Parliamentary questions
Katy Clark
746 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
15 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government to what extent the Community Needs Assessment of ferry services on the Clyde and Hebrides network will take account of employment and training opportunities at CalMac Ferries.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The community needs assessment process is focussed on identifying communities needs for travel. However, the procurement process for the next CHFS contract will consider potential community benefits including employment and training opportunities .
15 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) value and (b) duration is of each contract that it has signed with Ernst and Young in connection with the Scottish ferries network since 1 January 2015.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The value and duration of the contracts the Scottish Government has signed with Ernst & Young in connection with the Scottish ferries network since 1 January 2015 are listed below: Project Neptune - £156,000 – 2021-2022 Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services: Fi…
15 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) value and (b) duration is of each contract that it currently holds with (i) Mott MacDonald and (ii) BMT for (A) infrastructure and (B) vessel design work in connection with the Scottish ferries network.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government does not currently have infrastructure or vessel design contracts with either company; Mott MacDonald or BMT; that is overseen or is directly managed by Transport Scotland, however both companies are used by Caledonian Maritime Assets …
15 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05360 by Graeme Dey on 21 January 2022, on what date it expects to issue a draft of the Islands Connectivity Plan for consultation.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: We aim to publish a draft of the Islands Connectivity Plan for consultation by the end of the 2022.
11 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-01341 by Maree Todd on 26 July 2021, whether it will commit to continuing to provide free-of-charge lateral flow tests, and what scientific advice it has received regarding when regular testing will no longer be necessary.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: It is important, in line with the principle of healthcare being free at the point of use, that lateral flow device (LFD) tests should remain free of charge for any circumstance in which testing is required as part of clinical care. The COVID-19 Strategic Fra…
10 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when the Project Neptune review of ferry governance will be published.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-06031 on 28 February 2022 which provides an update on publication of the Project Neptune report. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility fo…
7 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Network Rail regarding any proposed staff reductions in Scotland.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Transport Scotland has not held any discussions with Network Rail on proposed staff reductions in Scotland. Network Rail advise that UK wide it has undertaken two rounds of an industry special Voluntary Severance Scheme, focused on management grades where it…
7 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of any staff reductions by Network Rail on rail services in Scotland.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government is not aware of any staff reductions that would impact upon rail services in Scotland. The member may wish to contact the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) as the safety and economic regulator of Scotland’s railway.
7 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of any reductions to the maintenance budget by Network Rail on rail services in Scotland.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: There has been no assessment of impact on services as there has been no reduction to Network Rail’s maintenance budget in Scotland.
7 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Network Rail regarding any reductions to the maintenance budget in Scotland.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: During the Covid pandemic Network Rail and Transport Scotland examined ways where efficiency savings could be made. There has been no reduction to the maintenance budget in Scotland.
3 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the provision of full fibre broadband across the KA24 postcode area in North Ayrshire.
Answer · Kate Forbes: There are a total of 3,374 properties in the KA24 postcode area. As of 11 February 2022:3,061 properties are already able to access superfast broadband speeds of 30 Megabits per second (Mbps) or above and, therefore, are not included within build plans for th…
31 Jan 2022 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will give a commitment to keep ferry services in public ownership.
