Questions · Tavish Scott

24 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-15099 by Humza Yousaf on 4 June 2013, whether the issue of the detention of Shaker Aamer at Guantanamo Bay was discussed at the First Minister's recent meeting with the US Deputy Secretary of State.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The First Minister and the US Deputy Secretary of State discussed a range of issues relating to matters affecting Scotland and the US. The Scottish Government remains concerned at the continued detention of Shaker Aamer and fully supports the effort of the UK…

24 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-25934 by Shona Robison on 11 June 2015, in light of road equivalent tariff fares being based on a higher mileage rate, including other costs associated with running a car, for what reason people travelling to hospital by car are reimbursed for petro…

Answer · Shona Robison: The mileage rate paid under the Highlands and Islands Patient Travel Scheme is intended to contribute towards the cost of fuel, but does not cover other running costs, for example insurance or depreciation. The intention is to ensure equality of treatment bet…

24 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the mileage rate used to determine road equivalent tariff fares is calculated, broken down by (a) fuel costs, (b) vehicle wear and tear, (c) vehicle depreciation, (d) vehicle insurance, (e) vehicle taxation and (f) each other cost.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The method of calculating the mileage rate is based on the cost of running an average car in Scotland, as set out in the report Road Equivalent Tariff Study, Halcrow (2008): http://www.gov.scot/resource/doc/935/0061364.pdf The mileage rate for cars was updat…

23 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which managerial position in Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd is the line manager of the Sumburgh Airport Development Manager.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Director of Operations.

23 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what bodies and organisations Marine Scotland is funding in 2015-16 and for what purpose.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Marine Scotland has the following grant funding arrangements in place for 2015-16: The Scottish Association of Marine Science - towards a programme to enhance harmful algal and bio toxin risk assessment bulletins for Scottish shellfish aquaculture (£25,000).…

23 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the payment terms and conditions for Shetland Islands Council for the construction of Anderson High School by the Scottish Futures Trust will be publicly available.

Answer · John Swinney: This information is available on the Scottish Government website at the following address: www.gov.scot/Topics/Government/Finance/18232/12308.

17 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has made to UK Visas and Immigration regarding the availability of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) qualifications through the SQA being available to applicants throughout Scotland in their locality.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: In March 2015 the Scottish Government was informed by the UK Minister for Immigration that in November 2015, the UK Government will no longer recognise Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) ESOL qualifications for UK settlement and citizenship applications.…

17 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to ensure that candidates in Scotland for an acceptable English language qualification under the UK Visas and Immigration requirements can take a course and sit the requisite exams in their local area.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government believes that those undertaking English language qualifications under UK Visas and Immigration requirements should be able to do so in their local area. After 5 November 2015, UK Visas and Immigration will only accept applications for …

16 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown by (a) NHS board and (b) type of service of the £85 million for mental health services announced in May 2015 and whether this amount is for the current financial year or future years.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government recently announced an additional £100 million over five years for improving mental health across Scotland. This comprised £85 million announced in May 2015, which followed the extra £15 million announced for mental health in November 2…

11 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many of the 47 clusters in Scotland listed in 2008 as not able to receive better than 0.517 Mbps broadband will be able to access superfast broadband by the end of the current programme.

Answer · John Swinney: The Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) programme is a £410 million investment of public and private funding designed to extend access to superfast broadband. In tandem with commercial deployment, DSSB will provide 95% of premises in Scotland with sup…

11 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £146 million superfast broadband budget it has spent on upgrading broadband in Shetland.

Answer · John Swinney: The Highlands and Islands Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband contract is geared towards maximising coverage across the region, rather than having specific amounts allocated to each local authority area. There is therefore no budget allocation for Shetland a…

4 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the average weekly cost is of running the passenger, vehicle and freight service between Stornoway and Ullapool.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Neither CalMac nor Transport Scotland hold cost information on a route by route basis. The information that is held is commercially sensitive.

4 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for how long vehicles travelling from Stornoway could not be handled at Ullapool.

Answer · Derek Mackay: To accommodate the harbour works being undertaken at Ullapool harbour, vehicles could not be handled during the period Monday 20 April 2015 to Sunday 17 May 2015 inclusive. The service was operational and fully resumed on Monday 18 May 2015. However Ullapool …

3 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the weekly cost was of running the (a) temporary passenger, vehicle and freight ferry service between Stornoway and Uig and (b) passenger-only service between Stornoway and Ullapool during the period when vehicles could not be handled at Ullapool.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The cost of running the (a) temporary passenger, vehicle and freight ferry service between Stornoway and Uig and (b) passenger-only service between Stornoway and Ullapool during the period when vehicles could not be handled at Ullapool have not yet been final…

3 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) original estimated cost, (b) tender cost and (c) estimated final cost was of the harbour improvement works at (i) Stornoway and (ii) Ullapool to allow the introduction of the MV Loch Seaforth on the Ullapool to Stornoway ferry service.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The following table details the costs requested to allow the introduction of the MV Loch Seaforth on the Ullapool to Stornoway ferry service. Project (a)Original estimate (b)Tender cost ( (c) Estimated final outturn figure Stornoway Improvements £7,0…

3 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on which ferry routes the MV Isle of Lewis is to be used in (a) 2015, following its replacement by the MV Loch Seaforth and (b) future years.

Answer · Derek Mackay: During the period Friday 26 June 2015 until Saturday 29 August 2015 the MV Isle of Lewis will operate two extra return journeys, on Fridays and Saturdays, to provide increased capacity on the Ullapool to Stornoway service. No decision has yet been made as to …

3 Jun 2015 · Written Question

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Marine Scotland is working with the fishing industry to minimise the catch of unmarketable fish and to provide support to identify and develop options for disposing of unmarketable fish. The costs of such disposal are difficult to quantify with precision at t…

3 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what funding source it plans to use to pay for the disposal of unmarketable fish landed under the discard ban.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government is not responsible for funding the costs of the disposal of unmarketable fish landed under the landing obligation. Marine Scotland is facilitating the offshore and onshore sectors to increase selectivity and spatial avoidance to avoid …

3 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it issues to NHS boards regarding the mileage rates paid to people who travel long-distance by car to attend hospital appointments, and how the rates are calculated.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Patients Travelling Expenses Scheme provides for the reimbursement of travelling expenses for patients on certain qualifying benefits or those residing in the Highlands and Islands who have to travel long distance to attend a hospital appointment. Those …

19 May 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what response Police Scotland has received to its request for access to an unredacted version of the report of the US Senate's Select Committee on Intelligence, Committee Study of the Central Intelligence Agency's Detention and Interrogation Program, and what support it is giving to the …

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government strongly opposes so-called rendition flights. Scotland has always been a country that respects the rights and responsibilities of all its citizens and the rule of law. The Scottish Government has not and will not approve a policy of fa…

19 May 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when ministers (a) last met and (b) will next meet the US authorities to discuss Police Scotland’s investigation into the alleged use of airports in Scotland by the CIA for rendition flights and what other representations it has made to the US on this matter.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government strongly opposes so-called rendition flights. Scotland has always been a country that respects the rights and responsibilities of all its citizens and the rule of law. The Scottish Government has not and will not approve a policy of fa…

19 May 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions ministers have had with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service regarding Police Scotland’s investigation into the alleged use of airports in Scotland by the CIA for rendition flights.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government strongly opposes so-called rendition flights. Scotland has always been a country that respects the rights and responsibilities of all its citizens and the rule of law. The Scottish Government has not and will not approve a policy of fa…