Richard Leonard

13 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-11363 by Jenny Gilruth on 5 October 2022, whether it expects any disruption to the Caledonian Sleeper service when the Franchise Agreement with Serco is terminated. 

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government will ensure that Caledonian Sleeper services will be maintained through the transition beyond the termination of the existing Serco franchise agreement.

13 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-11363 by Jenny Gilruth on 5 October 2022, whether all jobs, including the current terms and conditions, will transfer to the new operator of the Caledonian Sleeper when the current franchise terminates in June 2023.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: As the member knows, in accordance with the requirements of UK Railway legislation – namely, the Railways Act 1993, and the Scottish Ministers’ Franchising Policy Statement, consideration is being given to the successor arrangement for the continued provision…

13 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-11363 by Jenny Gilruth on 5 October 2022, what its position is on appointing a privately owned company to operate the Caledonian Sleeper franchise from June 2023.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: In accordance with the requirements of the Railways Act 1993 and the Scottish Ministers’ Franchising Policy Statement, consideration is being given to the successor arrangement for the continued provision of Caledonian Sleeper services. The Scottish Ministe…

13 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-11363 by Jenny Gilruth on 5 October 2022, whether the Caledonian Sleeper will continue to provide at least the same level of service frequency as it does at present, when it the Franchise Agreement with Serco is terminated in June 2023.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: We intend that the current service level commitment will be maintained under any new contractual arrangement.

6 Oct 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions regarding public ferry contracts Transport Scotland or any other government agency has had with private operators in Scotland since 1 October 2016, and when any such meeting last took place.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-11048 on 5 October 2022. 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…

29 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will outline the remit of the new Island Transport Forum.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The remit of the new Islands Transport Forum is currently being drafted, and will be agreed with the forum members at their first meeting. Details of the remit and meetings will be published on the Scottish Government website when agreed.

29 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of the full membership of the new Island Transport Forum.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-11307 on? 24 October 2022. 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…

29 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ensure that the Islands Transport Forum consults with trade unions representing workers in the transport sector. 

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Membership, remit and operation of the Islands Transport Forum are still to be agreed. However, it will be essential that the Forum considers all the issues and opportunities relevant to islands transport. This will require engagement across a broad range of…

25 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that Scottish manufacturing jobs benefit from the offshore wind supply chain.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government is determined to maximise the economic opportunity for the Scottish supply chain from our offshore wind potential. That is why we asked Crown Estate Scotland to introduce the Supply Chain Development Statement as part of the ScotWind l…

25 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects the eight turbine jackets under construction in Harland and Wolff's Methil facility to be shipped for installation in the Neart na Gaoithe offshore wind farm in the outer Firth of Forth.

Answer · Ivan McKee: I understand that the delivery of Harland and Wolff's contract with the developers of the Neart na Gaoithe offshore wind farm for eight turbine jackets has now been reduced to four turbine jackets due to supply issues. I believe the balance of the contract wi…

25 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken as part of the ScotWind leasing process to promote trade union recognition in Scotland's offshore wind industry and the associated supply chain.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Trade unions are key partners in delivering our economic and social aspirations. We will continue to promote strong trade unions and collective bargaining arrangements in all sectors, including the renewable energy sector. We have made a clear commitment to …

25 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that Scottish seafarers benefit from work in the supply chain for the Neart na Gaoithe offshore wind farm.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government is determined to maximise the economic opportunity for the Scottish supply chain from our offshore wind potential. Legislation relating to both the maritime industry as well as employment law is reserved to the UK Government. However,…

25 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of the delivery of Harland and Wolff's contract with the developers of the Neart na Gaoithe offshore wind farm for eight turbine jackets under construction in the Methil facility, and how many jobs in Scotland this contract (a) directly and (b) indirect…

Answer · Ivan McKee: I understand that the delivery of Harland and Wolff's contract with the developers of the Neart na Gaoithe (NNG) offshore wind farm for eight turbine jackets has now been reduced to four turbine jackets due to supply chain issues with component parts. Whilst…

14 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when its subsidy control unit was set up, and what the estimated (a) annual budget and (b) headcount is for (i) 2022-23 and (ii) 2023-24.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The Subsidy Control Team forms part of the European Structural Funds and Subsidy Control Division, formerly the State Aid Unit within the same Division until the UK’s exit from the EU. The budget for the Subsidy Control Team for 2022-23 is £577,595; the curre…

14 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-10550 by Ivan McKee on 7 September 2022, whether it has made a specific assessment of the impact that the UK Government’s new subsidy control legislation will have on the Scottish Government’s powers to specify and deliver public contracts for ferry…

Answer · Ivan McKee: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-11044 on 29 September 2022. 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-commi…

14 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-10550 by Ivan McKee on 7 September 2022, whether it has raised with the UK Government the reported concerns held by trade unions in Scotland regarding the impact of a new subsidy control regime on workers delivering public transport contracts held b…

