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-25466

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 May 2015
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 19 May 2015

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the outcome of the trial in 2013 that examined the feasibility of moving bulk spirit and other food products between Elgin and Grangemouth by rail, whether the safety benefits that were identified for the A9, A95, A96 and other roads will be taken account of when appraising proposed public investment or grant aid for a regular so-called whisky train service from the north to central Scotland.

The Scottish Government’s Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance requires an assessment of safety benefits as part of the overall appraisal process for transport investment. In addition, safety benefits of transferring freight from road to rail are fully taken into account when assessing applications for funding from the government’s Freight Facilities Grant Scheme.

We are currently refreshing our Rail Freight Strategy, which will include how best to maximise investment in rail freight in Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-25421

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
Date lodged: Friday, 01 May 2015
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 13 May 2015

To ask the Scottish Government when the extra commuter trains between Inverness and Elgin, which were discussed at the Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership board meeting of 10 April 2015, will become operational; what times of day they will operate, and how it will ensure that there will be sufficient (a) train sets available and (b) spare capacity retained at Inverness as contingency cover for breakdowns.

Question reference: S4W-25422

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
Date lodged: Friday, 01 May 2015
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 13 May 2015

To ask the Scottish Government how much double-tracking between Inverness and Nairn, as set in August 2014 in the document, Aberdeen to Inverness Rail Improvements Project GRIP 3 – Phase 1 Enhancements, is to be provided; where it will be laid, and what the timescale is for the work.

Infrastructure improvements for the Aberdeen to Inverness Improvements project, including some double tracking between Inverness and Nairn, will be prioritised for delivery in the next phase of the project (during Control Period 6 2019-24). I can confirm that the Scottish Government is absolutely committed to delivering significant journey time improvements and greater connectivity on the Inverness to Aberdeen corridor, including enhancing services between Inverness and Elgin.

Question reference: S4W-24731

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 March 2015
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 16 March 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take in light of reports of a reduction in the profile of the Gaelic language on the MV Loch Seaforth.

Question reference: S4W-24729

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 March 2015
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 16 March 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what evaluation it has carried out of the effectiveness of its Gaelic language plan; when it will next carry out an evaluation, and who it will consult on this.

In 2013 Bòrd na Gidhlig commissioned FE Scott to carry out an independent study on the delivery of the commitments contained in a number of Gaelic language plans including the Scottish Government. This study found that the Scottish Government was indeed meeting its commitments.

In addition, there is an annual evaluation exercise to Bòrd na Gidhlig carried out by all public bodies that have produced a Gaelic language plan in Scotland. The Scottish Government last reported on progress with the commitments in our plan in September 2014.

Question reference: S4W-24728

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 March 2015
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 12 March 2015

To ask the Scottish Government to what extent it can direct its regulated public bodies to follow its policies.

Question reference: S4W-24693

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
Date lodged: Friday, 27 February 2015
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 12 March 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that mountain rescue services remain properly funded.

The Scottish Government provides annual grant funding to Scottish Mountain Rescue (SMR) of £312,000, to distribute to the 27 voluntary teams across Scotland, and is the only government in the UK to do so. The Scottish Government has taken steps to develop a good working relationship with SMR and assists further, financially, if it is able to meet any additional requests. SMR are grateful for the continued financial support, acknowledging that it goes some way to meeting the cost of delivering Scotland’s world class mountain rescue service.

Question reference: S4W-24692

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
Date lodged: Friday, 27 February 2015
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 10 March 2015

To ask the Scottish Government how many times each of the four weekday trains from Wick was cancelled for all or part of its journey due to (a) track problems including signalling and (b) congestion on the line due to other trains being late in the period from July to December 2014.

There were 13 full or part cancellations reported for the six months 1 July to 31 December 2014 for trains from Wick to Inverness, for the reasons cited in the question. The reported reasons include:

Reason	Number of full or part cancellations
Track defects	1
Power supply failure	2
Other network issue (no further information available)	1
Leaf contamination of railhead	1
Level crossing failures	2
Points failures	1
Radio/telecoms systems	4
Token systems	1

No full or part cancellations were reported because of congestion on the line due to other trains being late.

Question reference: S4W-24588

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
Date lodged: Monday, 23 February 2015
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 6 March 2015

To ask the Scottish Government which (a) paragraphs or (b) sections of the Scottish Ferries Services: Ferries Plan (2013-2022) will form the basis of the 2016 to 2024 contract for Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services.

Question reference: S4W-24584

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Independent
Date lodged: Monday, 23 February 2015
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 6 March 2015

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the estimated value of the contract for a harbour operating agreement on Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services from 2016 to 2024 in terms of (a) contract payments, (b) vessel and infrastructure investment and (c) total annual public subsidy paid by Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd to the successful bidder.

Information on contract payments, vessel and infrastructure investment, and annual public subsidy will form part of tender submissions and considerations. In order not to prejudice bids, this information is considered commercially sensitive until baseline figures for vessel and infrastructure investment are included in the invitation to tender documentation.

Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd. does not provide public subsidy to the operator.