Parliamentary questions

John Finnie

1,255 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

1 Jul 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many pedestrians have sustained injuries on space shared by non-motorised users in each of the last five years.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government does not hold information that exactly matches the detail of the question. The following table provides the closest available figures: the number of pedestrians injured in collisions recorded as involving non-motorised users and takin…

5 Jun 2019 · SPCB Oral Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what recent discussions it has had with the Scottish Parliamentary Pension Fund Trustees regarding divestment.

30 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of it declaring a climate emergency and committing to review all its policies, how long it expects this assessment to take and for action to be taken to ensure that coastal communities in the Western Isles are adequately protected.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: We are reviewing policies across government to feed into the update of the Climate Change Plan, which we have committed to publishing within six months of the Climate Change Bill receiving Royal Assent. We will also build on our world-leading ambition and ac…

30 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what ongoing assessment it has made of the responses by public bodies to the fatalities in January 2005 on the South Ford Crossing on South Uist to ensure that there is no repetition.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government makes no ongoing assessment of the public bodies response to the tragic fatalities on the South Ford Crossing in January 2005. As per the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, it is a matter for the local authority to secure expeditious, c…

20 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is putting in place to ensure that Ocean Certification will be able to certify the work that is carried out by Warmworks to deliver the Warmer Homes Scotland initiative.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Warmworks Scotland has a contract with Ocean Certification to provide independent certification against a range of ISO standards. This is a matter between Warmworks and Ocean Certification and is not linked to the contract between Warmworks and the Scottish G…

16 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to make an assessment of the benefits of a freight rail siding at Corpach harbour.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Fort William Sustainable Transport Study ‘Case for Change’ (2018) commissioned by HITRANS, is a useful evidence base for the Scottish Government’s second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2). One of the Study options is a freight management package…

13 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-22844 by Paul Wheelhouse on 10 May 2019, for what reason the trades unions will be engaged only in discussions with the advisory board but not be represented on it, and what its response is to calls for it to review the membership of the board, incl…

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: As explained in the answer to the member’s previous question (S5W-22844), I meet with the STUC, and all the key unions with an interest in ferry services on a quarterly basis to discuss a range of relevant matters. That important engagement will continue and …

13 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-22841 by Paul Wheelhouse on 10 May 2019, whether it will consider reviewing the remit of the group so that it must consider and provide advice on aspects of the design and procurement of new ferries, including those serving Orkney and Shetland inter…

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: As explained in the answer to the previous question S5W-22841, the Scottish Government will request advice from the Ferry Industry Advisory Group on key strategic issues affecting ferry services in Scotland. The Group will also have the ability to recommend o…

13 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-22843 by Paul Wheelhouse on 10 May 2019, how it defines “in due course”, and whether it will confirm by what date the work on updating the Transport Scotland website will (a) commence and (b) be completed.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Transport Scotland website has now been updated to reflect the change of name of the Group.

6 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many miles of segregated cycle paths have been constructed in each year since 2010.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Since 2010, and with Scottish Government investment, we have worked in partnership with local authorities, Sustrans, Scottish Canals, the National Parks and other delivery bodies to build a total of 340 miles of segregated cycle paths. The figures below inclu…

6 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the status is of each section of the (a) A9 and (b) A96 dualling programme, also broken down by how much has been spent each year, and what the budget is for (i) 2019-20 and (ii) future years.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The current status of each section of the A9 and A96 Dualling programmes can be found in the following tables. A9 Dualling Perth to Inverness: Scheme Status A9 Dualling Luncarty to Pass of Birnam Under construction – expected to be operational spring 202…

6 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the status is of each section of each trunk road infrastructure project with a total budget of at least £50 million that is planned or in construction, also broken down by how much has been spent each year, and what the budget is for (a) 2019-20 and (b) future years.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The current status of each trunk road infrastructure project that is planned or in construction with an estimate of at least £50 million can be found in the following table. Scheme Status A82 Tarbet to Inverarnan In Preparation – detailed development and …

1 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what level of detail in respect of each lethal control licence issued under the Beaver Management Framework after 1 May 2019 will be retained in relation to why less severe mitigation measures had not been adopted in each particular site prior to the granting of the lethal control licenc…

