John Finnie

30 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to report to the Parliament on the Highlands Empty Homes Initiative.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: The Highlands Empty Homes Initiative brings together £400,000 from the Scottish Government Empty Homes Loan Fund with match funding from the council to allow flexible grant and loan funding to help bring empty homes back into use as affordable housing. It is …

30 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ensure that every house that it owns and controls is entered on the electronic Property Information and Mapping Service (e-PIMS).

Answer · John Swinney: There is a central team in place that maintains a strategic overview of the Scottish Government’s estate. To assist organisations with property data entry a pre-populated pro forma has been developed along with guidance in order to make the exercise as strai…

30 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what avenues of redress exist for occupants of houses that it owns and manages regarding the standard of maintenance.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: The rights of redress of tenants depend on tenure. If occupants are private tenants, the landlord is expected to meet its duty to repair and maintain its properties as set out in the repairing standard under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006. Private tenants c…

30 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to bring the seven houses owned and managed by its Rural Payments and Inspection Division at Knocknagael Farm and Balrobert Farm in Inverness up to Scottish Housing Quality Standard.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: We commissioned a report into the state of the properties which has informed us about the repairs which need to be done, and we are undertaking to start work in the very near future. On completion of the works the houses shall meet the Scottish Housing Qualit…

19 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21656 by Keith Brown on 17 June 2014, what contingencies Transport Scotland has in place to set up an operation similar to the Department for Transport’s Directly Operated Railways.

Answer · Keith Brown: Further to the answer to S4W-21656 there are different options available to Transport Scotland in the event that the Caledonian Sleeper Franchisee becomes unable to fulfil the terms of its contract. The circumstances would be assessed at the time and one of …

19 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21657 by Keith Brown on 17 June 2014, how the Parliament will be made aware if any conflicts of interest are identified.

Answer · Keith Brown: Further to the answer to S4W-21657 officials at Transport Scotland actively monitor these matters on a regular basis. Were there to be any actual conflicts identified, and if considered appropriate, the Scottish Government would inform Parliament.

19 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21657 by Keith Brown on 17 June 2014, when the costs of the procurement will be finalised and where that information will be published.

Answer · Keith Brown: Further to the answer to question S4W-21657 the costs of the procurement, mobilisation and transition will be finalised after 31 March 2015 when the new Caledonian Sleeper Franchise begins. This information will be made available once it is finalised.

19 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21657 by Keith Brown on 17 June 2014, what procurements the term "both procurements" refers to.

Answer · Keith Brown: ‘Both procurements’ in the context of the answer to question S4W-21657 refers to the Caledonian Sleeper Franchise procurement (which has now been awarded and is now in mobilisation) and the ongoing ScotRail Franchise procurement.

19 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21652 by Keith Brown on 17 June 2014, who is responsible for checking “any profits above 7% of revenue”.

Answer · Keith Brown: Further to the answer to S4W-21652, Transport Scotland is responsible for checking ‘any profits above 7% of revenue’.

19 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21653 by Keith Brown on 17 June 2014, what it means by “generally unregulated” and whether the new Caledonian sleeper franchisee will be allowed to increase fares above inflation.

Answer · Keith Brown: “Generally unregulated” means generally, or mostly, not subject to regulation or control by government. The Caledonian Sleeper service carries two types of passenger groups: 1) passengers in accommodation other than seated (the majority of passengers) and 2…

19 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reports that workers from Estonia working for CalMac under the terms of its contract with the Scottish Government for lifeline ferry services on the Clyde and Hebrides network are being paid £4.19 per hour.

Answer · Keith Brown: We take very seriously the issue of the UK national minimum wage for staff paid both directly and indirectly by the Scottish Government. As soon as we were alerted to this issue we wrote to Stephen Hammond MP, the UK Government Minister with responsibility f…

18 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the new Caledonian sleeper franchise will lead to a reduction in the Inverness train depot's daytime workload.

Answer · Keith Brown: The future of the ScotRail maintenance depot in Inverness is secure. The Scottish Government has specified that the new ScotRail franchisee must maintain the depot at Inverness. This is appropriate because the majority of work conducted at the depot is for Sc…

17 Jun 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it provides to local authorities for the education of Gypsy/Travellers. 

11 Jun 2014 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many private educational establishments are entitled to 80% mandatory rates relief and how many are given relief of up to 100%.

5 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the attitude of the operators of the new Caledonian sleeper rail franchise toward how industrial relations on the service should be managed.

Answer · Keith Brown: A rigorous and comprehensive evaluation process has been undertaken by an expert and well-resourced team in Transport Scotland which looked at all aspects of the new franchise including industrial relations. Both Transport Scotland and the new franchisee will…

5 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the operator of the new Caledonian sleeper rail franchise will be allowed to sub-contract (a) drivers, (b) conductors, (c) cleaners, (d) maintenance crews, (e) station staff and (e) other staff.

