Parliamentary questions
David Stewart
1,651 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
14 Aug 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to address the congestion on the A96 through Nairn.
Answer · Derek Mackay: Since spring 2014, and further to previous works undertaken, we have implemented additional measures to help improve journey time reliability and traffic flows in Nairn. This has included reconfiguration of traffic detectors which are linked to ‘real time’ al…
7 Aug 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the impact on jobs in Scotland of any changes to contracts of employment in the North Sea oil and gas industry since July 2014.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The First Minister launched the Energy Jobs Taskforce in January to deliver a co-ordinated response to the issues being faced by the industry, with partners working across the sector both to maintain jobs and to mitigate the potential impact of any losses. Th…
7 Aug 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on jobs in Scotland of Shell’s plans to sell off its North Sea assets.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government is fully committed to the oil and gas industry; it has been a true success story and we are working to ensure that it will continue to be so. The Scottish Government continues to be in close engagement with industry, Shell remains comm…
7 Aug 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of the potential impact that the findings of Oil and Gas UK’s Cost Efficiency Taskforce will have on the (a) employment and (b) skills of workers in Scotland.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: A key strand of work undertaken by the Energy Jobs Taskforce is the area of cost efficiencies; to understand in more detail the current industry led work on cost efficiency for the sector and the aid the supply chain in understanding the impact of this work. …
7 Aug 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to protect workers from the effects of so-called social dumping by employers in the (a) oil and gas and (b) maritime industry.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Energy Jobs Taskforce brings together industry, trade unions and the public sector to identify and put in place measures to ensure the long term sustainability of the sector. The Scottish Trade Unions Congress sits on the taskforce as do representatives f…
7 Aug 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to implement the principles of its Fair Work Convention in the (a) oil and gas and (b) offshore supply sector.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Fair Work Convention established in April 2015 will be a focal point to develop, promote and sustain a fair work framework for Scotland. Its remit for its first year is to develop a fair work framework based on innovative and productive workplaces, job se…
7 Aug 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether its Partnership Action for Continuing Employment programme has provided assistance to offshore workers and, if so, how many it has helped since January 2015.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: From 1 January 2015 until the end of July 2015, Skills Development Scotland (SDS) is aware of 10,352 employees across Scotland under threat of redundancy as a result of the downturn in the oil and gas industry. This includes industry operators, service compan…
7 Aug 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many apprentices employers in the offshore oil and gas industry have taken on under the Adopt an Apprentice scheme.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Figures for the Oil and Gas Adopt an Apprentice offer relate to the sector as a whole; it is not possible to provide figures relating to offshore employers only. As at 19 August 2015, 12 modern apprentices have benefited from the support offered by the Adop…
7 Aug 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of the impact on jobs in Scotland of the decline in the number of offshore supply vessels servicing the North Sea oil and gas industry from Scottish ports.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The First Minister launched the energy jobs taskforce on 14 January to deliver a co-ordinated response to the issues being faced by the industry, with partners working across the sector both to maintain jobs and to mitigate the potential impact of any losses.…
7 Aug 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether promoting good industrial relations in the oil and gas industry is part of the remit of the Energy Jobs Taskforce and, if so, what steps it has taken to do this.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of good industrial relations, particularly during the current downturn in the industry. This is why the taskforce encompasses the widest range of stakeholders, bringing together industry, trade unions and the …
7 Aug 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of the impact on jobs in Scotland of industrial relations in the offshore oil and gas industry.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The First Minister launched the Energy Jobs Taskforce in January to deliver a co-ordinated response to the issues being faced by the industry, with partners working across the sector both to maintain jobs and to mitigate the potential impact of any losses. Th…
6 Aug 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the next tender for the Northern Isles ferry contracts will be bundled.
Answer · Derek Mackay: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-27008 answered on 18 August 2015. 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/parlia…
6 Aug 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether Scrabster Harbour will be named as the main ferry terminal for service sailings to and from Stromness in the next Northern Isles ferry tendering process.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government can confirm that the services going forward will continue to support the socio-economic development of the Northern Isles by providing reliable and resilient ferry services. Decisions about the form of the next Northern Isles ferry ser…
6 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of time each vessel in the CalMac fleet was (a) at sea, (b) in port and (c) not in service in each month since January 2015.
Answer · Derek Mackay: This is a matter for CalMac Ferries Ltd. The information requested is not held by the Scottish Government.
6 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many crofts have been re-let (a) in the South Uist area and (b) elsewhere since April 2012 because of an absentee landlord or they were not actively farmed.
Answer · Aileen McLeod: That information is not held centrally. The Crofting Commission administers the regulation of crofting on behalf of the Scottish Ministers and I have asked the Chief Executive of that organisation to supply the information requested.
