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-19370

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 24 January 2014
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 4 February 2014

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications there were to the Town Centre Housing Fund and how many came from (a) private sector bodies, (b) housing associations, (c) other landlords and (d) local authorities in the Highlands and Islands region.

The Scottish Government received 25 applications for the Town Centre Housing Fund, two of which were from Highlands and Islands region. Of those applications from the Highlands and Islands region, one was from the Hebridean Housing Partnership and the other from a private developer. Neither application was successful in obtaining funding.

The breakdown of applications requested is included below:

Summary of Town Centre Housing Fund Applications

Private Sector bodies	5
Housing Associations	6
Other landlords	14
Highland and Islands local authorities	0

Question reference: S4F-01878

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 03 February 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 February 2014

To ask the First Minister what steps beyond minimum pricing the Scottish Government will take to tackle alcohol misuse.

Question reference: S4W-19265

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 January 2014
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 29 January 2014

To ask the Scottish Government when the Scottish Cosmetic Interventions Expert Group will report on setting up a feasibility study on a breast implant register.

Question reference: S4W-19190

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 13 January 2014
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 23 January 2014

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-18946 by Roseanna Cunningham on 10 January 2014, what priorities and objectives it has set for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

Question reference: S4W-19066

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 January 2014
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 16 January 2014

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will request that the Department of Health include Scotland in the proposed registration scheme for breast implant surgery or plans to implement its own scheme.

Question reference: S4W-19033

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 20 December 2013
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 15 January 2014

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the independent investigation into the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde IT failure not establishing "the exact root cause", whether it has established the cause of the failure and what its position is on the effectiveness of the proposals for future prevention.

The source of the information, communications and technology incident at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde was Active Directory, but the specific root cause of the original corruption of data has yet to be determined. The supplier of Active Directory is monitoring for a similar incident worldwide which could lead to a specific remedy and closure. Recommendations from the review of the incident are being implemented. This will mean that, even if a rare incident like this should reoccur, the time taken to deal with it and the impact on services will be much reduced.

Question reference: S4W-19031

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 20 December 2013
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 14 January 2014

To ask the Scottish Government whether the financial position of the company, Charteris, will have an impact on NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde's IT systems.

The financial position of Charteris is not relevant to the overall effectiveness of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s IT Systems. The reason for this is that this company is just one of a number of IT service providers that are engaged to support a range of systems (alongside permanent internal ICT professionals in Greater Glasgow and Clyde). In light of recommendations from the review of the recent incident, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has put in place additional arrangements (including commercial contracts) that reduces its dependency on Charteris.

Question reference: S4W-19087

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 January 2014
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 14 January 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what discounted rates are available for commercial traffic using CalMac Ferries; on which routes these discounts apply; what the eligibility criteria are; what companies are eligible and how much they can save; what companies have applied for discounts, and whether details of these discounts are publicly available.

The information requested is set out in Table 1.

Table 1:

