Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-26213

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 November 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 14 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what investment will be required to grow the district nursing workforce in line with its commitment to deliver more healthcare in the community.

The Scottish Government is presently giving serious consideration of what investment is required to reflect the District Nursing Short Life Nursing Group recommended growth for the service based on the current service skills mix. In addition the Government has already committed to investing £3.9 million in the funding of District Nurse training to aid sustainability and growth within the service.

Question reference: S5O-03797

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 November 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to reports that around 58,000 children will not be eligible for the Scottish Child Payment benefit when they turn six.

Question reference: S5W-26100

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 01 November 2019
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 13 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether the tender process for the next contract for Northern Isles Ferry Services has been concluded, and what plans it has to update the Parliament on this issue.

Serco Ltd were announced as the preferred bidder for the Northern Isles Ferry Services contract on 21 September 2019. The tender process will end when the contract is formally awarded and signed by the preferred bidder.

The current contract for the Northern Isles Ferry Services has been extended until 31 January 2020. This should allow sufficient time to complete the formal tender process for the award of the next contract, complete mobilisation of that contract and resolve the outstanding correspondence with the European Commission about Pentland Ferries' State aid complaint.

Parliament will be updated further when these activities have been completed.

Question reference: S5W-25791

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 October 2019
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 12 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the impact of the Brexit process on the Ferry Services Procurement Policy Review in Scotland.

The Scottish Government’s position on the Brexit process is set out in the Interim report - Emerging findings report published on 20 December 2017. This report makes clear that the legal framework for the procurement of ferry services is substantially based on European law, particularly State aid rules. The Scottish Government is therefore required to continue to make decisions on the future approach to the procurement of ferry services within the context of the prevailing legal framework.

The Scottish Government is opposed to Scotland being dragged out of the European Union against the wishes of the 62% of voters that voted to Remain in the EU, but if that unwanted situation occurs, it is anticipated that the future legal framework would continue to reflect many aspects of the current legislative requirements relevant to the procurement of ferry services.

Therefore, in the event of Brexit proceeding, the Scottish Government will continue its engagement with the UK Government on the implications of Brexit on Scotland’s future, including a framework for ferry contracts.

Question reference: S5W-25789

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 October 2019
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 8 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-25471 by Paul Wheelhouse on 3 October 2019, what the next steps are in its Ferry Services Procurement Policy Review, including the (a) legal, (b) policy and (c) financial workstreams.

We need to satisfy ourselves and the European Commission that a direct award to an in-house operator would be lawful under Teckal and the State aid rules. The next steps in the Ferry Services Procurement Policy Review are set out in our Interim Report - Emerging findings published on 20 December 2017.

Humza Yousaf’s Statement to Parliament of 24 May 2018 confirmed that the Scottish Ministers would tender the Northern Isles Ferry services and continue to build a case for making a direct award to an in-house operator that satisfies both the application of the Teckal exemption and the State aid rules well in advance of the existing Clyde and Hebrides contract ending in 2024.

In the intervening period, our priority has been focused on tendering the Northern Isles Ferry Services and continued engagement with the European Commission about Pentland Ferries' State aid and RET complaints. The current Northern Isles Ferry Service contract has been extended by 3 months, from 31 October 2019 until 31 January 2020, to allow for conclusion of outstanding correspondence with the European Commission.

Question reference: S5W-25790

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 October 2019
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 8 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken in relation to its Ferry Services Procurement Policy Review since the publication of emerging findings on 20 December 2017.

Humza Yousaf’s Statement to Parliament of 24 May 2018 confirmed that the Scottish Ministers would tender the Northern Isles Ferry Services and continue to build a case for making a direct award to an in-house operator that satisfies both the application of the Teckal exemption and the State aid rules well in advance of the existing Clyde and Hebrides contract ending in 2024.

In the intervening period, our priority has been focused on tendering the Northern Isles Ferry Services and continued engagement with the European Commission about Pentland Ferries' State aid and RET complaints. The current Northern Isles Ferry Service contract has been extended by 3 months, from 31 October 2019 until 31 January 2020, to allow for conclusion of outstanding correspondence with the European Commission.

Question reference: S5W-25788

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 October 2019
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 8 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-25471 by Paul Wheelhouse on 3 October 2019, on what dates it last corresponded with the (a) European Commission and (b) RMT regarding using a Teckal exemption to take public contracts for lifeline ferry services permanently in-house, and whether it will publish the most recent correspondence with the European Commission on this matter.

Following publication of the interim report on the future approach to the procurement of ferry services on 20 December 2017 Interim Report - Emerging Findings Humza Yousaf, then Minister for Transport and the Islands, sent a letter to the European Commission’s Transport Commissioner on 24 January 2018. The Commission replied on 23 February 2018. Both letters were placed in the Scottish Parliament’s Information Centre.

I meet regularly with the STUC and ferry unions, including the RMT. The last meeting took place 10 September 2019. The RMT can raise ferry-related issues at those meetings, including the Scottish Government’s approach to the Teckal exemption.

Humza Yousaf’s Statement to Parliament of 24 May 2018 confirmed that the Scottish Ministers would tender the Northern Isles Ferry services and continue to build a case for making a direct award to an in-house operator that satisfies both the application of the Teckal exemption and the State aid rules well in advance of the existing Clyde and Hebrides contract ending in 2024.

In the intervening period, our priority has been focused on tendering the Northern Isles Ferry Services and continued engagement with the European Commission about Pentland Ferries' State aid and RET complaints. The current Northern Isles Ferry Service contract has been extended by 3 months, from 31 October 2019 until 31 January 2020, to allow for conclusion of outstanding correspondence with the European Commission.

Question reference: S5O-03754

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 November 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government about the replacement of European Structural Funds support after Brexit.

Question reference: S5W-25786

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 October 2019
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 1 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what its policy is on replacing the fleet of small and large ferries operated by Orkney Ferries before the publication of a revised Ferries Plan in 2022-23.

At present, as a result of decisions taken prior to the reconvening of the Scottish parliament in 1999, Orkney Islands Council (OIC) are, and remain, wholly responsible for the inter-island ferry services which they provide. Consequently, OIC currently remain wholly responsible for their vessels and their replacement.

However, the Scottish Government understands the significant financial challenges that can fall on individual local authorities and we have made clear our commitment to Orkney internal ferry services with the provision of additional funding to OIC totalling £10.8m in the last two years, comprised of £5.5m in 2018-19 and £5.3m in 2019-20.

Transport Scotland, on behalf of Scottish Ministers, continue to discuss long term solutions with both OIC and Shetland Islands Council (SIC) now we are in receipt of the final report from the working group we established to examine the issues. The remit of this group included the preparation of Outline Business Cases (OBC) prepared by both councils and I received presentations of the emerging findings; the full set of revenue and capital OBCs from the two councils is awaited.

Question reference: S5W-25787

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 October 2019
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 31 October 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-25290 by Paul Wheelhouse on 3 October 2019, whether it will list the fare structures and discounts that were in place for passengers on the (a) Scrabster-Stromness and (b) Aberdeen-Kirkwall route on 30 June 2018, and what subsequent changes have been made.

Chamber and committees