26 Jan 2022 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how its policies across government will support people living in the West Scotland region to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
25 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent consultations it has held with stakeholders regarding the Arran ferry timetable.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: We continue to engage extensively with the Arran Ferry Committee on timetable matters through the twice yearly timetable consultation process, which has recently concluded with regard to the Winter 2022 timetable, and additionally through the Ardrossan Task F…
25 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-02968 by Graeme Dey on 28 September, when it anticipates it will publish provisional findings from the Ernst & Young review of the ferry network.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The final report by Ernst & Young has now been received and Transport Scotland and Ministers are currently taking time to consider the review findings. I have already committed to inform parliament on publication of the report and planned next steps and inten…
25 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what work has been done to increase standardisation of ferries, since the publication of its Infrastructure Investment Plan for Scotland 2021-22 to 2025-26.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Work to increase standardisation since the Scottish Government’s Infrastructure Investment Plan for Scotland 2021-22 to 2025-26 was published, can be seen in the announced Invitation to Tender (17 December 2021) for two new ferries for Islay and the continuin…
25 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Cal Mac Ferries regarding the Arran ferry timetable.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: We continue to engage extensively with CalMac Ferries Ltd on a regular basis concerning timetables, and through the twice yearly timetable consultation process. As part of the Ardrossan project; Transport Scotland continues to meet with and provide support t…
20 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of how many items of PPE in the Scottish Government's national stockpile cannot be used by health workers because the items have passed their expiry date.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The following items were in the national stockpile, but have now been removed due to their expired shelf life:FFP3 masks (individual masks) – 509,890Hand sanitiser (litres) - 87,912 It is important to note that all of the listed FFP3 masks are from the origi…
19 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to publish the methodology supplied to local authorities regarding carbon dioxide monitoring in schools.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government’s guidance on reducing risks in schools, which is published on the Scottish Government website, sets out the advice that local authorities should have regard to when undertaking CO2 monitoring in schools. This includes guidelines as to…
19 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what research it has carried out on the effectiveness of HEPA filters in reducing COVID-19 transmission rates in schools.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Our guidance for schools is informed by expert advice from bodies including SAGE and the Health and Safety Executive, which indicates that air cleaning/filtration devices, such as HEPA filters, should never be used as a substitute for efforts to improve venti…
19 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with teaching unions regarding ventilation in schools.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Ventilation in schools is a regular topic of discussion at the COVID-19 Education Recovery Group and the COSLA Workforce Issues Group. In addition, on 12 January 2022, the COSLA Spokesperson for Children and Young People Councillor Stephen McCabe and I issu…
19 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the use of HEPA filters in school classrooms.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Expert advice from bodies including SAGE and the Health and Safety Executive indicates that air cleaning/filtration devices, such as HEPA filters, are not a substitute for efforts to improve ventilation in order to mitigate against the risks of COVID. Our gui…
11 Jan 2022 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its discussions with the UK Government regarding people in Afghanistan seeking resettlement in the UK who could be relocated in Scotland if they already have existing family connections, including in relation to correspondence from MSPs on this matter.
10 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Amnesty International report, Amazon, let workers unionize! Respect for workers’ rights is not a choice, regarding the issuing of legal notices to trade union organisers attempting to recruit members at Amazon facilities in the UK.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government expects employees in all workplaces to be treated fairly and is doing everything it can to drive up employment standards and promote Fair Work practices, including effective worker voice, with the powers available to us. We continue t…
10 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last discussed fair work practices, including the rights of workers to join trade unions, with Amazon.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Minister for Higher Education, Further Education, Youth Employment and Training met with Amazon on 2 September 2021. In his previous role as Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills he met Amazon on several occasions to discuss Fair Work issues, emphas…
10 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many public sector tenders were awarded to Amazon in the financial year 2020-21, and what the overall value of those tenders was.
Answer · Ivan McKee: Following a search of the information held on the Public Contracts Scotland (PCS) portal, there have been no contracts awarded to Amazon during financial year 2020-21 by any Scottish Public buying organisation. This information is already in the public domain…
10 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reports of fair work criteria not being applied to the evaluation of bids that resulted in NHS Education for Scotland awarding a contract to Amazon in May 2021.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: It is a matter for each individual Public Body to decide how to address Fair Work First in their procurement processes, with decisions being taken on a procurement-by-procurement basis. In accordance with guidance issued by the Scottish Government bodies are …
10 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recommendations in the Amnesty International report, Amazon, let workers unionize! Respect for workers’ rights is not a choice.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government agrees with Amnesty International on the importance of meeting international human rights law and standards, and welcomes the recommendations in the report. Both public authorities and private enterprises have a responsibility to ensur…
10 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people with National Referral Mechanism (NRM) reasonable grounds or NRM conclusive grounds, supported under section 9 or section 10 of the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Act 2015, were being housed in asylum accommodation (a) in each year between 2016-17 and 2020-…
Answer · Ash Regan: Support under section 9 or section 10 of the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Act 2015 was placed on a statutory footing on 1 April 2018. This can include accommodation, assistance with day to day living, medical advice and treatment, language tr…
22 Dec 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether retail businesses are currently being advised to enforce social distancing of at least (a) one metre or (b) two metres.
Answer · Tom Arthur: Businesses should have regard to guidance and to take reasonable steps to slow and limit the spread of COVID-19. Our guidance includes encouraging and supporting customers to keep a safe distance from each other and highlights the World Health Organisation re…