Neil Bibby

27 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has carried out an equality impact assessment of driver-only operated trains on ScotRail services and whether such services comply with equalities legislation.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Disabled access policy is a reserved matter for the UK Government and our franchisee is required to comply with the relevant legislation. The responsibility for regulating and enforcing the equality legislation rests with the Equality and Human Rights Commiss…

27 Jun 2016 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on the industrial dispute between the RMT and ScotRail.

22 Jun 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of post offices on town centre economies.

18 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which ScotRail stations are unstaffed.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: There are 214 unstaffed stations in Scotland. Further details are available on the ScotRail website; https://www.scotrail.co.uk/plan-your-journey/stations-and-facilities

18 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is a requirement of the ScotRail franchise agreement that the operator has to extend driver-only or driver-controlled operations.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00881 on 6 July 2016. 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/parliamentarybusiness/28…

18 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has asked for the class 385 trains on order for ScotRail to be configured to not allow the guard to have responsibility for operating the doors.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-28538 on 3 December 2015. 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…

18 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has received from the (a) ScotRail Alliance and (b) Rail Delivery Group regarding (i) door operations on and (ii) other matters about the class 385 trains that ScotRail has on order.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government has had representations about priority seat covers, toilet door indicators and external livery from ScotRail for the new class 385 fleet, and has met with both the franchisee Abellio ScotRail and the unions to better understand the iss…

18 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd regarding the class 385 trains that ScotRail has on order.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Ministers and Transport Scotland meet with Network Rail regularly as part of an on-going process across a range of topics to manage the progress of the wider Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme project. It is for the train operator to ensure any new flee…

18 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on allowing open-access operators to compete with ScotRail Abellio.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Competing bids for access to the Scottish rail network are a matter for the industry regulator, the Office of Rail and Road. The Scottish Government is not opposed to the broad principle of open access operations on the network, provided that this enhances th…

18 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to consult passengers regarding the proposed increase in the number of driver-only operated ScotRail services.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Through the franchise the Scottish Government requires ScotRail to consult with passengers across a number of stakeholder forums.

18 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the safety implications are of ScotRail training (a) gateline and (b) other station staff to operate trains during the proposed industrial action on services.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: ScotRail has put in place contingency arrangements to deliver as many services as possible during periods of disruption. ScotRail has an obligation to ensure appropriate training of competencies for all staff temporarily carrying out conductor duties, and ass…

18 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of its responsibilities to (a) employees and (b) the recognised trade union under the franchise agreement with ScotRail Abellio Ltd in light of the proposed industrial action on services by the RMT.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The ScotRail franchise agreement contains a number of commitments to maintain and improve the welfare of ScotRail employees. It ensures protections including no compulsory redundancies throughout the life of the franchise, and it recognises the value of staff…

18 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the financial impact will be of the proposed industrial action on rail services by the RMT, and how much compensation ScotRail will receive.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: We have not been advised by ScotRail of the direct financial impact to them of potential reduced ticket sales during industrial action. The franchise agreement between Scottish Ministers and Abellio ScotRail contains a clause which allows the Scottish Govern…

18 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many jobs could be lost if the class 385 trains that have been ordered by ScotRail are configured for (a) driver-only or (b) driver-controlled operation.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: As part of the ScotRail franchise contract there is a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies throughout the franchise term. Staffing levels are an operational matter for ScotRail.

18 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of the potential impact on the safety of (a) passengers and (b) staff of driver-only operations on (i) current and (ii) future ScotRail (A) passenger and (B) freight services.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Driver-controlled operation trains with a second staff member have operated safely over the last three decades and currently operate on 51% of ScotRail services, carrying circa 59% of passengers. Any change to working practices, including the introduction of …

18 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the cost is of the (a) driver-only operated and (b) guard-operated class 385 trains that have been ordered by ScotRail.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: This is an operational decision for ScotRail.

