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: S4W-16024

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 July 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 22 July 2013

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) pensioners, (b) students and (c) school pupils have used Northern Isles ferry services in each of the last six years.

Question reference: S4W-16026

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 July 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 22 July 2013

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects the judicial review of its procurement for the 2012-18 Northern Isles ferry services contract to be concluded.

Question reference: S4W-16027

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 July 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 22 July 2013

To ask the Scottish Government when it last discussed its fares policy with community groups who use Northern Isles ferry services.

In preparation for the tendering of the 2012-18 Northern Isles ferry services contract, in June 2010, the Scottish Government launched a detailed consultation on all aspects of the Northern Isles ferry services. The views of ferry service users and other stakeholders were sought on a broad range of issues including timetabling, routes and ports and also fares. As part of that consultation exercise, a number of public meetings were held with communities in the Northern Isles.

The consultation elicited over 400 responses from individuals and organisations whose comments were fully considered and influenced the final form of the tendered service specification.

In addition, Ministers and Transport Scotland officials regularly meet with local ferry users in the Northern Isles to discuss a range of policy and operational issues.

Question reference: S4W-16025

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 July 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 22 July 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of the concessionary fare schemes available to (a) pensioners, (b) students and (c) school pupils in (i) 2006-07, (ii) 2007-08, (iii) 2008-09, (iv) 2009-10, (v) 2010-11 and (vi) 2011-12 on Northern Isles ferry services.

The previous Northern Isles ferry services contract operated from 2006 to 2012. While few concessions were specified in the contract, during that period the following fare concessions operated:

Islander discount a 30% discount on passenger and car fares for island residents.

National Concessions a 25% concession to senior citizens, disabled passengers and those in full-time education.

Schools and Community low season passenger fare discount all year round together with 25% discount on cabin accommodation.

Sponsorship programme for local community groups.

Blind Persons Concession: a 100% fare discount for blind people.

Question reference: S4W-16022

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 July 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 22 July 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the extra revenue that Serco will receive in 2013-14 as a result of increases in concessionary fares for (a) pensioners, (b) students and (c) school pupils.

The Scottish Government has made no estimate of projected revenues in relation to concessionary fares.

However, it is important to note that the Northern Isles contract (Volume 1, Section C) includes a tightly defined payments mechanism which guards against any overpayment being made to the operator, Serco NorthLink. Each year, the operator will only be paid the fixed sum set down in the contract’s financial base case. Payment beyond the agreed base case level will only be made where the operator has recorded savings against certain costs.

This mechanism prevents overpayment to the operator and ensures best value for money for the public purse.

Question reference: S4W-16023

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 July 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 22 July 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the extra revenue that Serco will receive over the duration of the Northern Isles ferry services contract as a result of increases in concessionary fares for (a) pensioners, (b) students and (c) school pupils and when the company will next review fare levels.

Question reference: S4W-15498

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 June 2013
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Burgess on 18 June 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that its recently published statistics on house building indicate a potential shortfall in the number of new homes needed to meet demand.

Question reference: S4W-15497

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 June 2013
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Burgess on 18 June 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it will carry out on its building targets for social housing and whether the target to build 6,000 affordable homes will be met in 2013-14.

Question reference: S4W-15267

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 6 June 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether Network Rail can submit bids to Transport Scotland to operate rail passenger services and, if so, what assessment it has made of Network Rail’s capacity to operate such services.

Network Rail would require to be licensed to provide rail passenger services by the Office of Rail Regulation to enable it to bid to operate a rail franchise. The Scottish Government has no reason to expect that Network Rail will wish to bid for rail franchises in Scotland. Any such proposal would give rise to a very wide range of issues for consideration, as under existing legislation the operation of the GB rail network is fundamentally geared towards separation between infrastructure management and the operation of passenger services. This is also consistent with relevant developments in EU law.

Question reference: S4W-15270

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 30 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review the number of testing centres licensing authorities must provide for the testing of (a) taxis and (b) private hire cars.

The number of testing centres a local authority authorises for the testing of taxis and private hire cars is a matter for the local authority. They will consider what system best meets the needs of their local area, taking into consideration the requirements of the licensing regime.

There are no plans for the Scottish Government to review the number of testing centres licensing authorities must provide.