- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 May 2013
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 31 May 2013
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-14021 by Humza Yousaf on 25 April 2013, whether it will consider new guidance for officials dealing with the Government of Qatar to encourage discussion of the imprisonment of the poet, Mohammed al-Ajami.
Answer
We have no plans to issue new guidance at this stage for officials dealing with the Government of Qatar to encourage discussion of the imprisonment of the poet, Mohammed al-Ajami.
The Scottish Government’s International Framework recognises that, as a good global citizen, Scotland has a strong and enduring commitment to securing democracy, the rule of law and fundamental human rights across the world. We expect all states to comply with international and human rights law, and we condemn human rights abuses wherever they occur.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 May 2013
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 31 May 2013
To ask the Scottish Government what independent advisors have been involved in the (a) creation and (b) calculation of the road equivalent tariff scheme.
Answer
Halcrow Group Ltd and MVA Consultancy Ltd have been involved in providing independent advice to the Scottish Government in the creation and calculation of the RET scheme.
Halcrow Group Ltd were commissioned by the Scottish Government and prepared the following reports:
Road Equivalent Tariff Study – Stage 1 Phase 1 Report – October 2007
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/935/0061363.pdf
Road Equivalent Tariff Study – Stage 1 Phase 2 Report – February 2008
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/935/0061364.pdf
Road Equivalent Tariff Study – Stage 1 Phase 3 Report – Impact Analysis – February 2008
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/935/0061365.pdf
Road Equivalent Tariff Study – Stage 1 Phase 4 Report – Pilot Study – February 2008
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/935/0061366.pdf
Assessment of the Road Equivalent Tariff Pilot – July 2011
http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/files/documents/water/ferries/Assessment_of_the_Impacts_of_the_RET_Pilot_-_Final_Report.pdf
MVA Consultancy Ltd were commissioned by Scottish Government and prepared the following report;
Impact of the Removal of RET Fares from Commercial Vehicles on The Western Isles, Coll and Tiree – May 2013
http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/strategy-and-research/publications-and-consultations/j264768-00.htm.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 May 2013
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 31 May 2013
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-14017 by Humza Yousaf on 25 April 2013, whether ministers have provided specific guidance to officials on dealing with ministers and officials from the Government of Qatar in addition to the Civil Service Code and, if so, whether such guidance includes reference to the imprisonment of the poet, Mohammed al-Ajami.
Answer
I refer back to my answer to question S4W-14017. Officials adhere to the Civil Service Code when engaging with government officials from other countries. No specific guidance to officials on dealing with ministers and officials from the Government of Qatar and reference to the imprisonment of the poet, Mohammed al-Ajami has been issued.
The Scottish Government’s International Framework recognises that, as a good global citizen, Scotland has a strong and enduring commitment to securing democracy, the rule of law and fundamental human rights across the world. We expect all states to comply with international and human rights law, and we condemn human rights abuses wherever they occur.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 May 2013
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 31 May 2013
To ask the Scottish Government how many road equivalent tariff fares have been collected on each ferry route in each year since the scheme began.
Answer
Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) for all carrying types was introduced as a pilot on routes to the Western Isles, Coll and Tiree on 19 October 2008. RET for larger commercial vehicles was however, withdrawn from April 2012. RET was continued for passengers, cars, small commercial vehicles and coaches on this route on a permanent basis. RET was rolled out as a pilot to Islay, Colonsay and Gigha from October 2012.
The annual carrying statistics split by passenger and type of vehicle on a route by route basis are available on the CalMac Ferries Limited website. The information can be accessed by following the attached link
http://www.calmac.co.uk/corporate-calmac/carrying-statistics.htm.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 May 2013
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 31 May 2013
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-14019 by Humza Yousaf on 25 April 2013, whether the imprisonment of the poet, Mohammed al-Ajami, has arisen in dialogue with the Government of Qatar.
Answer
Further to the answer to S4W-14019 I can confirm that the imprisonment of the poet, Mohammed al-Ajami has not arisen in dialogue with the Government of Qatar.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 May 2013
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 31 May 2013
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-14020 by Humza Yousaf on 25 April 2013, whether ministers have set out parameters to officials on discussion of the imprisonment of the poet, Mohammed al-Ajami, with ministers and officials from the Government of Qatar.
Answer
No parameters have been set out by Ministers for officials regarding their discussion of the imprisonment of the poet, Mohammed al-Ajami with ministers and officials from the Government of Qatar. The Scottish Government’s International Framework recognises that, as a good global citizen, Scotland has a strong and enduring commitment to securing democracy, the rule of law and fundamental human rights across the world. We expect all states to comply with international and human rights law, and we condemn human rights abuses wherever they occur.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 May 2013
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 31 May 2013
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Advertising Standards Authority regarding its findings in relation to Calmac Ferries Ltd.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-14939 on 31 May 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.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 May 2013
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 31 May 2013
To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors the (a) fairness, (b) usage and (c) success of the road equivalent tariff scheme and how regularly.
Answer
Substantial monitoring and evaluation was carried out by independent consultants Halcrow Group Limited during the period of the Road Equivalent Tariff pilot in the Western Isles, Coll and Tiree. Halcrow produced their ‘Assessment of the Impacts of the Road Equivalent Tariff Pilot’ report in July 2011. That report was published by Transport Scotland and a copy of the report can be accessed by following the attached link
http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/files/documents/water/ferries/Assessment_of_the_Impacts_of_the_RET_Pilot_-_Final_Report.pdf
A further independent report produced by MVA Consultancy Ltd on the ‘Impact of the Removal of RET Fares from Commercial Vehicles on The Western Isles, Coll and Tiree’ was published by Transport Scotland in April 2013 and can be accessed by following the attached link
http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/strategy-and-research/publications-and-consultations/j264768-00.htm
RET has been made a permanent feature on services to the Western Isles, Coll and Tiree, and a further RET pilot was rolled out on services to Islay, Colonsay and Gigha in October 2012. Evaluation of this pilot will take place prior to the roll-out of RET to Arran in October 2014, and to all West Coast and Clyde islands within the term of this Parliament.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 May 2013
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 31 May 2013
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-14018 by Humza Yousaf on 25 April 2013, whether ministers have been updated on dialogue between Scottish Government officials and officials and ministers from the Government of Qatar in the last six months and, if so, whether such updates have included discussion of the imprisonment of the poet, Mohammed al-Ajami.
Answer
Officials from the Scottish Government were in contact with officials and ministers from the Government of Qatar in November and December 2012 to make the necessary logistical arrangements for the Minister’s meeting with His Excellency Mr Khalid Rashid Al-Mansouri KCVO, Qatar Embassy in London. Following this, officials have been in contact with the Qatar Embassy in London in April and May. The focus of these discussions has been the preparations for the Minister’s attendance at the Doha Form 20 – 22 May. No updates have included reference to the imprisonment of poet, Mohammed al-Ajami.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 20 May 2013
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 30 May 2013
To ask the Scottish Government how the recently-agreed discard ban will apply to fishing vessels using gillnets in Scottish coastal waters.
Answer
The details of the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), including the discard ban, have not been agreed between the European Council and the European Parliament. However, the clear intention of both the Council and the Parliament is that a discard ban shall be introduced and shall apply to all fishing vessels in waters of any EU Member State regardless of fishing method.