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) discusses all licence applications with the applicant, including the problems being experienced and non-lethal measures. This information is summarised in each case. SNH will publish summary data annually on their website on wh…

1 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been accredited to act as potential lethal controllers under licence from Scottish Natural Heritage to kill beavers under the Beaver Management Framework, effective from 1 May 2019.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: 139 people have been accredited by Scottish Natural Heritage to act as potential lethal controllers to kill beavers under the Beaver Management Framework, effective from 1 May 2019. However, this does not give them permission to kill beavers without an approp…

1 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications Scottish Natural Heritage has received requesting licences to kill beavers under the Beaver Management Framework, effective from 1 May 2019.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Scottish Natural Heritage has received 37 application requests for licences to kill beavers under the Beaver Management Framework, effective from 1 May 2019.

1 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many licences for (a) lethal control and (b) non-lethal mitigation measures were issued under the Beaver Management Framework in advance of conferral of European Protected Status on beavers on 1 May 2019.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Scottish Natural Heritage issued 27 licences for the lethal control of beavers and 2 licences for non-lethal mitigation measures under the Beaver Management Framework in advance of conferral of European Protected Status on beavers on 1 May 2019.

26 Apr 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government who the members are of its recently-established ferry industry advisory board; when they were appointed, and whether they served on the Expert Ferry Group.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The decision to change the name of the group from the ‘Expert Ferry Group’ to the ‘Ferry Industry Advisory Group’ was taken in order to better reflect the remit and role of the group. At the present time, there is no change to the remit or function of the Gr…

26 Apr 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Expert Ferry Group last met, and by what date the Transport Scotland website will be updated to reflect the reconstitution of that group as its recently-established ferry industry advisory board.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Expert Ferry Group last met on 15 November 2018, and the first meeting of the Ferry Industry Advisory Group took place on 4 April 2019. The Transport Scotland website will be updated in due course and the membership, terms of reference and minutes of Fer…

26 Apr 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that trade unions are represented on its recently-established ferry industry advisory board.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I meet separately with the STUC, and all the key unions with an interest in ferry services on a regular basis to discuss a range of relevant matters relating to the ferry services supported by the Scottish Government. Our union stakeholders will be engaged in…

26 Apr 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether its recently-established ferry industry advisory board will provide advice on the (a) design and (b) procurement of new ferries, including those serving Orkney and Shetland inter-island routes.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I will request advice from the Ferry Industry Advisory Group on key strategic issues affecting ferry services in Scotland. The Group will also have the ability to recommend other issues that it wishes to consider and provide advice on. This may include a…

26 Apr 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will make a statement on the (a) composition and (b) remit of its recently-established ferry industry advisory board.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The decision to change the name of the group from the ‘Expert Ferry Group’ to the ‘Ferry Industry Advisory Group’ was taken in order to better reflect the remit and role of the group. There is no change to the remit or function of the Group, as such, and aft…

24 Apr 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to meet the investment required to fix aging deer fences that protect some of Scotland's native woodland.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The principal responsibility for fence maintenance and for protecting native woodlands lies with the landowner. Where the only practicable solution to protecting native woodlands is significant new or replacement fencing, applications for funding can be made…

24 Apr 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to address the need for more data to address the reported under-management of native woodland, and whether these can be included in the new Scottish Forestry Strategy 2019-2029's implementation and monitoring framework.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Since 2012 the Native Woodland Survey of Scotland baseline report, and the long running Scottish Natural Heritage’s Site Condition Monitoring on Protected Areas, have provided data to identify native woodlands in unsatisfactory condition and requiring managem…

12 Apr 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the Highlands and Islands Enterprise business case on the reinstatement of Skye Airport and whether it has confidence in it.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Highlands and Islands Enterprise report ‘Economic and Social Benefits of Proposed Air Services at Skye Airport’ which was published in March 2016 is a comprehensive piece of work. We are confident that the information it contains was accurate at the time …

26 Mar 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that the trunk road network maintenance contracts are being honoured.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Transport Scotland officials are responsible for the day-to-day performance management of the Operating Company contracts. They ensure that the trunk road network maintenance contract obligations and standards are achieved with the support of the Performance …