Rhoda Grant

10 Jul 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to raise public awareness of sudden cardiac arrest symptoms.

Answer · Maureen Watt: Plans to raise public awareness of cardiac arrest are being developed in partnership with stakeholders. One strand of this will be to use European Restart a Heart Day on 16 October 2015 as a focus for activity.

10 Jul 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to research the costs of its plans relating to improving outcomes for people experiencing out of hospital cardiac arrest and how these improvements could be achieved without incurring additional cost.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government published Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: A Strategy for Scotland in March 2015. We continue to work with a wide range of stakeholders to deliver the aims of the strategy and improve outcomes for people experiencing out of hospital car…

17 Jun 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that secondary school pupils in the Highlands and Islands can study the subjects that they need to meet their career ambitions.

15 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will continue to instruct local authorities, government agencies and the Scottish civil service to deduct union dues at payroll.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government has no intention of changing these arrangements and will continue to provide this option to trade union members employed in the Scottish Government. However, it is for local authorities as separate employers to operate their payroll sy…

15 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether local government staff earning under £21,000 receive the £250 flat rate public sector increase.

Answer · Marco Biagi: The current minimum award for staff under the public sector pay policy earning under £21,000 is £300 and has been since 2013-14. The public sector pay policy directly applies to the Scottish Government, executive agencies and some non-departmental bodies. Ho…

15 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to update the rolling stock serving the (a) Far North Line and (b) Highland Mainline.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Far North line will be served by a refurbished class 158 fleet which Abellio ScotRail is obliged to deliver through the franchise agreement. These trains will be used on great scenic rail journeys routes (The Borders, West Highlands and North Highlands) o…

15 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to reduce the number of class 158 trains on Inverness services.

Answer · Derek Mackay: It is for Abellio ScotRail (ASR) to allocate sufficient rolling stock capacity for its services from within its fleet and it has no plans to reduce seats on routes in and out of Inverness. ASR has obligations to allocate suitable capacity to match passenger l…

15 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Borders Railway will have its own rolling stock, and what class of train will be used.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Borders Railway will be operated by diesel trains from within the Abellio fleet and these run on various routes and are not dedicated to specific lines.

15 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-24607 by Derek Mackay on 6 March 2015, from which ScotRail services the Borders Railway rolling stock will be drawn, and how many of the class 158 trains that are based in Inverness will be included.

Answer · Keith Brown: It is an operational matter for Abellio ScotRail to decide which trains from within its diesel fleet it allocates for Borders services. Those planned to be used on Borders services also work across other routes in central Scotland, including, predominantly, F…

9 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the timescale is for the independent academic research that it has commissioned on the impact of the criminalisation of the purchase of sex; how the research will be conducted, and whether it will be carried out (a) in conjunction with a consultation and (b) from a gender analysis p…

Answer · Michael Matheson: It is planned that research findings will be submitted to the Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament in early 2016. The research will review the evidence on the impacts of a policy of criminalisation of the purchase of sex. It will also include an asses…

8 Jun 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to promote and support Gaelic culture.

4 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what financial support it will provide to Highland Council to help meet the costs of building a safer route to replace the Stromeferry bypass.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The A890 Stromeferry bypass is a local road and consequently it is the responsibility of the Highland Council to fund any costs associated with maintaining or improving it. As with any bids of this nature, any approach to the Scottish Government to provide…

27 Apr 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to the film and arts sectors in Shetland.

23 Apr 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing or plans to do to ensure that people with hearing loss have access to lipreading classes or tutors, particularly in the Highlands and Islands.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: A Scottish Lipreading Strategy Group, chaired by Action on Hearing Loss and funded by Scottish Government, recently produced a report, Lipreading Classes in Scotland – the way forward which is currently being considered by Scottish Government officials. On…

15 Apr 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reintroducing ringfencing for coordinator posts funded by the Violence Against Women Fund.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government has no plans to reintroduce ringfencing for coordinator posts previously funded by the Violence Against Women Fund.

15 Apr 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4F-02714 by Nicola Sturgeon on 2 April 2015 (Official Report, c.17), how much of the money will be allocated to (a) judicial, (b) frontline and (c) other services.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Decisions about the allocation of the additional £20 million will be taken in discussion with key statutory and third sector partners, with a clear focus on improving support and protection for victims, prevention and reducing the risk of harm. Decisions abou…

1 Apr 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what arrangements it has made for prenatal screening in Argyll and Bute until Autumn 2016, and what plans it has for staff to travel to patients to conduct scans.

