Chamber and committees

We are finalising publication arrangements, and anticipate that the final report into the post-RET commercial vehicle fares impact study will be published shortly.

Information on the relative costs of housebuilding cannot be provided by postcode, because the volume of information is not sufficient for meaningful sub-analysis at this level.

In my reply to question S4W-13438, I explained that each contract specifies the vessels to be deployed and contains detailed provisions for their maintenance and operation.

In the case of the contract between the Scottish Ministers and Argyll Ferries Ltd for the provision of the Gourock-Dunoon Ferry Service:

Part 1, Section 2 (page 47-48) of the Schedule to the contract includes the specification of the vessels (the MV AliCat and MV Banrion Chonamara, renamed the MV Argyll Flyer).

Part 2, Section 2 (page 51-52) of the Schedule to the contract sets out requirements regarding the vessels.

Part 2, Section 5 (page 57) of the Schedule to the contract sets out operational undertakings applying to the contract which include maintenance and operation of the vessels.

A copy of the contract can be found at;

http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/water/ferries/subsidised/gourock-dunoon.

The Masters operate the vessels in accordance with the Safety Management Certificates issued by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, taking cognisance of any individual limitations expressed therein. In addition, Argyll Ferries Ltd have safety management systems which provide further guidance on actions to be taken, or factors to be considered, in various circumstances, including adverse weather.

One member of staff who had an employment contract with Argyll Ferries Ltd took the voluntary severance package.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-13660 on 27 March 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

Argyll Ferries Ltd shall provide the services in accordance with the published timetable except in the event of a Relief Event. There are a number of Relief Events specified in the contract to ensure that the services only operate when it is safe to do so. Cancellations or disruption due to adverse weather, tidal conditions or any other safety factor, outwith Argyll Ferries Ltd’s reasonable control, are permissible Relief Events.

CalMac Ferries Ltd (CFL) will cease paying a Harbour Access Charge to Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) on 30 September 2013 on the expiry of the existing Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services agreements. A new charging agreement will commence on 1 October 2013.

CFL currently pay approximately £1,918,080 per year as a Harbour Access Charge.

Costs of the new agreement are still being finalised between CFL and CMAL but will reflect the costs to CMAL to maintain, operate and provide the necessary capital investment to improve the harbour facilities. The final sum will be broadly in line with CMAL’s published tariff.

The terms of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract between CFL and Transport Scotland state that: “in the event that the Operator receives notice that the dues payable at any Ports shall increase during any Service Year and such increase has not been allowed for in the Base Case of that Service Year either Party shall be entitled to require a Revised Costs Base Case Recalculation for the then current and subsequent Service Years.” Given that, and subject to agreement between Transport Scotland and CFL, it is anticipated that Transport Scotland will recompense CFL should there be any increase in costs.

Not all staff who received a voluntary severance package had employment contracts with Argyll Ferries Ltd.

The reasons for this were set out in the answer to question S4W-13285 on 6 March 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

The Scottish Government analyses the costs of subsidised affordable housing developments at local authority level, with a subdivision of the Highland council area. The most recent figures, shown in the following table, indicate that costs were above the Scotland average in the three Island authorities and a number of other rural authorities. The Scottish Government does not hold regional information on the costs of private housebuilding.