Parliamentary questions

David Stewart

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

27 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the Forth Road Bridge could accommodate non-motorway traffic, farm vehicles, learner drivers and abnormal loads once the new crossing is operational.

Answer · Keith Brown: The purpose of the Forth Road Bridge Bill is to pave the way for the most cost-effective and co-ordinated approach to the management and maintenance of the Forth Road Bridge (FRB) and Forth Replacement Crossing. It does not revisit the provisions and commitme…

27 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has sought legal advice on breaches of state aid rules in relation to the contracts for the Forth Road Bridge and the new crossing and what its position is on expanding the Forth Estuary Transport Authority so that it can manage both bridges.

Answer · Keith Brown: 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…

27 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it was decided that the Forth Estuary Transport Authority will not be able to bid for the new contracts for the Forth Road Bridge and the new crossing on the basis that it will no longer exist when the new contracts start; when the call for tenders will be issued, and what the timesc…

Answer · Keith Brown: Various options were considered, including some which would have involved the Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA) having responsibility for managing and maintaining both the existing Forth Road Bridge and the new crossing, but none in respect of FETA wer…

27 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it plans to make to the (a) European Commission and (b) UK Government regarding structural funds for the Highlands and Islands in 2014-20.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has been working with the UK Government, European Commission and Scottish stakeholders for over a year on determining how structural funds should best be spent to have a real and lasting impact on the development of Scotland's regions.…

27 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the duration is of the contract with (a) Lloyds Banking Group and (b) RBS Group for the provision of ferries used on the Stornoway and Northlink routes respectively and whether it will publish the contracts on its website.

Answer · Keith Brown: The tripartite agreement between Scottish Ministers, RBS and Serco for the ropax ferries used on the Northern Isles ferry services was signed in 2012 and ends in 2018. The new vessel to be used on the Ullapool – Stornoway service will involve an agreement be…

22 Mar 2013 · 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 · Paul Wheelhouse: The Met Office’s UK weather radar network consists of 15 operational weather radars, including four in Scotland. This network provides real-time information to help monitor and forecast heavy rainfall, supplemented by additional data exchange with the Irish M…

22 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to encourage the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to support the European Commission's proposed ban on neonicotinoid products.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-13895 on 13 May 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.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybus…

22 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce a ban on the use of neonicotinoid products.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Following the meeting of the EU Appeal Committee on 29 April 2013, we expect that the European Commission will formally adopt restrictions on the use of neonicotinoids which will take effect on 1 December 2013, and which the Scottish Government will implement…

19 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to help businesses in the Western Isles following the withdrawal of the road equivalent tariff and in light of recent job losses at Carranoch Shellfish on the Isle of Lewis.

Answer · Keith Brown: Following the removal of RET for commercial vehicles in 2012, transitional arrangements were put in place to alleviate the impact of commercial fares returning to non-RET levels. These transitional arrangements required funding of £2.5 million in 2012-13 and …

18 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is setting aside finance to allow local authorities and roads authorities to repair potholes in the country's roads.

Answer · Keith Brown: As part of the 2013-14 Local Government finance settlement, Scottish Government is providing local government in Scotland with over £10.3 billion. The vast majority of the funding, including that for roads maintenance, is being provided by means of a block gr…

18 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that vehicle ferry prices across the Firth of Clyde are not at a level detrimental to the Cowal economy.

Answer · Keith Brown: Western Ferries, who provide a vehicle ferry service between McInroy’s Point (Gourock) and Hunter’s Quay (Dunoon), operate an unsubsidised, commercial service and therefore the Scottish Government has no current role in regulating their fares. Existing compet…

18 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take in light of the reported decrease in the number of visitors to Dunoon via the passenger-only ferry service.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government are encouraging Argyll Ferries Limited to continue to engage with local tourism and marketing groups on destination marketing for Dunoon and Cowal to improve visitor numbers to the region. The Scottish Government announced on 3 April …

18 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what reduction in vehicle traffic Transport Scotland anticipated on the Dunoon Gourock ferry route as a result of the service becoming passenger only and what reduction there has been.

Answer · Keith Brown: Scottish Ministers’ clear stated preference in the tendering of the Gourock-Dunoon ferry service was for a vehicle-carrying service on the town centre route. Consequently, any evaluation of the impact of this not being achieved would have been contradictory a…

13 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the new police and fire and rescue services will finance road safety partnerships.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Northern Constabulary and the Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service have supported a number of road safety initiatives over the years with a view to raising awareness and improving safety for road users. They are both part of the Northern Safety C…

12 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-12525 by Michael Matheson on 1 February 2013, whether the 558 insulin pumps are available through the procurement framework provided by NHS National Procurement.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The 558 insulin pumps and associated consumables were all purchased from the NHS National Procurement Insulin Pump and Consumables framework agreement.

