Parliamentary questions

Jamie McGrigor

1,122 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

21 Aug 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the correspondence it has had with Argyll Ferries Ltd regarding variations in the terms of the company's contract.

Answer · Keith Brown: There have been a number of contract variations made to the Public Service Contract between Scottish Ministers and Argyll Ferries Ltd since the contract commenced on 30 June 2011. These covered the deployment of a third vessel on Cowal Games Saturday in 2011 …

21 Aug 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-08881 by Keith Brown on 15 August 2012, what correspondence it has had with the EU regarding the process.

Answer · Keith Brown: We have had no recent correspondence with the EU regarding the tendering process for the next Clyde and Hebrides ferry services contract.

8 Aug 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the level of mobile phone network coverage in the Southend area of Argyll, what action it will take to improve this and whether it will discuss this with mobile phone operators.

Answer · Alex Neil: As set out in Scotland’s Digital Future – Infrastructure Action Plan, published on 31 January 2012, improving mobile phone and broadband coverage across the whole of Scotland is a priority for the Scottish Government, and we continue to have discussions with …

8 Aug 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the results of Transport Scotland’s survey on the use of bilingual signs on trunk roads.

Answer · Keith Brown: The report Analyses of the Effects of Bilingual Signs on Road Safety in Scotland will be published on 31 August 2012.

2 Aug 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to prevent future landslides on the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful.

Answer · Keith Brown: Scotland has outstanding scenery - high mountains and steep valleys – which can, under periods of prolonged or severe weather events, be prone to landslides. These are a natural phenomenon and the A83 trunk road at the Rest and Be Thankful is an area of parti…

2 Aug 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-08320 by Keith Brown on 19 July 2012, whether the work will be accelerated, in light of the landslide on 1 August 2012.

Answer · Keith Brown: It is very important that any solutions, permanent and temporary are properly designed and constructed. We are fully committed to delivering a safe diversion route at the A83 Rest and Be Thankful in as short a timescale as possible. Discussions are ongoing wi…

2 Aug 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the closure of the A83 on 1 August 2012 due to a landslide at the Rest and Be Thankful.

Answer · Keith Brown: We regret the inconvenience caused by the road closure following the landslide on 1 August at the Rest and Be Thankful, however safety for all road users is our absolute priority. We are fully committed to delivering a safe diversion route at the A83 Rest and…

27 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-08319 by Keith Brown on 19 July 2012, what its response is to any concerns that HGVs and other haulage vehicles will be unable to use the Old Military Road.

Answer · Keith Brown: Consultants have carried out analysis to ensure HGVs are able to negotiate the whole of the emergency diversion route.

25 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-08557 by Keith Brown on 19 July 2012, whether all ministers agree that “[Argyll Ferries Ltd] is delivering the services specified by the contract”.

Answer · Keith Brown: As set out in the response to question S4W-08557, Argyll Ferries Ltd are delivering the services specified by the contract. Scottish ministers are maintaining a close interest in the delivery of these services as Argyll Ferries Ltd continue to take steps to i…

25 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the EU regarding the tendering process for CalMac ferry routes and whether these have included delaying the process.

Answer · Keith Brown: There has been no recent discussion with the EU regarding the tendering process for the next Clyde and Hebrides ferry services contract.

25 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-08558 by Keith Brown on 19 July 2012, when it will publish the scoping information and in what format.

Answer · Keith Brown: The terms of reference for the Gourock to Dunoon ferry service feasibility study of a future passenger and vehicle service with the vehicle portion being non-subsidised will be published in full once they are finalised. We expect them to be available shortly.…

6 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the voluntary sector will be represented on any new inland water safety working group, as recommended in Report of Inland Water Rescue Stakeholder Group and, if so, whether LochWatch Loch Awe, Glasgow Humane Society and Safe Tay will be included.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-08597 on 30 July 2012. 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/parliamentarybusi…

6 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has not set up a new inland water safety working group as recommended in Report of Inland Water Rescue Stakeholder Group; whether it is planning to do so, and, if so, when.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has continued to keep in contact with members of the previous inland water rescue stakeholder group when required on matters related to water safety, and as such has not established a new inland water safety working group. We will conv…

4 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many foot passengers have used the Gourock to Dunoon ferry service in each of the last four years, broken down by month.

