Parliamentary questions
John Finnie
1,255 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
26 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-25296 by Aileen Campbell on 26 September 2019, which bodies requested it to adopt this definition of antisemitism, and for what reason it agreed to do so.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: Although not a formal request, a number of organisations highlighted the value of the IHRA definition in helping to tackle anti-Semitism. We therefore adopted the IHRA definition as part of a larger piece of work to tackle prejudice and build connected commun…
26 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-25296 by Aileen Campbell on 26 September 2019, whether Police Scotland and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service believed that the existing legislation on hate crime was clear prior to its adoption of this definition of antisemitism and, if…
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The adoption of the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism is intended for the use of guidance only and has no legislative impact. It will help to ensure victims and witnesses recognise and understand anti-Semitism. We believe that the definition helps to bring so…
26 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government to what extent the network capacity pinch points on the Highland Mainline, which restrict freight operators to 20 containers rather than the possible 28, impacts on its capacity to meet its climate change targets.
Answer · Michael Matheson: With considered timetable adjustments longer freight trains could currently operate on the Highland Main Line. Going forward there is a requirement to balance timetabling and infrastructure interventions to support both increased freight and passenger service…
26 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what preparations are being made to bring HMP Kilmarnock and HMP Addiewell into the public sector.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government policy is that prisons should be managed by the public sector. Each of the two private prisons in Scotland operates under a 25 year PFI contract with the contract for HMP Kilmarnock expiring in March 2024 and the contract from HMP Add…
24 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the percentage of vehicles exceeding the speed limit that are detected and result in legal action being taken.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Information is not held centrally on the number of times vehicles exceed the speed limit in Scotland. As such, the Scottish Government has not made any estimate of the percentage of these incidents which result in a detection and legal action being taken.
24 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many drivers of heavy goods vehicles have been charged with exceeding the speed limit on the (a) trunk and (b) non-trunk road network in each of the last three years.
Answer · James Wolffe QC: The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) can provide the total number of speeding charges reported to COPFS in each of the last 3 years only. It is not possible to provide data on how many of these charges relate to drivers of heavy goods vehicl…
23 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its declared climate emergency, whether it plans to consider modal shift from road to rail resulting from the dualling of the A9 and A96, not only over the length of the routes but at all points en route.
Answer · Michael Matheson: We have given a commitment to dualling the A9 and A96 and as with all our projects they are subject to detailed review and assessment work to ensure we deliver the right schemes and keep impacts on the environment to the absolute minimum. This includes consid…
23 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the successful rail franchise bid by Abellio was based on compulsory rest day working.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Franchisee has a commitment to deliver the ScotRail timetable, it would therefore be an operational decision whether it was necessary to utilise Rest Day Working practices to meet that commitment. Rest Day Working is an operational method utilised throug…
23 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish a risk assessment of the effects of not providing a refreshment trolley on the West Highland, Highland main, Kyle of Lochalsh and Far North lines.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Under the Franchise Agreement the Scottish Government pays ScotRail to deliver its specified services, including catering. My officials at Transport Scotland continue to audit the provision of catering services via routine SQUIRE inspections with appropriate…
23 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the timetabling and efficiency improvements resulting from the reinstatement of the Lentran Loop, near Inverness.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Network Rail is currently assessing options to address the issues and aspirations of the Far North Line Review Team. These options are likely to include a range of enhancements including passing loops. Once this work concludes, Network Rail will present the …
23 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it has given or will give to the proposed (a) Caithness Sleeper and (b) Thurso/Wick Shuttle.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Transport Scotland meets regularly with Highland and Islands Transport Partnership (HITRANS) who represent the views of the local communities, local authorities and other key regional stakeholders. Transport Scotland officials are aware of the proposition fr…
23 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason, under the new ScotRail timetable, the longest journey time has increased to 3 hours 46 minutes.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Overall improvement is being made with journey time between Inverness and Edinburgh, the slowest reducing from 3 hours 47 minutes in December 18 to 3 hours 46 minutes in May 2019, and the average journey time also reducing by 1 minute from 3 hours 33 minutes …
23 Sep 2019 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has named Serco as its preferred bidder for the Northern Isles Ferry Services.
20 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the potential for it experiencing reputational damage is a factor that is considered in its procurement policy.
Answer · Derek Mackay: Public procurement exercises must be conducted within the parameters of public procurement legislation.
20 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it had with trade unions during the Northern Isles Ferry Services procurement process.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Discussions took place with the Trade Unions during the development of the Invitation to Tender. Once the Invitation to Tender had issued, and there was a live procurement exercise underway, Scottish Ministers were able to discuss the tender, although not det…
20 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to assess the impact on its reputation of its association with Serco.
