Jamie McGrigor

29 Jan 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to concerns about the reliability of the Argyll Ferries service between Gourock and Dunoon and what action it will take to increase the reliability of the service.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring a safe, reliable, frequent, commuter ferry service between Dunoon town centre and the rail terminal at Gourock. Over the term of the current contract with Argyll Ferries Limited (AFL), the Scottish Government …

29 Jan 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the full financed cost is of the MV Loch Seaforth and whether it will provide a breakdown of any difference between this and the reported capital cost of £42 million.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The MV Loch Seaforth was purchased and financed by Lloyds Banking Group whose financial arrangements with the shipyard are commercially confidential.

29 Jan 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the total operational cost is that has been incurred or will be incurred by CalMac that is associated with operating the MV Loch Seaforth until such time as it commences operations on the Ullapool to Stornoway ferry route. 

Answer · Derek Mackay: The total operational cost that has been and forecast to be incurred by CalMac Ferries Ltd for operating the MV Loch Seaforth until it enters service on the Ullapool to Stornoway ferry route is £3.9 million.

29 Jan 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what additional operational costs have been incurred by CalMac in the operation of the Ullapool to Stornoway ferry service that are associated with the delay in the installation of suitable berthing facilities for the MV Loch Seaforth at Ullapool and Stornoway.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The additional operational costs incurred by CalMac Ferries Ltd associated with the delay in the installation of suitable berthing facilities for the MV Loch Seaforth at Stornoway and Ullapool relate to the extension of the charter of the MV Clipper Ranger. T…

29 Jan 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the cost is of infrastructure improvements at Ullapool and Stornoway that are associated with the introduction of the MV Loch Seaforth on that route.            

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government is contributing £9.52 million towards the £12 million Stornoway project and £17.82 million towards the £19.32 million Ullapool project.

14 Jan 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to question S4W-23841 by John Swinney and question S4W-23842 by Derek Mackay on 14 January 2015, how it will allocate any money saved.

Answer · John Swinney: The impact of any savings emerging from reduced fuel costs will be considered in the same way as any other savings and pressures that emerge across the public finances as part of our annual budget process and as part of individual public bodies and services' …

14 Jan 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-23841 by John Swinney on 14 January 2015, what level of breakdown it records for its expenditure on fuel.

Answer · John Swinney: The level of breakdown that the Scottish Government records for fuel is detailed in the following table. Purchasing Entity Fuel Type Marine Scotland Marine gas oil (Marine fuel) Scottish Government Kerosene and gas oil A2 (Heating oil) Scottish Gove…

6 Jan 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much CalMac expects to save in 2015 and future years as a result of lower fuel prices due to the fall in the price of oil.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The cost of fuel for contract year seven (October 2013 to September 2014) to deliver the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract, operated by CalMac Ferries Limited, was £21.7 million. If the fuel price remains at the current level, then the cost of fuel …

6 Jan 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it expects to save in 2015 and future years as a result of lower fuel prices due to the fall in the price of oil, broken down by directorate.

Answer · John Swinney: Using prices in June 2014 as a baseline and assuming prices and usage remain at those on 31 December 2014 until the end of 2015, the Scottish Government may save £1.1 million on marine oil, £6,000 on fuel used in heating, and £63,500 on a combination of motor…

18 Dec 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on lowering (a) part or (b) all of the landfill tax, in light of the potential impact of gasification as a renewable industry.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has no plans at present to adjust the rates of landfill tax. Landfill tax, alongside the Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012 and measures in the Zero Waste Plan, plays an important role in ensuring waste material is treated as high up th…

1 Dec 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making on implementing the recommendations of the Commission for Developing Scotland's Young Workforce.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: We have already made excellent progress since publication of the report in June 2014. £5 million of the initial funds of £12 million in 2014-15 are supporting measures such as new regional employer partnerships, pilots of ‘foundation’ and ‘advanced’ apprentic…

24 Nov 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports the teaching of foreign languages in schools.

28 Oct 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the closure of the A83 trunk road on 28 October 2014 due to landslides at the Rest and Be Thankful, Glen Kinglas and Ardgarten and what additional action it will take at each of these locations to minimise the occurrence of further landslides.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government has already invested nearly £7.5 million on the A83 around the Rest and be Thankful and this is a clear sign of our intent to find solutions to keep the A83 open and operational. The landslide on the 28 October 2014 was the largest in …

20 Oct 2014 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will take forward the recommendations of the Wild Fisheries Review.

15 Sep 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports the provision of accessible GP services for people in remote and rural areas.

27 Aug 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many licences under the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 have been issued for the release of non-native invertebrates since the Act's commencement; which species or subspecies these licences relate to, and what the reason was for their release.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Licences for the release of non-native invertebrates are issued under section 16 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 which has been amended several times, most recently by the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011. Scottish Natural Herita…

27 Aug 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many notifications, as required by part 2, section 5(3)(b) of the Trade in Animals and Related Products (Scotland) Regulations 2012, have been received for invertebrates since the commencement of the regulations; which species or subspecies these notifications relate to, and what the…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The number of notifications made for invertebrates being imported directly into Scotland since July 2012 is set out in the following tables. Information on the importation of honey bees has however only been held centrally since 2013. Bees: Year Descriptio…

18 Aug 2014 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to help the food and fishing sectors affected by the Russian Government's recent decision to implement an import ban on EU food exports.

11 Aug 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with stakeholders about the Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Bill.

11 Aug 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what performance penalties have been payable each year under the public service contract with Argyll Ferries.

Answer · Keith Brown: The performance deductions payable to the Scottish Government are as follows. Argyll Ferries Limited – Contract Year Performance Deductions (£) 2011-12 50,611.44 2012-13 5,223.27 2013-14 5,661.29

1 Aug 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21204 by Keith Brown 2 June 2014, what budget was the source of the additional funding allocated to Argyll Ferries for the contract year to June 2014.

Answer · Keith Brown: The funding allocated to Argyll Ferries came from the Scottish Government’s ‘Support for Ferry Services’ budget line for 2013-14 and 2014-15.

28 Jul 2014 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to provide communities in the Highlands and Islands with access to fast and reliable broadband.

18 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the anticipated total cost of the public service contract with Argyll Ferries (a) was when signed in 2011 and (b) will be at the end of the contract.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to my replies to his previous Parliamentary Questions S4W-08559 on 19 July 2012, S4W-20524 on 22 April 2014 and S4W-21820 on 14 July 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search…

18 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20524 by Keith Brown on 22 April 2014, what the budgeted cost was in 2013-14.

Answer · Keith Brown: The revised grant to Argyll Ferries Ltd for the contract year 2013-14 is £3,059,869 plus £476,739 fuel grant.

16 Jun 2014 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the European Commission's proposal to lift the Faroe Islands' herring sanctions that are in place to deter unsustainable fishing practices.

11 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what will be discussed at the meeting between the Deputy First Minister and the Dunoon-Gourock Ferry Action Group scheduled for 30 June 2014.

Answer · Keith Brown: There is no meeting with the Dunoon-Gourock Ferry Action Group scheduled for that date.

9 Jun 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the building of more affordable homes in the rural communities of the Highlands and Islands.

3 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21231 by Keith Brown on 2 June 2014, whether the quantum of dividend that could have been repaid to the Scottish Government has been diminished by the costs associated with the Gotland tender.      

Answer · Keith Brown: As with any commercial company, the board of David MacBrayne Ltd is responsible for decisions on how profits are spent: on investments in the company, on new business ventures and on returns to the shareholder. It is not therefore possible to conclude that th…

3 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-20838 and S4W-21231 by Keith Brown on 9 May and 2 June 2014 respectively, for what reason the additional costs of providing Argyll Ferries' service have not been paid from the reserves of the parent company, David MacBrayne Limited.    

Answer · Keith Brown: The changes made to the services provided by Argyll Ferries Ltd (AFL) have all been made under the provisions of AFL’s contract with the Scottish Ministers and are therefore eligible for increased grant funding under the terms of that contract.

3 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20838 by Keith Brown on 9 May 2014, whether, by adding historic grant payments made to Argyll Ferries and the projected costs to June 2017, the Argyll Ferries' service is now more expensive than the other bids received during the tender process.

Answer · Keith Brown: The costs of the other bids received in 2011 for the Gourock-Dunoon ferry service contract are commercially confidential to those bidders.