Parliamentary questions
David Stewart
1,651 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
25 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it remains its policy to create a ferry regulator and, if so, what (a) the timescale will be and (b) budget has been allocated.
Answer · Keith Brown: As noted in the Draft Ferries Plan published on 21 December 2011, we are keeping the need for a Scottish Ferries Regulator under review and will explore what legislative provision would be involved. Further details will be made available in the Final Ferries …
25 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether CalMac plans to acquire new vessels on 18-year leases.
Answer · Keith Brown: CalMac Ferries Ltd has no plans to acquire new vessels on 18-year leases.
25 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is for putting each of the CalMac ferry routes out to tender.
Answer · Keith Brown: Our current focus is on the finalisation of the Scottish Ferries Plan. The key outputs from that plan will define the main features of the future procurement of the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services. An announcement on the timescale of the tendering of these …
2 May 2012 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on the recent outbreak of Clostridium difficile at Raigmore Hospital.
25 Apr 2012 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the potential for the production of medical isotopes.
2 Apr 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the European Commission to ensure that the definition of permanent pasture rules does not have an adverse impact on farmers in Scotland.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Scottish Government has raised the permanent grassland definition with both the European Commission and UK Government at various levels, arguing that the definition must accommodate traditional Scottish farming practices such as the grazing of heather.
30 Mar 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it is providing to motorists in Scotland in relation to (a) the potential fuel strike and (b) the storage of fuel at home.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: As at 27 April, industry advice is that fuel is being delivered as normal. Drivers should carry on normal fuel purchasing arrangements. There is no need to store additional fuel supplies at home. The storage of fuel is hazardous and covered by Health and Safe…
22 Mar 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking with the UK Government to implement the findings of the Scottish Affairs Committee in relation to the devolution of the Crown Estate and what powers the Secretary of State for Scotland will have in this regard after the passage of the Scotland Bill.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S4O-00855 on 29 March 2012. The answer to the oral parliamentary question is available on the Parliaments website, the official report can be viewed at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28862…
22 Mar 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what agreement it has reached with the UK Government regarding the provisions in the Scotland Bill for the future of the Crown Estate.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S4O-00855 on 29 March 2012. The answer to the oral parliamentary question is available on the Parliaments website, the official report can be viewed at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/2886…
7 Mar 2012 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what analysis it has made of the impact of the creation of a single police force on the allocation of major function hubs across the country.
23 Feb 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much public sector funding is being provided for the construction of the Cairngorm funicular railway.
Answer · John Swinney: This is an operational matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I will ask its Chief Executive to reply to you.
23 Feb 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much in European Structural Funds has been allocated to the financing of the Cairngorm funicular railway.
Answer · Alex Neil: Grant of £2.699 million of European Regional Development Fund was awarded under the 1994-99 Highlands and Islands Objective 1 programme towards the cost of the construction of the funicular.
23 Feb 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding is being provided by Highlands and Islands Enterprise to the Cairngorm funicular railway.
Answer · John Swinney: This is an operational matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I will ask its Chief Executive to reply to you.
23 Feb 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff are assigned 100% to developing its proposal for establishing a ferry regulator.
Answer · Keith Brown: Staff involved in reviewing the need for a ferries regulator and exploring the necessary legislative provision are also engaged on a range of other ferry policy issues.
23 Feb 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-02879 by Keith Brown on 3 October 2011, whether it will address the specific issue raised in the question as to what the budget of the proposed ferry regulator will be.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-05912 on 8 March 2012. 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/Apps2/MAQASearc…
23 Feb 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the timetable is for the establishment of the proposed ferry regulator.
Answer · Keith Brown: As indicated in the draft Ferries Plan published on 21 December 2011, we intend to explore what legislative provision would be involved in setting up a Ferries Regulator. Further details will be made available in the final Ferries Plan due to be published lat…
8 Feb 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many repayment orders have been issued under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006.
Answer · Keith Brown: Repayment charges are made by local authorities under section 172 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 and should be registered in the appropriate property register. Information on the number of charges made is not held centrally. However, I have asked Sheenagh…
2 Feb 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy on dynamic pricing is in relation to new tenders for ferry services.
Answer · Keith Brown: Work is currently well advanced on securing a new contract for ferry services to the Northern Isles which will be in place from July 2012. The tender documentation allows bidders a certain amount of flexibility in their pricing proposals. However, this flexib…
31 Jan 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Deloitte Touche final report on the options for the ferry service between Gourock and Dunoon will be put back on the Scottish Government website.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Deloitte Touche final report was removed from the Scottish Government’s website due to the age of the document (1998). Given continued interest in this report, the final report and the Addendum to the report have been put back on the website and are avail…
12 Jan 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-02387 by Keith Brown on 27 September 2011, when the freedom of information request on the Air Discount Scheme lodged by David Stewart MSP on 24 October 2011 will receive a substantive response.
Answer · Keith Brown: A substantive response to this request will be provided shortly. The nature of the request has required Transport Scotland officials to liaise with counterparts in the Department for Transport and the UK’s Permanent Representation to the EU. The member has re…
22 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with the rail industry about the future of the Highland Chieftain service.
Answer · Keith Brown: Officials maintain regular dialogue with East Coast Trains, the operator of the Highland Chieftain service. However, there has been no recent discussion about the future of the service.
21 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has taken legal advice regarding the possibility of introducing a temporary Scottish-run top-up to the feed-in tariff scheme for the installation and running of solar photovoltaic panels for domestic consumers.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: We have not taken legal advice regarding the possibility of introducing a temporary Scottish-run top-up to the feed-in tariff scheme as it is not clear that such a scheme would benefit the sector, and would need State Aid clearance as it is likely to conflict…
21 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with (a) the Department of Energy and Climate Change, (b) the renewables industry and (c) solar photovoltaic panel installers regarding using the funding from the Fossil Fuel Levy Account to stimulate the renewables industry by introducing (i) a new scheme of g…
Answer · Fergus Ewing: We are reviewing our renewables budgets and spending priorities for the coming years to ensure that these funds, including the Fossil Fuel Levy allocation, are deployed effectively, and in a way which is wholly complementary and additional to existing plans. …
21 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how funds from the Fossil Fuel Levy account were committed in 2010-11 and how much will be allocated in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13 and (c) 2013-14.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: No funds have yet been drawn down from the Fossil Fuel Levy surplus account, held by Ofgem. Following the UK Government’s agreement late last year to provide the necessary increase in the Scottish expenditure limit to enable additional spending of £103 millio…
14 Dec 2011 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce its ferry strategy.
7 Dec 2011 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Justice last met officials from the Highland Council.
30 Nov 2011 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what actions it is planning to stimulate domestic use of solar panels.
30 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will commit to matching the £50 million investment in the Caledonian Sleeper service announced by the UK Government and, if so, when it will make this money available.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government is committed to continuing and improving sleeper service. We are determined to respond positively to this offer and are discussing its terms with the UK Government.
24 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the budget will be for the provision of road equivalent tariff for ferries in (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) 2014-15.
Answer · Keith Brown: The budget provision for RET for 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15 is £4.5 million each year.
24 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the road equivalent tariff pilot scheme will come to an end.
Answer · Keith Brown: The current RET pilot scheme is due to end in spring 2012. RET will then continue permanently on the routes to the Western Isles, Coll and Tiree for all passengers and traffic other than larger commercial vehicles.