John Finnie

6 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-13794 by Humza Yousaf on 23 January 2018, whether it will provide the same information regarding the (a) cancellations and (b) delays that were recorded on ScotRail services in (i) 2018 and (ii) 2019, also broken by down the stations affected.

Answer · Michael Matheson: In 2018, 2.2 percent of ScotRail services were cancelled in full, and a further 1.3 percent cancelled in part. In addition 68,940 trains (9.1 percent of trains planned) arrived at destination more than 5 minutes late. In 2019, 2.1 percent of ScotRail service…

6 Jan 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-21130 by Michael Matheson on 29 January 2019, whether it will provide the same information regarding incidences of stop-skipping on ScotRail services in 2019, also broken by down the stations affected.

Answer · Michael Matheson: In 2019, 2,660 trains were reported to Transport Scotland as having been affected by skip-stopping. This value is 0.33 percent of all trains booked to run during 2019. The member will wish to be aware that the information above broken down by station is avai…

20 Dec 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-26632 by Michael Matheson on 20 December 2019, whether it will answer the question asked regarding whether it has challenged Network Rail's introduction of labour-only subcontractors in place of full-time staff in Scotland.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government has not discussed with Network Rail its recruitment policy of labour-only contractors. That policy is a matter for Network Rail whose directors are responsible to the Secretary of State for Transport .

12 Dec 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has committed to transport projects in City Deals, and how much has been in relation to rail travel.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government supports Deals for all of Scotland’s regions to drive sustainable and inclusive economic growth across the whole country. To date, we have committed a total of £1.52 billion over the next 10 to 15 years to City Region and Growth Deals.…

12 Dec 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ensure that charities registered with the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) publish details of monies received from outwith the UK.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 places a duty on all charities to prepare a statement of account, have this independently examined or audited and provide a copy to the Scottish Charity Regulator. Under the 2005 Act, a person can reque…

12 Dec 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met groups that promote non-secular education and what was discussed.

Answer · John Swinney: Scottish Ministers and their officials engage on a regular basis with organisations who promote faith based education or who provide advice and support on religious and moral education. The most recent meeting was on 19 September 2019. Scottish Government of…

12 Dec 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of it declaring a climate emergency, what plans it has to review its contribution to transport projects forming part of City Deals.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government is committed to our target of net-zero emissions of all greenhouse gases by 2045, five years ahead of the UK. All projects included within the City Region and Growth Deals are subject to continuous review and assessment work to ensure…

12 Dec 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-26542 by Aileen Campbell on 12 December 2019, for what reason it is unable to provide details of all its wider engagements with the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities or specific details of what has been discussed with the organisation.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-26719 on 20 January 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/parliamentarybusines…

12 Dec 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-26541 by Aileen Campbell on 12 December 2019, for what reason it is unable to provide details of all its wider engagements with the Community Security Trust or specific details of what has been discussed with the organisation.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: We are unable to provide details of wider Scottish Government engagement with the Community Security Trust as this information is not centrally held. We have therefore provided details of the meetings held between the Community Security Trust and the Connect…

12 Dec 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what funding it has provided to the (a) Community Security Trust and (b) Scottish Council of Jewish Communities in each of the last five years; for what reason, and whether any service level agreements were published.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: Details of funding under the Promoting Equality and Cohesion Fund (PECF) 2017-2020 can be found at https://www.gov.scot/publications/equality-funding-pecf-2017-2020/ . In addition to the PECF, the following was also awarded to the Scottish Council of Jewis…

10 Dec 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the planning decision on the proposed development of a golf course at Coul Links will be announced.

9 Dec 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-26417 by Paul Wheelhouse on 2 December 2019, what the operational carbon footprint of NorthLink Ferries has been in each year since 2012.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: NorthLink Ferries vessels have produced CO2 (in tonnes) whilst operating lifeline services to and from the Northern Isles:   2012* 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018** 2019 55,972 110,092 105,328 97,840 98,912 95,977 96,761 95,885   *2012 figure…

9 Dec 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-26417 by Paul Wheelhouse on 2 December 2019, what the average operational carbon footprint per journey has been for NorthLink Ferries in each of the last five years.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The European Union (EU) Monitoring, Reporting and Verification Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2015/757 requires the operator of the Northern Isles Ferry Services, Serco NorthLink Ferries (SNF) to report regularly on their CO2 production for all the vessels they …

9 Dec 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-26417 by Paul Wheelhouse on 2 December 2019, what the operational carbon footprint has been for each ferry in the NorthLink Ferries fleet in each of the last five years.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The operational carbon footprint for each ferry in the NorthLink Ferries fleet in each of the last five years is given in the following tables:    2015 tonnes CO2 2016 tonnes CO2 2017 tonnes CO2 2018* tonnes CO2 2019 tonnes CO2 Hjaltland 30,345.6…

6 Dec 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the projected impact of the proposed Sheriffhall roundabout upgrade will be on (a) (i) current and (ii) induced traffic levels and (b) greenhouse gas emissions.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Response to question regarding (a) traffic level: Detailed traffic surveys indicated that the total number of vehicles that passed through Sheriffhall roundabout was 67,500 on average (14-hour weekday period in 2017). By 2024 (which, for assessment purposes,…

5 Dec 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the number of unfilled vacancies within Network Rail in Scotland.

