Katy Clark

20 Jul 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to ensure that crew members on the MV Arrow are paid in line with the collective bargaining agreements that are in place between CalMac and the recognised trade unions on Clyde and Hebrides ferry services.

Answer · Graeme Dey: Collective bargaining agreements are a matter for CalMac Ferries Ltd, its employees and the recognised trades unions. The crew of the MV Arrow are employed by the vessel owner, Seatruck Ferries Ltd. During discussion to “time charter” the MV Arrow, it was est…

9 Jul 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on Ferguson Marine’s contribution to the HySeas III project.

Answer · Ivan McKee: Ferguson Marine are no longer involved in the HySeas III project. Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) have however joined the consortium as a new partner to carry out the review of existing work and design a ferry, from the statement of requirements through…

9 Jul 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made by the HySeas III project in developing a hydrogen-powered ferry, and by what date it expects the subsequent delivery of (a) vessels and (b) infrastructure development on the public ferry network as a result of this.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The HySeas III project is the third development stage of the research programme and will build on the first two stages by demonstrating that hydrogen fuel cells can be successfully integrated with a marine hybrid electric drive system (electric propulsion, co…

30 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many meetings senior officials representing (a) Transport Scotland, and (b) Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd have had with representatives of Pentland Ferries since January 2019, and whether it will set out the (i) topics of discussion and (ii) attendees at each meeting.

Answer · Graeme Dey: Senior Transport Scotland Ferries Unit officials have met specifically with representatives of Pentland Ferries five times since January 2019. Four of these were to discuss Covid financial impacts on Pentland Ferries and one was to discuss work seeking to im…

30 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what provisions it has made in the 2016-24 contract for Clyde and Hebrides services for transporting emergency service (a) vehicles and (b) personnel on lifeline routes, in the event of a reduction in fleet (i) capacity or (ii) resilience.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The terms of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS) contract, requires the operator to ensure lifeline support to the emergency services is available when required. This includes during periods of disruption, or if capacity is restrained such as during …

30 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the performance recorded for 2020 against the Employee Voice indicator in the National Performance Framework includes workers across all sectors of the transport industry.

Answer · John Swinney: The Employee Voice indicator in the National Performance Framework draws on data from the Labour Force Survey (LFS), which is run by the Office for National Statistics. This is the largest household study in the UK and provides the official measures of employ…

30 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the owner of Pentland Ferries, regarding the Fair Work Framework.

Answer · Graeme Dey: Employee pay and conditions are the responsibility of Pentland Ferries in relation to its ferry operation. We have not held any discussions with them on this matter.    

30 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last measured its public procurement policies in the ferries sector against the National Performance Framework, and what the outcomes were in each category.

Answer · Graeme Dey: Transport Scotland’s Procurement Strategy plays a key role in achieving Transport Scotland’s Vision to create a sustainable, inclusive, safe and accessible transport system, which in turn will help to deliver a healthier, fairer and more prosperous Scotland f…

30 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to ensure that the time chartering of ferries for publicly subsidised routes is consistent with the commitment made in the Fair Work: action plan to increase the number of workers covered by collective bargaining.

Answer · Graeme Dey: Whilst the Scottish Government supports and encourages employers to pay the National Living Wage as well as employees’ rights, collective bargaining agreements are a matter for CalMac and Northern Ferries, its employees and the recognised trades unions.    

29 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to discussions with the (a) Maritime and Coastguard Agency and (b) vessel’s owner, whether it will provide an update on the safety of the MV Pentalina for operation on Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service routes.

Answer · Graeme Dey: A business decision has been taken by the owners of the MV Pentalina to withdraw the availability of the vessel for charter. Neither CalMac Ferries Ltd or the Scottish Government would charter a vessel that was not certified to operate in Scottish waters. Ach…

25 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) seafarers and (b) offshore workers have been required to enter managed isolation facilities on return to Scotland for a period of leave, after working outside the UK, since 1 January 2021.

Answer · Michael Matheson: We do not capture data on the profession of travellers entering Managed Isolation. In certain circumstances, seafarers and offshore workers can be exempt from entering Managed Isolation. Sectoral exemptions are set out in the International Travel (Scotland) …

25 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken since March 2021 to ensure that (a) seafarers and (b) offshore workers returning directly to Scotland for a period of leave, after working outside the UK, receive assistance from employers to meet the costs of complying with COVID-19 restrictions and requirements.

