Parliamentary questions
Jamie McGrigor
1,122 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
27 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals is adequately resourced to deal with the number of planning appeals on wind farm planning applications necessitating a public inquiry.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals (DPEA) is currently adequately resourced to deal with all aspects of the work it receives, including wind farm applications which require an inquiry. DPEA has a core group of salaried reporters as well as…
27 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the alternative route being proposed in the event of the closure of the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful will be in place by autumn 2012.
Answer · Keith Brown: The works are programmed to start in August and be completed by November 2012.
27 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of the alternative route being proposed in the event of the closure of the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful.
Answer · Keith Brown: Our operating company Scotland TranServ is progressing the detailed design of the emergency diversion route along the line of the Old Military Road. Full details of the design will be made available in due course.
26 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce the new chair of the Crofting Commission and what its response is to any concerns about the time taken to make this appointment.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The competitive interview process for appointment of the Convener of the Crofting Commission is underway but not yet completed. The Scottish Government recognises that a convener should be in place as soon as the necessary processes permit, and is working tow…
25 Jun 2012 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on charging shoppers five pence per plastic carrier bag.
31 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-04540 by Stewart Stevenson on 14 December 2012, whether it will provide an update for greenhouse gas emission reductions.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Official Statistics publication Scottish Greenhouse Gas Emissions 2010 will be published on 17 July 2012, as announced in the list of forthcoming statistical publications on the Scottish Government's website. A link to the list of forthcoming statistical …
30 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the Scottish Agricultural College Rural Policy Centre’s report, Rural Scotland in Focus 2012, identifying Campbeltown as one of the most vulnerable towns, whether it will make (a) securing a ferry link between Campbeltown and the Ayrshire coast and (b) increasing air services…
Answer · Keith Brown: The Draft Ferries Plan, published on 21 December 2011, included a proposal for a new ferry service between Campbeltown, via Arran, to Ardrossan or Troon. The community was asked for their views. These proposals would be dependent on proposals going forward fo…
30 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the Scottish Agricultural College Rural Policy Centre’s report, Rural Scotland in Focus 2012, identifying Campbeltown and Dunoon as the most vulnerable towns, what action it will take to (a) improve their transport links and (b) boost their economies and whether it will make …
Answer · Keith Brown: Since 2007 this government has invested over £300 million to maintain and improve the trunk road network in the North West of Scotland. This has included allocating £1 million specifically to address the problems created by landslips at the Rest and Be Thankf…
30 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the Scottish Agricultural College Rural Policy Centre’s report, Rural Scotland in Focus 2012.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: We welcome the publication of this comprehensive report and the valuable contribution it will make to policy development at all levels of government.
28 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-07165 by Keith Brown on 25 May 2012, how much it spent on consultants in 2008-09 in relation to the ferries review.
Answer · Keith Brown: The total cost for consultancy fees incurred in relation to the Scottish Ferries Review in 2008-09 was nil.
28 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-06756 by Keith Brown on 1 May 2012, whether commuting dependency relates only to foot passengers who connect with bus and train services.
Answer · Keith Brown: The commuting dependency for the Gourock to Dunoon ferry services relates to both foot passengers and car users.
28 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-07163 by Keith Brown on 25 May 2012, what the difference is in fuel costs between the MV Finlaggan and the MV Isle of Arran.
Answer · Keith Brown: The MV Finlaggan and the MV Isle of Arran use different types of fuel. MV Finlaggan uses MF180 fuel at a current price of 40.74 pence per litre while MV Isle of Arran uses marine gas oil at a current price of 49.19 pence per litre.
28 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-07163 by Keith Brown on 25 May 2012, how many times the additional carrying capability has been required.
Answer · Keith Brown: Since it came on service on 1 June 2011 the MV Finlaggan has sailed 186 times with a load higher than the recorded capacity of the MV Isle of Arran. MV Finlaggan is a larger vessel with a greater deadweight capacity and is able to carry a higher number of com…
28 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-07163 by Keith Brown on 25 May 2012, what impact the increased fuel burn per hour of the MV Finlaggan will have on its carbon reduction targets.
Answer · Keith Brown: Across the various portfolios the Scottish Government is taking a number of positive steps to meet its carbon reduction targets. The increased fuel burn from the MV Finlaggan, compared with the previous vessel the MV Isle of Arran, marginally offsets the posi…
28 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what changes in economic activity in Gourock and Dunoon can be wholly attributable to the removal of Cowal Ferries’ vehicle service.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-07537 on 12 June 2012. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusine…
28 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-07162 by Keith Brown on 25 May 2012, how a town centre to town centre vehicle service would benefit the local economies.