12 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-12525 by Michael Matheson on 1 February 2013, what the (a) criteria are and (b) protocol is for NHS boards seeking to access the 558 insulin pumps.

Answer · Michael Matheson: All boards were allocated insulin pumps and associated consumables, based on their individual board requests. The National Procurement Insulin Pump and Consumables framework has three suppliers from which insulin pumps and consumables can be purchased. The s…

12 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-12525 by Michael Matheson on 1 February 2013, what information it has on how many of the 558 insulin pumps are in use.

Answer · Michael Matheson: This level of detail is not collected centrally. We expect each NHS Board to allocate and monitor the use of their insulin pumps and to work towards meeting the targets set out in the CEL 04 (2012).

12 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-12525 by Michael Matheson on 1 February 2013, how many of the 558 insulin pumps have been distributed to NHS boards, also broken down by board, and how many are still held by NHS National Procurement.

Answer · Michael Matheson: We expect all NHS Boards allocation of insulin pumps to be distributed by 31 March 2013. NHS National Procurement will have no insulin pumps. The following table details the allocation of insulin pumps per NHS Board. NHS Board Total Number of Pumps Require…

12 Mar 2013 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has for the future of air services from Skye.

27 Feb 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has made to the (a) UK Government and (b) European Commission regarding the proposed European Regional Aid Guidelines for 2014 to 2020 with reference to the Shetland Isles.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government has presented a case for eligibility of the entire Highlands and Islands region to the UK Government. This was a detailed argument detailed the difficulties faced by remote and sparsely populated regions and their ongoing need to be ab…

25 Feb 2013 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many recent meetings it has had with the UK Government on the future structural funds programme.

18 Feb 2013 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the number and range of public service obligations for fragile air services in the Highlands and Islands.

13 Feb 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the completion of the resurfacing of the Kessock Bridge.

4 Feb 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-12267 by Keith Brown on 24 January 2013, whether it will confirm that owners and operators of vessels are responsible for decisions to sail a certified vessel under particular weather circumstances.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Master of a vessel has the legal responsibility for, and takes the decision on, whether it is safe to sail or not, as governed by The Merchant Shipping (Master’s Discretion) Regulations 1997.

4 Feb 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether bidders for the Gourock-Dunoon ferry service were allowed to put forward proposals that would have required third parties to put new facilities in place before the service could commence.

Answer · Keith Brown: During the tendering process, bidders were obligated to contact the respective harbour authorities in respect of berthing arrangements at Gourock and Dunoon. This was to enable the bidders to negotiate and agree access and technical arrangements, including an…

29 Jan 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what liability a future operator of the Cairngorm funicular railway and its associated facilities will have for any adverse impact on a qualifying interest of the Cairngorms Special Protection Area or Special Area of Conservation resulting from its management.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: This is an operational matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I will ask its chief executive to write to you in this regard.

29 Jan 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) Highlands and Islands Enterprise, (b) the Cairngorms National Park Authority and (c) The Highland Council to ensure that the Cairngorm funicular railway operates in a manner that does not adversely affect the integrity of the Cairngorms Special Protec…

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Ministers and officials meet representatives of Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the Cairngorms National Park Authority and The Highland Council on a frequent basis to discuss a wide range of issues. I am not aware that the operation of the Cairngorm funicul…

29 Jan 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what safeguards have been built into the procurement process for a new operator for the Cairngorm funicular railway and associated facilities to ensure that the adjacent Cairngorms Special Protection Area and Special Area of Conservation will not be adversely affected.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: This is an operational matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I will ask its chief executive to write to you in this regard.

24 Jan 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what quantity of each model of insulin pump the NHS bought to meet expected demand following the publication of Chief Executive Letter (CEL) 4 (2012) on Insulin Pump Therapy for People with Type 1 Diabetes.

Answer · Michael Matheson: This level of information is not held centrally. However in 2012 the Scottish Government provided funding of £2.5 million for the purchase of 558 insulin pumps and associated consumables for people with type 1 diabetes in 2012-2013. This number was based on …

24 Jan 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what make and model of insulin pumps the NHS bought to meet the expected demand following publication of Chief Executive Letter (CEL) 4 (2012) on Insulin Pump Therapy for People with Type 1 Diabetes.