Answer · Keith Brown: Numbers of foot passengers using the Government-subsidised Gourock-Dunoon ferry service are set out in the following table. Until 29 June 2011, a vehicle and passenger ferry service was provided by Cowal Ferries Ltd. Since 30 June 2011, a passenger-only ferr…

4 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the tender process for routes operated by CalMac Ferries will begin.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4O-01125 on 14 June 2012. All answers to parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/2…

4 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what subsidy payments were made to Argyll Ferries in respect of the public service obligation contract for a passenger-only service between Gourock and Dunoon between July 2011 and June 2012.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-08559 on 19 July 2012. 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…

4 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what annual subsidy is payable to Argyll Ferries in respect of the six-year public service obligation contract for a passenger-only service between Gourock and Dunoon.

Answer · Keith Brown: Please see the information in the following table:- Contract year (July-June) Grant (£) Fuel Cost (£) 2011-12 1,166,626 436,197 2012-13 1,215,330 tbc 2013-14 1,417,344 tbc 2014-15 1,427,512 tbc 2015-16 1,428,332 tbc 2016-17 1,473,386 tbc…

4 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the scope of work prepared for the proposed feasibility study into ferry services between Gourock and Dunoon.

Answer · Keith Brown: Yes.

4 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Argyll Ferries has met the terms of its public service obligation contract for a passenger-only service between Gourock and Dunoon in the last 12 months.

Answer · Keith Brown: Under the terms of its contract with the Scottish Ministers, Argyll Ferries Ltd (AFL) is required to provide timetabled ferry services between the town centres of Gourock and Dunoon. The contract levies penalties for any sailings which are not undertaken, oth…

4 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether its public service obligation contract with Argyll Ferries for a passenger-only service between Gourock and Dunoon allows it to (a) provide additional funding to Argyll Ferries (i) for operational requirements and (ii) in order to acquire replacement vessels and (b) vary the term…

Answer · Keith Brown: This information is already publicly available. Our contract with Argyll Ferries Ltd for the Gourock-Dunoon ferry service is on the Transport Scotland website: http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/water/ferries/subsidised/gourock-dunoon.

29 Jun 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, other than the goose management scheme, what action it will take to address concerns of crofters and farmers on Islay regarding damage to crops and pasture caused by geese.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Scottish ministers recognise that growing populations of geese are now creating considerable problems for farmers in some areas. The National Goose Management Review Group is working with local communities and NFU Scotland to develop adaptive management appro…

29 Jun 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the number of geese on Islay in recent years, broken down by species.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The following tables detail the peak counts1 for Greenland barnacle geese and Greenland white-fronted geese between 2000 and 2012 and greylag geese between 2005 and 20112. Year Barnacles Whitefronts 2000-01 38,022 14,096 2001-02 35,213 12,261 2002-…

29 Jun 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to any concerns among Islay crofters and farmers about reductions in the budget of the Islay goose management scheme.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Scottish ministers recognise that crofters and farmers on Islay face substantial pressures dealing with the impact on crops and pasture from high numbers of geese. The National Goose Management Review Group (NGMRG) has worked hard to provide additional fundin…

29 Jun 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the budget has been for the Islay goose management scheme in each year of operation and what its annual budget will be in future.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The budget and expenditure figures for the Islay Local Goose Management Scheme are set out in the following table. Year Approved Expenditure Actual Expenditure Expenditure on Marksmen/ Scaring Equipment 2000-01 £569,000 £637,000 (1) 2001-02 £542,0…