Answer · Keith Brown: It is a long standing ambition of the Scottish Government, as well as Inverclyde Council and Argyll and Bute Council to have a good ferry link between Gourock town centre and Dunoon town centre. The Scottish Government is currently taking forward, in partners…
28 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to publish all of the papers prepared by (a) consultants and (b) its officials in relation to the Scottish Ferries Review and draft ferries plan and, if so, when.
Answer · Keith Brown: All of the final papers prepared by consultants and officials in relation to the Scottish Ferries Review and Draft Ferries Plan have already been published on the Transport Scotland website under Scottish Ferries Review. http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/w…
28 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) travel expenses and (b) subsistence costs have been incurred by its officials in relation to the Scottish Ferries Review and draft ferries plan since 2008.
Answer · Keith Brown: Travel expenses and subsistence costs incurred by Transport Scotland officials in relation to all ferry-related business since 2008 amount to approximately £100,000. Ferries officials make regular visits to those communities that rely on ferry services throug…
16 May 2012 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is supporting further and higher education in the Highlands and Islands.
11 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-06753 by Keith Brown on 1 May 2012, what the consultancy costs have been since it began its review of publicly funded ferry services in 2009.
Answer · Keith Brown: The total cost for consultancy fees incurred in relation to the Scottish Ferries Review since 2009 was £440,600. The spend profile is set out in the following table. Consultant 2009-10 2010-2011 Total £ 000 £ 000 £ 000 MVA 198.6 23.7 222.3 Tri (…
11 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-06754 by Keith Brown on 1 May 2012, under what circumstances the ferries regulator would regulate pricing and what legislation would be required to achieve this.
Answer · Keith Brown: We have noted in the response to S4W-06754 that a Ferries Regulator could regulate the pricing and provision of ferry services not provided under contract to the Scottish Government. Our intention is to keep the need for a Ferries Regulator under review and t…
11 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-06755 by Keith Brown on 1 May 2012, what the percentage increase has been in (a) fuel usage and (b) emissions by the MV Finlaggan.
Answer · Keith Brown: As set out in my reply to question S4W-06755, the MV Finlaggan has a much increased carrying capacity compared to the MV Isle of Arran so a direct comparison of fuel usage and emissions is misleading. The MV Finlaggan uses around 87% more fuel per hour of sa…
11 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-06756 by Keith Brown on 1 May 2012, for what reason its policy preference is for the service between Gourock and Dunoon to carry both vehicles and passengers.
Answer · Keith Brown: We believe that a passenger and vehicle service on the town centre to town centre route would benefit the local economies in Gourock and Dunoon. As noted in the response to question S4W-06756, we are absolutely committed to providing a ferry service that meet…
11 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-06757 by Keith Brown on 1 May 2012, for what reasons road equivalent tariff status was omitted for (a) Argyll Ferries’ Gourock to Dunoon service and (b) the Calmac Tarbert to Portavadie service in appendix 3 of the Draft Ferries Plan.
Answer · Keith Brown: Appendix 3 of the Draft Ferries Plan includes the Tarbert to Portavadie and the Gourock to Dunoon routes. We have noted our intention to roll out RET to all lifeline routes. For both of these routes, further consideration is required of how RET should be appl…
11 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-06758 by Keith Brown on 1 May 2012, whether it will provide an answer in relation to Iona.
Answer · Keith Brown: The geographical location of Islay and Jura and the Scottish mainland would make it practicable, with the correct ports and harbours infrastructure in place, for the service to be a triangular service. We do not currently have infrastructure in place to allow…
9 May 2012 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to build affordable housing in the Highlands and Islands.
2 May 2012 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the potential impact on the construction industry, what its position is on the UBC Group entering administration.
17 Apr 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the accessibility fund referred to in the Draft Ferries Plan will be made available to all ferry operators.
Answer · Keith Brown: As stated in the Draft Ferries Plan, we will develop this approach further for the Final Ferries Plan.
17 Apr 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it plans to introduce to encourage competition for the provision of ferry services.
Answer · Keith Brown: Our approach to ferry services will be set out in the final Ferries Plan which will be consistent with EU procurement, competition and State Aid rules.
17 Apr 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to proposals to award free travel to Jura residents who access mainland services via Islay, whether it will extend this to the residents of Iona, Shetland and Orkney who also access mainland services via another island.
Answer · Keith Brown: Our needs-based assessment concluded that residents of Orkney and Shetland’s outlying islands access their services respectively from Orkney and Shetland mainland rather than the Scottish mainland. We have confirmed that RET will be rolled out to Islay from …