Elaine Smith

10 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress each local authority is making in providing increased social housing to support women and children leaving domestic abuse situations, broken down by the proportion being delivered by (a) the council and (b) registered social landlords.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government does not monitor or hold information on how local authorities and RSLs allocate social housing properties to women and children leaving domestic abuse situations. The Scottish Government recognises the importance of ensuring that vict…

10 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many lone parents have been assisted in obtaining secure residential housing through Rural and Islands Housing Fund support.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government does not hold information on the number of lone parents assisted in securing housing through the Rural and Islands Housing Funds.

10 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the Draft Budget proposals take account of evidence regarding disproportionate impacts on groups that has been recorded by equality impact assessments.

Answer · Angela Constance: The equality assessment of the budget is presented in an Equality Budget Statement (EBS), published every year since 2009 alongside the Scottish Draft Budget. It is a systematic approach to assessing the impact on equality groups of policy proposals and budge…

27 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent proposals it has received from Network Rail regarding (a) the maintenance of and (b) operational efficiencies on routes in Scotland.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Network Rail’s Scotland Route strategic business plan for CP6 was submitted to the Office of Rail and Road on 08 December 2017. This contains details of Network Rail's operational policies.

27 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what shortages of signalling and telecoms coverage has been reported on Scotland's rail routes in each of the last five years.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. The Office of Rail and Road, as independent regulator, assess and monitor Network Rail's performance and publish regular Network Rail Scotland Monitor reports. These are available on the ORR's website at…

27 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what proposals it has made to Network Rail regarding signalling and telecoms coverage in control period 6.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government published its HLOS in July 2017 setting out high level outputs for Network Rail, and the rail industry, to achieve in rail control period 6 (2019-2024). This will be reflected in Network Rail’s operational plans alongside their licence…

27 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact Network Rail’s efficiencies for signalling and telecoms coverage had on routes in Scotland over control period 5, and how this compared with control period 4.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-13052 on 12 December 2017. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentar…

27 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the level of signalling and telecoms coverage provided by Network Rail on routes in Scotland in each of the last five years.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Ensuring that the Scottish rail network is operational and safe is primarily a matter for Network Rail, in accordance with their regulatory licence requirements. This is monitored by the Office of Rail and Road and the Scottish Government would not make such …

27 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Abellio ScotRail has submitted any claims for amelioration of effects from industrial action under its franchise agreement.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Abellio ScotRail made a claim for amelioration following strike action in July and August 2016. That claim was rejected by Scottish Ministers.

27 Nov 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid disorders.

22 Nov 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on public sector bodies being required to equality proof major decisions.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) (Scotland) Regulations 2012 require the majority of public sector bodies in Scotland to assess the impact of their policies or practices against the requirements of the Equality Act 2010, and to publish the results of t…

6 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of all cases in which the Lord Advocate has used discretionary powers under Section 6 of the Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths etc. (Scotland) Act 2016 to launch fatal accident investigations in cases where people who were ordinarily resident in Scotla…

Answer · James Wolffe QC: The Inquiries into Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths etc. (Scotland) Act 2016 (the 2016 Act) commenced on 15 June 2017. In accordance with Section 6 of the 2016 Act the Lord Advocate has the power to direct that a discretionary Fatal Accident Inquiry be held …

6 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) peak and (b) off-peak train services that were due to call at Coatbridge Sunnyside in each of the last six months were cancelled, broken down by reason; how many cancellations were announced at the station, and how many of the services subsequently passed through without sto…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-12486 on 21 November 2017. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusi…

6 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) peak and (b) off-peak train services have skipped calling at Coatbridge Sunnyside in each of the last six months, broken down by reason.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Over the last six periods (that is, Period 3-Period 8 inclusive) the percentage of trains which have skip-stopped at Coatbridge Sunnyside is 1 percent. The Scottish Government does not hold detailed information as to how many peak and off-peak train service…

25 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the recommendation of the Barclay Review of Non-Domestic Rates 2016/17, which called for the removal of eligibility for charitable relief from all independent schools.

Answer · Derek Mackay: As set out in my statement to Parliament on 12 September 2017, the Scottish Government is engaging stakeholders further to inform its consideration in respect of the recommendation on charity relief from the Barclay review of non-domestic rates. Further detai…

17 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much additional annual revenue will arise from the 2.9% fare increase in passenger ferry services in (a) passenger (b) vehicle and (c) road freight ferry services on the Clyde and Hebrides network from 1 January 2018.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Introducing a 2.9% increase on fares on the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services will generate a modest increase in revenue, the details of which are commercially sensitive. However, the 2.9% increase will not come into effect until 30 March 2018.

