- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 February 2015
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 4 March 2015
To ask the Scottish Government what support it can provide to help school leavers stay in employment in the road haulage sector until they are 18 and can apply for a large goods vehicle (LGV) or heavy goods vehicle (HGV) licence.
Answer
An enthusiastic and trained workforce underpins Scotland’s ambition for economic success and our successful Modern Apprenticeship (MA) programme supports this goal by providing individuals with the opportunity to secure industry-recognised qualifications while earning a wage. There are MA opportunities available within the field of transport, specifically in the area of freight logistics and by the end of December 2014 there had been 1,281 new MA starts on this specific framework, with 17% of those being aged 16-19.
However the Scottish Government appreciates that there are a number of issues which concern freight hauliers generally about the recruitment and retention of young drivers, including the minimum age of licenses and insurance premiums. Whilst there is a limit to what the Scottish Government can do in addressing these issues, we are providing assistance to encourage the employment of young people through the support available from Skills Development Scotland and our Youth Employment Scotland Fund.
I am aware that Skills Development Scotland met with the Road Haulage Association in February 2015 to discuss this and other issues for how the industry can meet its current and future skills needs and are due to meet again later in 2015 to discuss progress.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 February 2015
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 4 March 2015
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to make funding for training in the road haulage sector more flexible and to ensure that self-employed people have access to training schemes and support.
Answer
The Scottish Government supports training for small businesses, including those who are self-employed, through our Flexible Training Opportunities, where businesses with up to 100 employees can apply for up to £5,000 towards employee training costs. Funding is available for up to 10 employees per business and the money is an investment in developing higher skills so the employer does not have to pay it back. Managed on our behalf by Skills Development Scotland, the programme will refund up to 50% of each episode of employee training up to a maximum of £500 for each training episode.
Additionally, support may be available for those on low incomes through Individual Learning Accounts to contribute toward the cost of approved employability training.
I am aware that Skills Development Scotland, our national skills body, met with the Road Haulage Association in February 2015 to discuss their current and future skills needs of the industry. This included highlighting the variety of support available and an agreement to meet again later in the year to discuss progress.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 February 2015
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 4 March 2015
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address (a) any shortages in the number and (b) reported ageing profile of drivers in the road haulage sector.
Answer
Skills Development Scotland (SDS), our national skills body, offers a range of services for both individuals and employers. SDS has a dedicated employer helpline and a specific web service, Our Skillsforce, offering help on planning, recruiting and developing a skilled workforce. Our Skillsforce includes support available not only from SDS but also Jobcentre Plus, Scotland’s local authorities and other partners. Specific funding support is available to employers includes:
Modern Apprenticeships (MAs) – a funding contribution towards the cost of training and assessment is available to support work based learning with employed status following an approved MA framework.
Flexible Training Opportunities gives Scottish businesses with up to 100 employees the opportunity to apply for up to £5,000 towards employee training costs.
Additionally the Scottish Government also provides assistance to encourage the employment of young people through our Youth Employment Scotland Fund.
I am aware that Skills Development Scotland, our national skills body, met with the Road Haulage Association in February 2015 to discuss the current and futures skills needs of the industry. This included highlighting the variety of support available and agreeing to meet again later in the year to discuss progress.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 February 2015
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 4 March 2015
To ask the Scottish Government how it will increase (a) awareness of and (b) interest in the road haulage sector among pupils.
Answer
As noted in Developing the Young Workforce – Scotland’s Youth Employment Strategy, we are keen to see employers shape the workforce of the future by helping to develop and deliver young people’s experience of the world of work while at school.
The Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce recommended that the Scottish Government should support the creation of regional industry-led Invest in Youth Groups to provide leadership and a single point of contact to facilitate engagement between employers and education. The groups will develop activity to encourage employers to engage with education, offer work experience and placements and recruit more young people. There will be opportunities for road haulage companies to engage with these groups as they develop.
The Scottish Government is committed to an all age career information, advice and guidance service. Our skills agency Skills Development Scotland delivers a high quality careers service to ensure our young people can better understand the opportunities available within different sectors and supports them to develop their aspirations to make informed learning and career choices.
I am aware that Skills Development Scotland met with the Road Haulage Association in February 2015 to discuss this and other issues for how the industry can meet its current and future skills needs and are due to meet again later in the year to discuss progress.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 February 2015
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 4 March 2015
To ask the Scottish Government how it will support training providers to deliver the appropriate skills and fill the reported skills gap in the road haulage sector.
Answer
I am aware that Skills Development Scotland (SDS), our national skills body, met with the Road Haulage Association (RHA) and Lantra in February 2015 to discuss the current and future skills needs of the industry.
This included a discussion to better understand that scale of the issue in Scotland and on the variety of support already available. The RHA has agreed to consider the information provided at and after that meeting, and to meet with SDS again later in the year to discuss progress. This will highlight any follow up activity needed with training providers in Scotland.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 February 2015
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 4 March 2015
To ask the Scottish Government how it supports the provision of locally accessible maternity scanning services in the Highlands and Islands.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 4 March 2015
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 February 2015
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 25 February 2015
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle agricultural crime.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 25 February 2015
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 February 2015
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 18 February 2015
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent fall in wholesale costs, what representations it has made to (a) liquid petroleum and (b) other gas providers regarding reducing prices charged to consumers.
Answer
I have already written to the chief executives of the major energy suppliers seeking assurance that consumers will feel the benefit of lower oil prices at the earliest opportunity. We have now seen that the ‘big six’ energy companies have all subsequently announced a reduction in their domestic gas prices.
However more needs to be done to ensure that all energy companies, and to specifically include those providers who service customers off the gas grid, do more as these changes do not come quickly enough for customers. The Scottish Government submitted its written evidence to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in December 2014 into its ongoing investigation into the workings of the energy market. We have pledged our support for this investigation, and have urged the CMA to make recommendations for those not well-served by the market without jeopardising competition.
We must have a swift conclusion to the review, and an effective implementation of the CMA’s conclusions – I believe that until the outcome of the report is known, there will continue to be lack of clarity on pricing.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 29 January 2015
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Current Status:
Answered by Derek Mackay on 11 February 2015
To ask the Scottish Government what the full financed cost is of the MV Loch Seaforth and whether it will provide a breakdown of any difference between this and the reported capital cost of £42 million.
Answer
The MV Loch Seaforth was purchased and financed by Lloyds Banking Group whose financial arrangements with the shipyard are commercially confidential.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 29 January 2015
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Current Status:
Answered by Derek Mackay on 11 February 2015
To ask the Scottish Government what the total operational cost is that has been incurred or will be incurred by CalMac that is associated with operating the MV Loch Seaforth until such time as it commences operations on the Ullapool to Stornoway ferry route.
Answer
The total operational cost that has been and forecast to be incurred by CalMac Ferries Ltd for operating the MV Loch Seaforth until it enters service on the Ullapool to Stornoway ferry route is £3.9 million.