18 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the doors on the class 385 trains that have been ordered by ScotRail will be operated by the (a) driver, (b) guard or (c) both.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: This is an operational decision for ScotRail.

18 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the class 385 trains that have been ordered by ScotRail will be configured to retain the role of the guard regarding (a) safety and (b) controlling door operations.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The ScotRail franchise sets out our requirements for service provision, including that the franchisee must use all reasonable endeavours to have a second member of staff on each train. Beyond this ministers do not specify the method of train operation.

18 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met (a) ScotRail and (b) Hitachi Rail Europe to discuss the configuration of the class 385 trains on order.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Transport Scotland attend regular meetings where ScotRail and Hitachi Rail Europe discuss progress in delivery of the new class 385 fleet. It is for the train operator, the funder and manufacturer of the trains to agree the configuration of the train fleet w…

10 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-00318 by Humza Yousaf on 8 June 2016, whether Serco Caledonian Ferries Ltd’s final bid for the contract contained information that Transport Scotland had previously objected to or rejected during the tender period and, if so, what this was.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The terms of the competition allowed participants to put forward proposals for amendments to the draft contract for consideration by Transport Scotland, before the final tender documents were issued. Both participants suggested changes up to this point, some …

10 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-00318 by Humza Yousaf on 8 June 2016, whether Transport Scotland had advised Serco Caledonian Ferries Ltd that its interim bid for the contract was at risk of non-compliance and, if so, when.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Transport Scotland wrote to Serco Caledonian Ferries Ltd on 28 January 2016 following a meeting on 25 January 2016 to discuss their interim tender. This advised them of non-compliant elements which they subsequently addressed in their final tender, however, t…

10 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-00318 by Humza Yousaf on 8 June 2016, whether it will list each proposed change to the contract that was deemed to be non-compliant, also broken down by the section of the instructions to participants that it fell under.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Serco Caledonian Ferries Ltd’s. Tender is commercially confidential. Their final tender contained numerous amendments which sought to alter the economic balance of the contract, including changes to the risk-reward mechanism. Their final tender was deemed non…

10 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the final cost is of the process of the tender for the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services Contract.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The costs of tendering to transport Scotland from October 2014 to date is £901,000. The estimated total cost through to project completion, November 2016, is £1.1 million.

9 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what dates the current Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport has visited the Royal Alexandra Hospital and when she last visited the children's ward.

Answer · Shona Robison: In the role of Health Secretary, I last visited the Royal Alexandra Hospital on 25 February 2015.

8 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what dates adverse weather conditions have affected construction on the Forth replacement crossing.

Answer · Keith Brown: Adverse weather affects construction activities in different ways ranging from the need to alter a method of work to completely cancelling a piece of work. Consequently, it is not possible to list every date where adverse weather conditions have affected the …

8 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when its research into the tied-pub sector will be (a) completed and (b) published.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Research into the tied pub sector is expected to be completed and published in autumn 2016. Its findings will be published on the Scottish Government website.

4 Jun 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Forth replacement crossing will be completed.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Contractor, Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors’, has now advised us that they are unable to achieve the planned early opening date of December 2016. I provided a full statement to Parliament on this matter on 8 June 2016.

31 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has given to NHS boards regarding involving parents and children in decisions affecting the treatment of, practice with or aides for children.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00315 on 13 June 2016. 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/parliamentarybusiness/2…

31 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what grounds Serco Caledonian Ferries Ltd’s bid for the next Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract was deemed non-compliant.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Serco Caledonian Ferries Ltd bid sought changes to the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract. These changes were deemed non-compliant by Transport Scotland as set out in the Invitation to Submit Final Tender: Volume 2: Instructions to Participants, publi…

31 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Expert Ferry Group will advise Transport Scotland on the specifications of the next contract to operate Northern Isles Ferry Services.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: There are no plans for the Expert Ferry Group to discuss the service specification for the forthcoming Northern Isles ferry services contract. A comprehensive study to inform the specification of the next Northern Isles ferry services contract is underway. Th…