Parliamentary questions
Neil Bibby
1,029 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
25 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether civil servants who have been tasked with preparing plans for an independence referendum will be redeployed to assist the Scottish Ambulance Service, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: We recognise the extreme pressure facing the Scottish Ambulance Service due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and our thanks go out to the paramedics, technicians and wider ambulance staff for the continued work they are doing in exceptionally challenging circumstanc…
15 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether ScotRail Trains Ltd will be responsible for commencing negotiations with the recognised trade unions regarding the 2022 pay award for ScotRail staff, which has an anniversary date of 1 April 2022.
Answer · Graeme Dey: From 1 April 2022, ScotRail Trains Ltd will be responsible for engaging with the trades unions.
15 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to establish a group similar to the Rail Industry Recovery Group in England and, if so, (a) whether the recognised train unions will be (i) invited to participate in the group and (ii) permitted to propose items for discussion, (b) what the remit of the group will be and…
Answer · Graeme Dey: We are currently considering the appropriateness of such agreements, similar to those developed south of the Border, for Scotland. Initial discussions have been held with trade union colleagues and we are keen to explore constructively how they might be invol…
15 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it can confirm that ScotRail Trains Ltd will not seek to make any changes to the existing final salary pension scheme for ScotRail workers.
Answer · Graeme Dey: ScotRail Trains Ltd. will take on responsibility for the ScotRail section of the Railway Pension scheme in the normal manner when staff transfer from Abellio ScotRail on 1 April 2022 .
10 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether domestic manufacturers will be (a) considered and (b) given priority in future bids for Scottish Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme funding.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme has now been replaced by the Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB). Bidders are strongly encouraged to put in place arrangements with partners or collaborators, to minimise the level of subsidy being re…
10 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration was given to domestic manufacturers prior to awarding £4 million of funding from the Scottish Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme to manufacturers in China.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme (SULEBS) provided support to purchase new ultra low emission buses. The scheme was open to bus operators, local authorities and companies leasing buses to authorities/bus operators who run local registered bus servic…
10 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Scottish National Party manifesto commitment to "remove a majority of fossil fuel buses from public transport in Scotland by 2023", what analysis it has undertaken of the capacity of domestic bus manufacturers to deliver this.
Answer · Graeme Dey: Manufacturers are represented on the Bus Decarbonisation Taskforce, a joint initiative between industry and government to co-design a pathway to a fully zero-emission bus fleet. At the Taskforce meeting on the 15 July representatives from the manufacturing se…
8 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the financial outturn report of December 2020, how (a) revenue and (b) capital underspends in the Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity portfolio have been allocated, and what underspend remains unallocated.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity portfolio underspend reported in the portfolio outturn statement in the Scottish Government Consolidated Accounts for the year ended 31st March 2020 of £232 million forms part of the overall Scottish Government o…
8 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the financial outturn report of December 2020, how (a) revenue and (b) capital underspends in the Transport Scotland budget have been allocated, and what underspend remains unallocated.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Transport Scotland budget underspends form part of the Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity portfolio underspend reported in the portfolio outturn statement in the Scottish Government Consolidated Accounts for the year ended 31st March 2020 of £232 …
6 Sep 2021 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the ongoing industrial disputes with ScotRail.
1 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it consulted the Scottish Green Party or any of its MSPs on the issue of vaccine certifications before the policy announcement was made in the Parliament on 1 September 2021 and, if so, when did this occur, and by whom it was initiated.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Consultation on this matter took place prior to the announcement by the First Minister, and in line with the provisions of the cooperation agreement.
1 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how many two-year-olds are currently (a) receiving and (b) eligible for 1,140 hours of funded early learning and childcare in each local authority.
Answer · Clare Haughey: Based on population projections published by National Records of Scotland, it is estimated the eligible two-year old population is 14,500 children. The Scottish Government is working with UK Government departments and the Office for National Statistics to acq…
25 Aug 2021 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle the antisocial use of quad bikes, trail bikes and other off-road vehicles.
26 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what enforcement action can be taken against public transport operators that fail to adequately enforce (a) physical distancing, (b) the wearing of face coverings and (c) other COVID-19 safety regulations.
Answer · Graeme Dey: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-01865 on ? 18 August 2021. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-commit…
26 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether compliance with the requirement to wear a face covering on public transport is declining.
Answer · Graeme Dey: Current observed levels of compliance with the requirement to wear face coverings, as reported by transport operators to the Scottish government, are broadly in line with levels reported previously throughout the pandemic. However as more restrictions ease an…
26 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what financial support it provides for the enforcement of COVID-19 safety regulations on public transport.
