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: S4W-29969

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 February 2016
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 16 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether additional public subsidy will be required for a smart and integrated ticketing system for Clyde and Hebrides ferry services as part of the 2016-24 contract.

Question reference: S4W-29973

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 February 2016
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 16 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how much Serco NorthLink has spent on (a) vessel maintenance, (b) staff training, (c) on-board passenger services, (d) information technology and (e) smart ticketing systems in each year since the start of the current contract for Northern Isles ferry services.

The following table details Serco NorthLink’s expenditure on vessel maintenance, staff training, on-board passenger services, information technology and smart ticketing systems since the current Northern Isles ferry services contract commenced in July 2012:-

	Contract Year 1 (July 2012 to June 2013)	Contract Year 2 (July 2013 to June 2014)	Contract Year 3 (July 2014 to June 2015)
(a) Vessel Maintenance	£1,880k	£2,222k	£3,141k
(b) Staff Training	£74k	£107k	£71k
(c) On-board passenger services	£2,206k	£2,538k	£2,889k
(d) Information Technology	£932k	£1,139k	£750k
(e) Smart Ticketing	Included in (d)	Included in (d)	Included in (d)

Question reference: S4W-30217

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 March 2016
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 15 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how much public subsidy it has taken back since 2006-07 under the current Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract.

The undernoted table shows:

The actual subsidy paid to CalMac Ferries Ltd; and

The value of clawback paid back to Transport Scotland.

		Actual Subsidy (paid)	Clawback
Contract Year 1	Oct 2007 - Sept 2008	£48,990,000	£1,962,000
Contract Year 2	Oct 2008 - Sept 2009	£58,351,000	£3,309,000
Contract Year 3	Oct 2009 - Sept 2010	£58,477,000	£435,000
Contract Year 4	Oct 2010 - Sept 2011	£64,583,000	£1,464,000
Contract Year 5	Oct 2011 - Sept 2012	£73,455,000	£2,819,000
Contract Year 6	Oct 2012 - Sept 2013	£82,295,000	£1,205,000
Contract Year 7	Oct 2013 - Sept 2014	£92,180,000	£1,262,000
Contract Year 8	Oct 2014 - Sept 2015	£116,045,000	£3,975,000

The clawback mechanism enables the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services public service contract to be managed efficiently, by ensuring that the right level of subsidy is paid to the ferry operator each service year and that the operator is not over-compensated for the services that it provides. Any excess payments are returned to the Scottish Government allowing for the proceeds to be reinvested into our vital ferry services. The clawback mechanism is explained in clause 4.5 of the public service contract and can be found on page 33 of the contract at the following link:

http://www.transport.gov.scot/system/files/uploaded_content/documents/tsc_basic_pages/Water/CHFS_contract.pdf.

Question reference: S4W-30219

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 March 2016
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 15 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-27940 by Derek Mackay on 29 October 2015, what the annual expenditure on proposals in Scottish Ferry Services: Ferries Plan (2013-2022) was for (a) Northern Isles and (b) Clyde and Hebrides ferry services.

As stated in the response to question S4W-27940, the costs of the ferries plan proposals are not available in the format requested.

The undernoted table details the actual spend by the Scottish Government in supporting ferry services in financial years 2013-14 and 2014-15. In addition, the current forecast outturn figures for 2015-16 are also outlined.

	2013-14	2014-15	2015-16 (Forecast as at early March 2016)
Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services	£85,522,390	£101,071,419	£112,137,000
Road Equivalent Tariff	£3,889,000	£5,034,000	£10,000,000
Subtotal Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services	£89,411,390	£106,105,419	£122,137,000
Northern Isles Ferry Services	£37,507,196	£35,973,572	£31,660,579

Question reference: S4W-30218

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 March 2016
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 15 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-27940 by Derek Mackay on 29 October 2015, whether it will provide a breakdown of the annual expenditure on piers and harbours and vessels by (a) Northern Isles and (b) Clyde and Hebrides network.

The following table shows the breakdown of piers and harbour and vessel expenditure according to the network they relate to:

	2013-14	2014-15	2015-16 (Forecast as at early March 2016)
Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service	£13,295,693	£20,181,865	£48,097,645
Northern Isles Ferry Service	£0	£14,956	£1,300
Other	£0	£19,500	£20,000
Total	£13,295,693	£20,216,321	£48,118,945

Question reference: S4W-30221

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 March 2016
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 15 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-27940 by Derek Mackay on 29 October 2015, what Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd’s planned expenditure on proposals in the Ferries Plan is for each year from 2015-16 to 2021-22.

Question reference: S4W-30220

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 March 2016
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 15 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-27940 by Derek Mackay on 29 October 2015, what its estimate is of the expenditure on proposals in Scottish Ferry Services: Ferries Plan (2013-2022) for (a) Northern Isles and (b) Clyde and Hebrides ferry services for each year from 2015-16 to 2021-22.

Question reference: S4W-30232

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 March 2016
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 9 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce the reported seven-month waiting list for drivers whose licences have been suspended for medical reasons to be re-tested at the Scottish Driving Assessment Service in Edinburgh.

During 2015 the Scottish Driving Assessment Service (SDAS) experienced long term absence and staff turnover. The recruitment and training of replacement staff takes several months, which has meant that the waiting time for those drivers awaiting assessment for medical reasons has risen to around 28 weeks. The Scottish Government understands that the service is now fully staffed and that a time limited waiting list initiative commenced at the beginning of February 2016 to address the backlog. The service is now able to offer additional appointments each week, and we understand that the waiting time will ultimately reduce to less than 18 weeks. SDAS have assured that these issues are being addressed as a matter of urgency now that the appropriate staffing is in place.

Question reference: S4F-03293

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 07 March 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 March 2016

To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of the RMT-commissioned report on the future of Scottish ferry services.

Question reference: S4W-29854

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 February 2016
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 4 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what progress is being made with the proposal to improve access at (a) Blairhill, (b) Elgin, (c) Hamilton Central, (d) Kilmarnock, (e) Kilwinning and (f) Westerton railway station.

The Scottish Government provides regular updates on the Access for All programme through Transport Scotland who chair the Scottish Rail Accessibility Forum. This forum brings together the Scottish Government, rail industry and organisations representing disabled and other passengers.

The Access for All programme will deliver improved access at a further six Scottish stations by April 2019. The station upgrades are being delivered by Network Rail and progress is being made as follows:

Work has begun on site to construct a new, compliant footbridge served by lifts to both platforms at Elgin. The £2.5 million facilities are expected to be complete and open for use in summer 2016. The existing footbridge will then be removed. These substantial access improvements will compliment wider Scottish Government investment to improve rail services through the £170 million Aberdeen to Inverness Improvement Project.

Work has also begun on site at Blairhill station, to construct a new compliant footbridge served by lifts to both platforms. It is expected work will be complete and the new facilities open before the end of 2016. Proposals to construct a new footbridge, lifts and ticket office at Hamilton Central are at the design stage and works are planned to be completed in 2017.

Network Rail is beginning initial feasibility studies to explore the most suitable access solutions at Kilmarnock, Kilwinning and Westerton stations. It is anticipated works will begin at these stations in 2017.