Parliamentary questions

David Stewart

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

12 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what criteria will be used to decide which of the Scottish Agricultural College Consulting Veterinary Services offices will close.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Scotland’s Rural College is currently conducting a consultation on their proposed changes to the Disease Surveillance Centre Network, and are seeking to determine the most appropriate number and location of centres to ensure it meets their obligations related…

12 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the timescale is for its consultation on the possible closure of the Scottish Agricultural College Consulting Veterinary Services offices in Inverness and who will be consulted.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: It is the Scottish Rural University College, not the Scottish Government, that is conducting a consultation on their proposed changes to the Disease Surveillance Centre Network.

12 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-25932 by Derek Mackay on 11 June 2015, what its position is on the comments at section 7.3.6 of the Transport Research Laboratory publication, HGV speed limit increase evaluation: final report, which suggest that all of the data required to fully as…

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government notes that research commissioned by the Department for Transport concludes there are significant challenges in assessing the likely implications of a rise in HGV speed limits. What is clear is that the department forecasts the increase…

10 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider the construction of a length of re-doubled track at Lentran, north of Inverness, to allow for the passing of trains in order to reduce congestion and improve the rail service north of Inverness.

Answer · Derek Mackay: This is an interesting proposal, which we will of course be mindful of, as we seek to improve our rail network in the north of the country. However, future consideration of any new rail enhancements on the Far North Line will be within the context of our inve…

9 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will announce the successful bidder for the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract before the Scottish Parliament election on 5 May 2016.

Answer · Derek Mackay: To meet the requirements of a complex procurement exercise and ensure the continued provision of the Clyde and Hebrides lifeline ferry services from 1 October 2016, the procurement timeline currently anticipates the award of contract to be announced at the en…

9 Jun 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has received regarding the cost of flights to and from Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles.

9 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the retendering of contracts for ferry services has on (a) employment, (b) the economy, (c) ferry services and (d) passengers on remote island communities; how many invitations to tender for such services it has issued in each year since 1999, and what information it has rega…

Answer · Derek Mackay: Retendering ensures that these lifeline ferry services can continue to support sustainable economic growth and cultural development of our island communities. In compliance with European regulations, ferry services tendered since 1999 are: Northern Isles Fer…

9 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it took of the UK Government’s public sector pension scheme reforms since 2010 when drawing up the proposed changes to the CalMac pension fund.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government did not draw up the proposed changes to the CalMac pension fund; this was done by the employers in accordance with their responsibilities. This government’s view is that public sector pension schemes must be fair, sustainable and affo…

9 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the proposed changes to the CalMac pension fund will impact on (a) Caledonian MacBrayne, (b) Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd and (c) David MacBrayne Ltd staff.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The proposed changes to the CalMac pension fund would affect employees of all participating employers in the scheme, which include CalMac Ferries Ltd, Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd, Argyll Ferries Ltd and David MacBrayne Ltd, in terms of their future service…

9 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it is paying KPMG for its work on the CalMac pension fund.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government is not paying KPMG for their work on the CalMac pension fund.

9 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what date Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd will publish the updated inspection results for all (a) port infrastructure and (b) vessels and ships on the (i) Clyde and Hebrides and (ii) Northern Isles ferry networks.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) do not routinely publish their inspection reports. CMAL are not responsible for the ports and vessels used by the Northern Isles ferry service.

9 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact its public sector pension policy is having on employment in Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd and what the future impact might be.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government’s position is that public sector pension schemes must be fair, sustainable and affordable. Pension benefits are one part of the overall package of terms and conditions of employment with Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd. The current CalM…

9 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what date the minute of the board meeting of Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) of 31 March 2015 was posted on the CMAL website and when it will post the minute of the 29 April 2015 meeting.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd posted the minutes of their board meetings of 31 March 2015 and 29 April 2015 on their website on 21 May 2015 and 11 June 2015 respectively.

9 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish (a) the minute of and (b) details of any policy proposals that arose at the meeting of 9 April 2015 between officials from Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd and Transport Scotland lawyers regarding the retender of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Transport Scotland and Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd met on 9 April 2015 as part of routine coordination meetings to manage the joint tendering of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services and the Harbour Operating Services. Transport Scotland does not intend on…

9 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date the invitation to tender for the 2016 Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract must be published.

Answer · Derek Mackay: CalMac Ferries Limited and Serco Caledonian Ferries Limited were given access to copies of the draft invitation to tender on 10 June 2015. It is planned to issue the formal invitation to tender to these companies on the 10 July 2015.

3 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-25677 by Derek Mackay on 3 June 2015, whether it considers that the information provided is consistent with the comment in the Department for Transport impact assessment report, Raising the national speed limit for HGVs > 7.5t on single carriageway …

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Department for Transport used analytical modelling in its impact assessment for single carriageway roads in England and Wales which forecast that ‘there would be an additional 1.7 to 3.5 fatal and 4.2 to 8.5 serious accidents involving HGVs >7.5t each yea…