Answer · Graeme Dey: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-01865 on ? 18 August 2021. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-commit…
26 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what legal responsibilities public transport operators have for the enforcement of (a) physical distancing, (b) the wearing of face coverings and (c) other COVID-19 safety regulations.
Answer · Graeme Dey: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-01865 on ? 18 August 2021. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-commit…
26 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the recent average percentage of passengers that wear face coverings on (a) ScotRail services, (b) buses and (c) ferries.
Answer · Graeme Dey: Transport Scotland does not hold data on the percentage of passengers wearing face coverings while using public transport. However, ScotRail advise that the most recent observed levels indicate between an average of 80% and 90% of passengers wearing face cove…
26 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government who is responsible for the enforcement of (a) physical distancing, (b) the wearing of face coverings and (c) other COVID-19 safety regulations on (i) rail services, (ii) buses and (iii) ferries.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The responsibility for the enforcement of Covid-19 regulations on public transport rests with Police Scotland and, in the case of the railway network, British Transport Police. Police officers have enforcement powers to issue a fixed penalty notice to anyone …
26 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it issues to public transport operators on the enforcement of (a) physical distancing, (b) the wearing of face coverings and (c) other COVID-19 safety regulations on (i) rail services, (ii) buses and (iii) ferries.
Answer · Graeme Dey: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-01865 on ? 18 August 2021. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-commit…
26 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been fined or prosecuted for failing to adhere to (a) physical distancing, (b) the wearing of face coverings and (c) other COVID-19 safety regulations on public transport in each month since the introduction of the regulations.
Answer · Graeme Dey: Police Scotland publish data on their website in relation to the numbers of people who have been issued with Fixed Penalty Notices or arrested in relation to breaches of Covid-19 regulations. However the data does not identify the settings in which the breac…
20 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-36170 by Paul Wheelhouse on 23 March 2021, whether ferry procurement will now be included in the Islands Connectivity Plan following the most recent ministerial reshuffle.
Answer · Graeme Dey: No. The ministerial reshuffle has no effect on the scope of the Island Connectivity Plan. Its focus remains establishing the transport connectivity needs of our island communities and how these needs can be met as well as providing greater travel integration …
20 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the current crew of the MV Arrow will be employed on the vessel for the duration of the six-week charter agreement between CalMac and the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The deployment of crew on the MV Arrow during the time charter between CalMac Ferries Ltd and the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, is the responsibility of the vessel owner Seatruck Ferries Ltd.
20 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what crew changeover provisions have been negotiated between CalMac and the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company in the time charter agreement for the MV Arrow freight vessel.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The crew changeover procedures on the MV Arrow whilst on time charter to CalMac Ferries Ltd from the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company will be arranged by Seatruck Ferries Ltd, the owners of the vessel.
20 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the duty periods worked by seafarers on the Serco NorthLink freight vessel (a) Helliar and (b) Hildasay since March 2020.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The seafarers on both MV Helliar and MV Hildasay have worked their usual 6 week on/6 week off rotation since March 2020.
28 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what factors will affect the final launch date of (a) MV Glen Sannox and (b) Hull 802, following completion of the project.
Answer · Kate Forbes: MV Glen Sannox was launched in November 2017. For Hull 802, much of the outfitting will be carried out before launch, making the work more efficient. As a result 802 will weigh over 1,000 tonnes more than Glen Sannox, meaning the tide conditions will be criti…
28 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its long-term ambitions are for the Ferguson Marine yard in Inverclyde.
Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government stepped in to take ownership, to ensure a viable future for the yard, its workforce and completion of the much needed vessels. The Scottish Government continues to work closely with the yard to explore all possible options to ensure a …
28 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of ferry disruption to and from Arran, and what the economic cost is to the island of such disruption.
Answer · Graeme Dey: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-35362 on? 11 March 2021. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committe…
28 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the letter of 24 June 2021 from Ferguson Marine to the Convener of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee, when it became aware of the further delay to Hulls 801 and 802.
Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government are in contact with Ferguson Marine on a regular basis. The Ferguson Marine Board of Directors visited the yard on 3 June to discuss the Turnaround Directors update to the Scottish Parliament. The Board subsequently signed off the revi…
28 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how long it estimates each ferry in the CalMac fleet will remain in service.
Answer · Graeme Dey: As set out in the Scottish Government’s Infrastructure Investment Plan, published 4 February 2021, and projects, working with CalMac Ferries Ltd and Caledonian Marine Assets Ltd, we aim to replace ferries by the end of their normal working life.