6 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to allow tenant farmers the right to buy.
Answer · Aileen McLeod: Groups of tenant farmers can already buy their farms through the powers in the Land Reform (Scotland) Act if they meet the requirements of the Act, including forming a compliant company limited by guarantee that is community based and community led. Under the…
6 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether any technical work has been carried out regarding the possible use of tunnels where there are existing ferry routes.
Answer · Derek Mackay: No technical work has been carried out by the Scottish Government regarding the possible use of tunnels where there are existing ferry routes. The recommendations of the Strategic Transport Projects Review were announced in Parliament on 10 December 2008 a…
24 Jun 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what requirements there are in the tender for the operation of Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services to ensure that green credentials are being maintained by (a) minimising staff travel, (b) supporting the fragile communities that are served, (c) providing a future for young people in local …
Answer · Derek Mackay: The invitation to tender for the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services, due to be published on 10 July 2015, will require the bidders to set out how they will support, promote and deliver these lifeline services to local communities, businesses and visitors.
24 Jun 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government who will be responsible for meeting the section 75 debt for the Merchant Navy Officers Pension Fund and any company pension commitments if the operator of Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services is a private company.
Answer · Derek Mackay: A Section 75 debt payment falls to an employer if it ceases to employ active members of the Merchant Navy Officers Pension Fund or the CalMac Pension Fund. If CalMac Ferries Ltd was not the operator of the next Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service contract, and …
24 Jun 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the successful bidder to operate Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services will be required to have representatives from local communities and the workforce on its management team.
Answer · Derek Mackay: It is a matter for bidders as to who will form their management team. The strength of the bidders’ management team will be considered and discussed as part of their tender.
24 Jun 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government who is responsible for selecting the management and the executive of CalMac Ferries Ltd.
Answer · Derek Mackay: Executive Director appointments to the CalMac Ferries Ltd (CFL) Board are made by the David MacBrayne Ltd Board. Other senior management appointments to CFL are made by the CFL Managing Director and his senior team in accordance with the company's recruitment…
24 Jun 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in the event that the contract to operate Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services is awarded to a private company, whether it will be required to consult local communities or councils.
Answer · Derek Mackay: As of now, the next Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract will require the successful operator to engage and consult with a range of stakeholders, including local communities and councils, throughout the term of the contract.
24 Jun 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in the event that a private company is awarded the contract to operate Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services, whether it will be required to repay any of the subsidies it receives if it exceeds a “reasonable profit”.
Answer · Derek Mackay: As of now, a clawback mechanism will be included in the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract. The clawback mechanism will limit the public subsidy paid to the operator in the event that they make a level of profit beyond that which is considered a reaso…
24 Jun 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in the event that the contract to operate Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services includes an operator of last resort that is a private company, whether there would be a limit on the dividend paid to shareholders or a clawback of future profits.
Answer · Derek Mackay: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-26294 on 16 July 2015. 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/parliamentary…
24 Jun 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the contract to operate Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services includes an operator of last resort and, if not, in what circumstances the operator would receive additional financial support.
Answer · Derek Mackay: Scottish Ministers have the responsibility to deliver the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services in the event of operator failure.
24 Jun 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government who is responsible for awarding the contract to operate Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services and whether they are required to declare any interests in, or links to, the companies that submit bids.
Answer · Derek Mackay: Scottish Ministers are responsible for awarding the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract and Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd. (CMAL) the related harbour operating agreements. Since the current operator of the services (CalMac Ferries Ltd) and CMAL are wh…
15 Jun 2015 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is responding to the concerns of the CalMac workforce, who have recently been balloted for strike action.
12 Jun 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) legal and (b) other advice it has received regarding the application of the Teckal exemption to the provision of ferry services on (i) Clyde and Hebrides and (ii) Northern Isles routes.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government draws on oral and written legal advice as appropriate from its lawyers, from Counsel, from external solicitors and from Law Officers. However, other than in exceptional circumstances, the Scottish Government does not comment on the sou…
12 Jun 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what dates it has discussed with the European Commission the applicability of the Teckal exemption to the provision of ferry services on (a) Clyde and Hebrides and (b) Northern Isles routes from public procurement legislation.
Answer · Derek Mackay: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-26110 on 22 June 2015. 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/parliamentarybu…
12 Jun 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered the application of the Teckal exemption to the provision of ferry services on (a) Clyde and Hebrides and (b) Northern Isles routes.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Teckal exemption requires a challenging series of conditions to be met to avoid European procurement regulations. Notwithstanding the applicability, or otherwise, of the Teckal exemption, the European Commission’s Maritime Cabotage Regulations still requi…