Parliamentary questions
David Stewart
1,651 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
18 Mar 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much (a) Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited, (b) CalMac Ferries Ltd and (c) David MacBrayne Ltd has spent on external consultants each year since 2006.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The following table details Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL), CalMac Ferries Ltd (CFL) and David MacBrayne Ltd (DML) expenditure on external consultants from 2006. Annual expenditure on external consultants from 2006 Financial Year CMAL CFL DML (£'…
16 Mar 2015 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the establishment of a spaceport.
6 Mar 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to reinstate the pathway extending between Forres and Brodie on the A96.
Answer · Derek Mackay: While some kind of path may have existed on the A96 between Forres and Brodie many years ago (before our current operating company BEAR Scotland took over the route in 2001), no formal path currently exists. We support the nearby Sustrans National Cycle Route…
5 Mar 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to develop a deep-water port and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer · Derek Mackay: We have no plans to develop a deep-water port. Scotland has a market led ports policy and it would be for a port operator to bring forward proposals should they determine there was a business case for such a development.
4 Mar 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with (a) Ofgem and (b) the UK Government regarding the 2p-per-unit surcharge on SSE customers in the Highlands and Islands and, in light of its potential impact on fuel poverty in the region, what representations it has made to the UK to consider legisl…
Answer · Fergus Ewing: I am aware that customers in the North of Scotland face some of the highest electricity prices in the country and I have long argued for greater fairness in the way network charges are applied. I have raised this issue with the Chief Executive of Ofgem direc…
3 Mar 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in road collisions involving (a) vehicles and pedestrians and (b) cyclists and pedestrians in the last 12 months, in what percentage of cases the (i) driver, (ii) cyclist and (iii) pedestrian was at fault, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Derek Mackay: No information is held on those at fault in injury road accidents. However, information on contributory factors to road accidents is available from the police as part of the GB wide “STATS 19” road accident data collection. The data collection allows the rep…
3 Mar 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many road collisions took place in each local authority area in the last 12 months involving a (a) motor vehicle and a cyclist and (b) cyclist and a pedestrian.
Answer · Derek Mackay: Reported road casualties Scotland provides information on injury road accidents reported to the police. The latest statistics available cover the year 2013. The following table shows the number of injury road accidents involving motor vehicles and cyclists a…
2 Mar 2015 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Western Isles about the Well North and Keep Well programmes.
26 Feb 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what actions it plans to promote greater use of Freight Facilities Grants.
Answer · Derek Mackay: We will continue to promote all our freight mode-shift grant schemes, including Freight Facilities Grants, through regular engagement with the road, rail and waterborne freight industries and their representative bodies. This will be achieved through informat…
26 Feb 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications there have been for a Waterborne Freight Grant in each year since 2011 and how many were awarded.
Answer · Derek Mackay: Since 2011 there has been one application for Waterborne Freight Grant. This was applied for and awarded in 2014.
26 Feb 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications there have been for a Freight Facilities Grant for (a) rail and (b) sea freight in each year since 2011 and how many were awarded.
Answer · Derek Mackay: Freight Facilities Grant applications and awards since 2011. Applications Awards Year Rail Coastal Shipping Rail Coastal Shipping 2011 2 2 1 1 2012 4 1 0 0 2013 2 1 0 0 2014 2 0 0 0 2015 0 0 0 0
26 Feb 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications there have been to the Mode Shift Revenue Support Scheme for (a) rail and (b) sea freight in each year since 2011 and how many were awarded.
Answer · Derek Mackay: Mode Shift Revenue Support applications and awards since 2011. Applications1 Year Rail Scotland only services2 Scotland-England cross-border services3 Inland Waterways4 2011 3 9 1 2012 3 13 1 2013 2 9 0 2014 2 9 0 2015 2 8 0 A…
25 Feb 2015 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what appraisal it has made of the economic impact in the Highlands and Islands of the oil and gas sector.
19 Feb 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the best improvement to journey times is, expressed in minutes, that ScotRail has achieved in both directions for its (a) Inverness to Glasgow/Edinburgh, (b) Aberdeen to Edinburgh/Glasgow, (c) Perth to Inverness and (d) Edinburgh to Glasgow passenger services in the last three years.
