Katy Clark

20 Feb 2024 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will make a long-term commitment to retain the Ardrossan-Brodick ferry service.

7 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether any fire safety documentation, such as a fire strategy report, fire risk assessment, evacuation strategy, fire safety drawings and a fire safety manual, was presented to its Energy and Climate Change Directorate before consent was given to the proposed battery storage facility at…

Answer · Gillian Martin: An application was made to Scottish Ministers under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 by FlexibleGridPower2 Ltd for the electricity generating station known as Hunterston Grid Services Complex at Campbelton Farm on 17 August 2021. The Scottish Governmen…

7 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what fire safety documentation applicants are required to provide when seeking consent for a development from its Energy and Climate Change Directorate.

Answer · Gillian Martin: Applicants are not required to submit any supporting fire safety documentation when seeking consent for a development. This is because fire precautions and matters relating to health and safety are not relevant to planning, as they are covered by other legisl…

7 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any fire safety documentation related to the development of the proposed battery storage facility at Hunterston, North Ayrshire.

Answer · Gillian Martin: An application was made to Scottish Ministers under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 by FlexibleGridPower2 Ltd for the electricity generating station known as Hunterston Grid Services Complex at Campbelton Farm on 17 August 2021. With reference to the …

7 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether any fire safety documentation must be made public when submitted as part of a development application to its Energy and Climate Change Directorate.

Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-25418 on 22 February 2024, applicants are not required to submit any supporting fire safety documentation when seeking consent for a development under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. There is also no l…

7 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether there has been any consultation with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service regarding any potential thermal runaway events at the proposed battery storage facility at Hunterston, North Ayrshire.

Answer · Gillian Martin: An application was made to Scottish Ministers under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 by FlexibleGridPower2 Ltd for the electricity generating station known as Hunterston Grid Services Complex at Campbelton Farm on 17 August 2021. As a matter of routine…

7 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the provision of shoreside recharging facilities for battery-powered ferries at harbours on the Clyde and Hebrides network.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Small Vessel Replacement Programme (SVRP) will see Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) procure up to 10 small vessels across two phases which will serve the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service network. This will provide modern, standardised vessels that ar…

7 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how regularly it receives updates from CMAL regarding the chartering of additional ferries for service on the Clyde and Hebrides network.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government holds regular discussions with Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited on the charter and potential purchase of available and suitable vessels to support and improve services on Scotland’s ferry networks. Discussions also take place with Ca…

7 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many timetabled sailings CalMac has provided with the charter vessel, MV Alfred, since 27 April 2023 to date.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The number of timetabled sailings CalMac has provided with the charter vessel, MV Alfred since 27 April 2023 until 9 February 2024 is 882.  

7 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it was informed by Peel Ports that the Irish Berth at Ardrossan Harbour would be permanently closed to CalMac ferries.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Transport Scotland were informed on 2 February of Peel Ports decision to close the Irish Berth permanently.  

7 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of the potential effect of the closure of the Irish Berth at Ardrossan Harbour on (a) ferry passenger groups and (b) CalMac staff.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: It is for CalMac as operator of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service in the first instance to determine any actions that need to be taken in response to the closure of the Irish berth, maintaining safe links that the communities rely upon. We understand and …

7 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many times the Ardrossan Harbour Task Force has met to date, and what any (a) staffing and (b) resource implications are for Transport Scotland.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Ardrossan Harbour Task Force has met 15 times since it was set up in 2016, the details of these meetings and the Attendees involved can be found on the Transport Scotland website, Ardrossan Harbour Task Force | Transport Scotland . Staff within the Tran…

1 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is taking steps to ensure that the annual payment of a dividend by Ardrossan Harbour Co Ltd to the parent company, Peel Ports, between 2017-18 and 2022-23 is considered as part of the revised business case for the Ardrossan Harbour upgrade.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Harbour dues are charged to CalMac by the Ardrossan Harbour Company Ltd as per the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service contract and the existing and ongoing cost of harbour dues will be factored into the business case. Neither CalMac or Transport Scotland are pa…

1 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-24320 by Neil Gray on 19 January 2024, on what date it anticipates that it will report the outcomes from the business case and cost review exercise for upgrading Ardrossan Harbour.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I wrote to the Ardrossan Task Force on the 27 November 2023 to advise that the business case and cost review exercise for the Ardrossan Harbour project is currently being progressed. Transport Scotland and our project partners continue to make progress in the…

