Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S5W-13354

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 December 2017
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 19 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many cubic metres of peat are likely to be extracted as a result of the A9 dualling programme; what quantity of greenhouse gas emissions are likely to be associated with this, and what efforts have been or will be made to mitigate and compensate for these emissions.

Question reference: S5W-13352

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 December 2017
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 19 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what actions Transport Scotland is taking to minimise and mitigate the impact that the A9 dualling programme will have on the natural environment.

Transport Scotland is currently finalising the environmental impact assessment work for the A9 dualling programme. The measures taken to protect the environment are being published in Environmental Statements as project development is completed. An example of a recently published environmental statement can be found here:

https://www.transport.gov.scot/projects/a9-dualling-perth-to-inverness/a9-killiecrankie-to-glen-garry/

Question reference: S5W-13353

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 December 2017
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 19 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many hectares of Scottish Biodiversity List habitats (a) are likely to be lost and (b) likely to experience negative impacts and (c) have been identified for habitat creation to offset or compensate for losses or negative impacts as a result of the A9 dualling programme, broken down by (i) native pinewoods, (ii) blanket bog, (iii) lowland heathland, (iv) upland heathland, (v) lowland raised bog and (vi) coastal and floodplain grazing.

Transport Scotland is currently finalising the environmental impact assessment work for the A9 dualling programme. Once completed, this will be published on Transport Scotland’s website. The measures taken to protect the environment are being published in Environmental Statements as project development is completed. An example of a recently published environmental statement can be found here:

https://www.transport.gov.scot/projects/a9-dualling-perth-to-inverness/a9-killiecrankie-to-glen-garry/

Question reference: S5O-01589

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 December 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has received from local authorities regarding the Draft Budget.

Question reference: S5W-12859

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 5 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government when it will respond to the Audit Scotland report, Transport Scotland’s ferry services.

I gave an initial response on 18 October 2017, the day of the publication of Audit Scotland's report. The link to the statement is as follows:

https://www.transport.gov.scot/news/audit-scotland-report-on-ferries/

In addition, the Chief Executive of Transport Scotland provided a written submission to the Public Audit and Post-legislative Scrutiny (PAPLS) committee. The link to that submission is as follows:

http://www.parliament.scot/S5_Public_Audit/Meeting%20Papers/Agenda_and_Papers_-_23_November_2017.pdf

Transport Scotland’s detailed consideration of Audit Scotland’s report will be informed by the PAPLS committee scrutiny, and the agency will take forward appropriate follow-up action, which will also be subject to review by Audit Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-12860

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 5 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government when it last assessed the number of suitable vessels available on the European charter market for operation on (a) Clyde and Hebrides and (b) Northern Isles ferry services, and what the outcome of this was.

Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) on behalf of the Scottish Government conduct on-going market research regarding suitable vehicle and passenger ferries for the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract. CMAL has assessed the suitability of a number of such vessels including physical and technical inspection of the ferries. However, no suitable and available vessels have been identified to date.

CMAL use their own resources and market knowledge and also have standing arrangements with a number of international ship brokers which provides up to date information concerning vessels that are either available for charter or for sale. The vessel brokers are given specific parameters in order to ensure that there is a full understanding regarding the vessel fit, capacities and operational performance requirements for use on the challenging sea conditions off the coast of Scotland.

Serco NorthLink Ferries Ltd, as operator of the Northern Isles ferry services, regularly conducts assessments of the number of suitable vessels available on the market for dry dock cover for the regular vessels. These assessments are carried out on an on-going basis.

Question reference: S5W-12856

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 5 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Ferry Law Review and the status of the contracts for the (a) Gourock-Dunoon and (b) Northern Isles ferry services.

The Scottish Government will shortly publish an interim report on the emerging findings from the on-going policy review into the future procurement of its subsidised ferry services. The report will include:

implications for the Clyde and Hebrides, Gourock - Dunoon town centre and Northern Isles ferry service contracts;
details of local community and stakeholder engagement, including views on the future approach to be taken on the procurement of each of the three ferry service contracts; and
details of meetings held with the European Commission.

Question reference: S5W-12861

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 5 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) condition and (b) status is of each of Transport Scotland’s operational harbour assets, and when an inspection was last carried out by Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd in each case.

A comprehensive Port Asset condition survey was carried out at all of Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd’s (CMAL) harbour assets during 2015-16. This process is comprehensive and considers all of the structures, both above and below the waterline, and also the other assets, such as, marshalling areas and buildings.

A full Port Asset condition survey is one of a number of tools that are used to ensure the safety and functionality of the facilities under CMAL’s ownership. In addition, CMAL and CalMac (as the ferry service operator) have a regular local inspection, reporting regime and maintenance programme in place at each harbour asset to ensure a safe and serviceable operating facility. All of this is defined within the Harbour Operating Agreement which is in place between CMAL and CalMac.

CMAL have a programme of work in place that details the upgrades and repairs that will be required to ensure that the port facilities remain safe and operational.

Question reference: S5W-12858

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 5 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what stakeholders it has met as part of the Ferry Law Review.

Question reference: S5W-12857

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 5 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many meetings it has had with the European Commission to discuss Scottish public ferry contract policy since 1 June 2016, and on what dates.