Answer · Maureen Watt: It is of paramount importance that women receive safe and effective services during pregnancy. The Scottish Government welcomes NHS Highland’s announcement that the antenatal screening services in Argyll and Bute, which provide women with routine scans, will …

24 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many crossings on the (a) Stornoway – Ullapool, (b) Uig – Tarbert, (c) Oban – Castlebay – Lochboisdale, (d) Barra – Eriskay, (e) Lochboisdale – Mallaig, (f) Berneray – Leverburgh and (g) Uig – Lochmaddy ferry service in each month (i) between November 2013 and April 2014 were and (ii…

Answer · Derek Mackay: The information requested is detailed in the following two tables. Table 1 November 2013 – April 2014 Route Month Total Scheduled Sailings Cancelled Sailings Weather % Cancelled Weather Cancelled Sailings Technical % Cancelled Technical Can…

23 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consultation took place between Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd and Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd prior to the leasing agreement with Lloyds Banking Group for the the MV Loch Seaforth being entered into.

Answer · Derek Mackay: CalMac Ferries Ltd were not part of the negotiations that took place between Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd and Lloyds Banking Group in the run up to the lease being entered into as they were not party to the contract between Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd an…

23 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what procedures it adopted to ensure that the procurement methods used to secure the use of the MV Loch Seaforth under a private leasing arrangement offered best value for money.

Answer · Derek Mackay: A full tender process for an operating lease arrangement was undertaken by Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) in line with the EU procurement rules. This resulted in the award of the contract to Lloyds Banking Group as their tender was assessed as the mos…

23 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-24213 by Derek Mackay on 11 February 2015, whether it will provide an update of the cost of the alterations to the (a) Stornoway and (b) Ullapool harbour facilities in order to the meet the requirements of the MV Loch Seaforth, and from what sources…

Answer · Derek Mackay: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-24212 on 11 February 2015. 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/parliamenta…

23 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-24214 by Derek Mackay on 11 February 2015, whether it will provide a breakdown of what the operational cost will be for the MV Loch Seaforth for its time in service.

Answer · Derek Mackay: A breakdown of the operational costs for the MV Loch Seaforth is a commercially confidential matter for CalMac Ferries Ltd.

23 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much CalMac Ferries Ltd, or its successor, will pay each year to sub-lease the MV Loch Seaforth, and for how many years.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The financial arrangements between Lloyds Banking Group, Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd and CalMac Ferries Ltd are commercially confidential. The operating lease between Lloyds Banking Group and Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd for the MV Loch Seaforth has bee…

23 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd will pay each year to lease the MV Loch Seaforth.

Answer · Derek Mackay: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-25050 on 2 April 2015. 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/parliamentarybu…

23 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government who will have responsibility for (a) providing and (b) paying for any substitute vessel for the MV Loch Seaforth.

Answer · Derek Mackay: CalMac Ferries Ltd is responsible for providing a substitute vessel for the MV Loch Seaforth. Costs are dealt with under the provisions of the public service contract between CalMac Ferries Ltd and Transport Scotland.

23 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government who it appointed to (a) lead its negotiations and (b) advise on the terms of the leasing contract between Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd and Lloyds Banking Group in respect of the MV Loch Seaforth.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government did not appoint any advisors to negotiate or advise on the terms of the leasing contract between Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) and Lloyds Banking Group as it was CMAL’s responsibility to obtain appropriate advice.

23 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the principal terms are of the (a) leasing contract between Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd and Lloyds Banking Group and (b) sub-leasing contract between CalMac Ferries Ltd and Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd in respect of the MV Loch Seaforth.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The terms of the lease agreements between Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd and Lloyds Banking Group and Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd and CalMac Ferries Ltd are confidential due to the requirements of Lloyds Banking Group.

23 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reports that Scottish Ambulance Service North Division has had to use retained crews in order to deal with shortages of trained staff and how it will it ensure that the division has sufficient resources.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Ambulance Service has an action plan in place to address recruitment and retention issues in the north division. This includes a dedicated continuing professional development adviser assigned to deliver a flexible programme for all staff includin…

23 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reports that there is low morale among Scottish Ambulance Service North Division staff due to poor management.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Ambulance Service is developing an implementation plan for the five priorities set out in the 2020 Workforce Implementation Framework in line with ‘Everyone Matters’ which will be monitored by the service’s Staff Governance Committee. Actions aro…

23 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that Scottish Ambulance Service North Division has sufficient resources to meet demand in (a) Shetland and (b) Orkney.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government works in partnership with the Scottish Ambulance Service and has recently agreed its Local Delivery Plan for 2015-16 which sets out how services be delivered in that year including working with NHS boards against the strategic prioriti…