David Stewart

18 Sep 2013 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has made of the issues faced by people under 65 with dementia.

16 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on Transport Scotland's advice in relation to harbour charges and whether such charges should be based on an analysis of actual cost recovery.

Answer · Keith Brown: As with any Statutory Harbour Authority, the harbour charges set by Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) must comply with the requirements of Section 27 of the Harbours Act 1964. CMAL’s harbour charges reflect the costs to maintain, operate and provide the …

16 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what harbour charges Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) is applying at Gourock harbour; whether they include a subsidy for other CMAL-owned harbours, and, if so, whether this contravenes EU law.

Answer · Keith Brown: Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) apply a network wide charge for their harbours which includes Gourock. The harbour charges at Gourock do not include subsidy for other CMAL owned harbours. CMAL’s schedule of dues is published at: www.cmassets.co.uk/en…

13 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the holding of a fatal accident inquiry into the circumstances of a Super Puma helicopter crash in the North Sea on 1 April 2009 has not yet commenced, and on what date it will.

Answer · Lesley Thomson: A timeline detailing the investigations which were conducted into the crash of the Super Puma helicopter on 1 April 2009, the decisions that were taken following these investigations and all the relevant dates has been published on the Crown Office and Procur…

13 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on employment in the oil and gas sector in Scotland, what discussions it has had on the safety of helicopters used offshore with (a) employers and (b) trade unions on the Helicopter Safety Steering Group, and what the outcomes of those discussions were.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Since the tragic accident, the Scottish Government has had numerous discussions directly with unions and Oil and Gas UK, and has worked closely with wider industry as part of the Helicopter Safety Steering Group. These discussions have covered a range of issu…

13 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on employment in the oil and gas sector in Scotland, what steps it has taken to reassure offshore workers about the safety of Super Puma helicopters following the recent fatal accident.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has held a number of discussions with industry and unions, and will continue to do so. In addition, the Scottish Government is working with the Helicopter Safety Steering Group and will support the far reaching independent and strategi…

13 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on employment in the oil and gas sector in Scotland, what its position is on the adoption of Norwegian standards of (a) safety, (b) inspection and (c) regulation of helicopter operations in the North Sea, and whether it will make representations to the U…

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government will support cross-industry discussions as part of the HSSG review to see whether any lessons can be learned from Norwegian safety and maintenance regime. The Scottish Government will support the HSSG review with industry, unions and U…

13 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on employment in the oil and gas sector in Scotland, what representations it will make to the Helicopter Safety Steering Group regarding the appointment of a group to review the seating configuration on Super Puma helicopters, and to ensure that its term…

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government will continue to work with industry, unions, UK Government and the Helicopter Safety Steering Group to ensure that issues such as this are fully considered.

13 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on employment in the oil and gas sector in Scotland, what its position is on the Helicopter Safety Steering Group (HSSG) commissioning an independent review of the safety of helicopter operations in the UK Continental Shelf, and whether it has made recom…

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government supports the review announced by the Helicopter Safety Steering Group. We have been working closely with the HSSG since the accident and we will continue to offer our assistance and support where appropriate. The Scottish Government ha…

13 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on employment in the oil and gas sector in Scotland, what its position is on calls for an independent public inquiry into the cause of the recent fatal helicopter accident in the North Sea.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Law officers will consider the result of all the investigations and whether any criminal proceedings or fatal accident inquiry is in the public interest. Ministers will then consider the need for further inquiries once the findings of the AAIB investigation a…

13 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on employment in the oil and gas sector in Scotland, whether it will discuss with the UK Government a formal agreement between employers' representatives and trade unions regarding trade union access to employees offshore, including the provision of regu…

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government will continue to work with industry, unions, UK Government and the Helicopter Safety Steering Group to ensure that issues such as this are fully considered.

13 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on employment in the oil and gas sector in Scotland, whether it has sought assurances from the UK Government that (a) employers and (b) licensed operators in the North Sea will not seek to blacklist or discriminate against offshore workers who refuse to …

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government continues to work with unions, operators, Oil and Gas UK and UK Government to ensure the continuation and safety of offshore operations in the North Sea, and to ensure that support is given to build confidence in helicopter travel base…

13 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on employment in the oil and gas sector in Scotland, what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the recent fatal helicopter accident in the North Sea and what the outcomes were.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Scottish Government worked closely with UK government on a range of issues in response to this tragic event. We will continue to do so until the causes are known and any safety recommendations are implemented to enhance the safety of those working offshore in…

10 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has stopped providing tuition fee funding and grants for postgraduate educational psychology courses since 2012 and, if so, for what reason; whether this has created a two-tier system; whether it considers that this will have a negative impact on the number of full-time equiva…

Answer · Michael Russell: Educational psychology remains on the list of approved courses for postgraduate support and we have no plans to change this. The Scottish Government chairs the National Scottish Steering Group for educational psychologists whereby we work closely with the se…

6 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the traffic lights at the Longman roundabout in Inverness are permanent and, if not, when they will be removed.

