David Stewart

1 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much public subsidy it has taken back since 2006-07 under the current Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The undernoted table shows: The actual subsidy paid to CalMac Ferries Ltd; and The value of clawback paid back to Transport Scotland. Actual Subsidy (paid) Clawback Contract Year 1 Oct 2007 - Sept 2008 £48,990,000 £1,962,000 Contract Year 2 Oct …

18 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has cost CalMac Ferries Ltd to develop the Titan project.

Answer · Derek Mackay: David MacBrayne Ltd (DML), rather than CalMac Ferries Ltd, is responsible for the investment in developing the Titan project. The quantum of that cost is commercially confidential to them. In addition, DML are bound by supplier contract confidentiality.

18 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the smart and integrated ticketing system for the the next contract for Clyde and Hebrides ferry services will use the software developed by CalMac Ferries Ltd as part of the Titan project.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Clyde and Hebrides ferry services invitation to tender invites bidders to include their proposals for the introduction of a new smart integrated ticketing and booking system. It is for bidders to decide if they wish to incorporate any of the development w…

17 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on which publically-funded ferry services on the (a) Clyde and Hebrides and (b) Northern Isles network ITSO-compliant smart ticketing systems are available to passengers.

Answer · Derek Mackay: ITSO-compliant smart ticketing systems are currently not available on either the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services and Northern Isles ferry services networks. However, smart ticketing does form part of the tender for the next Clyde and Hebrides ferry services…

17 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much Serco NorthLink has spent on (a) vessel maintenance, (b) staff training, (c) on-board passenger services, (d) information technology and (e) smart ticketing systems in each year since the start of the current contract for Northern Isles ferry services.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The following table details Serco NorthLink’s expenditure on vessel maintenance, staff training, on-board passenger services, information technology and smart ticketing systems since the current Northern Isles ferry services contract commenced in July 2012:- …

17 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much CalMac Ferries Ltd spent/has spent on (a) vessel maintenance, (b) staff training, (c) on-board passenger services and (d) information technology in (i) 2014-15 and (ii) 2015-16.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The following table details how much CalMac Ferries Ltd has spent on vessel maintenance, staff training, on-board passenger services and information technology in financial year 2014-15 and to date in financial year 2015-16. Financial Year Vessel Maintena…

17 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-24958 by Derek Mackay on 27 March 2015, what proportion of CalMac’s expenditure on information technology over the life of the current contract for Clyde and Hebrides ferry services related to upgrading ticketing systems to ITSO-compliant technology.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The expenditure on this was incurred and funded by David MacBrayne Ltd, not CalMac Ferries Ltd and is additional to the information set out in the answer to question S4W-24958. This information is considered by David MacBrayne Ltd to be commercially sensitive…

17 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government within what timeframe it expects to reach agreement on the specification for a smart and integrated ticketing system for Clyde and Hebrides ferry services with the operator of the 2016-24 contract.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services Invitation to Tender invites bidders to include their proposals for the introduction of a new smart integrated ticketing and booking system. The specification for this will be discussed with the successful Operator from t…

17 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether additional public subsidy will be required for a smart and integrated ticketing system for Clyde and Hebrides ferry services as part of the 2016-24 contract.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services Invitation to Tender invites bidders to include their proposals for the introduction of a new smart integrated ticketing and booking system. Funding for the project management, development and implementation of the new sy…

17 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of passenger journeys on (a) Clyde and Hebrides and (b) Northern Isles ferry services in each year since 2009-10 has used ITSO-compliant smart ticketing technology.

Answer · Derek Mackay: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-29974 on 16 March 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.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentar…

15 Feb 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many da Vinci surgical systems for the treatment of prostate cancer there are in Scotland.

9 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the Scottish Accessible Transport Alliance report, Accessible Transport Strategy and Action Plan for Scotland, and whether it is taking action to implement the recommendations.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government has noted the Scottish Accessible Transport Alliance plan. Whilst the plan raised worthy points of discussion, we were keen to produce a plan using a different overall approach which included collaboration with a range of disabled peop…

9 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what progress is being made with the proposal to improve access at (a) Blairhill, (b) Elgin, (c) Hamilton Central, (d) Kilmarnock, (e) Kilwinning and (f) Westerton railway station.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government provides regular updates on the Access for All programme through Transport Scotland who chair the Scottish Rail Accessibility Forum. This forum brings together the Scottish Government, rail industry and organisations representing disab…

9 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when its accessible transport strategy will be published and how it is engaging with disabled people during the consultation period.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government plans to publish a national accessible travel framework and action plan later in 2016. The approach taken involves engagement which goes beyond a traditionally defined consultation. We have consulted disabled people face-to-face and …

8 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the option of a passenger ferry across the Firth of Forth with a bus link was not explored during the recent closure of the Forth Road Bridge.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Transport Scotland fully explored all of the ferries options and engaged in discussions and practical trials with ferry operators on possible services. Available infrastructure, comparable journey times and likely passenger carrying capacity, particularly whe…

1 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Transport Scotland will evaluate its methodology for predicting passenger numbers, given that the number of passengers using the Borders Railway is higher than it predicted, as has reportedly previously been the case with other projects.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Borders Railway service has proved popular since it opened in September 2015, with passenger numbers exceeding expectations. The forecasting methodology used is in line with industry practice and incorporates evidence gathered in the Borders Railway regio…

29 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what research it has conducted to ascertain whether CalMac’s Mallaig/Armadale revised ferry service would cope with the predicted increase in demand as a result of the road equivalent tariff and whether any such research confirmed the predicted increase.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Vessel Replacement and Deployment Plan: Annual Report 2014 was published on the Transport Scotland website on 2 October 2015. The plan sets out the long-term forecast in demand across all Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services routes, including Mallaig-Armadal…

28 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on introducing an apprenticeship levy similar to that to be introduced in England, and what impact it considers such a scheme could have on encouraging companies in (a) the Highlands and Islands and (b) Scotland to invest in skills, training and apprenticeships.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The apprenticeship levy announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer is UK wide and will be implemented from April 2017. The Scottish Government currently does not have the power to introduce a mandatory apprenticeship levy similar to the one being introduced…

27 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on the roll-out of the Scottish wide area network on a customer-by-customer basis.

