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-14853

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 23 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 6 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14173 by Humza Yousaf on 15 February 2018, whether it has conducted, or will conduct, assessments on the impact that the current prioritisation of clearing and salting pavements and cycle ways has in relation to (a) gender and (b) poverty.

Question reference: S5W-14850

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 23 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 6 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-13816 by Humza Yousaf on 25 January 2018, when each of the trunk road operating contracts is due to expire and whether it has taken up an option to extend any of these and, if so, by how long.

The operating company (OC) contracts in the SW Unit (Scotland Transerv) and NW Unit (BEAR Scotland) have been extended by approximately

‎ 2 years. Therefore four of the OC contracts (NW, NE, SE and SW Units) are due to expire in August 2020, with the Forth Bridges due to expire in May 2020. These dates are subject to change as they are currently being considered in conjunction with a review of our operational requirements to inform the development of the next generation (5G) of contracts. We expect to have finalised our contract requirements and commenced the 5G procurement competition by the end of 2018.

Question reference: S5W-14852

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 23 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 6 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in preparing a public sector bid for the ScotRail franchise.

Question reference: S5W-14693

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 16 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 6 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government in light of the reported concerns regarding the condition of trunk roads in the Highlands and Islands, what action it is taking to ensure that the contract for maintenance is being followed and is sufficiently robust.

The Trunk Road Operating Company contracts are managed on a day to day basis by Transport Scotland’s Network Maintenance team, with a dedicated Operating Company Manager who oversees a Network North and a Network South branch. Our Network Maintenance staff oversee the work programmes proposed by the Operating Companies and monitor their performance. In addition to day to day management activity, formal monthly performance meetings are held to discuss ongoing Operating Company performance, covering all operational and commercial issues.

The recent prolonged period of difficult winter weather conditions has accelerated deterioration of road surfaces across Scotland. We have been working with our Operating Companies to address these sites and a number of additional route tours (jointly and separately) have been undertaken by senior staff in Transport Scotland and the Operating Companies.

In addition to works which were already programmed for January-March 2018, we have reallocated £6.6 million towards resurfacing the areas of most need across the country. The North West Operating Company unit, which covers the Highlands and Islands area, has seen almost 47% of this reallocated funding, with £3.1 million directed to tackle further road surface issues in this area.

Question reference: S5O-01876

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 02 March 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what discussions it has had with the fund trustees regarding updating the Scottish Parliamentary Pension Scheme’s investment strategy and statement of investment principles, and how it will ensure that the scheme's members are consulted about this.

Question reference: S5W-14581

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 28 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how much profit the operator of North Link Ferries has made in each of the last 10 years.

The Northern Isles Ferry Service Public Service Contract was operated by NorthLink Ferries Ltd, a subsidiary of David MacBrayne Ltd, from 6 July 2006 to 4 July 2012. Their published profit and loss statements can be accessed from the link below; https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/SC027370/filing-history

Following a tender exercise, the contract was then operated by Serco Ltd from 5 July 2012 to the present day. Their published profit and loss statements can be accessed from the link below; https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/00242246/filing-history

Serco Ltd operate under the name Serco NorthLink Ferries, an internal division of Serco Ltd and not a subsidiary company.

Question reference: S5O-01843

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 28 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what provision is in place to support the mental and physical wellbeing of police officers.

Police Officers have access to a wide range of support services when they require advice and assistance in relation to their mental and physical wellbeing.

Police Scotland launched the "Your Wellbeing Matters" scheme, on 18 September 2017, and has introduced "Wellbeing Champions" across the country. These initiatives highlight the support services available to all officers and staff, with the Wellbeing Champions able to provide guidance and advice on how to access the most appropriate service.

Question reference: S5W-14183

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 January 2018
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 27 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what contractual arrangements (a) it and (b) its bodies have with Carillion that relate to the Highlands and Islands region.

Question reference: S5W-14766

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 26 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the comment by VisitScotland in the paper, Adapting the UK to Climate Change, that “wildlife tourism brings much needed income to some of the less affluent regions in Scotland”, what analysis it has conducted on the potential impact of unsustainable development on wildlife tourism.

VisitScotland is not a regulatory body nor a statutory consultee on matters of nature conservation and has therefore has not conducted any research in this area. As a public body however, it is obliged to report on the activity it carries out to support biodiversity every 3 years and VisitScotland will publish its report on the VisitScotland website shortly.

Additionally, VisitScotland recognises that Scotland’s wildlife and natural beauty are a major draw for visitors. The latest Visitor Survey 2015 and 2016, highlights that Scotland’s natural environment, including its wildlife, is the number one reason why people visit Scotland. VisitScotland is committed to safeguarding the assets which draw tourists to Scotland and works closely with businesses, local authorities and government agencies to promote sustainable tourism and ensure that economic development, as a result of tourism, is a positive experience for everyone involved including the local community, tourism businesses and visitors.

Question reference: S5W-14767

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 February 2018
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 26 February 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what steps VisitScotland has taken to develop the conservation of biodiversity, and what progress the agency is making on complying with the biodiversity on all public bodies, which has been set out by the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011.