- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 8 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Network Rail regarding any proposed staff reductions in Scotland.
Answer
Transport Scotland has not held any discussions with Network Rail on proposed staff reductions in Scotland.
Network Rail advise that UK wide it has undertaken two rounds of an industry special Voluntary Severance Scheme, focused on management grades where it could be verified there would be no impact on safety, performance or customer service. However, no representations have been made to Scottish Government on this matter.
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 03 March 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 8 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish a long-term funding strategy for community-based adult learning provision.
Answer
Our Adult Learning Strategy will be launched in May. It has been co-produced with adult learning stakeholders, including senior staff from adult learning organisations and adult learners themselves, and aims to improve life chances for adult learners across Scotland. We want to create the conditions for connected adult learning opportunities that link Scotland’s communities, local authorities, third sector organisations, colleges and universities around an offer of learning for adults, particularly those furthest from inclusion and experiencing disadvantage.
To improve the lives of adult learners we need to ensure that there is a strong, well-understood, well-connected and well-resourced system of adult learning in Scotland. The strategy will set out our commitment to evaluating the suitability and levels of future funding arrangements for community-based adult learning. Through the delivery of the strategy we want to ensure that appropriate levels of funding are available to engage and support adult learners across Scotland to meet their needs.
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Current Status:
Withdrawn
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 18 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 4 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-01341 by Maree Todd on 26 July 2021, whether it will commit to continuing to provide free-of-charge lateral flow tests, and what scientific advice it has received regarding when regular testing will no longer be necessary.
Answer
It is important, in line with the principle of healthcare being free at the point of use, that lateral flow device (LFD) tests should remain free of charge for any circumstance in which testing is required as part of clinical care.
The COVID-19 Strategic Framework Update, published on 22 February, sought input from public health specialists who support a move to focus on protecting those at highest clinical risk, supporting patient care and responding to outbreaks, as we move towards the endemic phase.
A transition plan setting out the next steps for Test and Protect in Scotland will be published later this month.
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 31 January 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 28 February 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-02968 by Graeme Dey on 28 September, when it anticipates it will publish provisional findings from the Ernst & Young review of the ferry network.
Answer
The final report by Ernst & Young has now been received and Transport Scotland and Ministers are currently taking time to consider the review findings. I have already committed to inform parliament on publication of the report and planned next steps and intend to do so in the coming weeks.
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 31 January 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 25 February 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Cal Mac Ferries regarding the Arran ferry timetable.
Answer
We continue to engage extensively with CalMac Ferries Ltd on a regular basis concerning timetables, and through the twice yearly timetable consultation process.
As part of the Ardrossan project; Transport Scotland continues to meet with and provide support to CalMac Ferries Ltd in the development of service continuity plans for the Arran ferry service when it temporarily relocates to Troon.
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 31 January 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 25 February 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what work has been done to increase standardisation of ferries, since the publication of its Infrastructure Investment Plan for Scotland 2021-22 to 2025-26.
Answer
Work to increase standardisation since the Scottish Government’s Infrastructure Investment Plan for Scotland 2021-22 to 2025-26 was published, can be seen in the announced Invitation to Tender (17 December 2021) for two new ferries for Islay and the continuing work as part of the Small Vessel Replacement Programme (SVRP) that will see up to 7 vessels replaced on the west coast as part of Phase 1 of the programme.
Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) are taking forward the SVRP and are currently working with the appointed naval architects (Navalue) who are providing consultancy services for the concept design stage as well as investigating and evaluating the feasibility of designing low emission ferries to be in line with the Scottish Government climate change and standardisation commitments.
We also continue to support the vessel resilience funding that can be spent on replacing obsolete equipment on existing vessels.
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 31 January 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 25 February 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what recent consultations it has held with stakeholders regarding the Arran ferry timetable.
Answer
We continue to engage extensively with the Arran Ferry Committee on timetable matters through the twice yearly timetable consultation process, which has recently concluded with regard to the Winter 2022 timetable, and additionally through the Ardrossan Task Force which met most recently on 23 February 2022.
In the coming months CalMac Ferries Ltd will undertake a public consultation regarding service continuity plans for Arran ferry services when they temporarily relocate to Troon.
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Kate Forbes on 23 February 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the provision of full fibre broadband across the KA24 postcode area in North Ayrshire.
Answer
There are a total of 3,374 properties in the KA24 postcode area. As of 11 February 2022:
- 3,061 properties are already able to access superfast broadband speeds of 30 Megabits per second (Mbps) or above and, therefore, are not included within build plans for the Reaching 100% (R100) Central contract.
- 205 properties are within R100 Central contract build plans, with that build expected to be completed by the first half of 2023. They may be eligible for an interim voucher – worth up to £400 – through the R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme (R100 SBVS) and people can check their eligibility using our online checker at www.scotlandsuperfast.com . The interim voucher portion of the R100 SBVS was recently extended to 31 March 2022, giving people more time to secure a connection.
- 101 properties are not included within R100 Central contract build plans and, therefore, are eligible for a main voucher – worth up to £5,000 – through the R100 SBVS.
- The remaining 7 properties are expected to receive superfast connections as a result of commercial coverage – they may also be eligible for an interim voucher through the R100 SBVS.
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 February 2022
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 23 February 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of recent reports of the third successful
civil damages case for rape, whether it will review the reasons why these cases
were not prosecuted in the criminal courts.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 23 February 2022