Discount	ApplicableRoutes	Eligibility Criteria	What Companies are Eligible?	How much can be saved?	Are details publicly available?
Live Seafood Transport	RET Routes	Vehicles over 6.0m used for the conveyance of live shellfish are permitted to travel free in one direction when empty (except for pier dues where applicable)	No restriction	The cost of a single ticket for the commercial vehicle and driver on the chosen route. Actual value depends on the route and length of vehicle.	Not published, but available on enquiry and applied on day of travel to customers meeting the eligibility criteria.
Hay Lorries	RET Routes	When empty, they are carried free of charge (except for pier dues where applicable).	No restriction	The cost of a single ticket for the commercial vehicle and driver on the chosen route. Actual value depends on the route and length of vehicle.	Not published, but available on enquiry and applied on day of travel to customers meeting the eligibility criteria.
Hay Lorries	Non RET Routes	Provided the lorry is returning empty there is a 50% discount on both outward and return journeys. Where a cattle float containing hay or straw is travelling to the island to uplift animals and will be paying the full commercial rate on the return journey then the outward journey will be charged at 50% of the commercial rate.	No restriction	Up to 50% discount on a return trip.	Not published, but available on enquiry and applied on day of travel to customers meeting the eligibility criteria.
Livestock Floats (including horse transporters)	All Routes	When empty, they are carried free of charge (except for pier dues, where applicable).	No restriction	The cost of a single ticket for the commercial vehicle and driver on the chosen route. Actual value depends on the route and length of vehicle.	Not published, but available on enquiry and applied on day of travel to customers meeting the eligibility criteria.
Livestock Floats (including horse transporters) Headage Rate Only	All Routes	If a float is travelling to uplift animals or making a return journey having carried animals in the other leg and would normally be empty, it is permitted to carry cattle or sheep at the headage rate. Up to 12m – 5 cattle or 30 sheep Over 12m – 10 cattle or 50 sheep.	No restriction	Actual cost depends on the number of beasts being transported. Saving therefore depends on length of vehicle, route and the number of beasts being transported.	Not published, but available on enquiry and applied on day of travel to customers meeting the eligibility criteria.
Farm Tractors (towing wheeled implements)	All Routes	Towing wheeled implements other than trailers, travelling from an island for repair and then returning to the island, only the implement should be charged.	No restriction	The cost of a single ticket for the tractor and driver on the chosen route. Actual value depends on the route and length of vehicle.	Not published, but available on enquiry and applied on day of travel to customers meeting the eligibility criteria.
Farm Tractors	All Routes	Tractors travelling alone (i.e. not towing) should be charged the appropriate motorhome rate.	No restriction	Depends on route and length of vehicle.	Not published, but available on enquiry and applied on day of travel to customers meeting the eligibility criteria.
Traders Rebate Scheme	All Routes -with the exception of routes that formed part of the original RET pilot, namely Ullapool– Stornoway, Uig–Tarbert/Lochmaddy, Oban–Castlebay/Lochboisdale, plus the Mallaig-Lochboisdale winter pilot.	The rebate is calculated on the basis of a numeral which relates to the commercial vehicle operator's annual estimated future turnover and proposed number of journeys. It is calculated on a route by route basis for all operators. The rebates are on a scale from 2.5% up to 15%. Moreover, qualifying commercial customers must agree to settle their account with CalMac Ferries by due dates in accordance with payment terms. Rebates reviewed quarterly and adjusted if required.	Companies must hold a credit account with CalMac and have their application to join the scheme approved.	Up to 15% discount.	Yes. Basic information about the scheme is published on CalMac’s company website. (http://www.calmac.co.uk/commercial-vehicles/rebate-scheme.htm) See list below in Table 2 of the companies that have successfully applied for Traders Rebate Scheme.
Overnight Sailings	Ullapool-Stornoway Only	10% reduction applied to overnight freight sailings	No restrictions	10% off of the normal cost. Actual amount dependent on length of vehicle.	Yes. Available online and in CalMac’s printed Commercial Vehicle Rates leaflet

The companies that have successfully applied for the Traders Rebate Scheme in the last financial year are set out in Table 2.

Table 2:

Company	Route
Arran Haulage Services Ltd	Ardrossan/Brodick
Bute Fabrics Ltd	Wemyss Bay/Rothesay
CM Black	Colintraive/Rhubodach
Carntyne Transport Co	Kennacraig/Islay
Comhairle Nan Eilean Sair	Berneray Leverburgh
Comhairle Nan Eilean Sair	Ardmhor/Eriskay
Fraser Woodrow	Kennacraig/Islay
John MacLachlan	Oban/Craignure
John McKirdy	Wemyss Bay/Rothesay
John McKirdy	Colintraive/Rhubodach
Murchies Sand & Gravel	Ardrossan/Brodick
B Mundell Ltd	Kennacraig/Islay
Peter McKerrel & Co Ltd	Wemyss Bay/Rothesay
North Ayrshire Council Environment and Roads	Ardrossan/Brodick Largs/Cumbrae
North Ayrshire Council Environment and Roads	Colintraive/Rhubodach Ardrossan/Brodick
Shanks	Ardrossan/Brodick
Certas Energy UK Ltd	Oban/Craignure
John Thomson Construction Ltd TSL Contractors Ltd	Fishnish/Lochaline

Question reference: S4W-18947

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 16 December 2013
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 10 January 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it provides to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to ensure that, through its structures and practices, it engages fully with communities across the Highlands and Islands.

The Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 (as amended) confers a duty to participate in community planning on the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), and sets out at Section 41J(2)(c) that this duty must be delegated to the designated Local Senior Officer for each local authority area.

Section 41E of the Act sets out the content and process for preparing local fire and rescue plans. Local plans for each of Scotland’s 32 local authorities are currently open for public consultation and can be accessed through the SFRS website www.firescotland.gov.uk.

In addition, the Fire and Rescue Framework for Scotland 2013 sets out priorities and objectives for SFRS to have regard to in the carrying out of its functions, as detailed in Section 40 of the Act. The Fire Framework has a strong focus on the strengthened connection between SFRS and local communities.

Question reference: S4W-18948

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 16 December 2013
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 10 January 2014

To ask the Scottish Government on what basis it would refer part or all of the report, Property Estate - Strategic Intent, back to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.