Answer · Michael Matheson: International travel restrictions are important in limiting the importation of further cases of the virus, in particular new variants, which could undermine the rollout of our vaccine programme. Exemptions to self-isolation requirements have been granted for …

25 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to lifting the requirements on (a) seafarers and (b) offshore workers to enter managed isolation when returning directly to Scotland for a period of leave after working outside the UK.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Travel for non-essential purposes has been permitted since 17 May following the introduction of the traffic light system. This meant that only those returning to Scotland after having been in a red list country in the previous 10 days had to enter managed iso…

15 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Scotland regarding the price that people arriving in Scotland are being charged for PCR tests, compared to people arriving in England.

Answer · Maree Todd: Travellers returning to Scotland from green and amber list countries must use the NHS tests, which can be booked through the UK Government’s booking portal for international travel. These kits are home test PCR kits provided by NHS Test & Trace. NHS Scotland…

15 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government upon which scientific evidence it has based its decision to restrict travellers arriving from green and amber list countries to purchasing NHS test kits.

Answer · Maree Todd: Travellers arriving into Scotland from green and amber list countries must use the NHS tests, which can be booked through the UK Government’s booking portal for international travel. These kits are home test PCR kits provided by NHS Test & Trace. Travellers …

15 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last had discussions with (a) airport, (b) airline operators, regarding the cost of PCR tests for those entering Scotland from green and amber list countries.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government has remained engaged with the aviation sector throughout the pandemic and will continue to do so, including on testing of international travellers. Travellers returning from green and amber list countries must use the NHS tests, which…

15 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work has been done to quantify the reliability of PCR test kits that can be bought privately.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government is investigating potential options to ensure that consumers and the wider public can have confidence in the reliability of private PCR tests. We have issued guidance for employers on setting up private testing programmes…

1 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its assessment is of the impact of the Ferries Plan 2013-22 on the resilience of publicly subsidised ferry services.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The Ferries Plan (2013-2022) published in 2012, following a 4-year review, set out the Scottish Government’s strategic approach for the provision and support of ferry services to 2022. It has led to increased frequencies and capacities on numerous routes, red…

1 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd, (b) CalMac Ferries, (c) passenger groups and (d) trade unions regarding the chartering of additional vessels to operate on routes set out in the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services contract.

Answer · Graeme Dey: Transport Scotland have regular operational discussions with CMAL, CalMac and Serco which include consideration of existing and potential operational capacity. They also engage regularly with passenger groups and trade unions. We are actively exploring opport…

1 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide guarantees that any new vessels chartered to work on publicly subsidised routes, set out in the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services contract, will be covered by the existing collective bargaining agreements with trade unions that are recognised by CalMac Ferries.

Answer · Graeme Dey: Collective bargaining agreements are a matter for the relevant employer and employees. The employer in each case would depend on the type of charter entered into. If a vessel is chartered on a ‘bare boat’ basis and crewed by CalMac staff then existing contrac…

1 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when Transport Scotland first considered chartering the MV Pentalina for service on routes set out in the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services contract.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The chartering of the MV Pentalina was considered in late 2019 when it became surplus to Pentland Ferries requirements with the introduction of their new vessel. At that point however the proposed charter terms would not allow the vessel to be meaningfully de…

1 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its discussions with Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd on the procurement of the next generation of ferries on the Clyde and Hebrides network.

Answer · Graeme Dey: Transport Scotland officials meet regularly with their counterparts at Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) and CalMac Ferries Ltd to discuss future investment in vessels and harbours for the Clyde and Hebrides network, primarily but not exclusively at a for…

1 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what additional costs (a) it and (b) the operator will incur if additional vessels are chartered to cover prolonged periods of service disruption as set out in the current contract for Clyde and Hebrides ferry services.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The cost incurred due to disruptions, including potential charter of any additional tonnage, if available, would depend on the time over which vessels were chartered for and under which conditions. We are actively exploring opportunities for chartering additi…

1 Jun 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what cross-government action it is taking to ensure that island communities are protected from the effects of disruption to lifeline services.

25 May 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish a list of all publicly-owned companies in Scotland.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The National Public Bodies Directory provides information on all Scottish Government public bodies, including those bodies constituted as limited companies. The directory was last updated on 26 January 2021. The Scottish Government Consolidated Accounts also…

25 May 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on all care homes, including those in the charitable and third sectors that are currently exempt, being subject to and required to comply with freedom of information requests.

Answer · George Adam: The Scottish Government carried out a public consultation in late 2019 to gather views on the future use of Scottish Ministers' powers under section 5 of FOISA to extend coverage of the Act. We published our analysis of consultation responses in March 2020 an…