1 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-24320 by Neil Gray on 19 January 2024, what the most recent (a) total cost is of the contract for Hull (i) 801 and (ii) 802 and (b) projected operational date is for Hull 801.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Chief Executive of Ferguson Marine provided the most recent costs for completion of the vessels to the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee in September 2023. The Chief Executive also informed the NZET Committee in January that the estimated total co…

1 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates that CalMac will begin crew familiarisation on the Glen Sannox.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Crew commissioning of the vessel is already under way with senior Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) crew present in the shipyard as the vessel is prepared for operational delivery. Following a period of berthing trials and crew familiarisation the MV Glen Sannox,…

1 Feb 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has received (a) Peel Ports' and (b) North Ayrshire Council’s study of the (i) business case and (ii) cost review exercise for upgrading Ardrossan Harbour.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: North Ayrshire Council recently provided their updated socio-economic appraisal that will be reviewed by officials and used to inform the business case work. Peel Ports Group (PPG), are currently progressing the structural assessments which will help inform a…

31 Jan 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration is being given to increasing the funding settlement for local authorities.

30 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what data it has on cases of intentional paracetamol overdose.

Answer · Maree Todd: Data is not held centrally specifically on intentional paracetamol overdose . However, the following table shows the most recent data on inpatient and day-case admissions to hospital as a result of intentional paracetamol poisoning, which includes overdose ca…

25 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what stage has been reached of its piloted expansion of childcare for two-year-olds.

Answer · Natalie Don: The Scottish Government funds delivery of 1140 hours of high quality funded Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) to all three and four-year-olds and eligible two-year-olds. This entitlement is regardless of the working status of their parents - putting children…

22 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many of the 357 stations that are managed by ScotRail, as at 31 March 2023, have toilet facilities that are (a) available for staff only and (b) open for public and staff use.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: This is an operational matter for ScotRail. The member may wish to contact ScotRail directly.

22 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many of the 357 stations that are managed by ScotRail, as at 31 March 2023, have access to Changing Places toilet facilities, and, of these, how many have restricted hours of access to the facilities based on the hours that the station is staffed.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: This is an operational matter for ScotRail. The Member may wish to contact ScotRail directly.

22 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, of the stations managed by ScotRail that have baby changing facilities and toilet facilities, how many have restricted access to these facilities linked to the hours that the station is staffed.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: This is an operational matter for ScotRail. The member may wish to contact ScotRail directly.

22 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many of the 357 stations that are managed by ScotRail, as at 31 March 2023, have provision for baby changing facilities.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: This is an operational matter for ScotRail. The member may wish to contact ScotRail directly.

22 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the findings of the recent Transport Focus report, What makes for a clean and safe railway. 

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24748 on 2 February 2024. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committ…

22 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work has been done to specifically measure passenger satisfaction with the facilities, including toilet facilities and waiting rooms, in railway stations in Scotland managed by (a) ScotRail and (b) Network Rail.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Transport Focus carries out passenger satisfaction surveys on behalf of all train operating companies on the GB Rail network. In the last survey published in September 2023, ScotRail achieved one of the highest independent passenger satisfaction survey result…

18 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to introduce the proposed Housing Bill outlined in its rented sector strategy, A New Deal for Tenants.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: Our Programme for Government published in September 2023 committed to the introduction of a Housing Bill this parliamentary year. This Bill will deliver our New Deal for Tenants including the introduction of long-term rent controls for the Private Rented Sect…

17 Jan 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to ensure that it meets its affordable homes target by 2032.

16 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any reasons for the proportion of prisoners serving sentences of one year or less increasing by 6% in 2022-23 despite the presumption against short-term sentences.

Answer · Angela Constance: The percentage increase cited above is taken to be from the latest National Statistics on the prison population published in December 2023. These state that “The (average daily) population serving index sentences of one year or less increased by around 6% fro…

15 Jan 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has plans to accelerate its COVID-19 winter booster vaccination roll-out, in light of the recent reported spike in COVID-19 cases.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Case rates are uncertain and vary over time with different social mixing patterns. According to the Winter COVID-19 Infection Study, prevalence of COVID-19 in Scotland showed early signs of decreasing in the two weeks to 3 Jan. Public Health Scotland continu…