Parliamentary questions
Richard Leonard
963 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
21 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to issue guidance to public bodies in Scotland that no public money should be spent on bookings with P&O Ferries until the company has reinstated the workers who were made redundant on 17 March 2022.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government does not hold any contracts with P&O Ferries, and has no plan to issue guidance to public bodies regarding bookings with P&O Ferries.
21 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many meetings (a) ministers and (b) its officials have had with representatives of DP World since January 2019.
Answer · Ivan McKee: Since January 2019, Scottish Government ministers have not had any meetings with DP World. In the same timeframe, no Scottish Government officials have had meetings with DP World. On my recent ministerial visit to Dubai, I requested to meet with DP World in …
21 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any current contractual arrangements with P&O Ferries, and, if so, what they are.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government does not hold any contracts with P&O Ferries.
21 Mar 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) single and (b) return crossings have been made by (i) ministers and (ii) its officials on P&O Ferries between Cairnryan and Larne in each of the last three calendar years.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Scottish Government officials have travelled on P&O Ferries between Larne and Cairnryan four times since 2019. All four crossings were single journeys. No single or return crossings were made by Ministers in 2019, 2020 or 2021. The global COVID-19 pandemic t…
9 Mar 2022 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met Scotland's university principals.
2 Mar 2022 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on co-operative development in Scotland.
23 Feb 2022 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the remediation, including removal and replacement, of unsafe cladding on residential buildings in Scotland, as part of its response to the Grenfell tragedy.
14 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether public (a) subsidies and (b) contracts in the ferry industry are government intervention.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government ensures the continued provision of safe and efficient ferries that play a vital role in the economic, social and cultural life of our island and remote communities. Transport Scotland implements ferry policy on behalf of Scottish Minis…
14 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the status is of collective bargaining agreements in the Market Assessment of all routes on the Clyde and Hebrides ferry network.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Collective bargaining agreements are not considered as part of that assessment.
14 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on providing ferry services in Scotland without government intervention.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: There are a number of operators that provide ferry services on a commercial basis and their services are a matter for those companies. The Scottish Government continues to support lifeline ferry services in Scotland and is committed to provide our island an…
14 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will list all ferry operators in Scotland and the collective bargaining arrangements in place at each company.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: CalMac Ferries Ltd and NorthLink Ferries Ltd, who operate public service ferry contracts on behalf of the Scottish Government, are required to comply with UK employment legislation. In addition, employment terms and conditions of staff reflect the principles …
14 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration is given to vessel procurement policy in its Market Assessment of all routes on the Clyde and Hebrides ferry network.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Vessel procurement is not considered as part of this assessment. The vessel procurement strategy will be taken forward in the Islands Connectivity Plan and details have already been included in the Infrastructure Investment Plan.
14 Feb 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which policies in the Ferries Plan 2013-22 will be replaced by policies in the Islands Connectivity Plan.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Islands Connectivity Plan (ICP) will replace the Ferries Plan and will consider island connectivity more broadly, including having regard to connecting and onward travel. The ICP will develop objectives based on supporting delivery of the National Transpo…
19 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether Abellio ScotRail has produced an Equality Impact Assessment regarding its proposals to reduce ticket office opening hours at a number of its stations.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: ScotRail has commenced a Disability Impact Assessment (DIA) regarding the ticket office opening hours consultation, the DIA process will reflect all feedback received. The purpose of the public consultation is to enable passengers and stakeholders to provide …
19 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government over which period in 2019 the ticket sales data in ScotRail's consultation on ticket office closures relates to.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Abellio ScotRail advise they carried out analysis from ticket issue data for each of the current ScotRail ticket offices covering the seven-week period from 30 October to 17 December 2016 & 2019, regarded in the industry as the busiest period in the year. I…
19 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what date it or Transport Scotland was notified that Abellio ScotRail was planning to consult on changes to ticket office opening hours at a number of its stations.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Abellio ScotRail confirmed to Transport Scotland on 13 July 2021 of their intention to undertake a review of ticket office opening hours under Schedule 17 of the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement.
