Questions and answers

Question reference: S4W-28573

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 November 2015
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 1 December 2015

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will seek different arrangements to those set out in the UK Government's summer budget announcement that government subsidies will be paid to train operating companies rather than Network Rail.

Question reference: S4W-28460

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 16 November 2015
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 1 December 2015

To ask the Scottish Government how many da Vinci surgical systems for use in the treatment of prostate cancer there are, broken by NHS board area.

The robot assisted surgery service based at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, is not yet fully up and running as surgeons are still in training. The service is expected to become fully operational in January 2016, primarily for patients from the north of Scotland.

However, any man who is deemed clinically appropriate for robot assisted surgery for prostate cancer should be able to access the robot in Aberdeen, should they choose to do so, regardless of where in Scotland they live.

With the assistance of a £1 million capital contribution from the Scottish Government, a further robot assisted surgery service, based at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, is expected to be fully operational by summer 2016.

NHS Lothian has also been offered £1 million capital to support the introduction of a third robot assisted surgery service in the east of Scotland within the next two years.

Question reference: S4W-28523

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 November 2015
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 30 November 2015

To ask the Scottish Government on what date it will publish its plans regarding air passenger duty that were referred to in the transport section of its legislative programme.

Question reference: S4W-28294

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 November 2015
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 12 November 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what vessel will be deployed on the Mallaig to Armadale service when the Coruisk is removed from this route and whether it will be of a similar age and capacity as the Coruisk.

Question reference: S4W-28148

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 October 2015
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 10 November 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions Transport Scotland officials have had with representatives of the Electoral Commission since 1 July 2012.

Question reference: S4T-01160

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 09 November 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 November 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Loganair regarding safety, reliability and maintenance.

Question reference: S4W-27996

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 12 October 2015
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Burgess on 9 November 2015

To ask the Scottish Government whether the results of the 2014 cost-benefit analysis of the installation of fire suppression systems in new-build houses, flats, houses in multiple occupation and halls of residence have been published and, if so, where.

Question reference: S4W-28137

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 October 2015
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 5 November 2015

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-27326 by Derek Mackay on 16 September 2015, whether it will list the local stakeholders it has had discussions with regarding the chartering arrangements for vessels in the next contract for Northern Isles ferry services.

I announced on 13 August 2015, during my visit to Shetland, that a comprehensive study of the Northern Isles ferry services would be carried out to inform the tender process for the next contract, due to commence in 2018. Vessel availability for the next contract will be one of the issues considered as part of the study.

We are in the process of commissioning an external consultant to undertake this study. In our invitation to tender we make clear that vessels should be considered as part of the study, and that detailed engagement with appropriate key stakeholders is required. A key stakeholder working group involving Orkney Islands Council, Shetland Islands Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, HITRANS, ZetTrans and Transport Scotland will be established to oversee this study.

Question reference: S4W-28139

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 October 2015
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 5 November 2015

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ensure that there are no differences in the timetable for the (a) invitation for and (b) submission of further interim tenders for the (i) ferry services and (ii) harbour operation component of the 2016-24 contract for Clyde and Hebrides ferry services and whether it will bring forward the date of the invitation to submit a final tender.

S4W-28139

Derek Mackay: After delays in issuing the initial invitation to tender, to allow full engagement with trade union interests following industrial action this summer, and after discussion with both bidders, a revised timetable has been put in place:

Tender	Invitation from Transport Scotland	Submission by Tenderers
Initial	31 July 2015	21 September 2015
Interim	2 November 2015	4 January 2016
Final	15 February 2016	7 March 2016

To meet the requirements of a complex procurement exercise and ensure the continued provision of the Clyde and Hebrides lifeline ferry services from 1 October 2016, the procurement timeline currently anticipates the award of contract to be announced at the end of May 2016.

Question reference: S4W-28149

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 October 2015
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 5 November 2015

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-27326 by Derek Mackay on 16 September 2015, what consultation it undertook with (a) local stakeholders and (b) trade unions in reaching the policy decision laid out in Scottish Ferry Services: Ferries Plan (2013-2022) to continue the Northern Isles vessel charter arrangement with RBS for another contract period from 2018.

As indicated in the answer to question S4W-27326 we are discussing that possibility with RBS, but no policy decisions have been taken at this stage.

I announced on 13 August 2015, during my visit to Shetland, that a comprehensive study of the Northern Isles ferry services would be carried out to inform the tender process for the next contract, due to commence in 2018. Vessel availability for the next contract will be one of the issues considered as part of that study.

Chamber and committees