Parliamentary questions

David Stewart

1,651 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

18 Apr 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce a social responsibility levy under sections 14 and 15 of the Alcohol etc. (Scotland) Act 2010.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government position has always been that we would not introduce the social responsibility levy during the lifetime of the public health supplement and until the economic circumstances are right. Although the public health supplement has ended, th…

21 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many meetings it has had with aquaculture sector businesses in (a) 2015, (b) 2016, (c) 2017 and (d) 2018, at which maritime freight services for the Northern Isles was discussed.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Transport Scotland, has formally met with aquaculture sector businesses on nine occasions since 2015, as per the following table. Discussions included operational issues associated with the current contract and implications for the tendering of future contrac…

21 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many meetings it has had with aquaculture sector businesses in (a) 2015, (b) 2016, (c) 2017 and (d) 2018 at which the tendering of Northern Isles Ferry Service contracts was discussed.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-15480 on 4 April 2018. 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/parliamentarybusiness/2…

16 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will address the reported shortfall in meeting the targets in the Road Safety 2020 framework for fatal and serious injury collisions.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: In 2016 there were 191 fatalities on Scotland’s roads.While this represents a disappointing increase on 2015, it also represents a 35% reduction from the 2020 framework baseline in 2004-08. We reported in 2015 that three out of four of the milestone targets …

15 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) NHS boards and (b) the Scottish Health Technologies Group regarding the roll-out of the FreeStyle Libre glucose monitoring system.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government advisory group on diabetes, Scottish Diabetes Group (SDG), has engaged with NHS Boards to provide as much assistance as possible to overcome the lack of evidence-based, safety and cost-effectiveness of FreeStyle Libre ®. The SDG has p…

14 Mar 2018 · Written Question

Answer · Shona Robison: This information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. Hospitals hold licences from the Scottish Environment protection Agency (SEPA) for the radioactive sources under their control. These licences ensure that the sources are safely handled, stor…

13 Mar 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the cold-spell heating assistance process will rely on postcode to weather station mapping or localised forecasts to determine eligibility.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: I understand that the current agreement between the Department of Work and Pensions and the Met Office provides for each postcode area to be allocated to one of 94 weather stations, which together cover all parts of Scotland, England and Wales. I am aware of…

19 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how many (a) hospitals, (b) public and (c) other buildings in Scotland use combustible plastic insulation and cladding materials that are not classified as non-combustible, and what buildings standards allow the use of such materials on these facilit…

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government does not hold this information however as part of the work of the Ministerial Working Group, information was requested on the cladding materials used in hospitals, schools and other buildings. The information returned has reassured Sco…

19 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that, because of errors in the safety testing method, the combustible plastic insulation that was used on Grenfell Tower was certified as suitable for high-rise buildings, what consideration it has given to removing the same test as a route to compliance with Sco…

Answer · Kevin Stewart: It is important to stress that the recent reports concerning the insulation material installed within the cladding system of Grenfell Tower are not a criticism of the actual fire test methodology and relate only to discrepancies within the test report of the …

19 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that, because of errors in the safety testing method, the combustible plastic insulation that was used on Grenfell Tower was certified as suitable for high-rise buildings, what information it has regarding whether any (a) hospitals, (b) public and (c) other build…

19 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the comment at paragraph 197 of the vessel replacement and deployment plan, which was published in January 2018, for what reason Transport Scotland decided to extend the charter arrangements for the (a) Helliar and (b) Hildasay freight ferry beyond the life of the existing c…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: As I announced in January 2017, the current bareboat charter arrangement ensures that suitable freighters to service the routes to the Northern Isles have been secured beyond the end of the current Public Service Contract and until at least 2022. This ensures…

19 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the comment at paragraph 197 of the vessel replacement and deployment plan, which was published in January 2018, whether the sub-charter arrangement between Serco NorthLink Ferries and Fortress for the (a) Helliar and (b) Hildasay freight ferry does not affect the employment…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Since March 2017, the freight vessels have been chartered on a bareboat basis by CMAL from Fortress. Previously the vessels were chartered on a crewed basis from Seatruck. Since March 2017 CMAL has sub-chartered the vessels to Serco NorthLink Ferries for the …

19 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which external consultant has been commissioned to carry out the Scottish transport appraisal guidance on future ferry services for the Outer Hebrides, and what the value is of the contract.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Peter Brett Associates were awarded the contract “Appraisal of Options for the Outer Hebrides Ferry Routes”. The value of the contract is £152,935.

