Parliamentary questions
Richard Leonard
963 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
21 Jun 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the maximum performance fee for the Serco Caledonian Sleeper Temporary Measures Agreement is capped at 1.5% of the cost base of the franchise, as was the case for its previous Emergency Measures Agreement, and, if that is not the case, what level it is capped at.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: For the current Serco Caledonian Sleepers Ltd Temporary Measures Agreement in place, there is a small, capped, incentive payment linked to performance and not linked to cost base. As the performance payments relate to potential future revenues receivable by …
14 Jun 2022 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will outline the role of Skills Development Scotland in delivering its economic recovery plans.
8 Jun 2022 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce the 6,600 nursing and midwifery vacancies reported at the end of 2021.
25 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will outline the changes in frequency to train services at (a) Shotts, (b) Airdrie, (c) Falkirk Grahamston, (d) Falkirk High and (e) Polmont railway station (i) from 23 May 2022 and (ii) as a result of the Fit for the Future timetable consultation.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The following table outlines the changes in frequency for the stations requested from ScotRail’s May 2022 Fit for the Future Timetable and ScotRail’s temporary timetable:- Timetable data for standard weekday, correct as of 07 June 2022 Station Timetable F…
25 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it was first informed of the changes by ScotRail to the train timetable that were introduced on 23 May 2022.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Transport Scotland was informed of the temporary timetable proposal by Scottish Rail Holdings Ltd on 11 May 2022.
25 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how long it anticipates the temporary timetable introduced by ScotRail on 23 May 2022 will be in place.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: ScotRail’s temporary timetable aims to provide the best possible service to as many passengers as possible with the available resources. The major determining factor is driver availability by rostered hours, location and with the necessary competencies, which…
25 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it was consulted by ScotRail on the reduction in train services that came into effect on 23 May 2022.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Scottish Rail Holdings Ltd consulted with Transport Scotland before authorising ScotRail Trains Ltd to implement the temporary timetable providing greater certainty to passengers and minimising unplanned cancellations.
25 May 2022 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the finance ministers have had with ministerial colleagues regarding support for a Just Transition for the Grangemouth Refinery, including any future investment.
18 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will guarantee that any application for Green Freeports in Scotland, which does not include an explicit commitment to supporting the implementation of Fair Work First, will not be successful.
Answer · Kate Forbes: The bidding prospectus underlines the Scottish Government’s commitment to a Fair Work First approach, and also the commitment of all of Scotland’s local authorities. We would therefore hope and expect that all bids would reflect that. We have made clear that …
18 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the in the application for Green Freeports in Scotland, what the maximum percentage score is that is awarded for the applicants’ commitment to fair work practices.
Answer · Kate Forbes: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-08668 on 10 June 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-committees…
18 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the overall percentage weighted score is for bids for Green Freeports in Scotland that have, or will only have, contracts with companies that have recognition agreements with trade unions.
Answer · Kate Forbes: The framework for assessing applications for Green Freeport status is described in the joint bidding prospectus published on 25 March, which can be accessed at Green Freeports in Scotland: bidding prospectus - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) . Applicants’ commitments i…
18 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take in to ensure that workers in Green Freeports in Scotland will have access to trade unions with collective bargaining rights.
Answer · Kate Forbes: Once operational Green Freeports will be subject to rigorous monitoring and reporting requirements. The Scottish Government will keep their performance under close review right across the fair work agenda. Provision of appropriate channels for effective voice…
18 May 2022 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the implications are for Social Security Scotland of the redeployment of staff to the agency from the DWP.
