- Asked by: Mike Rumbles, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 September 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 11 October 2018
To ask the Scottish Government how much resurfacing work is required on the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR), and whether this will delay the opening of the road to traffic.
Answer
As part of the robust quality management system on AWPR, a number of minor defects have been identified in the surfacing. This is not unusual in projects of this nature and the repairs will be undertaken by the contractor at no cost to the public purse. Keith Brown MSP, the then Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work, updated the REC Committee in March 2018 updating them on project progress and indicating that the road would open in late Autumn and I am pleased to say the contractor remains on target to do so.
- Asked by: Mike Rumbles, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 September 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Derek Mackay on 2 October 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported concerns regarding the recruitment of former regulators into industry, and what action it takes and contractual arrangements it has in place to prevent (a) conflicts of interest arising and (b) the new employers being given an unfair advantage from hiring the former regulators.
Answer
Individuals have the right to seek new employment. It is the responsibility of the individual public body to establish what measures may be appropriate to manage the transition to a new employer, within the terms of the individual’s contract where the move is to a regulated business or an organisation with which an individual has had a professional or regulatory relationship.
- Asked by: Mike Rumbles, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 01 October 2018
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 2 October 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with ScotRail and Police Scotland regarding arrangements for the League Cup semi-finals.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 2 October 2018
- Asked by: Mike Rumbles, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 September 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 26 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the effectiveness of the powers that SEPA has to available to warn, censure and penalise polluters and other environmental offenders.
Answer
SEPA has a range of powers including statutory notices, final warning letters and the option of referral to the Procurator Fiscal in the most significant cases. Since 2016, SEPA has been implementing new powers which include monetary penalties and enforcement undertakings which have enabled more proportionate and flexible enforcement action focused on changing behaviours and promoting a preventive approach.
- Asked by: Mike Rumbles, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 September 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 25 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the appointment of a former SEPA compliance officer to the post of director of sustainability at the Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation.
Answer
Individuals have the right to seek new employment. It is for SEPA to agree what measures may be appropriate to manage the transition to a new employer, within the terms of the individual’s contract, where the move is to a regulated business or an organisation with which an individual has had a professional or regulatory relationship. In this case the individual has ceased working on matters related to aquaculture with immediate effect.
- Asked by: Mike Rumbles, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 17 August 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 20 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports in the Press and Journal on 16 August 2018 that 4G coverage is poor for many households in the Highlands and Islands, when it expects to reach 100% coverage of 4G (a) indoors and (b) outdoors across the whole of Scotland.
Answer
Telecoms is a reserved issue and Ofcom and the UK Government are responsible for setting national mobile coverage targets and the coverage obligations imposed on mobile network operators. No 100% coverage targets have been set by the UK Government or regulator for either (a) indoor or (b) outdoor coverage. However, Ofcom earlier this year reported that each mobile network operator’s 2017 geographic coverage to reach 90% UK landmass for voice coverage and O2’s 4G licence obligation (98% 4G premises coverage UK, 95% in Scotland) had been met.
The Scottish Government has recently awarded the contract for the Scottish 4G Infill (S4GI) Programme in recognition of the failure of the UK-wide regulations model to deliver 4G services across much of Scotland. Backed by to £25 million of Scottish Government and public funding, S4GI will deliver future-proofed, 4G infrastructure to selected mobile ‘not-spots’ across Scotland over the four years to 2021-22. A deployment plan is being developed in conjunction with the supplier and this information will be made available as soon as possible.
While the Scottish Government is intervening on economic development grounds to increase 4G access through our £25 million S4GI Programme, the most effective means of improving geographic coverage of 4G services would be for Ofcom to ensure any future spectrum auctions are better designed in future to ensure coverage is maximised through ambitious coverage obligations that ensure that rural Scotland is not left behind.
- Asked by: Mike Rumbles, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 17 August 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 20 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports in the Press and Journal on 16 August 2018 that 4G coverage is poor for many households in the Highlands and Islands, whether it will provide a schedule of works planned to improve coverage across Scotland.
Answer
Telecoms is a reserved issue and Ofcom and the UK Government are responsible for setting national mobile coverage targets and the coverage obligations imposed on mobile network operators. No 100% coverage targets have been set by the UK Government or regulator for either (a) indoor or (b) outdoor coverage. However, Ofcom earlier this year reported that each mobile network operator’s 2017 geographic coverage to reach 90% UK landmass for voice coverage and O2’s 4G licence obligation (98% 4G premises coverage UK, 95% in Scotland) had been met.
The Scottish Government has recently awarded the contract for the Scottish 4G Infill (S4GI) Programme in recognition of the failure of the UK-wide regulations model to deliver 4G services across much of Scotland. Backed by to £25 million of Scottish Government and public funding, S4GI will deliver future-proofed, 4G infrastructure to selected mobile ‘not-spots’ across Scotland over the four years to 2021/22. A deployment plan is being developed in conjunction with the supplier and this information will be made available as soon as possible.
While the Scottish Government is intervening on economic development grounds to increase 4G access through our £25 million S4GI Programme, the most effective means of improving geographic coverage of 4G services would be for Ofcom to ensure any future spectrum auctions are better designed in future to ensure coverage is maximised through ambitious coverage obligations that ensure that rural Scotland is not left behind.
- Asked by: Mike Rumbles, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 September 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 20 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government when the environment secretary last met representatives of Montrose Port Authority, and when she next plans to meet the authority.
Answer
I met officials from Angus Council, The Montrose Golf Club and the Montrose Port Authority in August 2017. This gave me the opportunity to listen to their concerns.
Since then Angus Council has commissioned a flood study for Montrose to identify options to manage flooding and coastal erosion in a coordinated way. The study will conclude in July 2019. It is important to learn from this study and not implement measures that might exacerbate erosion in the area. The Council is working with local stakeholders throughout this process.
The Scottish Government's Dynamic Coast project team will also work with stakeholders to develop a coastal adaptation plan for Montrose.
- Asked by: Mike Rumbles, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 17 August 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 19 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports in the Press and Journal on 16 August 2018 that 4G coverage is poor for many households in the Highlands and Islands, what its position is on whether improving 4G coverage for rural and remote communities should be a priority for investment.
Answer
Despite being a 'reserved issue', and, therefore, the legal and responsibility of UK Ministers the UK Government currently lacks a coherent plan to improve mobile coverage beyond the areas that will be served by commercial rollout. This means many rural and remote communities in Scotland lose out at present. The Scottish Government has therefore shown the leadership that has been lacking from UK Ministers. We are working to extend the reach of 4G in Scotland through our ground-breaking Mobile Action Plan, which includes the Scottish 4G Infill (S4GI) Programme. Backed by to £25 million of Scottish Government and public funding, S4GI will deliver future-proofed, 4G infrastructure to selected mobile ‘not-spots’ across Scotland over the four years to 2021-22.
However, public sector investment is just one part of improving rural coverage. Ofcom also has a vital role to play, for example by setting stringent coverage obligations on future spectrum releases.
- Asked by: Mike Rumbles, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 September 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 18 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of a number of recent road accidents on a stretch of the A90/Newtonhill junction, involving vehicles leaving the carriageway and colliding with roadside ornaments, what action is it taking to prevent future accidents and the possible injury or death of road users.
Answer
Road safety is of paramount importance to the Scottish Government. The A90 at Newtonhill has been considered in our recent annual assessment of trunk road safety performance and has not been identified as an area for further investigation. There has been one recorded personal injury accident on the A90 in the vicinity of Newtonhill junction within the last three years up to 7 May 2018 involving a vehicle leaving the carriageway. The Police are not required to record damage only accidents.
