Parliamentary questions
Elaine Smith
1,153 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
11 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, following the Stonehaven rail accident on 12 August 2020, what advice it has (a) received, and (b) sought regarding (i) how many and (ii) what proportion of rail infrastructure assets have yet to be inspected and assessed for weather-related infrastructure impacts.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Railway Safety is a matter reserved to the UK Government, and regulated by the UK Office of Rail and Road. The Scottish Government has funded the determination of the ORR for the current regulatory control period. The determination provides an increase in 21%…
11 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent in real terms on protecting Network Rail infrastructure assets from weather-related impacts in each year since 2014, and what budget has been allocated to this for each year of the control period between 2019 and 2024.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Railway Safety is a matter reserved to the UK Government, and regulated by the UK Office of Rail and Road. The Scottish Government has funded the determination of the ORR for the current regulatory control period. The determination provides an increase in 21%…
11 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its assessment is of the impact the £1 billion cut in enhancements announced by the UK Government will have on protecting Network Rail infrastructure assets from weather-related impacts.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The £1 billion cuts decision was taken by the UK Government for its funding of enhancements in England. This decision was taken without consultation with the Scottish Government and will therefore have no effect on current plans for protecting Network Rail in…
11 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information or advice it has received regarding when the two taskforces, set up following the Stonehaven rail accident on 12 August 2021 to examine Networks Rails response to climate change, will report their findings.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Railway Safety is a matter reserved to the UK Government, and regulated by the UK Office of Rail and Road. The Scottish Government has funded the determination of the ORR for the current regulatory control period. The determination provides an increase in 21%…
11 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding the proportion of inspections and works in the last five years in relation to protecting Network Rail infrastructure assets in Scotland that has been undertaken by (a) staff directly employed by Network Rail and (b) staff employed by sub contactors.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Railway Safety is a matter reserved to the UK Government, and regulated by the UK Office of Rail and Road. The Scottish Government has funded the determination of the ORR for the current regulatory control period. The determination provides an increase in 21%…
11 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what advice it has (a) received and (b) sought in the last five years regarding the number of rail infrastructure assets that require work to be undertaken to protect or repair them as a result of weather-related infrastructure impacts; whether any such work has been (i) started and (ii)…
Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-36192 on 23 March 2021 . In addition, Transport Scotland is aware of the ongoing recovery works as a result of land slips in the Largs area which Network Rail advise are progressing well and to programme. Al…
11 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has received regarding whether the area around the Carmont derailment site was deemed to be an area of concern prior to the derailment.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Railway Safety is a matter reserved to the UK Government, and regulated by the UK Office of Rail and Road. The Scottish Government has funded the determination of the ORR for the current regulatory control period. The determination provides an increase in 21%…
11 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding seafarer welfare on drill ships currently moored in the Port of Hunterston.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government has not held discussions with the UK Government regarding seafarer welfare on drill ships currently moored in the Port of Hunterston. Shipping safety and seafarer welfare are matters reserved to the UK Government. Transport Scotland o…
11 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the creation of supply chain jobs from carbon, capture, usage and storage projects off Scotland’s coastline.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government supports the development of carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) as a common whole-system decarbonisation infrastructure with the flexibility to adapt over time to play a central role across the decarbonisation strategies of…
11 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will take steps to ensure that the (a) Energy Skills Alliance and (b) Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council’s Skills Group assess Scotland’s ability to supply trained seafarers to meet increased demand from the offshore renewable energy supply chain.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: My officials are in regular contact with Skills Development Scotland although, as I understand it, there are no immediate, live concerns around Scotland’s ability to meet future demand for seafarers, but I agree this is something that would be important to ke…
11 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its policy is on the use of hydrogen to fuel ferries on publicly subsidised lifeline routes.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The National Transport Strategy Delivery Plan details how we will support the research and development of hydrogen as alternative fuel across the various modes of transport in Scotland. For ferries it is recognised that hydrogen is some way from being cost co…
11 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with (a) the UK Government, (b) trade unions and (c) employers regarding the introduction of an Energy Services Agreement covering workers employed by contractors in the offshore oil and gas sector.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government has not held specific discussions regarding this matter, however we are in regular contact with the UK government to ensure that we can continue to support the sector. For example,the Oil and Gas and Energy Transition Strategic Leaders…
11 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with (a) Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd, (b) CalMac Ferries and (c) Serco NorthLink Ferries regarding the decarbonisation of the ferries sector in line with its targets to reach Net Zero by 2045.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Discussions with all three parties have taken place and are ongoing, and have already yielded results. On the Northern Isles Ferry Service network, the MV Hamnavoe has been fitted with cold ironing equipment that allows the vessel to utilise shore side power …
11 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason trade unions are not included in the Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council’s terms of reference.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: We engage with trade union partners on matters affecting the supply chain and workforce through a number of routes, including in specific discussions focused on supply chain and jobs in the sector. Although the Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council's (SOWEC…
11 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding Crown Estate Scotland’s process for leasing seabed rights to developers of offshore wind projects.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: As planning and consenting authorities we regularly engage with counterparts in the UK Government and The Crown Estate. We have recently liaised with them on offshore wind and the leasing process managed both by The Crown Estate and by Crown Estate Scotland. …
11 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding employment conditions for merchant seafarers working on ferry routes between Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: While the Scottish Government seeks to promote our Fair Work Framework and fair work principles in respect of all ferry services for which we are responsible, we have not held specific, recent discussions with the UK Government regarding employment conditions…
11 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to put the Islands Connectivity Plan out to public consultation.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Public consultation and engagement with stakeholders will be central to the development of the Islands Connectivity Plan and will be undertaken to assist with determining each island’s needs for future transport connectivity. This is anticipated to take place…
11 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Ferry Industry Advisory Group (FIAG) has met since 17 October 2019 and whether it will publish any correspondence it has received since that date from members of the FIAG on policy issues affecting Scottish ferry workers.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The last meeting of the FIAG was held on 17 October 2019. No further meetings have been held due to the focus remaining on the response to COVID, although we continue to engage closely with key stakeholders Membership, Terms of Reference and minutes of meeti…
11 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will include procurement policy for public ferry contracts in the Islands Connectivity Plan.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Island Connectivity Plan will not include procurement policy for future ferry service contracts. It’s focus will be upon establishing the transport connectivity needs of our island communities and how these needs can be met as well as providing greater tr…
11 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in increasing the proportion of young (a) women, and (b) men taking up places on public boards.