Answer · Ivan McKee: The new Subsidy Control Act, 2022, has not yet commenced. It is expected to come into force in the next few months. Scottish Government has not raised specific sector-based, or employer-based issues with the UK Government, other than relating to Agriculture, …

14 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-10550 by Ivan McKee on 7 September 2022, when it last met its counterparts in the UK Government to discuss the impact of the new subsidy control regime on (a) workers and (b) public services in Scotland, and whether it will provide a list of the Sco…

Answer · Ivan McKee: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-11044 on 29 September 2022. 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-commi…

14 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions regarding public ferry contracts it has had with private operators in Scotland since 1 October 2016, and when the last such meeting took place.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government has had no formal discussions with private operators on this matter since 2016.

14 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, with reference to the further stakeholder engagement referred to on page 6 of the Ferry Services Procurement Policy, Review Interim Report - Emerging Findings, published on 20 December 2017, how many (a) passengers, (b) businesses and (c) local communities on the Clyde and Hebrides fer…

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Around 170 representatives from a wide range of stakeholder groups were invited to attend events across Shetland, Orkney, Stornoway, Oban, Glasgow and Benbecula in direct reference to the work highlighted.

14 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it made of the time required to complete the public consultation phase of the (a) draft National Islands Plan, (b) recommendations from Project Neptune and (c) procurement of the next Clyde and Hebrides ferry services contract.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Engaging effectively with people and stakeholder organisations is a key part of our public engagement and we always seek to follow Public Guidance for Consultation. The consultation process for the National Islands Plan and Islands Communities Impact Assessm…

14 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Ernst and Young consulted Transport Scotland on the (a) international and (b) domestic benchmarks used in Project Neptune’s Strategic Framework of Options for the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service (CFHS) network.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Ernst and Young did consult Transport Scotland on the benchmarks proposed to be inclusion in the framework of options. Transport Scotland provided some suggested operators for consideration as comparators, but the decision on which to include in the final rep…

14 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ensure that ScotRail's commitment to increase the number of apprenticeships tenfold from the 22 positions in March 2021 by 2025 will be honoured.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: While recruitment is rightly an operational matter for ScotRail to manage, the Scottish Government is supportive of the ambitious target to increase apprenticeships. ScotRail Trains Ltd. has confirmed that it is still aiming to have recruited 220 apprentices…

22 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the (a) use and (b) control of public subsidy in Scotland.

Answer · Ivan McKee: Scottish Government has engaged regularly with UK Government at official and ministerial level on the new subsidy control regime. Officials have participated in all engagement sessions, continuing to provide feedback and raising our concerns and those of our …

26 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many long COVID clinics are currently being operated by NHS Scotland.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: All NHS Scotland Boards are providing assessment and support for people with long COVID. This is being delivered across the full range of services delivered by our NHS and includes local primary care teams, community based rehabilitation services and referral…

26 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how much of the £10 million Long COVID Support Fund has been distributed to NHS boards to date.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-09934 on 23 August 2022. 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…

26 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many full-time equivalent care co-ordinator roles have been created to date in each territorial NHS board area; whether these are new and additional posts, and how many have been filled.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: ‘Care co-ordinator’ is a recognised term used in NHS England for staff who coordinate care in Primary Care Networks. These networks bring together GP practices to mutually employ staff. They do not exist in Scotland where GP practices are organised into clust…

26 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been diagnosed with long COVID in each NHS board area.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: This is a matter for the NHS Boards. The information requested is not held centrally. The Scottish Government recognises that accurate data on the number of people diagnosed with long COVID is needed to forecast and plan for the need for healthcare services …

28 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the ports industry in Scotland regarding the UK Government’s legislative response to P&O Ferries replacement of seafarers in Scotland with agency crew, reportedly being paid below the minimum wage, from 17 March 2022.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Scottish Ministers and Transport Scotland officials communicate regularly with key stakeholders in the Scottish ports sector about a wide range of issues, including the implications of the UK Government's response to P&O Ferries recent actions. The Member may…

28 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to exclude P&O Ferries owner, DP World, from the consortiums bidding for a Green Freeport in Scotland.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The Green Freeports bidding process closed on 20 June and five bids were submitted from: North East Scotland Green Freeport; Clyde Green Freeport; Forth Green Freeport; Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport; and Orkney Green Freeport. Neither P&O Ferrie…

28 Jun 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government on the potential impact of the reported low-wage crewing model, imposed by P&O Ferries, on seafarers working for other ferry operators.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Scottish Ministers have written to UK Ministers on 3 occasions regarding the impact of P&O Ferries actions, including asking UK Ministers to coordinate a 4 nations ministerial meeting to consider the wider implications in supply chain resilience and seafarer …