Chamber and committees

Scottish Ministers are responsible for awarding the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract and Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd. (CMAL) the related harbour operating agreements. Since the current operator of the services (CalMac Ferries Ltd) and CMAL are wholly owned by Scottish Ministers, there are robust arrangements in place to ensure the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services procurement is conducted in a fair and transparent manner.

A Section 75 debt payment falls to an employer if it ceases to employ active members of the Merchant Navy Officers Pension Fund or the CalMac Pension Fund.

If CalMac Ferries Ltd was not the operator of the next Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service contract, and CalMac Ferries Ltd ceased to employ any active member of these schemes, then CalMac Ferries Ltd would face a section 75 debt payment.

As of now, the next Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract will require the successful operator to engage and consult with a range of stakeholders, including local communities and councils, throughout the term of the contract.

Executive Director appointments to the CalMac Ferries Ltd (CFL) Board are made by the David MacBrayne Ltd Board. Other senior management appointments to CFL are made by the CFL Managing Director and his senior team in accordance with the company's recruitment and employment practices.

Scottish Ministers have the responsibility to deliver the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services in the event of operator failure.

As of now, a clawback mechanism will be included in the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract. The clawback mechanism will limit the public subsidy paid to the operator in the event that they make a level of profit beyond that which is considered a reasonable return.

It is the Scottish Rural University College, not the Scottish Government, that is conducting a consultation on their proposed changes to the Disease Surveillance Centre Network.

Scotland’s Rural College is currently conducting a consultation on their proposed changes to the Disease Surveillance Centre Network, and are seeking to determine the most appropriate number and location of centres to ensure it meets their obligations related to the Veterinary Surveillance Programme.

The Scottish Government draws on oral and written legal advice as appropriate from its lawyers, from Counsel, from external solicitors and from Law Officers. However, other than in exceptional circumstances, the Scottish Government does not comment on the source of such advice, and the content of any legal advice remains confidential.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-26110 on 22 June 2015. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx