Parliamentary questions
Lewis Macdonald
2,224 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
23 Nov 2016 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what advice it has received from the Scottish Medicines Consortium regarding the use of stem cell treatment for people with MS.
Answer · Shona Robison: The role of the Scottish Medicines Consortium is to provide advice to the NHS in Scotland about the clinical and cost effectiveness of new medicines. The SMC carry out their role independently of Ministers and Parliament and do not provide advice for the Sco…
17 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will announce how much money employers will receive from the revenue raised by the Apprenticeship Levy.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: This Government is acutely aware of the concern that business is facing around the lack of clarity on this issue and the need for them to prepare around their own workforce planning needs. Following our recent consultation we are finalising plans for respond…
17 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether all the revenue raised by the Apprenticeship Levy will be invested in learning and training infrastructure and initiatives.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Ultimately, as with all areas of devolved responsibility, it will be for Scottish Ministers to decide how to use Levy funding as part of the wider Scottish block grant. We have committed to developing a distinctly Scottish approach to apprenticeships and wi…
16 Nov 2016 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact the reported reduction to revenue grants from the Scottish Funding Council has had on the University of Aberdeen and Robert Gordon University.
3 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the possibility of exempting rooftop solar cells and panels from business rates through secondary legislation.
Answer · Derek Mackay: Plant and machinery for any power generation is already excluded from rating valuation where the power is mainly for distribution for sale to consumers. Notwithstanding that, plant and machinery for micro-generation relying on a solar power source has since 2…
3 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to exempting rooftop solar cells and panels from business rates through its business rate processes.
Answer · Derek Mackay: Plant and machinery for any power generation is already excluded from rating valuation where the power is mainly for distribution for sale to consumers. Notwithstanding that, plant and machinery for micro-generation relying on a solar power source has since 2…
3 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has done on the likely impact of business rate increases on the (a) number of rooftop solar cell and panel projects and (b) amount of energy produced by rooftop solar cells and panels.
Answer · Derek Mackay: Non-domestic rates liabilities have not yet been finalised for 2017. The revaluation by independent Assessors will update the rateable value of non-domestic properties, in line with rental values. The Scottish Government will bring forward legislation for the…
3 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to a permanent business rates exemption for microgeneration projects using rooftop solar cells and panels.
Answer · Derek Mackay: In contrast to England, where the corresponding plant and machinery exemption only applies temporarily, plant and machinery for any micro-generation relying on a solar power source has since 2009 been permanently excluded from rating valuation in Scotland.
2 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what dates the time charter agreements for MS (a) Helliar and (b) Hildasay were agreed with (i) Seatruck and (ii) Serco NorthLink Ferries.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-04456 on 16 November 2016. 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/parliamentarybusines…
2 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ensure that the next contract for Northern Isles ferry services includes a requirement for the provider of chartered freight or passenger vessels to be a living wage employer.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-04436 on 16 November 2016. 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/parliamentarybusines…
2 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the charter agreements with Seatruck for MS (a) Helliar and (b) Hildasay.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-04456 on 16 November 2016. 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/parliamentarybusines…
2 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much was paid in public grants to Serco NorthLink Ferries in each service year of the Northern Isles ferry service contract since 5 July 2012, and how much of the public grants accounted for the aggregate Charter Portions in each service year.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The following table details the public grants to Serco NorthLink Ferries paid by the Scottish Government for the Northern Isles Ferry Service since 5 July 2012 in each contract year. Grant Paid Contract Year 1 July 2012 - June 2013 £ 41,104,316 Contr…
2 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many meetings there have been between Seatruck and (a) ministers and (b) Transport Scotland officials since 1 July 1999.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Minister for Transport and the Islands met with the CEO of Seatruck on 10 November 2016, to discuss the issues around staff pay on the freight vessels currently operating on the Northern Isles ferry service. Transport Scotland officials were in attendance…
2 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many bids for the 2012-18 Northern Isles ferry services contract contained proposals to use alternative freight vessels to MS Helliar and MS Hildasay.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: This information is commercially confidential.
2 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many charter agreements it has entered into for additional (a) freight and (b) passenger vessels on Northern Isles ferry routes since 1 July 1999.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government has not entered into any charter agreements for additional freight vessels on the Northern Isles route since 1999. The current passenger vessels on the Northern Isles ferry routes have been on lease to the Scottish Government from the …
2 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government under what circumstances payments for chartering MS (a) Helliar and (b) Hildasay from Seatruck can be withheld under the current contract.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-04456 on 16 November 2016. 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/parliamentarybusines…
2 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last discussed the terms of the time charters for MS (a) Helliar and (b) Hildasay with Seatruck.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The time charters for the MV Helliar and MV Hildasay are currently a commercial arrangement between Serco Northlink Ferries and Seatruck. The Minister for Transport and the Islands, has however met with the CEO of Seatruck on 10 November 2016, to discuss the …
2 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on the time charters for MS (a) Helliar and (b) Hildasay since 2010.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. Serco Northlink Ferries charter the MV Helliar and the MV Hildasay from Seatruck and the costs of their charters are commercially confidential.
2 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of the vessel charter payments to Serco NorthLink Ferries since July 2012 was for the cost of chartering MS (a) Helliar and (b) Hildasay from Seatruck.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The vessel charter payments by Serco NorthLink Ferries to Seatruck in respect of MV Helliar and MV Hildasay is a commercially confidential matter for those companies.
2 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd on the provision of publicly owned vessels to meet (a) passenger and (b) freight capacity requirements for Northern Isles ferry services.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: A comprehensive study of the Northern Isles Ferry Services is currently being conducted. This study will inform the specification for the next contract and includes consideration of passenger and freight vessel requirements. On 4 November Transport Scotland …
2 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will list the charter parties for MS (a) Helliar and (b) Hildasay.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-04456 on 16 November 2016. 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/parliamentarybusines…
2 Nov 2016 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether all crew working on vessels that operate on its contracts or receive support from its subsidies are paid at least the national minimum wage.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: As the member is aware, following recent media coverage, National Minimum Wage is not currently being paid to the crew on freighters operating the freight service to and from the Northern Isles. These freighters are leased, with crew, from Seatruck to the ope…
31 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what total maritime freight volumes were handled at Rosyth Port in each year since 2009-10.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The information requested is not held by the Scottish Government.
31 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many qualified seafarers and maritime officers were employed on MV Helliar and MV Hildasay in each year since the start of the current time charter for these vessels.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The information requested is not held centrally. Serco Northlink Ferries do however advise that the MV Helliar and MV Hildasay require to operate with 17 crew aboard each vessel. Crews work a six week on, six week off rotation on each of the vessels. The cur…
31 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that all seafarers who work on freight vessels that it time charters for Northern Isles ferry services from May 2018 are employed by companies that have Living Wage Employer accreditation.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Ministers are currently considering all available options to promote fair work practices, including payment of the National Minimum Wage and, where possible, the Scottish Living Wage in their contracts. Under the current devolution settlement, re…
31 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what payments it has made to operators of maritime freight services on the Rosyth-Zeebrugge route since December 2014.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government paid 200,000 in January 2015 to DFDS, in support of the company’s operation of the Rosyth-Zeebrugge freight ferry service. The Scottish Government is committed to securing the Rosyth to Zeebrugge ferry service on an environmentally and…
31 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether its memorandum of understanding (MoU) with DFDS and Forth Ports for maritime freight services between Rosyth and Zeebrugge remains binding on all parties, and whether it will publish the MoU.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government signed an MoU with DFDS and Forth Ports to continue to work together to secure the future of the service for both those employed on the route and its many customers. The MoU remains confidential at this time as it contains commercially…
31 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will list all of the (a) waterborne freight and (b) freight facilities grants that have been given to Forth Ports for the development of freight services at Rosyth Port in each year since 2009-10.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: There have been no Scottish Government waterborne freight or freight facilities grants given to Forth Ports for the development of freight services at Rosyth Port since 2009-10. Norfolkline Shipping BV were awarded 2 million in 2009 for the movement of contai…
31 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) port staff and (b) seafarers were employed by companies operating from Rosyth Port in each year since 2009-10.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The information requested is not held by the Scottish Government.
31 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding the number of qualified seafarers and maritime officers that there have been in each financial year since 2011-12.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The information requested is not held by the Scottish Government.