Parliamentary questions
John Finnie
1,255 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
14 Mar 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its publication, Developing Information on Hate Crime Recorded by the Police in Scotland, and racist hate crimes, whether it is possible to determine how many crimes or offences were charged under Section 50A of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Table 3 (Hate crimes recorded by the police, by type of crime, 2014-15 to 2017-18) in the report ‘Developing Information on Hate Crime Recorded by the Police in Scotland’ shows the number of hate crimes recorded in the Interim Vulnerable Persons Database (IVP…
13 Mar 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what lessons were learned from the storm in January 2005, which led to fatalities at the causeway linking South Uist and Benbecula, including what action has been taken and contingencies put in place to reduce the risk of similar accidents at that site.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Following the tragic fatalities in January 2005, the Scottish Government provided some £4.5 million in funding towards the repair costs for the Eriskay Breakwater and the North Ford Causeway. The Government also stated at the time that any underspend could be…
11 Mar 2019 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking in response to the reported increasing number of drug deaths.
6 Mar 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to publish the Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment regarding the extension to the Air Discount Scheme announced on 5 March 2019.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Given that this was a continuation of an existing scheme with a minor adjustment, a Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment was not considered necessary.
19 Feb 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform to the Member of 18 February 2019, whether the Scottish Government will set out a timeline, including an expected deadline, for the phasing out of lead shot used by Scottish Natural Heritage.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government does not intend to set out a timeline, including an expected deadline, for the phasing out of lead shot used by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). As confirmed in the letter of 18 February, SNH does not use lead shot in wetland areas an…
29 Jan 2019 · 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 break down the 2,131 stop-skipping incidences by station affected.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) Bib number 60444.
22 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-20892 by Fergus Ewing on 22 January 2019, whether it will provide the information that was requested regarding what its position is on whether the response to question S5W-20663 met the commitment set out at paragraph 1.3 (d) of the Scottish Ministe…
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Ministerial Code identifies that Ministers should be as open as possible with the Parliament and the public. As the Cabinet Secretary with responsibility for Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) I am responsible for ensuring that, as an enterpr…
22 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many ScotRail Service Quality Incentive Regime (SQUIRE) audits were carried out in 2018; how many failures were recorded, broken down by type of failure, and what the total financial penalty was.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Transport Scotland team of six Inspectors audit all 354 ScotRail Stations and approximately 180-200 trains at least once every four weekly cycle. There are 13 rail periods per year. The member will wish to be aware that information on SQUIRE audits, passes a…
22 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many incidences of stop-skipping were recorded on ScotRail services in 2018.
Answer · Michael Matheson: In the period Sunday 7 January 2018-Saturday 5 January 2019, 2,131 trains were reported to Transport Scotland as having been affected by skip-stopping. This value is 0.28 percent of trains planned to run over that time period.
10 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-20290 by Fergus Ewing on 14 December 2018, what discussions (a) the cabinet secretary and (b) its officials had with (i) the Chief Executive of and (ii) officials from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) regarding the comments made in the respons…
Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-20896 on 22 January 2019. 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…
10 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-20290 by Fergus Ewing on 14 December 2018, whether (a) the cabinet secretary was or (b) its officials were given a copy or sight of the statement by the Chief Executive of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) prior to it being issued and, if so, w…
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Scottish Government officials and myself did not have sight of the Chief Executive of Highland and Islands Enterprise (HIE) specific comment on the 29 November 2018 prior to release.
10 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government under what circumstances a non-departmental public body would not ultimately be subject to ministerial accountability.
Answer · Derek Mackay: There are no circumstances in which a Non-Departmental Public Body would not be subject to Ministerial accountability.
10 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-20663 by Fergus Ewing on 10 January 2019, whether it will confirm to whom Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is ultimately accountable to.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: As Accountable Officer for Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Charlotte Wright is personally answerable to the Scottish Parliament for the propriety and regularity of the public finances under her control and for the economical, efficient and effective use of …
10 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-20663 by Fergus Ewing on 10 January 2019, how it monitors the effectiveness of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) regarding matters that are subject to a due diligence process by the agency.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Board of Highlands and Islands Enterprise’s (HIE) are responsible for monitoring the body's performance and financial management. There is a framework agreement between the Scottish Government and HIE which sets out the broad framework within which HIE wi…
10 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-20663 by Fergus Ewing on 10 January 2019, for what reason the response did not address the information being sought regarding ministers’ views on the issue and not those of Chief Executive of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), and what its posi…
Answer · Fergus Ewing: HIE is the accountable agency responsible for the delivery of enterprise functions. As Accountable Officer for HIE, Charlotte Wright is personally answerable to the Scottish Parliament for the public finances under her control.
21 Dec 2018 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what, if any, contingency planning has been done in order to ensure that (a) Members’ staff and (b) its staff's welfare will not be unduly affected by potential extraordinary sittings of the Parliament or its committees.
