Parliamentary questions
John Finnie
1,255 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
29 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S5W-31906 and S5W-31907, and S5W-31905 and 39108, by Michael Matheson on 28 and 29 September 2020 respectively, whether it will confirm what direct input Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) had in collating the responses.
Answer · Michael Matheson: HIAL was asked to comment on the draft Parliamentary Question responses in order to ensure factual accuracy. This is standard procedure for any questions relating to HIAL and its operations.
29 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-31908 by Michael Matheson on 29 September 2020, whether it will provide the information that was requested regarding what oversight it has of the costs of the Air Traffic Management System (ATMS) project, in light of reported concerns about the incr…
Answer · Michael Matheson: Oversight of all HIAL capital projects, including the ATMS project, is provided through HIAL’s grant funding regime.
29 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason there is no requirement on local authorities to ensure that they use the Treasury guidance regarding the social cost of carbon when comparing oil to woodchip heating costs.
29 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish its assessment of the additional capacity required to police the West of Scotland Marine Protected Area (MPA).
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The West of Scotland MPA covers waters subject to fisheries management measures under the EU Deep Sea Fisheries Regulation 2016/2336 that bans deep sea trawling in waters at depths greater than 800m. The site is therefore already covered by existing enforceme…
29 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the Army being deployed in policing roles; what assessment it has made of the political implications of such a deployment, and whether it has discussed with Police Scotland the UK Government’s proposal to deploy the Army in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: There have been no discussions with UK Government regarding the deployment of the Army in Scotland. There are already strong arrangements in place through the Multi Agency Coordination Centre should Army input ever prove necessary in civil contingency circums…
28 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-31907 by Michael Matheson on 28 September 2020, whether it will provide the information that was requesting regarding what mechanisms are available to employees, experts and ministers to challenge the islands impact assessment that Highlands and Isl…
Answer · Michael Matheson: Anybody is free to raise concerns about the Islands Impact Assessment once it has been published directly with the Company or its Board. As a public body HIAL is expected to respond to any enquiry within 20 working days.
25 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what mechanisms there are to ensure that public safety is not compromised by the manner in which companies responsible for trunk road maintenance prioritise their work programmes.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Transport Scotland Road Asset Management Plan (RAMP), published January 2016, sets out how Scotland's trunk road network is maintained strategically and efficiently in order to protect our assets and ensure maximum value for money from our road maintenanc…
25 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that there is a sufficiency of "white-lining" operators to ensure that companies responsible for trunk road maintenance can meet their obligations to maintain public safety on the trunk road network and on roads maintained by local authorities.
Answer · Michael Matheson: We are satisfied that our Operating Companies have the necessary road marking resources and capability to meet contract requirements and deliver our programmes of road marking work on the trunk road network. Local roads are the responsibility of the local aut…
25 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that companies responsible for trunk road maintenance discharge the terms of their contracts with it.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Transport Scotland holds regular contractual and programming meetings with the Operating Companies to discuss delivery, including any performance issues identified. Transport Scotland is supported by the Performance Audit Group (PAG). PAG’s role is to indepe…
25 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how often, in each of the last three years, companies responsible for trunk road maintenance were found not to have met the terms of their contracts with it, and what action it took on each occasion.
Answer · Michael Matheson: In monitoring the performance of the Operating Companies in relation to their contractual duties, Transport Scotland is supported by the Performance Audit Group (PAG). PAG’s role is to audit, monitor and report on the financial, technical and performance aspe…
24 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review the legal obligation to offer a public mains water service to all households.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The conditions for connecting properties to the public mains are set out in the Water (Scotland) Act 1980, supported by the Provision of Water and Sewerage Services (Reasonable Cost) (Scotland) Regulations 2015. There are no plans to review the legislation at…
23 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to questions S5W-31705 and S5W-31706 by Fergus Ewing on 17 September 2020, by what date it will publish the full business case for the future of Cairn Gorm funicular, and whether this will be prior to it making a decision on whether to allow full public scrutiny.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The business case for the Cairngorm funicular commissioned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) takes into account the findings of a 2018 study - Cairngorm Ski Area Feasibility Assessment & Strategic Plan, November 2018 - which was informed by wide consu…
18 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what mechanisms are available to employees, experts and ministers to challenge the islands impact assessment that Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) is carrying out on the proposal for remote air traffic control if they have concerns regarding its accuracy.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The islands impact assessment is being carried out by an independent consultant, following dialogue with the islands team in the Scottish Government. The process includes community engagement and consultation thus helping to ensure that the report is accurate…
18 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that the islands impact assessment that Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) is carrying out on the proposal for remote air traffic control will be impartial.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The ATMS strategy was approved in January 2018 and precedes the Islands (Scotland) Act. Accordingly, HIAL is not required to undertake an impact assessment but in the spirit of transparency agreed to do so. HIAL commissioned an independent consultant - who ha…
18 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what oversight it has of the costs of the Air Traffic Management System (ATMS) project, in light of reported concerns about the increase in these.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Oversight is provided by a Programme Board, membership of which includes a Non-Executive Director and a representative of the Unions. In addition, the HIAL Chair and Board Non-Executive Directors continue to provide an oversight and challenge function in rela…
18 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what evidence it has seen regarding whether Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) will be able to monetise the expertise gained as part of the Air Traffic Management System (ATMS) project.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The ability to offer services to other airports is not integral to the need for a modernised ATS function within HIAL. However, as HIAL and its staff will develop expertise and knowledge in this field, it would look to capitalise upon this in the longer term,…
16 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the Member's letter of 4 August and its reply of 3 September 2020, whether it will provide an answer to the request for it to commission independent research into the social and environmental impact of tourism.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government remains focused on understanding the impact that COVID-19 has had on the sector and what steps will be required to ensure its long term recovery. Although at this point we will not be commissioning a specific piece of research, we are…
9 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Highlands and Islands Enterprise business case for the repair of the funicular on Cairn Gorm will be published in full to allow the Parliament and the public to scrutinise the plans prior to the Scottish Government’s decision on the matter.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The business case for the repair of the funicular on Cairngorm will be published shortly.
