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-12853

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 29 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government when it was informed by (a) the UK Government and (b) Streamline Shipping regarding the withdrawal of private maritime freight capacity between the mainland and the Northern Isles.

The Scottish Government was not informed by the UK Government of Streamline Shipping Group’s commercial decision to cease the operation of the MV Daroja. Streamline Shipping Group advised the Scottish Government of its decision to likely withdraw the MV Daroja on 8 June 2017, thereafter relying wholly on the subsidised ferry services provided under contract by Serco NorthLink Ferries. Leading up to, and following this decision, Transport Scotland officials have been in dialogue with representatives of Streamline Shipping Group and Serco NorthLink Ferries.

Question reference: S5W-12850

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 29 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what assurances it has received from Serco NorthLink regarding the capacity of roll-on roll-off maritime freight services between the mainland and the Northern Isles over winter 2017-18.

Since 2012 Serco NorthLink Ferries has effectively managed freight services to and from the Northern Isles in line with the Northern Isles Ferry Services public service contract. The operator provides Transport Scotland officials with regular detailed capacity analysis based on previous carryings. Serco NorthLink Ferries also present Transport Scotland with forecast volumes and performance updates on the capacity of its freight services during monthly contract management meetings, with recent meetings focussing on winter 2017-18 operations.

Question reference: S5W-12852

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 29 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what replacement roll-on roll-off freight capacity for the MV Helliar is being chartered by Serco NorthLink.

Question reference: S5W-12855

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 29 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what the Serco NorthLink dry-docking schedule is for its (a) passenger and (b) freight fleet on the Northern Isles Ferry Service contract, including for charter vessels.

The Northern Isles Ferry Service public service contract allows for scheduled unavailability due to the necessary dry docking of all vessels. Dates of recent and future dry-docking for passenger and freight vessels are included within the following table;

a) Ro-Pax Vessels

Vessel	Date
MV Hjaltland	06-02-14 – 19-02-14
MV Hjaltland	08-01-17 – 26-01-17
MV Hrossey	27-02-14 – 14-03-14
MV Hrossey	06-03-17 – 25-03-17
MV Hamnavoe	07-01-14 – 22-01-14
MV Hamnavoe	29-02-16 – 15-03-16
MV Hamnavoe	TBC *

*Date to be confirmed by the operator following confirmation of yard availability.

b) Freight Vessels

Vessel	Date
MV Hildasay	06-05-17 – 18-05-17
MV Helliar	31-10-17 – 29-11-17

Arrangements are made for chartered vessels to provide cover during periods of scheduled unavailability due to the dry docking of vessels.

Question reference: S5W-12849

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 29 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Streamline Shipping, and on what occasions maritime freight services between the mainland and the Northern Isles were discussed.

There has been correspondence and meetings over a prolonged period between Transport Scotland officials and representatives of Streamline Shipping Group. Transport Scotland officials most recently met Streamline Shipping Group on 10 November 2017 to discuss freight services provided in the Northern Isles Ferry Services Contract. During discussions, Streamline Shipping Group offered to provide their view on potential maritime freight service provision on ferry services to the Northern Isles for Transport Scotland to consider.

Question reference: S5W-12854

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 29 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) publicly contracted and (b) private maritime freight vessels operate between the mainland and the Northern Isles.

Under the Northern Isles Ferry Service public service contract, Serco NorthLink Ferries operate two dedicated freight vessels to and from the Northern Isles with some freight additionally carried on the three Ro-Pax vessels. One private maritime Ro-Pax vessel also carries freight across the Pentland Firth.

There are other freight vessels operating on a charter basis serving the Northern Isles, however details of these vessels are not held by the Scottish Government.

Freight volumes across Scotland are included within chapter 9 of the Scottish Transport Statistics publication and can be found at the attached link.

https://www.transport.gov.scot/publication/scottish-transport-statistics-no-35-2016-edition/SCT01171871341-12

Question reference: S5W-12851

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 29 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been made of the additional annual (a) revenue and (b) freight traffic on Northern Isles Ferry Services that could result from Streamline Shipping’s decision to release the MV Daroja from charter on routes between Aberdeen and Kirkwall and Lerwick.

A full appraisal of the revenue and freight traffic will be conducted at the end of the current contract year. This is normal procedure in line with the Northern Isles Ferry Services public service contract. This includes freight carryings and information from all customers, including Streamline Shipping Group. This and other detailed information is discussed by Transport Scotland officials and Serco NorthLink Ferries during monthly contract management meetings. Serco NorthLink Ferries also routinely present freight analysis direct to the industry and to various public forums.

Question reference: S5W-12807

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 17 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 27 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider creating a post of Road Safety Minister.

Question reference: S5O-01487

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 November 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its position on whether there should be a pedestrian and vehicle ferry service between Gourock and Dunoon town centres.

Question reference: S5W-11980

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 14 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made with Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd’s order of hybrid-fuel ferries from Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd for service on the (a) Arran and Uig triangle and on (b) Clyde and Hebrides service, and by what date the ferries will be operational.