Answer · Kate Forbes: There are currently 723 people who have been appointed to public body boards. In line with a target set by the Ethical Standards Commissioner, the Scottish Government collect and report on numbers of public appointees who are aged under 49. As of 15 March 202…
11 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of people who are appointed to public boards, and categorised as a "woman," also have the protected characteristic of gender reassignment, as set out in the Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Act 2018.
Answer · Kate Forbes: As of 15 March 2021 52% of regulated public appointments were held by women, 48% were men. The Public Appointments monitoring system does not hold information about the protected characteristic of gender reassignment. A new monitoring system will be delivered…
11 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in increasing the proportion of (a) women, and (b) men with trade union and workplace representative experience who are appointed to public bodies.
Answer · Kate Forbes: The Public Appointments process or regulated public appointments does not ask or require applicants to declare any previous or current trade union membership. No records are held by the Public Appointments Team as to which current Board members of regulated p…
11 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much (a) Abellio ScotRail and (b) Serco Caledonian Sleeper will receive in management fees for the initial Emergency Measures Agreement period, and whether the operators are permitted to pay a dividend from the fee.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The performance and management fees due to Abellio ScotRail and Serco Caledonian Sleepers Limited under the Emergency Measures Agreements (EMA) in place from April to September have been determined following a full financial reconciliation at the end of 2020.…
11 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what value it places on the role of independent prescribing optometrists in the community and, in light of their role in treating people in their practices instead of in GP surgeries, accident and emergency departments and ophthalmology clinics, what it expects the future structure of…
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Independent Prescriber (IP) community optometrists, as with all community optometry practice staff, are a key and valued part of the frontline NHS workforce and have significantly contributed to the safe management of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. T…
11 Mar 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, to improve understanding of women's experiences of the health and care system, whether it will consider a similar approach to the UK Government, which has issued a call for evidence on this as part of its new women's health strategy.
Answer · Clare Haughey: The Scottish Government’s Programme for Government committed to the development and implementation of a Women’s Health Plan. The aim of the plan will be to reduce women’s health inequalities by raising awareness around women's health and improving access to h…
26 Feb 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Ministerial Working Group on Food will provide an update on the Statement of Policy on Food, and how it will ensure the maximum level of stakeholder engagement in the development and implementation of a national food policy.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Ministerial Working Group met in October 2020 to discuss the development of the non-statutory statement of policy on food. Work on the statement is in the initial stages and has been delayed by Covid-19 and Brexit resourcing issues. Further updates will b…
26 Feb 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made with the review of the extension of free bus travel to under-26s.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Since the original commitment to carry out a review was made Scottish Ministers have gone further and confirmed the extension of free bus travel to approximately 770,000 young people young people under the age of 19. Once the scheme starts, as soon as practic…
26 Feb 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made with its commitment to deliver free bus travel to all under-19s.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The draft National Bus Travel Concession Scheme for Young Persons (Scotland) Order 2021 was laid in Parliament on 21 January and approved on 3 March 2021. This will enable the creation of a new scheme to provide free bus travel to all Scottish residents aged …
26 Feb 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the cost of extending free bus travel to under-26s.
Answer · Michael Matheson: As part of the review on extending concessionary travel across all modes of public transport to those under the age of 26 an assessment framework has been developed to undertake multi-criteria analysis to assess their contribution to delivering the National T…
26 Feb 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the cost of extending free bus travel to people in receipt of benefits because of a low income, including universal credit.
Answer · Michael Matheson: As part of the review on extending concessionary travel across all modes of public transport to those under the age of 26 an assessment framework was developed to undertake multi-criteria analysis to assess their contribution to delivering the National Transp…