9 Sep 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to receive the business case for the repair of the funicular on Cairn Gorm from Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and how long it estimates it will take for a decision to be reached.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Highlands and Islands Enterprise has shared the business case with the Scottish Government. A decision on the repair of the funicular on Cairngorm is expected shortly.
28 Aug 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Trust Ports' governance structures being designed to reflect local markets and the needs of local communities, what mechanisms it considers a Trust Port should employ to ensure that it is meeting the needs of all its local communities.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-31473 on 11 September 2020. 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/parliamentarybus…
28 Aug 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Trust Ports' governance structures being designed to reflect local markets and the needs of local communities, what mechanisms local communities have to ensure that a Trust Port is meeting its statutory obligations.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-31473 on 11 September 2020. 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/parliamentarybus…
28 Aug 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Trust Ports' operations impacting on communities some distance from them, what its position is on what factors should be considered in interpreting the term, local communities.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-31473 on 11 September 2020. 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/parliamentarybusi…
28 Aug 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has given, including via Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, to the Trust Port of Cromarty Firth in each of the last 10 years, and for what purposes.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Over the previous 10 years the Port of Cromarty Firth has received funding from Highlands and Islands Enterprise. The following table below the funding approved and claimed: Approval Date Financial Year Project No. Applicant Project Title & Purpose HI…
28 Aug 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what role it has in monitoring Trust Ports to ensure that they operate in the public, rather than exclusively commercial, interest.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Trust ports are independent statutory bodies, governed by their own local legislation and run by independent boards. Board composition is best served when there is expertise covering the working components of the port and where there is knowledge and consider…
28 Aug 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what access to (a) funding and (b) other public support local communities have to hold Trust Ports to account.
Answer · Michael Matheson: There are no specific funding avenues for local communities to access to hold trust ports to account. Trust ports should ensure on going communication with stakeholders through hosting annual meetings and consultations to enable stakeholders to offer their vi…
10 Aug 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the collection of roadkill on the trunk road network.
Answer · Michael Matheson: As part of their responsibilities, the Trunk Road Operating Companies are contractually required to remove all dead animals from the trunk road network. They are also required to dispose of the carcass of any non-domestic animal in accordance with the require…
10 Aug 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the final cost of dualling the (a) A9 and (b) A96.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government intends to dual the A9 between Perth and Inverness within the £3 billion estimate already identified. We have already invested over £320m to date including delivery of the £35m contract between Kincraig and Dalraddy, which opened to t…
9 Jul 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that the reported increased number of cyclists following the COVID-19 outbreak are kept safe; whether it plans to review the content, volume and format of its cycling safety information for (a) schoolchildren, (b) the general public and (c) motorists, and what progress…
Answer · Michael Matheson: As rates of everyday cycling increased during lockdown, we recognised that emergency temporary infrastructure measures were required to help people to continue to cycle in increasing numbers, whilst enabling them to physically distance and keep safe from traf…
9 Jul 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what regular engagement it has with visually impaired people regarding transport initiatives, and whether this applied to the Spaces for People programme.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Regular engagement with visually impaired people is undertaken through the Accessible Travel Policy Steering Group. The group meets quarterly, with representation from a range of disability groups including the RNIB and Guide Dogs UK, who ensure the needs of …
9 Jul 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, as part of the easing of the lockdown restrictions, whether public information will be reviewed to ensure (a) that there is awareness and (b) the effectiveness of the Spaces for People programme.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Public information on the Spaces for People programme is available on the Transport Scotland website as part of the Transport Transition Plan and on the Sustrans Scotland website. This information will continue to be reviewed as we progress through the phases…