Parliamentary questions
John Finnie
1,255 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
5 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the annual (a) operating costs and (b) passenger fare revenues were for Orkney Ferries in each year since 2010-11.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Responsibility for Orkney’s internal ferry services rests with Orkney Islands Council. Orkney Ferries is owned by Orkney Islands Council. Information on operating costs and passenger fare revenues will be available from Orkney Ferries or Orkney Islands Counc…
5 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) staff and (b) passengers it estimates would be affected by adding the inter-island ferry services on the Orkney Isles that are currently provided by Orkney Ferries to the routes in the public contract for Northern Isles Ferry Services.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Responsibility for Orkney’s internal ferry services rests with Orkney Islands Council. Orkney Ferries is owned by Orkney Islands Council. Annual passenger carrying figures are published in Table 9.14(b) of Scottish Transport Statistics 2016 edition https://w…
5 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) Orkney Ferries and (b) trade unions regarding the future funding and provision of inter-island ferry services on the Orkney Isles.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Ferries Plan 2013-22 committed that the Scottish Government is willing to consider taking on responsibility for local authority lifeline ferry services, and set out the principles involved for such a transfer to move forward. The Plan indicated that asses…
29 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-10518 by James Wolffe QC on 24 August 2017, for what reason "No statistics are held of the number of times prosecutors have decided to relinquish title to prosecute in favour of the prosecuting authorities of another jurisdiction".
Answer · James Wolffe QC: The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service's case management database is a live, operating database. It is designed to meet our business needs in relation to the processing of criminal cases, and the information within it is structured accordingly. We do …
18 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when its decision on Braemore Wind Farm will be made.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The application for the Braemore Wind Farm was referred to the Department for Planning and Environmental Appeals for a Local Public Inquiry (PLI) to be heard. The PLI Report was returned to Scottish Ministers on 4 August 2016. This PLI report is being given …
17 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what factors are considered prior to closing a trunk road for upgrading; who is consulted; what assessment it makes of the impact of closures, and what plans it has to review the process.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government fully recognises the importance of the trunk road network to the economy of Scotland and also the communities which it serves. That is why this Government has invested almost £1.5 billion in the maintenance of the network since 2007. …
16 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government who is responsible for the removal from (a) trunk and (b) other roads of killed wildlife, and whether it plans to review this.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Transport Scotland has contracts in place with its Operating Companies to ensure Scottish trunk roads remain safe, efficient and well managed. The Operating Companies are responsible for the management and maintenance of the trunk road network under five sepa…
15 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the impact will be on Scotland's relationship with the European Police Office (Europol) of the UK leaving the EU.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government believes that access to all EU security, law enforcement and civil judicial co-operation measures are of clear benefit to Scotland. Leaving the EU will put at risk participation in these measures and threatens the deep and special rela…
15 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the impact will be on Scotland's relationship with the European Judicial Network of the UK leaving the EU.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government believes that access to all EU security, law enforcement and civil judicial co-operation measures are of clear benefit to Scotland. Leaving the EU will put at risk participation in these measures and threatens the deep and special rela…
15 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the impact will be on the use of the European Arrest Warrant in Scotland of any changes to the EUROJUST arrangements following the UK leaving the EU.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government believes that access to all EU security, law enforcement and civil judicial co-operation measures are of clear benefit to Scotland. Leaving the EU will put at risk participation in these measures and threatens the deep and special rela…
15 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the impact will be on court interdicts in Scotland of the UK leaving the EU.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government believes that access to all EU security, law enforcement and civil judicial co-operation measures are of clear benefit to Scotland. Leaving the EU will put at risk participation in these measures and threatens the deep and special rela…
15 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the impact will be on family law judgements in Scotland of the UK leaving the EU.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government believes that access to all EU security, law enforcement and civil judicial co-operation measures are of clear benefit to Scotland. Leaving the EU will put at risk participation in these measures and threatens the deep and special rela…
15 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the impact will be on Scotland of any changes to the UK's position in EUROJUST following its exit from the EU, and what impact any changes to the current arrangement will have on the investigation and prosecution of cross-border criminal cases.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government believes that access to all EU security, law enforcement and civil judicial co-operation measures are of clear benefit to Scotland. Leaving the EU will put at risk participation in these measures and threatens the deep and special rela…
15 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the impact will be on contract law in Scotland of the UK leaving the EU.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government believes that access to all EU security, law enforcement and civil judicial co-operation measures are of clear benefit to Scotland. Leaving the EU will put at risk participation in these measures and threatens the deep and special rela…
15 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the impact will be on access to cross-border justice in Scotland, such as the principle of mutual recognition and direct judicial cooperation, of the UK leaving the EU.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government believes that access to all EU security, law enforcement and civil judicial co-operation measures are of clear benefit to Scotland. Leaving the EU will put at risk participation in these measures and threatens the deep and special rela…
15 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the impact will be on Scotland's relationship with the European Court of Human Rights of the UK leaving the EU.
Answer · Angela Constance: The European Court of Human Rights is an institution of the Council of Europe, rather than the European Union (EU). The Court is established by Section II of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). UK withdrawal from the EU will not, of itself, dire…
15 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the impact will be on the fundamental rights of people living in Scotland of the UK leaving the EU.
