Parliamentary questions
John Finnie
1,255 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
9 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd will complete the re-development of Brodick Harbour, and what the final cost will be.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Brodick ferry terminal redevelopment works are on programme and due to be substantially complete in August 2017. The final outturn costs of the project is anticipated to be within the £30.8m project budget.
8 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to support people in the North Scotland electricity distribution network area regarding Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks' proposed increase in additional distribution costs in 2017-18 by 23%, with a further 10% increase planned each year until 2023, due …
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Scottish Ministers meet regularly with SSE to discuss matters regarding investment proposals for grid in the North Scotland area – most recently on 15 March 2017. The Scottish Government and Marine Scotland have been working closely with Scottish and Southe…
7 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-07547 by Humza Yousaf on 6 March 2017, how much (a) revenue and (b) capital subsidy was provided by (i) it and (ii) its agencies, other than Transport Scotland and its predecessors, in each of the last 10 years.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Table 1 outlines the revenue and capital subsidy provided to HIAL by the Scottish Government and its agencies, other than that which was included in the response to question S5W-07547, broken down by body and financial year. Table 1: Subsidy to HIAL Year H…
3 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of the proposed £4.6 million annually provided to the Farm Advisory Service in the draft Climate Change Plan will be spent on mitigation, and how much is budgeted for non-mitigation advice and support, including biodiversity, habitat and land management, water pollution, …
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Farm Advisory Service’s (FAS) main aim is to increase the profitability and sustainability of farming and crofting enterprises across Scotland. The delivery of the service is provided through two contracts and the overall budget is divided between them;…
3 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) financial and (b) other implications are of not revaluing properties for council tax purposes during the current Parliamentary session.
Answer · Derek Mackay: Revaluation could lead to unwelcome and unplanned increases to the amount many households would be required to pay, incur administrative costs estimated to be between £5.5 million and £8.5 million and potentially alter the tax base in every local authority ar…
28 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what evidence it used to assert in its publication, Draft Climate Change Plan - the draft Third Report on Policies and Proposals 2017-2032, that modal switch to bus use is “likely to be limited by capacity of the sector to absorb significant new traffic".
Answer · Humza Yousaf: In making this determination, the Scottish Government consulted the Carbon Account for Transport. This shows that 50% of the total emissions from road transport arise on the rural road network. Our own survey data shows that the proportion of bus journeys und…
28 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which policies in its publication, Draft Climate Change Plan - the draft Third Report on Policies and Proposals 2017-2032, encourage a modal shift towards public transport.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The draft Climate Change Plan sets out a package of policies and proposals which encourage individuals and businesses to move towards public transport. For policies, we will continue to electrify Scotland’s rail network, with up to 35% of the network electri…
28 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the data in the Scottish Household Survey regarding the modal share of all journeys by walking and bicycle, for what reason its publication, Draft Climate Change Plan - the draft Third Report on Policies and Proposals 2017-2032, states that there are "no appropriate quantifi…
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The current document is intended to be a draft Plan only. Identifying a quantifiable indicator for this policy outcome is complex and Transport Scotland is currently refining this. An appropriate indicator will appear in the final version of the Plan.
28 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason its publication, Draft Climate Change Plan - the draft Third Report on Policies and Proposals 2017-2032, assumes that there will be no increase in bus use by 2032.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: For the purpose of the Climate Change Plan baseline, bus demand in 2035 is projected to hold at its 2015 level. This baseline 0% rise assumes no further intervention. However, We are intervening through our continued support to the bus industry to further g…
28 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the rise in vehicle kilometres was between 2005 and 2015, and what increase was assumed in the modelling in its publication, Draft Climate Change Plan - the draft Third Report on Policies and Proposals 2017-2032.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The rise in demand between 2005 and 2015 and the projections for the future are set out in the following table as an average annual change. For bus, by assuming a 0% demand increase between 2015-2035 as the baseline, we are assuming that current policies wil…
28 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the modelling in its publication, Draft Climate Change Plan - the draft Third Report on Policies and Proposals 2017-2032, assumes that funding for active travel is to be frozen at 2016-17 values until 2021.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government has put in place record investment in walking and cycling, with over £175 million invested since the 2011 spending review. As noted in the Programme for Government, we will maintain investment at record levels for the life of this parl…
28 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-06899 by Michael Matheson on 28 February 2017, whether it will provide the information that was requested regarding what information it (a) had in advance and (b) has obtained since regarding a nuclear convoy reportedly travelling from Burghfield in…
Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-06899 on 28 February 2017 All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusines…
24 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much (a) revenue and (b) capital subsidy it has provided to Highlands and Islands Airports Limted (HIAL) in each of the last 10 years.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Table 1 outlines the revenue and capital subsidy provided to HIAL by the Scottish Government for the period 2006-07 to 2015-16. Table 1: Revenue and Capital Subsidy to HIAL Year Revenue (£) Capital (£) 2006-07 13,286,000 6,233,231 2007-08 20,309,000 …
23 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the likelihood of, and possible consequences arising from, legal action being raised against it or the Scottish Prison Service by staff or non-smoking inmates who are subject to the effects of passive smoking.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: SPS is very much aware of the issues related to passive smoking, including the risk of legal challenge. SPS has successfully defended a cha…
23 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to ensure that each local authority area has a supported employment service with trained job coaches, and what action it can take to address the reported shortage of coaches.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government is committed to the Supported Employment model. On 2 December 2016 we launched A Fairer Scotland for Disabled People – our Delivery Plan to 2021 for the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. One of the actions is …