Answer · John Swinney: The contract for the Scottish wide area network was signed in February 2014 with the core network and services available in July 2014. The roll-out of the individual network circuits to customers has been progressing since then with 3,756 circuits having been…

25 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the public sector has met the savings targets highlighted by John McClelland in his 2010 report, Review of ICT Infrastucture in the Public Sector in Scotland.

Answer · John Swinney: The Review of ICT Infrastructure in the Public Sector in Scotland by John McClelland CBE, published in June 2011, confirmed the public sector could start to realise a reduction in ICT spend from 2012-13, and continue to do so over a five year period. I can co…

22 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what sanctions there are for landlords who fail to comply with the tenancy deposit schemes regulations that came into force in March 2011 and how many have been penalised each year for non-compliance, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: A tenant may make a summary application to the sheriff where the landlord has not complied with the Tenancy Deposit Schemes (Scotland) Regulations 2011. If satisfied that the landlord has failed to comply with any duty under the regulations, the sheriff must…

14 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the findings are of the annual review of road equivalent tariff fares since 2012.

Answer · Derek Mackay: In 2012, following a review by Transport Scotland, and based on independent contemporary research, the variable element of the road equivalent tariff (RET) car formula, the rate per mile, was updated to £0.80 per mile. A comparable increase was made to the va…

14 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has (a) committed and (b) spent to develop the saltire card in each of the last five years and what funding is included in the 2016-17 draft budget, broken down by budget line.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The National Entitlement Card (NEC), sometimes referred to as the Saltire Card includes the Young Scot Card and other service brands. The NEC has had the capability of holding smart tickets from its inception. The following table represents grant figures awa…

14 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what financial support it has provided to (a) First, (b) Stagecoach, (c) Lothian Buses, (d) McGills and (e) National Express Dundee for the development of new smart and integrated ticketing.

Answer · Derek Mackay: In order to support smart and integrated ticketing, all Scottish bus operators were provided with ITSO compliant Electronic Ticketing Machines during the initial roll out which was started in 2006 and completed in August 2010. The total cost associated with t…

14 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress (a) First, (b) Stagecoach, (c) Lothian Buses, (d) McGills and (e) National Express Dundee has reported to Transport Scotland in developing new smart and integrated ticketing.

Answer · Derek Mackay: All bus operators in Scotland accept the National Entitlement Card on a smart basis in order to deliver the Scottish Government's concessionary travel schemes. Specifically, in conjunction with the Confederation of Passenger Transport, the five major operato…

14 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much subsidy it has paid to each (a) ferry, (b) rail, (c) subway and (d) tram company in each of the last five years and what funding is included in the 2016-17 draft budget.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The following shows how much subsidy the Scottish Government has paid in each of the last five years and the funding included in the 2016-17 draft budget for ferry, rail, subway and tram services. (a) Ferry services The following table provides details of t…

14 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-24147 by Derek Mackay on 5 February 2015, how much it has paid to each bus company through the (a) national concessionary travel schemes, (b) Bus Investment Fund and the (c) Scottish Green Bus Fund in each of the last five years, and what funding is…

Answer · Derek Mackay: (a) In terms of the total reimbursement made to bus operators under the concessionary travel schemes, the following payments have been made: Older and Disabled Persons Scheme Young Persons Concessionary Travel Scheme 2010-11 £174,713,261.43 £1,036,774.…

14 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Transport Scotland will provide an update on its (a) summary of current position and (b) technical capability listed in its smart and integrated ticketing delivery strategy.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government remains committed to its vision that all journeys on Scotland’s bus, rail, ferry, subway and tram can be made using a single type of smart ticketing. Good progress is being made to deliver this vision, summarised by mode below. Rail –…

11 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of Scotland is covered by high-definition weather radar; how the coverage in rural areas compares with the rest of the country, and whether it is increasing the coverage in rural areas to assist in flood prevention measures.

Answer · Aileen McLeod: The whole of Scotland, except for Shetland, is covered by a radar network designed to support weather forecasting. Just over 50 per cent of Scotland is covered by rainfall radar that is capable of monitoring high-intensity rainfall events. The entire weather …

16 Dec 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the average (a) weekday, (b) Saturday and (c) Sunday journey time is on the (i) Inverness to Edinburgh, (ii) Edinburgh to Inverness, (iii) Inverness to Glasgow and (iv) Glasgow to Inverness rail service, and how this compares with each year since 2011.

Answer · Derek Mackay: (a) average weekday journey time Year/Route (i) Inverness to Edinburgh (ii) Edinburgh to Inverness (iii) Inverness to Glasgow (iv) Glasgow to Inverness 2011 211 211 203 200 2012 210 204 202 195 2013 211 205 202 194 2014 212 205 203 19…