Answer · Kezia Dugdale: The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body fully recognises the important role that Members'staff and SPCB staff play in ensuring that parliamentary business can take place as planned. Parliamentary business normally follows well defined sitting patterns, how…
20 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-20532 by Michael Matheson on 20 December 2018, whether the hourly service between Inverness and Elgin will include a service departing from Inverness at or around 8 am.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I would refer the member to the published timetable on the ScotRail website. https://www.scotrail.co.uk/sites/default/files/assets/download_ct/sr1812_12296_inverness-aberdeen.pdf .
18 Dec 2018 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason its draft Budget proposes a reduction in financial support for bus services.
18 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-20289 by Fergus Ewing on 14 December 2018, which sought information regarding meetings that ministers have attended since 2013 concerning the operation of the Cairngorm Funicular Railway, whether it considers the response, which pointed to the findi…
Answer · Fergus Ewing: As no specific meetings have been held involving Scottish Ministers, there are no such meetings to provide information on. Reference is made to Parliamentary question S5W-20662 on 15 January 2019, which provides details of meetings and wider matters relating …
18 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to S5W-20290 by Fergus Ewing on 14 December 2018, in light of the question seeking the views of ministers regarding the matter rather than that of the Chief Executive of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), whether it will provide the information that was requested.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Highlands and Islands (HIE) are the statutory public agency which delivers enterprise functions on behalf of Scottish Ministers and are responsible for day to day operational matters at Cairngorm mountain. They remain the most appropriate body to respond to m…
18 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-20289 by Fergus Ewing on 14 December 2018, in light of detailed information regarding the meetings not being available on its website, whether it will confirm who ministers met at each meeting that they attended since 2013 regarding the operation of…
Answer · Fergus Ewing: There have been no meetings involving Scottish Ministers since 2013 relating specifically and solely to the Cairngorm funicular railway. Records show that five meetings involving relevant stakeholders have taken place since 2013 for which Ministers involved w…
17 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason ongoing emissions are not included in the carbon assessment of its Budget proposals on road building, as noted by the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) in the briefing paper, Scottish Budget 2019-20.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Carbon Assessment captures the emissions associated with Scottish Government's purchase of goods and services. The assessment does not, however, take account of the emissions or savings associated with all of the outcomes arising from this spending. For e…
13 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-20420 by Roseanna Cunningham on 13 December 2018, whether surveillance aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles or drones were deployed to the incident in the Firth of Lorn on 18-19 November 2018.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Neither surveillance aircraft nor unmanned aerial vehicles ("drones") were deployed to this incident. Use of such assets requires careful planning and preparation to ensure their most effective use. If resources are available they can be re-tasked to gather …
13 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-20420 by Roseanna Cunningham on 13 December 2018, in light of its explanation of the location of Marine Scotland’s Marine Protection Vessels, what its position is on whether the fleet has sufficient capacity.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: As I have said before in both correspondence and in the Chamber I keep the situation under constant review. The Member is aware that in addition to the three Marine Protection Vessels (MPVs) we undertake regular rigid hulled inflatable boat (RHIB) patrols, h…
13 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on how many occasions in each of the last five years Marine Scotland has utilised (a) surveillance aircraft, (b) unmanned aerial vehicles or drones and (c) a rigid-hulled inflatable boat for marine compliance purposes, broken down by (i) date and (ii) location.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: As I have said in both correspondence and in the Chamber the use of surveillance aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles ("drones") and rigid hulled inflatable boats adds considerably to our surveillance capacity. However, I am sure that the member will recognise…
13 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-20226 by Mairi Gougeon on 13 December 2018, in which it stated that “Public authorities are not obliged to record and report how they take in to account the National Marine Plan in decision making”, how it ensures that public authorities comply with…
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Public Authorities are obligated to comply with the policies set out in the National Marine Plan. It is for the public authorities to take the necessary steps to demonstrate compliance with policies in the National Marine Plan. As stated in Section 15 of the…
11 Dec 2018 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of freight is conveyed by rail.
11 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-20238 by Fergus Ewing on 7 December 2018, whether it will provide the information that was requested regarding whether it or its agencies compiled an economic impact assessment regarding the funding associated with the production of feed for the (a)…
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Further to my answer to S5W-20237 on 7 December 2018, I can confirm that due to the amount and purpose of the funding awarded, which was for staff training, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) were not required to undertake an economic impact assessment. …
11 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with ScotRail regarding any plans to increase the frequency of rail services between Inverness and Elgin.
Answer · Michael Matheson: ScotRail's December 2018 timetable change introduced 9 additional services between Inverness and Elgin, delivering a near hourly all day service for Nairn, Forres and Elgin. By the end of 2019, in conjunction with ScotRail's new trains, Revolution in Rail wi…
11 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been made of the length of time trains wait at passing loops on the Inverness to Aberdeen rail line, and how this can be reduced.
Answer · Michael Matheson: No bespoke assessment has been made of the length of time trains wait at passing loops on the Inverness to Aberdeen rail line. However, Scottish Ministers have made clear to Network Rail that they must do more when working with ScotRail to develop timetables …