the peaks.

The current timetable provides 2 trains per hour throughout the day, all week, increasing to 4 trains per hour in the peaks. Since December, the evening service has been increased to 2 trains per hour, taking it back to pre-Covid levels. The current provision meets passenger demand well.

ScotRail monitors patronage on individual routes on an ongoing basis and adjusts services accordingly, where resources allow.

Question reference: S7W-00444

Asked by: Joe Fagan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 5 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to further enhance (a) East Kilbride, (b) Hairmyres and (c) Thorntonhall train stations.

The £144m East Kilbride Enhancement Project electrified 22.4km of railway line and saw the relocation of Hairmyres station. Brand new, fully accessible stations were built at both East Kilbride and Hairmyres, including a transport interchange at Hairmyres. This work was completed in December 2025.

There are no current plans for improvements to the station at Thorntonhall, the station has step free access to the platforms and offers a waiting area for passengers.

Question reference: S7O-00022

Asked by: Joe Fagan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 June 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Board regarding the outcome of the Service Delivery Review that is due to be considered on 22 June.

Question reference: S7W-00453

Asked by: Joe Fagan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Gethins on 3 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the current regulatory and planning frameworks for long-duration energy storage are sufficient.

Large-scale, long-duration energy storage, such as pumped hydro storage, will play a critical role in lessening our dependence on fossil fuels for electricity generation, supporting our net zero ambitions.

It will help to maximise our significant renewable energy generating capacity by providing flexibility to the grid ensuring there is a continuous resilient and secure supply of electricity to households and businesses.

Whilst the UK Government's proposals for a cap and floor mechanism for long duration electricity storage are welcome, it is vital they continue to engage with industry to ensure the finer details of this mechanism can maximise the generation and economic potential pumped hydro storage.

Question reference: S7W-00451

Asked by: Joe Fagan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 3 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many of the battery energy storage applications approved by the Energy Consents Unit are operational.

It is the Scottish Ministers who determine applications made under sections 36 and 37 of the Electricity Act 1989. The Energy Consents Unit administers these applications on their behalf.

The Energy Consents Unit does not retain data on applications which subsequently become operational. This information is available in the UK Government’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) quarterly extracts from their Renewable Energy Planning Database. The publication includes operational information pertaining to battery energy storage system (BESS) applications approved by Scottish Ministers: Renewable Energy Planning Database: quarterly extract - GOV.UK

Question reference: S7W-00452

Asked by: Joe Fagan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 3 June 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many of the battery energy storage applications approved by the Energy Consents Unit have been subsequently withdrawn.

It is the Scottish Ministers who determine applications made under sections 36 and 37 of the Electricity Act 1989. The Energy Consents Unit administers these applications on their behalf.

Following consent, developers are typically required to commence development within either three or five years of the decision date, depending on the terms of the consent. However, information on whether or how many approved developments have been commenced s not systematically recorded.