Answer · Derek Mackay: Best improvement to journey times in the last three years taken from ScotRail (December 2011 v December 2014 timetables) – does not include other operator services. (a) Inverness to Glasgow/Edinburgh Origin Destination Service departure Improvement (min)…
19 Feb 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what average improvement in journey times, expressed in minutes, ScotRail has achieved in both directions for its (a) Inverness to Glasgow/Edinburgh, (b) Aberdeen to Edinburgh/Glasgow, (c) Perth to Inverness and (d) Edinburgh to Glasgow services in the last three years, also broken down …
Answer · Derek Mackay: Average minutes improvements to journey times in the last three years taken from ScotRail (December 2011 v December 2014 timetables) – does not include other operator services. (a) Inverness to Glasgow/Edinburgh Origin Destination (i) weekday peak (min) …
19 Feb 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the average journey time is, expressed in minutes, in both directions for the (a) Inverness to Glasgow/Edinburgh, (b) Aberdeen to Edinburgh/Glasgow, (c) Perth to Inverness and (d) Edinburgh to Glasgow passenger rail service.
Answer · Derek Mackay: Average journey times taken from the current ScotRail (December 2014) timetable – does not include other operator services: (a) Inverness to Glasgow/Edinburgh Origin Destination Weekdays (min) Sundays (min) Inverness Glasgow 203 195 Inverness Edinb…
19 Feb 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce the amount of freight transported on Highland roads.
Answer · Derek Mackay: We operate four freight mode shift grant schemes which enable the transfer of freight from road to rail or water where road is the cheaper option. Since 2007 we have invested over £6.9 million in shipping and rail projects in the Highlands which have already …
19 Feb 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Network Rail and the Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (HITRANS) about increasing the amount of double track in the Highland rail network.
Answer · Derek Mackay: Transport Scotland has regular meetings with Network Rail to take forward phase two of the Highland Main Line improvements and phase one of the Aberdeen to Inverness improvements projects. Transport Scotland also has regular meetings with the Highlands and Is…
18 Feb 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reintroducing the mobile Scottish Driving Assessment Service.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The recommendation to provide the service from a single site was made by the NHS board directors of planning which was subsequently agreed by the NHS board chief executives. Scottish Government has requested that NHS Lothian undertake a review of the single …
18 Feb 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the funding arrangements are for the Scottish Driving Assessment Service.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Based on total service costs, NHS Lothian will seek reimbursement for the driving assessment service from each health board from 1 April 2015.
18 Feb 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has stopped the joint funding for the Scottish Driving Assessment Service (SDAS), and in light of the only SDAS centre being located in Edinburgh, what support it will provide to people from remote areas who need to be assessed.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Scottish Government funding for the driving assessment service was historically based on grant funding that was always intended to cease when the boards took ownership for the service. Under the Patient Travel Scheme, financial assistance is provided to thos…
16 Feb 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-24217 by Derek Mackay on 11 February 2015, whether it will confirm that the next Clyde and Hebrides ferry services contract will be for six years from October 2016.
Answer · Derek Mackay: Previous ferry service contracts have been set at six years. The next contract will run from 1 October 2016 up to a period of eight years to allow the operator more scope to invest in and deliver service efficiencies and improvements over a longer operating p…
13 Feb 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason proof of identity is no longer required by passengers travelling by ferry from Aberdeen to Orkney and Shetland.
Answer · Derek Mackay: Proof of identity for passengers travelling by ferry from Aberdeen to Orkney and Shetland is not a legal requirement. The decision to remove this requirement was therefore an operational decision for the operator to take. Orkney Islands Council and Shetland …
13 Feb 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the passenger numbers are on the three ferries that service Orkney.
Answer · Derek Mackay: Serco NorthLink Ferries Limited regularly publish annual passenger carrying information on their website. The information can be found by following the attached link: http://www.northlinkferries.co.uk/other/publications/
10 Feb 2015 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to boost the economy around Inverness and Nairn.
27 Jan 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has assessed the economic impact on the island of closures of the Skye Bridge.
Answer · Derek Mackay: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-24187 on 9 February 2015. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusin…
27 Jan 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has discussed with Transport Scotland changes in the location of the system for measuring wind speeds on the Skye Bridge.
Answer · Derek Mackay: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-24187 on 9 February 2015. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusin…
27 Jan 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last reviewed warning level criteria for high winds on bridges.
Answer · Derek Mackay: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-24187 on 9 February 2015. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusin…
27 Jan 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many closures of the Skye Bridge to (a) high-sided vehicles and (b) all vehicles there were in (i) 2012, (ii) 2013 and (iii) 2014.
Answer · Derek Mackay: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-24187 on 9 February 2015. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusin…
27 Jan 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many closures of the Skye Bridge to (a) high-sided vehicles and (b) all vehicles there have been since September 2014.
Answer · Derek Mackay: Statistics about closures of the Skye Bridge are contained in the following table: Time Period Number of Closures of the Skye Bridge to High-Sided Vehicles Number of Closures of the Skye Bridge to All Vehicles 2012 30 0 2013 54 1 2014 97 11 Septe…