Answer · Angela Constance: The detailed fundamental rights impacts of Brexit remain difficult to quantify. Lack of clarity around UK Government intentions and the absence of substantive engagement with devolved interests continue to frustrate efforts to guard against potentially advers…
15 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the impact will be on Scotland regarding the protection of personal data of the UK leaving the EU.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government believes that access to all EU security, law enforcement and civil judicial co-operation measures are of clear benefit to Scotland. Leaving the EU will put at risk participation in these measures and threatens the deep and special rela…
7 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact the movement of nuclear fuels on the Far North Line between Georgemass Junction and Inverness has had on ScotRail punctuality.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Over the last five years, there have been 11 occasions when ScotRail services in the Far North have been delayed by the operations of British Nuclear Fuels trains between Georgemas Junction and Inverness. In context, some 31,500 ScotRail services will have be…
7 Aug 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what arrangements (a) it, (b) ScotRail and (c) Network Rail has entered into to afford trains carrying nuclear waste south from Georgemass Junction preferential passage.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: There are no arrangements which (a) the Scottish Government, (b) ScotRail, or (c) Network Rail have entered into to afford trains carrying nuclear fuel south from Georgemas Junction preferential passage.
27 Jul 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review arrangements for determining whether crimes alleged to have been committed in Scotland can be prosecuted outwith the UK if the UK leaves the EU.
Answer · James Wolffe QC: All decisions in relation to the prosecution of crimes alleged to have been committed in Scotland are taken by prosecutors acting within the system of prosecution headed by the Lord Advocate. In terms of section 48(5) of the Scotland Act 1998, any decision of…
27 Jul 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what criteria it applies in determining whether crimes alleged to have been committed in Scotland can be prosecuted outwith the UK, and what consideration is given to the victims and witnesses.
Answer · James Wolffe QC: All decisions in relation to the prosecution of crimes alleged to have been committed in Scotland are taken by prosecutors acting within the system of prosecution headed by the Lord Advocate. In terms of section 48(5) of the Scotland Act 1998, any decision of…
27 Jul 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many times in each of the last 10 years has it determined that a crime alleged to have been committed in Scotland could be prosecuted outwith the UK; what crimes they related to, and how many prosecutions led to a conviction.
Answer · James Wolffe QC: All decisions in relation to the prosecution of crimes alleged to have been committed in Scotland are taken by prosecutors acting within the system of prosecution headed by the Lord Advocate. In terms of section 48(5) of the Scotland Act 1998, any decision of…
11 Jul 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what positive action measures Police Scotland has taken to assist the recruitment of black and minority ethnic (BME) police (a) officers and (b) staff.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The recruitment of police officers and police staff is a matter for the Chief Constable. Police Scotland published its latest mainstreaming report in April 2017 and this highlights the recruitment of officers and staff from the BME community. A link to the re…
26 Jun 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-09667 by Angela Constance on 26 June 2017, whether it will provide the information that was requested regarding which organisations asked it to adopt the International Holocaust Memorial Trust's working definition of anti-Semitism, and what issues i…
Answer · Angela Constance: Scottish Government officials met with the Scottish Council for Jewish Communities and the Community Security Trust to discuss the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of anti-Semitism, which is based on the definition publis…
19 Jun 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of an assessment of the North Coast 500 scenic route, which suggests that it brought 29,000 extra visitors to the Highlands and added £9 million to the region's economy, what assessment it has made of the route’s impact on the region’s infrastructure, and how any assessment wil…
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government welcomes the success of the North Coast 500 (NC500) in attracting visitors to the North Highlands, illustrated by the findings of the Highlands and Islands Enterprise's (HIE) economic baseline study published in June 2017 (http://www…
16 Jun 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what Gypsy/Traveller sites its officials have visited in the last six months; when the visits took place, and to whom did they speak.
Answer · Angela Constance: Scottish Government officials visited four Gypsy/Traveller sites: Inverness on 31 March, Larkhall on 12 April, Edinburgh on 9 May and Banff on 16 May. They engaged with site managers, liaison officers and directly with members of the Gypsy/Traveller community.
16 Jun 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish details of the work that it (a) carries out and (b) is planning in each policy area regarding Gypsy/Travellers.
Answer · Angela Constance: Policy information on Gypsy/Travellers is published on the Scottish Government’s Equality webpage at: https://beta.gov.scot/policies/equality/gypsy-travellers/. Furthermore, we plan to publish a Gypsy/Traveller Strategic Programme of Work document in Autumn …
14 Jun 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its news release of 13 June 2017, Next steps on tackling hate crime, in light of its plan to adopt the International Holocaust Memorial Trust's working definition of antisemitism, whether it plans to redefine other forms of discrimination and, if so, which.
Answer · Angela Constance: As set out in our response to the recommendations of the Report by the Independent Advisory Group on Hate Crime, Prejudice and Community Cohesion, the Scottish Government will engage in dialogue around definitions and terminology, taking account of any conclu…
14 Jun 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its news release of 13 June 2017, Next steps on tackling hate crime, what its response is to concerns that adopting the International Holocaust Memorial Trust's working definition of antisemitism could impact on the right to criticise the actions of the Israeli Government and…
Answer · Angela Constance: We note that detailed guidance accompanying the definition states that “ Manifestations might include the targeting of the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity. However, criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country cann…