David Stewart

17 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the Serco NorthLink dry-docking schedule is for its (a) passenger and (b) freight fleet on the Northern Isles Ferry Service contract, including for charter vessels.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Northern Isles Ferry Service public service contract allows for scheduled unavailability due to the necessary dry docking of all vessels. Dates of recent and future dry-docking for passenger and freight vessels are included within the following table; a…

17 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) publicly contracted and (b) private maritime freight vessels operate between the mainland and the Northern Isles.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Under the Northern Isles Ferry Service public service contract, Serco NorthLink Ferries operate two dedicated freight vessels to and from the Northern Isles with some freight additionally carried on the three Ro-Pax vessels. One private maritime Ro-Pax vessel…

17 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it was informed by (a) the UK Government and (b) Streamline Shipping regarding the withdrawal of private maritime freight capacity between the mainland and the Northern Isles.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government was not informed by the UK Government of Streamline Shipping Group’s commercial decision to cease the operation of the MV Daroja. Streamline Shipping Group advised the Scottish Government of its decision to likely withdraw the MV Daroj…

17 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what replacement roll-on roll-off freight capacity for the MV Helliar is being chartered by Serco NorthLink.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The MV Arrow was chartered by Serco NorthLink Ferries to provide cover for the MV Helliar whilst she was undergoing her scheduled period of unavailability.

17 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been made of the additional annual (a) revenue and (b) freight traffic on Northern Isles Ferry Services that could result from Streamline Shipping’s decision to release the MV Daroja from charter on routes between Aberdeen and Kirkwall and Lerwick.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: A full appraisal of the revenue and freight traffic will be conducted at the end of the current contract year. This is normal procedure in line with the Northern Isles Ferry Services public service contract. This includes freight carryings and information fro…

17 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assurances it has received from Serco NorthLink regarding the capacity of roll-on roll-off maritime freight services between the mainland and the Northern Isles over winter 2017-18.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Since 2012 Serco NorthLink Ferries has effectively managed freight services to and from the Northern Isles in line with the Northern Isles Ferry Services public service contract. The operator provides Transport Scotland officials with regular detailed capacit…

17 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Streamline Shipping, and on what occasions maritime freight services between the mainland and the Northern Isles were discussed.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: There has been correspondence and meetings over a prolonged period between Transport Scotland officials and representatives of Streamline Shipping Group. Transport Scotland officials most recently met Streamline Shipping Group on 10 November 2017 to discuss f…

16 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider creating a post of Road Safety Minister.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: There are no plans to create the post of Road Safety Minister. The Scottish Government takes road safety very seriously and it remains a portfolio priority for the Minister for Transport and the Islands.

14 Nov 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its position on whether there should be a pedestrian and vehicle ferry service between Gourock and Dunoon town centres.

7 Nov 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had regarding the roll-out of the Freestyle Libre glucose monitoring system, in light of it being available in the NHS in England and Wales.

25 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ensure adequate signage is in place between the new dualled sections of the A9 and the single carriageways to alert drivers to the changed road layout, and whether it plans to install temporary signage.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government has procedures in place to ensure that the signage on all new sections of road must meet the required design and road safety standards and be independently certified as compliant. Prior to opening to traffic, any new section of road, i…

17 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the review of fares for commercial freight customers on Scottish ferry services commenced, and when it expects to bring forward proposals to reform fares for those ferry users.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The first meeting of the Freight Fares Review Working Group was on 24 February 2014. Minutes from all the Freight Fares Review Working Group meetings are available on Transport Scotland’s website. There has never been any commitment on the timing of any chang…

17 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential savings and costs to commercial freight customers by including them in the introduction of road equivalent tariff on all Northern Isles ferry service routes in 2018.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Road Equivalent Tariff does not include commercial vehicles. Transport Scotland are currently conducting a comprehensive Freight Fares Review and an announcement on that will be made in due course.

17 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will list the increase in fares for commercial freight on each route on the Northern Isles Ferry Service network that will come into effect from 1 January 2018.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Freight fares for all routes from 1 January 2018 are publically available on Serco NorthLink Ferries’ website.

17 Oct 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the importance of sprinklers in preventing deaths from fire.

11 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date the performance monitoring report for year five of its current contract with Serco NorthLink Ferries will be published.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Serco NorthLink Ferries will shortly be publishing their performance monitoring report for year five of the current contract.