19 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it or Transport Scotland has made of the potential impact of Abellio ScotRail’s proposals to reduce ticket office opening hours on passenger numbers.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Abellio ScotRail as the train operating company providing passenger rail services, is responsible for the ticket office consultation. Transport Focus, the independent watchdog for transport users, will collate and provide a report on the consultation respon…
19 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether its or Transport Scotland’s permission was required for Abellio ScotRail to consult on changes to its ticket office opening hours.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The ticket office review is being conducted under existing rail industry processes – Schedule 17 of the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement – and as such permission was not required from Transport Scotland before Abellio ScotRail, the train operating company, …
19 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it or Transport Scotland has made of which services will no longer be available to passengers at times when ticket offices are proposed to be closed, in light of ScotRail's consultation on the matter.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Transport Scotland has not undertaken any assessment however Abellio ScotRail has carried out an assessment of all ticket sales, passenger assistance, ticket buying facilities, waiting areas, toilets, passenger footfall, links to local schools, colleges and b…
19 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions its or Transport Scotland's officials had with representatives of Abellio ScotRail regarding its proposals to change ticket office opening hours, and on what dates these discussions took place.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Following Abellio ScotRail’s notification on 13 July 2021 of their intention to undertake a review of ticket office opening hours under Schedule 17 of the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement, discussions concerning this consultation were held in the normal cou…
19 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it or Transport Scotland has made of the potential impact of Abellio ScotRail’s proposals to reduce ticket office opening hours on Scotland’s carbon reduction targets.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Transport Scotland has not undertaken any assessment however Abellio ScotRail advise that there is an estimated carbon reduction saving of 75 tons per annum if ticket office opening hours are reviewed however we should wait for the results of the consultation…
19 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it or Transport Scotland has made of the potential impact of Abellio ScotRail’s proposals to reduce ticket office opening hours on the accessibility of the rail network for (a) disabled and (b) older passengers.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The review, the first of its kind in over 30 years, proposes changes to contribute to the modernisation of Scotland’s stations and offer passengers a more efficient and cost effective service for the future. The consultation has enabled rail users including (…
19 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it or Transport Scotland has made of passengers’ ability to purchase the best value ticket at times when ticket offices are proposed to be closed, in light of ScotRail's consultation on the matter.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Transport Scotland has not undertaken any assessment however Abellio ScotRail advise they have carried out a full review of ticket buying at all ticket offices which have remained largely the same since the 1990s. During this period there has been significant…
19 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it anticipates any changes to ticket office opening hours being implemented prior to 1 April 2022, in light of ScotRail's consultation on the matter.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Abellio ScotRail has advised that following consultation process, Transport Focus will analyse the results and compile a report. The report outputs will then be considered before any final decisions are reached.
19 Jan 2022 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it considers its financial exposure to be in relation to its arrangements with GFG Alliance and its related companies.
5 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the extent to which Serco Caledonian Sleeper’s employment procedures are in line with its Fair Work Framework.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The existing Franchise Agreement between the Scottish Ministers and Serco Caledonian Sleepers Limited predates the implementation of the Fair Work Framework. However, the opportunity has been taken under the current amended contractual arrangements for the p…
5 Jan 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the extent to which Serco Caledonian Sleeper’s treatment of its staff is consistent with the application of its Fair Work Framework.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-05572 on 10 February 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…
24 Dec 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, between 1 January and 30 June 2021, what proportion of reports of domestic abuse incidents perpetrated by (a) men against women and (b) women against men were prosecuted.
Answer · Dorothy Bain: The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) uses an operational database. The database is designed for the management of cases rather than for statistical purposes. COPFS can provide data in relation to charges reported and prosecuted based on the…
24 Dec 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many incidents of domestic abuse were (a) reported and (b) prosecuted between 1 January and 30 June 2021.
Answer · Keith Brown: The latest published Official Statistics on the number of incidents of domestic abuse recorded by the police in Scotland are for the year to 31 March 2021. In the period from 1 January to 31 March 2021, the Police recorded 14,782 incidents of domestic abuse. …
24 Dec 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many incidents of domestic abuse by (a) men against women and (b) women against men were reported to Police Scotland between 1 January and 30 June 2021.
Answer · Keith Brown: The latest published Official Statistics on the number of incidents of domestic abuse recorded by the Police in Scotland are for the year to 31 March 2021. In the period from 1 January to 31 March 2021, where the victim’s gender was recorded, 80% (9,034) of d…