Answer · Derek Mackay: Contractual relationships that the Scottish Government has with suppliers are governed by public procurement legislation during the tendering phase and once a contract has been awarded, through the terms of the contract. All decisions must be relevant and pro…
20 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether Serco’s industrial relations record was considered during the Northern Isles Ferry Services procurement process.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government adhered to procurement rules to ensure a fair and transparent tender, and all bidders were required to provide a Human Resources, Training and Key Personnel Delivery Plan in their proposals for the provision of the Northern Isles Ferry…
12 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to evaluate the full implications of its decision to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: There is no place in Scotland for any form of antisemitism or religious hatred that makes our communities feel insecure or threatened in their daily lives. The IHRA definition of anti-Semitism helps to bring some much needed clarity to what is often a complex…
10 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the nationalisation of the Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd shipyard.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: There has been no discussion with UK Government regarding proposals to bring Ferguson Marine into public ownership to secure the jobs, complete the vessels and develop a long term future for the yard.
10 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the £500 million for improved bus infrastructure announced in its Programme for Government will be spent and over what time period, and what key criteria will need to be met by eligible projects.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The investment of over £500 million will take the form of a Bus Partnership Fund for local authorities to provide bus priority infrastructure on local roads, and also the roll out of priority infrastructure for the trunk road network around Glasgow. The inves…
10 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it estimates the greenhouse gas emission reduction will be from its commitment to create a zero emission aviation region in the Highlands and Islands, and what the public cost will be of delivering this commitment.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Air travel continues to be one of the quickest and most convenient ways to travel, not least in the Highlands and Islands. We will work to decarbonise scheduled within Scotland by 2040. We will support the trialling and introduction of low and zero emission a…
28 Aug 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to its powers and responsibilities in Scotland, whether it will examine the example of the Danish Government, which has announced that it will not approve any new fish farms at sea and curb growth of existing fish farms at sea in Denmark due to environmental concerns.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: We continually monitor developments in other countries, including the recent decision of the Danish Government, in our work to ensure there is continual improvement of the regulation of fish farming in Scotland. The Scottish Government is supportive of the c…
12 Aug 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many bus passengers under 16 years old there were in 2017-18.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The information requested is not held centrally. Individual bus operating companies may hold the requested information for their own operations.
15 Jul 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the letter by the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity to the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee of 1 July 2019, how it is encouraging the development of electric aircraft; when it anticipates this technology being used commercially, and what…
Answer · Michael Matheson: The push to reduce emissions from aviation coupled with advances in electric motors, lightweight engineering and battery technology has the potential to transform the aviation sector. The impact on CO2 emissions will need to be monitored closely. Short haul f…
15 Jul 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the letter by the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity to the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee of 1 July 2019, what estimate it has made of investment in walking and cycling infrastructure in the Netherlands and Denmark, and how this was ca…
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government has made no calculation of investment per capita in walking and cycling infrastructure in the Netherlands and Denmark. We have looked at data provided by Sustrans’ Research and Monitoring Unit and Cycling UK to make comparisons with th…
9 Jul 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of households in each local authority area have access to superfast broadband.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Due to the commercial nature of this information, the Scottish Government does not hold statistics on broadband coverage. Unless they relate solely to the delivery of the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) programme. Telecommunications regulator – O…
1 Jul 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government who is responsible for regulating the discharge of microplastics in Scottish waters.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Under the Marine Scotland Act 2010 Scottish Ministers are responsible for the regulation of the deposit and removal of substances in the seas around Scotland as set out in legislation. Applications are assessed on their impact on the environment, human health…
1 Jul 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it or its agencies have made of the practice of shared space for pedestrians and cyclists.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Shared space is a general concept rather than a defined design. The approach is broad and may involve a variety of design features such as level surfaces, reduced signage and informal crossings. There is no designation of schemes as shared space and on this b…
1 Jul 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason its plans for the A9 flyover at Longman, Inverness, do not include separated space for pedestrians and cyclists.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Suitable provision for all users, including pedestrians and cyclists, is an important part of the A9/A82 Longman Junction Improvement scheme. The preferred junction option presented at public exhibitions on 25 and 26 June show the current proposals for active…
1 Jul 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government who is responsible for educating cyclists and pedestrians on their use of shared space.
Answer · Michael Matheson: There is no agreed definition of shared space and as such no single body is responsible for educating road users, including those cycling or on foot, on their use of such areas. Scottish Ministers expect all road users, including cyclists and pedestrians, to …