Answer · Keith Brown: The traffic lights installed at Longman roundabout to improve traffic flows at peak times are permanent and there are no plans to remove them.

3 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its response to The review of NHS Pharmaceutical Care of Patients in the Community.

Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to questions S4W-16800, S4W-16801 and S4W-16806 on 19 September 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottis…

3 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government who the expert ferry group will meet and when.

Answer · Keith Brown: The expert ferry group is due to meet for the first time on 29 October 2013 and will meet with the Minister for Transport and Veterans.

3 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the expert ferry group will advise on the provision of new ferry routes.

Answer · Keith Brown: The overarching purpose of the expert ferry group includes, when requested, providing Scottish Ministers with considered advice about key ferries related issues in Scotland. It will therefore be for Scottish Ministers to request any advice required. The exper…

3 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government who the members of the expert ferry group will be.

Answer · Keith Brown: Members of the group will be Professor Alf Baird; Michael Craigie, Zetrans; Professor Iain Docherty; Brian Fulton, CalMac; Professor Neil Kay; Gordon Maclennan, SPT; Roy Pederson; Guy Platten, Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited; Ranald Robertson, HITRANS and …

3 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the composition is of the management group of the Barra Special Area of Conservation and how it will achieve balanced representation of the communities affected.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: No decisions have been made regarding the composition of the community-led management group. The establishment of a community led management group is an innovative step and Marine Scotland have therefore commenced discussions with community interests to liste…

3 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what proposals it has received from CalMac Ferries Limited for a two-day-per-week ferry service between Lochboisdale and Mallaig.

Answer · Keith Brown: No formal proposals have been received from CalMac Ferries Limited for a two-day-per-week ferry service between Lochboisdale and Mallaig. Discussions have however taken place in relation to the implementation of the Scottish Ferry Services Ferries Plan, incl…

3 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when CalMac Ferries Limited's winter 2013 timetable will be published.

Answer · Keith Brown: CalMac Ferries Limited’s winter timetable for the period 20 October 2013 to 3 April 2014 is available on CalMac’s website at the following link; http://www.calmac.co.uk/timetables/calmac-winter-timetables.htm

21 Aug 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its plans for improvements to Argyll Ferries. 

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government’s objective is that there shall be a safe, reliable, frequent, commuter ferry service between Dunoon town centre and the rail terminal at Gourock. Short term measures to improve the reliability of the current service over the coming w…

15 Aug 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors whether there are gaps in the availability of defibrillators in remote and rural areas.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) is committed to monitoring the use of defibrillators, including locations in remote and rural areas through their continuing work of defibrillator mapping as part of their community resilience scheme. The SAS report on the…

30 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to implement a pilot 50 mph limit for HGVs on the A9 between Perth and Inverness.

Answer · Keith Brown: Transport Scotland will continue to monitor the A9 between Perth and Inverness and will reassess the suitability of a pilot speed limit increase for HGVs over 7.5 tonnes on single carriageways. Consideration was given by the A9 Safety Group to a pilot increa…

14 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether route development funding will be available for air services from Skye.

Answer · Keith Brown: The group of Scottish Government agencies responsible for promoting air connectivity (known as “Team Scotland”) will take every opportunity in their ongoing engagement with airlines to promote the start-up of new routes and the expansion of existing services …

14 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Air Discount Scheme would apply to passengers from the Highlands and Islands using air services from Skye.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Air Discount Scheme currently applies to residents of Caithness, Colonsay, Islay, Jura, North West Sutherland, Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles who benefit from discounted air fares when travelling to and from those places.

14 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Civil Aviation Authority regarding a possible derogation of statutory obligations in connection with air services from Skye.  

Answer · Keith Brown: None. Although any such discussions would be a matter for the airport operator/owner, in this case Highland Council, at a recent meeting with the FlySkye campaign group I confirmed that Highlands and Islands Airports Limited would be available to offer advice…

14 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the possibility of using the new programme of structural funds for the development of airport facilities in Broadford, Skye.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government has made no assessment of the possibility of using the new programme of structural funds for the development of airport facilities in Broadford, Skye. Although as the owner of the airport facilities it would primarily be for Highland C…

14 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with The Highland Council regarding the transfer or lease of the Broadford airstrip to Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd.

Answer · Keith Brown: None.