Answer · Keith Brown: Now that the Caledonian sleeper rail franchise contract has been signed, following the voluntary standstill period, the franchisee is in the early phases of their mobilisation. The franchisee is working with the existing franchisee (First ScotRail) to ensure …

5 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consultants it hired for advice about the new Caledonian sleeper rail franchise; how much each was paid; whether they were asked to declare any possible conflicts of interest and, if so, what declarations were made.

Answer · Keith Brown: The requirement for a procurement competition for rail franchising in Scotland occurs once every 7-10 years, and it is not therefore economically advantageous to continually employ, train and retain the specialist staff required in order to provide advice on …

5 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, if the operator of the new Caledonian sleeper rail franchise became unable to fulfil the terms of its contract, who would be the operator of last resort.

Answer · Keith Brown: The selection of an operator of last resort would depend on the circumstances. Transport Scotland could step in to set up an operation similar to the Department for Transport’s Directly Operated Railways, or could appoint another suitably competent operator o…

5 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what contingencies will be put in place to ensure that the new Caledonian sleeper rail franchise will continue for the full duration of its contract.

Answer · Keith Brown: It is the firm intention of Scottish Ministers to ensure that the contract will continue for its full duration. As with other contracts of this nature, there are mechanisms in the contract to ensure the viable and effective delivery of the contract for the fu…

5 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what earliest opportunity it will have to terminate the new Caledonian sleeper rail franchise.

Answer · Keith Brown: It is the expectation of Scottish Ministers that this contact will last for 15 years. The contract places clear obligations on the franchisee. If at any point during the contract term the franchisee fails to meet these obligations, Scottish Ministers have a r…

5 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the operator of the new Caledonian sleeper rail franchise will be allowed to increase fares above the rate of inflation.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Caledonian sleeper is operating in a particularly competitive market between Scotland and London competing with air, daytime rail (where low advance fares are being promoted) and overnight coach travel which is a driver for competitive fares, and the slee…

5 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much private profit is expected to arise from the new Caledonian sleeper rail franchise.

Answer · Keith Brown: Private sector profit under the Caledonian sleeper franchise is subject to a cap and sharing mechanism. The public subsidy levels have been bid as part of the procurement. Any profits above 7% of revenue will be shared 50:50 between Transport Scotland and th…

5 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much private sector investment will be sought for the new Caledonian sleeper rail franchise.

Answer · Keith Brown: Over £60 million of private sector money will be invested in new rolling stock for the Caledonian sleeper in addition to a £60 million capital grant from the Scottish Ministers. This investment in new rolling stock alongside investment in staff training and d…

2 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on what the procedure is for a harbour to be re-registered as a working harbour.

Answer · Keith Brown: There is no procedure for the registration of working harbours. Statutory harbours around our coasts operate under a variety of models either as harbour trusts, private or local authority operated. Each harbour is enabled and governed by its own unique legis…

29 May 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that chapter 2 of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 should be amended to give the public interest equal weight to the public benefit.

Answer · John Swinney: There is no intention to amend Section 2 of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 with regards to giving ‘public interest’ equal weight to ‘public benefit’. Section 7 of Chapter 2 sets out the charity test that must be satisfied by every b…

21 May 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many homeless people, in cases where the main applicant was aged 24 or under at the time of application, who had previously been looked after for a period, had spent time in a B&B at any point during the application process, in each local authority area in each of the last five years.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: Table A shows the number of homelessness applications to local authorities where: The main applicant was aged 24 or under at time of application, the household had spent time in a BandB at some point during the application process and a household member had …

21 May 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many homeless people in cases where the main applicant was aged 24 or under at time of application, had (a) spent time in a B&B at any point during the application process and (b) previously been looked after for a period, in each local authority area in each of the last five years.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: Table A shows the number of homelessness applications to local authorities where the main applicant was aged 24 or under at time of application and had spent time in a BandB at some point during the application process. Table A: Financial Year of Applicat…

3 Apr 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many times in each of the last five years road design has been considered a contributory factor in accidents on the A82.

Answer · Keith Brown: The police record details of all personal injury accidents, including on the A82 trunk road, however road design is not recorded as a contributory factor.

3 Apr 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many road accidents resulting in serious injury there have been on the A82 between (a) Onich and Fort William, (b) Fort William and Spean Bridge, (c) Spean Bridge and Fort Augustus and (d) Fort Augustus and Inverness in each of the last five years.

Answer · Keith Brown: Transport Scotland collates information on reported personal injury accidents on trunk roads in Scotland and this database is updated periodically, as data provided by the police is checked and verified. The following table shows the number of serious acciden…

3 Apr 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many fatal road accidents there have been on the A82 between (a) Onich and Fort William, (b) Fort William and Spean Bridge, (c) Spean Bridge and Fort Augustus and (d) Fort Augustus and Inverness in each of the last five years.

Answer · Keith Brown: Transport Scotland collates information on reported personal injury accidents on trunk roads in Scotland and this database is updated periodically, as data provided by the police is checked and verified. The following table shows the number of fatal accidents…