Parliamentary questions
Mark Griffin
2,186 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
27 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what lessons it has learned from (a) Serco NorthLink's and (b) Transport Scotland’s response to the breakdown of MV Hamnavoe in April 2013.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question SW4-19964 on 13 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybus…
27 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Serco NorthLink regarding procedures in the event of a vessel breaking down on its Northern Isles' services.
Answer · Keith Brown: Transport Scotland regularly meets with Serco NorthLink Ferries Ltd to discuss a range of operational issues in connection with the service Serco NorthLink ferries Ltd provide under the Public Service Contract with Scottish Ministers. These discussions includ…
27 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the cost was to the public sector of the first year of the 2012-18 Serco NorthLink contract to the Northern Isles.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government paid a grant of £37,556,777.39 subject to any final adjustment, to Serco Northlink Ferries Ltd in respect of the first contract year of the 2012-18 Northern Isles Ferry Services, Public Service Contract.
27 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-15728 by Keith Brown on 28 June 2013, what the final cost was of the vessel breaking down, and how much of this will be met by (a) the public sector and (b) Serco NorthLink.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19964 on 13 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybus…
27 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-15727 by Keith Brown on 28 June 2013, when the report will be published.
Answer · Keith Brown: The report into the breakdown of the MV Hamnavoe was published on 7 March 2014 and is available on the Transport Scotland website by following the link: http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/water/ferries/subsidised/northern-isles-ferry-services The report c…
24 Feb 2014 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether Police Scotland has informed the Cabinet Secretary for Justice of the number of respondents to the consultation on public counter services.
17 Feb 2014 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with bus service operators.
20 Jan 2014 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consultation it has had with trade unions since the publication of the ScotRail Franchise Draft Invitation to Tender.
13 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service will receive the report of the UK Government’s investigation into the blowout on the Elgin platform in the North Sea in March 2012.
Answer · Lesley Thomson: The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service anticipate receiving reports from both the Health and Safety Executive and the Department of Energy and Climate Change into the incident on the Elgin platform in the North Sea following the conclusion of their on…
13 Jan 2014 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Lord Advocate provided advice on the legal competence of the white paper on independence.
9 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-18983 by Keith Brown on 9 January 2014, whether it will confirm how many trains pass through the station per hour at peak periods, broken down by rail service.
Answer · Keith Brown: The following services call at or pass through Dalmeny during the morning and evening peaks: AM Peak (0700-0900) PM Peak (1600-1800) Call Pass Call Pass Fife Circle (towards Glenrothes 6 2 7 1 Fife Circle (from Glenrothes) 5 1 7 1 Kirkcald…
18 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the revised business case for the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme will be published.
Answer · Keith Brown: The final business case for the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme will be published in the next few weeks.
18 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17626 by Keith Brown on 25 October 2013, how many trains run through the Winchburgh tunnel per hour at peak period, broken down by rail service.
Answer · Keith Brown: The following services run through Winchburgh Tunnel, per hour, during both the morning and evening peak periods: Service No. of Trains per hour AM Peak (0700-0900) PM Peak (1600-1800) Edinburgh to Glasgow 4 4 Glasgow to Edinburgh 4 4 Edinburgh t…
18 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what rail services pass through, or stop at, Dalmeny railway station and how many services do so per hour at peak period.
Answer · Keith Brown: The following services pass through Dalmeny Station: Edinburgh to Perth Edinburgh to Dundee Edinburgh to Aberdeen Edinburgh to Inverness Fife Circle Aberdeen to King’s Cross (operated by East Coast) Aberdeen to Penzance (operated by Cross Country) …
26 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the partnering relationship will be between Transport Scotland and the Caledonian Sleeper Service franchisee.
Answer · Keith Brown: Transport Scotland will manage the future Caledonian Sleeper Franchisee in accordance with the signed Caledonian Sleeper Franchise Agreement which embodies profit sharing mechanisms along with collaborative working obligations.
26 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government who, other than the franchisee, will receive Caledonian Sleeper Service investment funding and how much.