Answer · Michael Matheson: This is an operational matter and is the responsibility of Network Rail.  

5 Dec 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Scotland's Railway regarding concerns over a so-called job and knock culture developing within Network Rail in Scotland, where staff rush to finish work for financial reasons.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government funds Network Rail in Scotland to operate and maintain a high performing rail network. However, Network Rail is a wholly owned subsidiary of the UK Government, over which the Scottish Government does not have direct control. Therefore …

5 Dec 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many times in 2019 it has met Scotland's Railway, and what issues were discussed.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Transport Scotland meets with Network Rail and ScotRail on an ongoing basis to discuss the many aspects of running Scotland’s Railway.  

5 Dec 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to increase midweek access to the rail infrastructure to allow maintenance and other activities to be safely carried out.

Answer · Michael Matheson: This is an operational matter for Network Rail. Transport Scotland officials have recently discussed access issues with the rail industry following receipt of a letter from RMT on 28 November 2019. They have also agreed to facilitate a meeting with rail indu…

5 Dec 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has challenged Network Rail's introduction of labour-only subcontractors in place of full-time staff in Scotland.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government funds Network Rail in Scotland to operate and maintain a high performing rail network. However, Network Rail is a wholly owned subsidiary of the UK Government, over which the Scottish Government does not have direct control. Therefore …

5 Dec 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) unions and (b) Scotland's Railway regarding concerns about poor industrial relations within Network Rail in Scotland.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Transport Scotland and I a) met with RMT and facilitated discussions between the relevant stakeholders which led to a resolution of an issue over mid-week working and b) no separate discussions about poor industrial relations have been held between Network Ra…

5 Dec 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Office of Rail and Road regarding the impact of unfilled vacancies on Network Rail in Scotland.

Answer · Michael Matheson: This is an operational matter and is the responsibility of Network Rail.  

5 Dec 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-26426 by Humza Yousaf on 2 December 2019, for what reason Police Scotland has responded privately to the Member and treated the question as a Freedom of Information request and not a parliamentary question.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-26426 on 2 December 2019 where I confirmed that I had passed the request to Police Scotland and asked that they respond directly to the member. Police Scotland considered the request for information and decided…

5 Dec 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-26426 by Humza Yousaf on 2 December 2019, for what reason it did not follow the instruction at paragraph 75 of its September 2017 paper, Guidance for Scottish Government Officials on Scottish Parliamentary Questions, which sets out how it should res…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: As outlined in the answer to question S5W-26426 on 2 December 2019, the information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. As Police Scotland is not an agency of the Scottish Government, I asked Police Scotland to consider the request and…

26 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on how many occasions in each of the last five years it has met the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities, and what issues were discussed.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The First Minister met with SCOJEC in June 2015 and August 2017, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and the Minister for Local Government and Community Empowerment met them in November 2015. The Cabinet Secretary for Communities, Social Security and Equalities…

26 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-26373 by Aileen Campbell on 25 November 2019, whether it will provide the information requested regarding the names of all of the organisations that made informal requests for it to adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: I refer the Member to the answer to question S5W-26373 on 25 November 2019, S5W-26539 on 12 December 2019, S5W-25837 on 12 November 2019 and S5W-25533 on 8 October 2019. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website,…

26 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-26373 by Aileen Campbell on 25 November 2019, on what dates and by what methods the (a) Community Security Trust and (b) Scottish Council of Jewish Communities requested that it adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: At a meeting on 16 May 2017 SCOJEC and CST agreed that the adoption of the definition by the Scottish Government would be helpful in helping to tackle anti-Semitism in Scotland.  

26 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on how many occasions in each of the last five years it has met the Community Security Trust, and what issues were discussed.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: Officials from our Connected Communities team met with the Community Security Trust twice in 2017; once in 2018; and twice in 2019. Our most recent meeting was on 7 November 2019. On each occasion a range of matters related to tackling hate crime and building…

19 Nov 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting The Highland Council to tackle housing shortages.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: There are many ways in which the Scottish Government is supporting Highland Council to deliver more homes. We will invest almost £194 million in the Highland Council area to deliver on our ambitious commitment to deliver 50,000 affordable homes over the durat…

15 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-26105 by Ash Denham on 14 November 2019, in light of the minister confirming that Police Scotland has access to these statistics, and the commitment to transparency in the Scottish Ministerial Code, whether it will provide the information that was r…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The information requested is not held centrally as this is a matter for Police Scotland. I have passed the request to Police Scotland and asked that they respond directly to the member.