11 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) passengers and (b) (i) commercial and (ii) non-commercial vehicles were carried on each ferry route in 2016.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The information requested is publically available and can be found on both the CalMac Ferries Limited and Serco NorthLink Ferries websites and can be accessed by following the links: https://www.calmac.co.uk/corporate/carrying-statistics http://www.northlink…

11 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made with Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd’s order of hybrid-fuel ferries from Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd for service on the (a) Arran and Uig triangle and on (b) Clyde and Hebrides service, and by what date the ferries will be operational.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I have been in regular contact with the shipbuilder, Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd, and the contracting authority, Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd concerning the progress of the construction of the two new dual-fuel ferries. I wrote to the Convenor of the R…

4 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the availability of the glucose monitoring system, Freestyle Libre, and when this will be made available on prescription.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government notes the announcement by Abbott of the decision to include the Freestyle Libre flash glucose monitoring system on the England and Wales drug tariff. NHS Scotland has yet to receive official notification. Once received, NHS Scotland wi…

20 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Ministerial Working Group on Building and Fire Safety will report back to the Parliament.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: I last updated Parliament on the work of the Ministerial Working Group on Building and Fire Safety on 20 September when I wrote to the Local Government and Communities Committee and again during an evidence session on 27 September. The Ministerial Working Gro…

19 Sep 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the risks that it and its agencies face from cyber attack.

19 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which current members of the Expert Ferry Group were commissioned by Transport Scotland to undertake work on its (a) draft and (b) final Ferries Plan 2013-2022.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Ferries Plan 2013-2022, published in December 2012, set out the Scottish Government's desire to have on-going consultation for all ferry-related issues. The plan stated that we would consider how best to involve key transport professionals, acade…

19 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much public funding the Expert Ferry Group has received since 2013, and what the attendance record is of each of its members.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Expert Ferry Group membership is not a paid role however travel and accommodation expenses are eligible to be met by the Scottish Government, in line with the Scottish Government’s travel and subsistence rules. Since 2013 claims amounting to £2,800 have been…

14 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has carried out in response to the June 2016 report, West Highland Line Extension Tulloch to Newtonmore, which was prepared for Transport Scotland.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The 2008 Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR), which sets out the Scottish Government's priorities for investment until 2032 and forms the main basis for the specification of future transport spending priorities, did not recommend a rail link between th…

7 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the (a) costs and (b) benefits of introducing the road equivalent tariff on the Gourock to Dunoon ferry service.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The ‘Assessment of the Impacts of the Road Equivalent Tariff Pilot’ report by Halcrow Group Limited, was published in July 2011. See below link - https://www.transport.gov.scot/media/9859/assessment-of-the-impacts-of-the-ret-pilot-final-report-master-290216.…

7 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of using the Teckal exemption when awarding the new contract for Gourock to Dunoon ferry services.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-10393 on 20 July 2017. 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/28…

7 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5O-01221 by Fergus Ewing on 7 September 2017, what its response is to the concerns raised by Forres Community Council regarding Transport Scotland's decision not to install a pedestrian crossing opposite the new Forres railway station and, in light of …

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Transport Scotland advised Forres Community Council at the meeting on 7 November 2016, that in line with Scottish Planning Policy, Network Rail could not be expected to provide enhanced provision as there was no fundamental change to the existing situation. A…

4 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the (a) UK Government and (b) Aberdeen Harbour Board regarding the plight of the crew of Malaviya 7 offshore supply vessel, which has been detained in Aberdeen Harbour since October 2016.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The detaining of the vessel after failing a Port State Control inspection is an operational matter for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, and was recently the subject of legal proceedings. The Scottish Government was pleased to note the sale of the vessel ha…

4 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the annual level of government funding that will be received by (a) Serco NorthLink and (b) Pentland Ferries as a result of the roll-out of the road equivalent tariff fares structure on the Northern Isles ferry network.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: On 22 August 2017, Scottish Ministers announced that a scheme to significantly reduce fares on Northern Isles ferry services will be rolled out in the first half of 2018. Road Equivalent Tariff will be introduced on the Pentland Firth routes, whilst a varia…

1 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason (a) large dumper trucks are being conveyed along the A82 for work in Glensanda quarry, reportedly causing severe traffic disruption during summer 2017 and impacting on the local economy and infrastructure, without discussion with locally-based roads policing officers rega…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: (a) Vehicle movements over certain dimensions or weights (generally referred to as “Abnormal Loads”) require formal approvals which involves the input of parties such as road authorities and emergency services. These approvals are based on the routes, dates a…