Parliamentary questions
Alex Rowley
554 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
21 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) ScotRail and other train operators and (b) rail stakeholders regarding improving train drivers' access to safe, clean and dignified toilet facilities, with adequate time to use these, during the course of their working day of up to eight hours.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Officials at Transport Scotland meet regularly with ScotRail, other train operating companied and various rail stakeholders to discuss various matters. Staff access to toilets is an operational matter for train operating companies, as employers.
14 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made with the review of community right to buy, and what impact the review is having on current applications.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Community Right to Buy Review was announced in July and Phase 1, which was an evidence gathering phase, is due for completion by the end of this year.It is having no impact on the current applications.
14 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it considers is an appropriate amount of time for a decision to be made for applications under the right to buy Part (a) 3A of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 and (b) 5 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Land Reform (Scotland) Acts of 2003 and 2016 detail the time that decisions on community right to buy applications should take. There is no end date set for these decisions. The Acts state that Ministers must not reach a decision on an application before …
5 Nov 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Fife Council following the publication of an EIS survey showing that two thirds of surveyed teachers in Fife were considering leaving teaching as a result of disruptive, challenging or violent pupils.
28 Oct 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address social isolation and loneliness.
22 Oct 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it is having with COSLA regarding the 2025-26 local government finance settlement.
1 Oct 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to humanitarian aid funding through its Humanitarian Emergency Fund, what consideration it is giving to supporting the provision of humanitarian assistance in Lebanon.
24 Sep 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether any further action is required to address reported concerns around the environmental, sustainability and welfare impacts of farmed salmon.
9 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government by what percentage the block grant from the UK Government has increased (a) each year and (b) cumulatively since 2007, and by how much the local government budget has increased (i) each year and (ii) cumulatively over the same period.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The total Resource (RDEL) Block Grant funding received by the Scottish Government (SG) each year since 2007/08, along with calculations of the year-on-year percentage change and the cumulative change over the specified timeframe is as follows:YearBasis£…
30 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to alleviate the cost for commuters on trains, in light of the reported "double hit" of the end of the peak fares removal pilot and the general cost increase.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: ScotRail will introduce a range of new discounted fares, including a 20% reduction in weekly, monthly and annual season ticket prices, 12 flexi tickets for the price of 10 and super off peak fares following the end of the year long extended trial removing pea…
30 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects the reduced ScotRail timetable to be removed.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: ScotRail is expected to remove its current temporary timetable as soon as possible, when ScotRail pay talks are concluded and ScotRail drivers agree to return to delivery of more train services.
30 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to encourage modal shift from car to rail, in light of the peak fares removal pilot ending.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government continues to be committed to finding ways to make sustainable travel modes more attractive and supporting people to take fewer journeys by car. The forthcoming route map to 20% car kilometre reduction will aim to set out our approach t…
27 Aug 2024 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in light of the most recent annual update on suicide statistics showing that people living in Scotland’s most deprived areas are 2.5 times more likely to die by suicide than those living in the least deprived areas.
17 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it holds regular discussions with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency regarding maritime safety compliance on privately-operated ferry routes in Scotland, and, if so, when the MV Alfred was last discussed.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has not held discussions with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) regarding maritime safety compliance in respect of the MV Alfred. The MCA are responsible for the inspection and surveying of ships to ensure that they are meeting …
17 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how many sailings under the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract with CalMac Ferries have been provided by the MV Alfred since May 2023.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The number of sailings CalMac Ferries Ltd has provided with the charter vessel, MV Alfred, across the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service (CHFS) between 1 May 2023 and 30 April 2024 is 1,086.
17 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an estimate of the amount of revenue that Peel Ports has received from car parking charges at Ardrossan Harbour since 2012.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government does not receive nor hold any information related to Car Parking charges at Ardrossan. This is the responsibility of Peel Ports Group (PPG) as the statutory harbour authority and owner of the port.