Answer · Keith Brown: Network Rail will receive Caledonian Sleeper Service investment funding of £6 million to finance the stations enhancements that the future franchisee will apply to for Sleeper station enhancements in Scotland. Network Rail will also receive funding required t…
26 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the £100 million investment for improved service provision on the Caledonian Sleeper Service will be allocated.
Answer · Keith Brown: The precise mix of investment that delivers a transformative whole-journey experience will be determined by the winning bidder. However, at least £50 million of public money has been made available for rolling stock improvements. However, that is not fixed an…
26 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what capital investment it will make for (a) rolling stock refurbishment and (b) stations in relation to the Caledonian Sleeper Service.
Answer · Keith Brown: At least £50 million of public money has been made available for rolling stock improvements. However, that is not fixed and we remain open to proposals of up to £60 million from bidders where the additional investment offers a financial return. Up to £6 milli…
26 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to ensure that the pension arrangements of staff on the Caledonian Sleeper Service are not adversely affected by the separation of the franchise from the ScotRail franchise.
Answer · Keith Brown: Discussions are at an advanced stage regarding the details of the Railway Pension Scheme that staff of the (future) Caledonian Sleeper Franchisee will have access to. Scottish Ministers have committed to continue to ensure that Franchisees will maintain pensi…
26 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what pension scheme the staff of the Caledonian Sleeper Service will have access to.
Answer · Keith Brown: Discussions are at an advanced stage regarding the details of the Railway Pension Scheme that staff of the (future) Caledonian Sleeper Franchisee will have access to.
26 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the status is of the Caledonian Sleeper Service franchise.
Answer · Keith Brown: The new Caledonian Sleeper franchise is currently being procured with an anticipated start date of 1 April 2015. The franchise procurement programme that Transport Scotland is following is publicly available on Transport Scotland’s website and shows bids are …
11 Nov 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last discussed student numbers with Colleges Scotland and the Scottish Funding Council.
2 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17247 by Keith Brown on 1 October 2013, which rail services use the Winchburgh tunnel; what the diversionary routes will be for each service, and whether the franchise holder will receive compensation for extended journey times.
Answer · Keith Brown: The following rail services currently use the Winchburgh tunnel: Edinburgh to Glasgow via Falkirk High Dunblane to Edinburgh Alloa to Edinburgh East Coast Arriva cross country ScotRail West Highland Sleeper The diversionary route for these services …
17 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it would cost to include the Dalmeny chord in the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme using a (a) flat and (b) grade-separated junction.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The original estimate for the full Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme included provision of £175 million for the Dalmeny Chord. The estimate included two grade separated junctions and one flat junction.
17 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Winchburgh tunnel will be closed during the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme construction works and, if so, for how long.
Answer · Keith Brown: Whilst further work is required to reach a definitive position, Network Rail have confirmed that, having examined all the options with a view to minimising disruption, a closure will be necessary. However, Network Rail also advise that this closure will be si…
10 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides or is considering to assist students with the cost of travel at peak times.
Answer · Michael Russell: The SFC’s rules for further education student support allow eligibility for travel allowance when a student lives more than two miles from the college he/she attends. This allowance is dependent upon the student’s personal circumstances. Eligible students st…
9 Sep 2013 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the disposal of land at 55 Clark Street, Paisley was subject to Crichel Down rules.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The land at 57 Clark Street, Paisley was subject to the Crichel Down Rules. Having been acquired from a company that was subsequently dissolved, it could not be offered back to the original owner in terms of those Rules. It was disposed of on the open market,…
26 Aug 2013 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government when Transport Scotland received Aecom's initial recommendations on public transport infrastructure options relating to Glasgow Airport.
10 Jun 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to the private housing sector.
3 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-13398 by John Swinney on 11 March 2013, if it is unable to produce a fair local tax based on ability to pay whether it will consider a revaluation of council tax bands.
Answer · John Swinney: We have no plans to consider a revaluation of council tax bands.