- Asked by: Alex Johnstone, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 22 November 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 3 December 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the costs of leasing vessels from Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd are included in the £43 million subsidy provided to CalMac Ferries Ltd as of 1 October 2007.
Answer
The cost ofleasing vessels is funded from CalMac Ferries Ltd’s revenue and the blocksubsidy paid by the Scottish Government.
- Asked by: Alex Johnstone, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 September 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 22 October 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-4039 by Stewart Stevenson on 18 September 2007, how much CalMac Ferries Ltd spends per month on harbour operations and harbour management in fulfilling the functions it requires to carry out on behalf of Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd.
Answer
Under the terms of the agreements between CalMac Ferries Ltd (CFL) and Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd(CMAL), relating to the delivery of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS)contract, CFL has paid CMAL, since the start of the contract on 1 October 2007,a harbour access fee of £125,160 per month for access to the CMAL owned harboursrequired to operate the services. This represents an increase from the pre-Octoberfigure of £110,583.33 that was quoted in the reply to S3W-3346. From now on, thefigure is subject to a Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation adjustment each yearon the anniversary of the start of the CHFS contract.
As a further partof the agreements, CMAL pays £117,000 per month to CFL to meet the costs of harbourmaintenance. This figure is also subject to an annual increase.
CFL carry out harbouroperations on behalf of CMAL at CMAL owned harbours as part of the CHFS contract.This activity is funded from CFL’s revenue and the block subsidy paid by the ScottishGovernment.
- Asked by: Alex Johnstone, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 September 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 20 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what further action it can take to encourage local food procurement by schools, hospitals and prisons.
Answer
Work has begun onthe development of a national food policy for Scotland that will reflect the Scottish Government’s strategic objectives. Food procurementin the public sector will be an integral part of that policy. Guidelines on thesupply of food within public services are being revised and will be issued in duecourse.
- Asked by: Alex Johnstone, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 September 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 18 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what fees are paid by Cowal Ferries Ltd for access to Gourock pier.
Answer
Cowal Ferries Ltdare currently paying £400,000 per annum to Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL)for the use of Gourock pier. This comprises three elements namely, the costs ofharbour maintenance, harbour operations and harbour management.
- Asked by: Alex Johnstone, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 September 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 18 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-3346 by Stewart Stevenson on 4 September 2007, whether it will provide a breakdown by harbour and pier of the £110,583.33 per month harbour access fee paid by CalMac Ferries Ltd to Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd and what the equivalent breakdown is for private sector operators.
Answer
The monthly fee paidby Calmac Ferries Ltd is a composite figure that has been calculated to cover allof Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) ports and it does not represent an aggregationof charges for individual ports. Consequently there is no further breakdown availablefor individual ports. This fee is based on the costs of maintaining the ports. Inaddition, CalMac Ferries Ltd meets the costs of harbour operations and harbour management,functions it is required to carry out on behalf of CMAL and the cost of these functionsis not included in the monthly figure of £110,583.33.
Private sector operatorswishing to use CMAL port facilities are free to approach CMAL regarding harbourfees. CMAL are currently reviewing the rates applied by the former Caledonian MacBrayneLtd. CMAL intend to treat all operators who utilise their facilities in an equitablemanner.
- Asked by: Alex Johnstone, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 August 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 4 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what fees are paid by CalMac Ferries Ltd for access to ports and harbours owned and managed by Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd.
Answer
CalMac Ferries Ltdare currently paying £110,583.33 per month to Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd inharbour access fees for the use of the port and harbour facilities owned by CaledonianMaritime Assets Ltd.
- Asked by: Alex Johnstone, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 27 August 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 4 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to allow council tax reductions for single occupancy to be claimed by householders who have partners posted overseas on military service.
Answer
The Scottish Government continues to support work at a UK-levelfollowing the then Prime Minister’s announcement in October 2006 that the UK Governmentwould look into providing support for the council tax costs of service personnelon operations overseas. Discussions between officials from the Department of Communitiesand Local Government and the Ministry of Defence, which also involve officials fromthe Scottish Executive, are on-going.
- Asked by: Alex Johnstone, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 July 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 3 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will formally respond to the recent Sustainable Transport Research and Development Network in the North Sea Region (SUTRANET) report, State Intervention in Scottish Shipping Markets.
Answer
The Scottish Governmenthas noted this report but it is not it’s intention to respond formally to it.
We observe that thereport describes the outcome of a 150 minute workshop attended by five private sectorferry operators, one consultant and an academic.
- Asked by: Alex Johnstone, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 July 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 14 August 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to encourage private sector growth within the Scottish shipping services market.
Answer
The Scottish Governmentwould be willing to consider any proposals from the private sector shipping industrythat would promote growth in the sector.
- Asked by: Alex Johnstone, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 July 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 14 August 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will meet representatives of Highland Council and other relevant local authorities to discuss the findings of the recent Sustainable Transport Research and Development Network in the North Sea Region (SUTRANET) report, State Intervention in Scottish Shipping Markets.
Answer
There have, to date,been no requests for meetings with the Government to discuss this report, or itsfindings. Should such requests be received, the Government would consider them.