17 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the total value is of the time charter agreements that it has signed with Pentland Ferries for the MV Alfred between April 2023 and July 2024.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government have not entered into, or signed, any agreement with Pentland Ferries. The charter agreements of the MV Alfred from Pentland Ferries, vessel owner, for use on Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service contract (CHFS) have all been undertaken b…
17 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will issue a statement on the safety of the MV Alfred, in light of the publication of the Marine Accident Investigation Branch’s report into the grounding of the vessel at Swona Island on 5 July 2022.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government does not intend to issue a statement on the safety on the MV Alfred, following the publication of the Marine Accident Investigation Branch, into the grounding of the vessel at Swona Isalnd on 5 July 2022.
17 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether a crew fatigue management plan was in place on the MV Alfred when it was time chartered from Pentland Ferries in April 2023.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Any discussions around the charter, including a crew fatigue management plan are solely a matter between the owner of the vessel, Pentland Ferries, and the operator CalMac Ferries Limited.
17 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will take urgent steps to ensure that trade unions' organising staff at CalMac Ferries can have direct discussions with the consultants commissioned by Transport Scotland to conduct the due diligence of a Teckal-compliant direct award of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services c…
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Transport Scotland officials meet regularly with trade union representatives. The consultants commissioned by Transport Scotland provide confidential legal and financial advice which supports decision making. Trade unions should continue to use the existing c…
17 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of the annual payments that the operator of the current Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract has made to Transport Scotland since 2016.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government does not receive direct payments from the operator of the current Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract. Any financial transactions of this nature would be accounted for on completion of reconciliation at the end of each Contract …
17 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what Transport Scotland’s full-time equivalent (FTE) staffing commitment is to building the case for a Teckal-compliant direct award of the next Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract to the incumbent public sector operator, and what information it holds on what the FTE staffing comm…
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer to previous answers to question S6W-19363 on 7 July 2023 and S6W-23734 on 4 January 2024 and S6W-24773 on 1 February 2024. The core CHFS3 team consists of 13 FTE staff. Specialist support is being provided from relevant officials within the Legal, Fin…
17 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions (a) Transport Scotland, (b) CalMac Ferries and (c) CMAL has had with Pentland Ferries regarding the safe management system on the MV Alfred prior to time chartering the vessel.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Discussions regarding the charter, and terms of the contract were solely between the owner of the vessel, Pentland Ferries, and the operator CalMac Ferries Limited.
17 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much CalMac Ferries has paid in harbour dues in each year since 2011-12.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: CalMac Ferries Ltd have paid harbour dues each year since 2011-12 as detailed in following table. This information is retained by Contract Year (October to September). CHFS1 contract (October 2007 to September 2016) * CY05 CY06 CY07 CY08 CY09 2011-12 …
17 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what fees have been charged by all private consultants for advising Transport Scotland regarding the Ardrossan Harbour upgrade.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to questions S6W-27104 on 10 May 2024 and S6W-26870 on 25 April 2024. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliam…
13 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the cost was of (a) processing and (b) any projected lost revenue resulting from each of the exemptions granted to producers from the proposed Deposit Return Scheme.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The Deposit Return Scheme requires all drinks producers to register with SEPA before their products may be sold in Scotland. There are no exemptions for producers under the scheme. Data on producer registration is held by SEPA. As an industry-led scheme, the…
13 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the cost was for each producer of applying for an exemption from the proposed Deposit Return Scheme before it was delayed in June 2023.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The Deposit Return Scheme requires all drinks producers to register with SEPA before their products may be sold in Scotland. There are no exemptions for producers under the scheme. Data on producer registration is held by SEPA. Producers may choose to regist…
13 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many producers applied for an exemption from the proposed Deposit Return Scheme before it was delayed in June 2023, and what percentage of these producers used glass packaging.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The Deposit Return Scheme requires all drinks producers to register with SEPA before their products may be sold in Scotland. There are no exemptions for producers under the scheme. Data on producer registration is held by SEPA. As an industry-run scheme, dat…
11 Jun 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that scheduled care transport provided by the Scottish Ambulance Service is accessible to all patients who need it.
30 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any potential impact on its rail freight strategy, what discussions it has had with the UK Government to ensure that any upgrade to rail connections between Wembley and the Channel Tunnel rail freight depot would benefit rail freight transportation from Scotland to continen…
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government’s leadership in support for rail freight is outlined in our rail freight strategy and put into practice with significant investment and our first of a kind regulatory growth targets. Benefits for rail freight are included in our rail p…