23 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what criteria it used to select invitees to the Employability Summit that it hosted on 23 November 2016; whether it will publish the minute or notes of the summit; what actions are being taken forward from it, and how many of the attendees have since secured permanent jobs.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Ministerial Summit on Employability provided a forum for people with an interest in the employment support landscape in Scotland to share views, expertise and insight as the Scottish Government move towards the design and delivery on new devolved services…
23 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the age limits are for modern apprenticeships within its directorates.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Scottish Government Modern Apprenticeships are targeted at applicants aged between 16 and 24 years old. During 2017-18, it is our intention to change the recruitment process for our Modern Apprenticeships to be in line with Civil Service Commissioners recrui…
23 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the impact on the third sector in Scotland if access to EU social funding is reduced or stopped, and how it would mitigate this.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Third sector benefits significantly from the Scottish European Social Fund programmes. This amounted to £71 million of funding for the sector in 2007-13, and is estimated to rise to £100 million in 2014-20. This funding supports the sector to deliver jobs…
23 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government where it indicates on the modern apprenticeship vacancies that it advertises that they comply with the Two Tick or Disability Confident processes.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Scottish Government funded modern apprenticeships are advertised on apprenticeship.scot. Employers can indicate on their vacancy that they comply with the Two Tick or Disability Confident processes. Two Ticks information is located in the vacancy upload proce…
23 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what research Transport Scotland has commissioned on (a) demand management, (b) active travel and (c) modal shift in each of the last 10 years.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: 2007-08 Nil 2008-09 Mitigating transport’s climate change impacts In Scotland (Atkins) Smarter Choices, Smarter Places monitoring and evaluation (3 years) (DHC and University of Aberdeen) 2009-10 Nil 2010-11 Nil 2011-12 Park and Ride (ARUP) Hands …
23 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will reintroduce the Scottish Employers Recruitment Incentive and how much it will invest in this in 2017-18.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Despite record low levels of youth unemployment Scotland’s Employer Recruitment Incentive (SERI) will re-open on 1 April 2017 with an investment of up to £2.65m. This will support employers to recruit a further 550 young people who face the biggest barriers t…
23 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance Skills Development Scotland provides to employers and training providers advertising modern apprenticeships on the apprenticeships website regarding the obligation to offer the Two Tick or Disability Confident processes.
Answer · John Swinney: Skills Development Scotland has been developing information sessions for training providers on Disability Confident. These will be undertaken in collaboration with DWP and rolled from April onwards. The sessions will be held at various locations across Scotla…
9 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that everyone who works with children and vulnerable people goes through the appropriate disclosure checks and has valid Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme accreditation.
Answer · Mark McDonald: According to section 35(1) of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007, it is a criminal offence for an employer to offer regulated work with children and / or protected adults to an individual who they know to be barred from engaging in the re…
8 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government further to the answer to question S5W-05888 by Joe FitzPatrick on 19 January 2017, what the minimum period is for the retention of records, and who determines this.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The retention period of recorded information is determined by each Scottish Government business area within their respective data retention schedule and in line with the Scottish Government Records Management Plan
8 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government further to the answer to question S5W-05888 by Joe FitzPatrick on 19 January 2017, what its position is on whether there being no requirement to record when the policy is adopted reflects best practice
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Unacceptable Actions Policy offers members of the public and Scottish Government staff guidance, support and clarity on expectations of acceptable behaviour. All restricted contact is supported by senior management and is recorded locally related to the c…
7 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact the review into the procurement of Scottish ferry services that it announced on 2 February 2017 will have on the Harbour Operating Agreement between the operator and infrastructure owner on the existing contract for Clyde and Hebrides ferry services.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: We cannot pre-judge the outcome of the review. We will ensure that harbour facilities are made available to allow us to meet our number one priority to continue to deliver efficient, safe and reliable ferry services to our island and remote rural communities.
6 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-05743 by Roseanna Cunningham on 17 January 2017, for what reason the subsidy provided to Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) increased by a greater margin between 2013-14 and 2014-15.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: HIAL receives both revenue and capital subsidy from the Scottish Government. In 2013-14 HIAL’s revenue subsidy was lower than trend as a proportion of the operating cost deficit was met from the use of cash reserves that HIAL had built up over a number of yea…
6 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it (a) had in advance and (b) has obtained since regarding a nuclear convoy reportedly travelling from Burghfield in England to Coulport using the M8 through Glasgow and crossing the Erskine Bridge despite reported warnings of high winds.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Powers over nuclear safety are reserved to the UK Government. The responsibility for the transportation of defence nuclear material lies with the Ministry of Defence. Police Scotland is always notified in advance of a convoy being routed through their area. …
27 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the average cost is to (a) Glasgow City College and (b) Caledonian MacBrayne of training a seafarer rating through the modern apprenticeship programme.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: MAs are a joint investment between employers and public funding. The Modern Apprenticeship contribution rates table (https://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/media/41756/ma-contribution-tables-2016-17-dec-2016.pdf) sets out the public funding contribution …
27 Jan 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of the accommodation costs incurred by modern apprenticeships in the maritime industry in 2015-16 were met by Skills Development Scotland, and what the proportion will be in 2016-17.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: No travel and subsistence costs were claimed by any of the three contracted providers for Maritime Occupations MAs in 2015-16. If the providers claim travel and subsistence during 2016-17, this information will be available at the end of the contracting year.