13 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many incidents of antisocial behaviour were recorded on the Scottish rail network in every month in (a) 2020, (b) 2021 and (c) 2022.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Incidents of anti-social behaviour on the rail network in Scotland are recorded by the British Transport Police (BTP) and can be sourced via the following link:- Stats and data | British Transport Police (btp.police.uk)
13 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-07655 by Jenny Gilruth on 27 April 2022, whether any changes were made to the draft Temporary Measures Agreement, shared with Serco on 25 February 2022, before it was agreed, and, if so, what these changes were.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: There were no substantive changes made to the draft of the Temporary Measures Agreement (TMA) shared with Serco Caledonian Sleepers Limited (‘Serco’) on 25 February 2022. The changes amounted to the correction of one typographical error, and the inclusion o…
13 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason ScotRail tickets that are sold as part of its half-price sale are not available from ticket offices.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: During the time of the offer passengers could purchase tickets via a dedicated telephone line as well as the ScotRail website and app, and ScotRail staff were briefed to ensure they could assist passengers wanting to access the offer. Online offers such as …
13 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much was spent on consultants for services relating to the ScotRail franchise in (a) 2020-21 and (b) 2021-22.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Transport Scotland incurred costs associated with advisors for services associated with the Abellio ScotRail franchise for the period (a) 2020-21 and (b) 2021-22 are as follows:- Company 2020-21 £s 2021-22 £s Atkins 200,077.50 106,224.58 MacRoberts 36…
13 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the restoration of Troon station following a fire in 2021, how much (a) has been spent on work already undertaken and (b) it anticipates the full restoration will cost in total.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Network Rail is undertaking restoration works following a serious fire, in July 2021, which caused extensive damage to Troon station building as well as overhead power equipment. To date (a) £900,000 has been spent on Troon to make the station safe followin…
13 May 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-07657 by Jenny Gilruth on 28 April 2022, how the Temporary Measures Agreement performance fee for Serco Caledonian Sleeper will be calculated.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Evidence on the performance of the operator in respect of the Temporary Measures Agreement (TMA) performance criteria will be assessed by Transport Scotland at the end of the TMA period. The performance scores achieved by the operator against each criteria …
13 Apr 2022 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the joint letter reportedly signed by 111 University of Edinburgh academics expressing deep concern about the future of higher education in Scotland.
24 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the timescales are for the National Conversation about ScotRail, and how it will engage with (a) trade unions and (b) the public on this.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Transport Scotland officials are currently finalising the programme of activities for the National Rail Conversation and more information, including how (a) trade unions and (b) the public can get involved, will be announced in May after the Local Elections.
24 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the costs of transferring operation of the Caledonian Sleeper franchise into the Operator of Last Resort, compared with onto a Temporary Measures Agreement.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: There are no current plans to deploy Operator of Last Resort (OLR) arrangements for Caledonian Sleeper services. Consequently, the Scottish Government has not undertaken an assessment of the costs associated with OLR at this time. Transport Scotland on behal…
24 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what date the decision was made to transfer the Caledonian Sleeper franchise onto a Temporary Measures Agreement.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: In February 2021, when the scale and pace of the recovery from the impact of the Covid 19 pandemic remained uncertain, a prior information notice (PIN) was published to preserve the Scottish Ministers’ ability to award a Temporary Measures Agreement (TMA) for…
24 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government via what processes it has communicated to stakeholders the transfer of the Caledonian Sleeper franchise onto a Temporary Measures Agreement.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: It was announced that the Scottish Government had agreed a new Temporary Measures Agreement with Serco Caledonian Sleepers Limited in a letter to the Convener of the Scottish Parliament’s Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee on 17 March 2022. An announcem…
24 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the timescales are for the consultation on women’s safety on public transport, and how it will engage with (a) trade unions and (b) the public on this.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: In addition to taking forward a National Conversation on rail, we will be consulting specifically on women’s safety when using public transport. The specific means by which we carry out this engagement will be informed by initial discussions with women’s gro…
24 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the maximum management and/or performance fees payable to Serco Caledonian Sleeper are under its Temporary Measures Agreement.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: There is no management fee payable under the Temporary Measures Agreement (TMA), instead there is a small, capped, incentive payment – linked strictly to performance. As the performance payments relate to potential future revenues receivable by Serco Caledo…
24 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to (a) introduce powers that would ban perpetrators of antisocial behaviour from the railway and (b) make it a specific offence to abuse or threaten rail workers in the course of their employment.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Anti-social behaviour is unacceptable on Scotland's Railway and in wider society. The Scottish Government intends to have discussions with stakeholders about potential routes for banning people who commit anti-social behaviour on railways, including the use o…
24 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) primary or (b) secondary legislation would be required to (i) ban perpetrators of antisocial behaviour from the railway and (ii) make it a specific offence to abuse or threaten rail workers in the course of their employment.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Abusing or threatening railway workers could lead to prosecution under current legislation, such as section 38 of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010, or the common law, for example for a breach of the peace. It is considered that primary l…
24 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to Transport Scotland's evidence to the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee on 15 March 2022, on what rolling stock leases the Scottish Government has secured savings, and of what amount.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: ScotRail Trains Ltd has successfully secured significant rolling stock lease savings over the next 4 year period. The estimated lease savings are values deemed commercially sensitive.
24 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the timescales are for the Fair Fares review, and how it will engage with (a) trade unions and (b) the public on this.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Our Fair Fares Review is in its initial planning stages. I recently undertook to provide the Scottish Parliament's Committee for Net Zero, Energy and Transport with further details on the Scottish Government's plans and timescales for the review. I will share…