17 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the increase in fares will be for passengers on the Gourock-Dunoon ferry service from 1 January 2018.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: There will be no increase to passenger fares on 1 January 2018 on the Gourock-Dunoon ferry service. However, a 2.9% increase will be applied to the passenger fares on the Gourock – Dunoon Ferry Service on 30 March 2018 Fares will be published on Argyll Ferr…

17 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the increase on fares will be for (a) passengers, (b) cars and (c) road freight will be on each route on the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service network from 1 January 2018.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: There will be no increase to (a) passengers, (b) cars and (c) road freight fares on 1 January 2018 on any of theClyde and Hebrides Ferry Services routes. However a 2.9% increase will be applied to all Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services fares at the start of t…

17 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much additional annual revenue will arise from the 2.9% fare increase in passenger ferry services on the Gourock-Dunoon route from 1 January 2018.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Introducing a 2.9% increase in fares on the Gourock – Dunoon ferry service will generate a modest increase in revenue, the details of which are commercially sensitive. However, the 2.9% increase will not come into effect until 30 March 2018.

13 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to implement the Fairer Scotland Action Plan (a) overall and (b) with regard to the improvement of temporary accommodation.

Answer · Angela Constance: At the parliamentary debate on the Fairer Scotland Action Plan on 25 October 2016, a commitment was made to publish an annual report detailing how the action plan was being implemented. The first progress report is due for publication shortly. With regard t…

13 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to developing minimum standards for temporary accommodation.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: We are committed to ensuring all temporary accommodation is the same standard as permanent accommodation. Most temporary accommodation in Scotland is in social rented housing, so will already be the same standard as permanent accommodation. We have establish…

13 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people in (a) North Lanarkshire and (b) the rest of the country in each of the last five years have left their homes because of domestic abuse, and how many were placed in temporary accommodation by voluntary organisations.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government collects and publishes information on the number of applicants recorded by local authorities who have approached them for homelessness assistance where the reason given was 'Dispute within the household: violent or abusive'. The follow…

13 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) pregnant women and (b) families with dependent children in (i) North Lanarkshire and (ii) the rest of the country live in temporary accommodation.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The number of households with a pregnant member or dependent children in Temporary Accommodation in (a) North Lanarkshire and (b) the rest of the country is published in Table 18 of Homelessness in Scotland Statistics at the following link: http://www.gov.sco…

13 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people in (a) North Lanarkshire and (b) the rest of the country live in temporary accommodation.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The number of households in Temporary Accommodation in (a) North Lanarkshire and (b) the rest of the country at the 31st March is published by the Scottish Government in Table 17 of Homelessness in Scotland Statistics and is available at this link: http://www…

11 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, what impact the introduction of the Road Equivalent Tariff fares structure on Clyde and Hebrides ferry services (CHFS) has had on (a) passenger, (b) cars and (c) commercial vehicle carrying capacity on each CHFS vessel, compared with the figures for the last two years prior to roll-out.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Capacity and demand considerations are part of the Vessel Replacement and Deployment Plan process which includes analysing carryings and predicted forecast growth. The Vessel Replacement and Deployment Plan is available on the Transport Scotland website by fo…

11 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the introduction of the road equivalent tariff fares structure on Clyde and Hebrides ferry services has had on the number of (a) passengers, (b) cars and (c) commercial vehicles on each route, compared with the figures for the last two years prior to roll-out.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The information requested is publically available and can be found on the CalMac website by following link below: https://www.calmac.co.uk/corporate/carrying-statistics The Ferries Plan, published in December 2012, committed to rolling out the Road Equivalen…

11 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, what the average annual savings for (a) foot passengers, (b) passengers with vehicles and (c) road hauliers has been on each route on the Clyde and Hebrides ferry network since the roll-out of the road equivalent tariff on the network in October 2015.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Ferries Plan, published in December 2012, committed to rolling out the Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) for passengers, cars and coaches, on the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services within the lifetime of that Parliament. RET does not extend to commercial vehicl…

11 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the introduction of the road equivalent tariff fares structure on Clyde and Hebrides ferry services has had on Caledonian MacBrayne’s annual fares revenue, compared with the figures for the last two years prior to roll-out.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The information requested is publically available in CalMac Ferries Ltd Directors’ Report & Financial Statements, under the section entitled Financial Statements and Notes. These can be found by following link: https://www.calmac.co.uk/corporate/annual-repo…

5 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-11456 by Humza Yousaf on 5 October 2017, what recent assessment it has undertaken of the level of trade union membership at all licensed ferry operators, and how it monitors union membership levels at (a) Serco NorthLink and (b) Caledonian MacBrayne.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Neither Serco NorthLink or Caledonian MacBrayne, as employers, hold records of how many employees are members of trade unions. The reason for that is that the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1992 provides protection to employees to ensure that they do no…

5 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, what its position is on the proportion of eligible trade union members required to ensure effective recognition and collective bargaining agreements,  and when it last discussed this matter with the UK Government.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government believes that a progressive approach to industrial relations and to trade unionism is at the very heart of a fairer, more successful society. Trade union representation and collective bargaining agreements ensure that workers have an e…