12 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with RBS regarding the purchase of the Hamnavoe, Hjaltland and Hrossey ferries by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Scottish Government officials have met with representatives of the Royal Bank of Scotland and Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited to discuss the prospective purchase of the MV Hamnavoe, MV Hjaltland and the MV Hrossey. Latterly, representatives of Caledonian M…

12 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on mandating the purchase of the Hamnavoe, Hjaltland and Hrossey ferries by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited from Northern Isles Ferries Limited, and how much this would cost.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government and Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited are currently negotiating the terms for the purchase of the MV Hamnavoe, the MV Hjaltland and the MV Hrossey with the Royal Bank of Scotland. The terms for purchasing the MV Hamnavoe, the MV Hjal…

12 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the additional cost will be in (a) 2018-19 and (b) 2019-20 of extending the contract with Serco for Northern Isles Ferry Services.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Negotiations between Transport Scotland and Serco NorthLink Ferries are currently on-going in relation to extending the contract.

12 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the interim report of the Ferry Services Procurement Policy Review, what steps it plans to engage with the (a) community and (b) stakeholders to inform the final decision on whether to tender the next contract for Northern Isles Ferry Services; whether this will include host…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I have invited local community and business stakeholders to provide written comments. I also plan to visit Orkney and Shetland soon and will be looking to engage with both stakeholders and the unions, including the RMT. All stakeholder views will be carefull…

12 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the combined annual leasing cost for the Hamnavoe, Hjaltland and Hrossey ferries has been in each year since 2002, also broken down by what proportion of this has been met by the (a) operator and (b) public purse.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Information regarding the costs of the vessel charters for the MV Hamnavoe, MV Hjaltland and MV Hrossey are commercially sensitive. Release of this information would be in breach of the confidentiality agreements with the Royal Bank of Scotland. All leasing …

2 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had regarding the amalgamation of the Forestry Commission, the Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate and Scottish Natural Heritage.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has had no discussions regarding the amalgamation of the Forestry Commission, the Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate and Scottish Natural Heritage. There will be no such amalgamation. The future organisational arrangements for …

23 Jan 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it gives to local authorities and housing organisations in the Highlands and Islands in order to provide affordable homes that take account of demographics, age profile and economic activity.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Local authorities have a statutory requirement to produce a local housing strategy which sets out the priorities and plans for the delivery of housing and housing related services within the local authority’s area, required now and into the future. The Scot…

12 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many cubic metres of peat are likely to be extracted as a result of the A9 dualling programme; what quantity of greenhouse gas emissions are likely to be associated with this, and what efforts have been or will be made to mitigate and compensate for these emissions.

Answer · Keith Brown: Transport Scotland is currently finalising the environmental impact assessment work for the A9 dualling programme. The quantity of peat extraction required is being published in each project’s Environmental Statement as project development is completed.

12 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many hectares of Scottish Biodiversity List habitats (a) are likely to be lost and (b) likely to experience negative impacts and (c) have been identified for habitat creation to offset or compensate for losses or negative impacts as a result of the A9 dualling programme, broken down …

Answer · Keith Brown: Transport Scotland is currently finalising the environmental impact assessment work for the A9 dualling programme. Once completed, this will be published on Transport Scotland’s website. The measures taken to protect the environment are being published in Env…

12 Dec 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what actions Transport Scotland is taking to minimise and mitigate the impact that the A9 dualling programme will have on the natural environment.

Answer · Keith Brown: Transport Scotland is currently finalising the environmental impact assessment work for the A9 dualling programme. The measures taken to protect the environment are being published in Environmental Statements as project development is completed. An example of…

5 Dec 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has received from local authorities regarding the Draft Budget.