Parliamentary questions
Richard Leonard
963 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
16 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact the time chartering of the MV Pentalina will have on the annual level of subsidy that CalMac receives under the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services contract.
Answer · Graeme Dey: Discussions are progressing between CalMac and Pentland Ferries with regards to the time charter of the MV Pentalina. The impact on the annual level of subsidy cannot be confirmed until negotiations have been completed.
16 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government at which ports on the Clyde and Hebrides ferry network the MV Pentalina underwent sea berthing trials from 12 June 2021.
Answer · Graeme Dey: Berthing trials of the MV Pentalina were carried out during the week commencing 14 June 2021, at the following ports on the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS) network: Campbeltown, Ardrossan, Brodick, Craignure, Kennacraig, Port Ellen, Oban, Stornoway a…
16 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the ticketing arrangements will be on the MV Pentalina, should it be deployed as a relief for the CalMac fleet, and whether the Road Equivalent Tariff will continue to apply to passenger fares in those circumstances.
Answer · Graeme Dey: CalMac Ferries Ltd will apply its standard ticketing arrangements and fares for whatever route the MV Pentalina is operating on.
16 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its policy is on making the Road Equivalent Tariff subsidy available to Pentland Ferries’ private routes, across the Pentland Firth.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government remains committed to reducing fares on Northern Isles ferry routes. Following engagement with European Commission officials in 2019, Transport Scotland officials were developing proposals to introduce Road Equivalent Tariff. This wor…
16 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assurances it has received from the UK Government that the (a) MV Pentalina, and (b) MV Alfred are safe to operate on ferry routes in Scotland.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government has received no assurance from the UK Government that the MV Pentalina or MV Alfred, are safe to operate on ferry routes in Scotland. All vessels are required to meet all relevant regulatory requirements as set out by the Maritime & Co…
16 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many crew are included in the time charter for the MV Pentalina, and who they are employed by.
Answer · Graeme Dey: Pentland Ferries have withdrawn, on commercial grounds, from discussions on the offer of the Time Charter of the MV Pentalina with CalMac.
16 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many of its former senior (a) civil servants and (b) agency staff have sought its approval in each of the last five years to take up a position with another employer, and how many times this approval was granted.
Answer · Kate Forbes: The number of Senior Civil Servants working in core Scottish Government and its Agencies who have requested approval under the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA) rules in the last 5 years is provided in the following table: Year Number of S…
16 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many of its former ministers have sought its approval in each of the last five years to take up a position with another employer, and how many times this approval was granted.
Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government does not process business appointment applications from former Ministers. These are considered by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA) which publishes details of its advice in relation to appointments it is aware hav…
4 Jun 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ensure that people who are required to report the results of COVID-19 lateral flow tests, so that the NHS can monitor the spread of the virus, support communities across the UK and tackle the virus, will not have to pay for the cost of their calls, in light of this being …
Answer · Maree Todd: The 119 Freephone COVID testing helpline was made available to callers from Scotland on Friday 23 April 2021. The 119 Freephone service provides callers the option to report lateral flow device (LFD) test results, and can also be used to:order LFD test kits f…
28 May 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether Abellio ScotRail requires ministerial permission to enter pay talks with the recognised trade unions regarding the 2021 pay award for ScotRail staff and, if so, whether this permission has been (a) requested and (b) granted.
Answer · Graeme Dey: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-00322 on 16 June 2021. 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…
28 May 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has reportedly not provided additional funding for the outstanding 2020 Abellio ScotRail pay award, in light of it funding a performance and management fee for the company under its Emergency Measures Agreement.
Answer · Graeme Dey: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-00322 on 16 June 2021 2021. 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…
28 May 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether Abellio ScotRail requires ministerial permission to agree a rest-day working enhancement for ticket examiner and conductor grades.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government has already spent around £1bn to support Scottish rail services – including an increase of more than £400m over normal rail support payments for ScotRail. As well as maintaining essential railway services this funding has secured full …
28 May 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Abellio ScotRail pay awards for 2020 and 2021 remain outstanding, and whether it will meet representatives of the recognised trade unions to discuss this.
Answer · Graeme Dey: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-00322 on 16 June 2021. 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…
28 May 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-36144 by Michael Matheson on 23 March 2021, by what date the (a) Abellio ScotRail and (b) Serco Caledonian Sleeper Emergency Measures Agreement performance and management fees will be published on the Transport Scotland website.
Answer · Graeme Dey: It was Transport Scotland’s intention to publish the Emergency Measures Agreements 1 (March – September 2020) performance and management fee values for (a) Abellio ScotRail and (b) Serco Caledonian Sleepers Ltd in April 2021. However, due to the pre-election…
28 May 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to meet the RMT to discuss the industrial dispute regarding Abellio ScotRail's (a) reported refusal to negotiate a rest-day working enhancement for ticket examiner and conductor grades and (b) reported breach of the Dignity and Respect policy at the company's Perth Depo…
Answer · Graeme Dey: (a) Scottish Government normally meets railway trade union representatives as part of the routine STUC meeting cycles to discuss any issues at hand. However due to Covid these meetings have not taken place in the normal manner. Arrangements for a meeting with…
28 May 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that Abellio ScotRail has refused to negotiate an equivalent agreement for all general grades, for what reason a rest-day working agreement for driver grades has been extended to October 2021.
Answer · Graeme Dey: This is an operational matter for ScotRail in negotiation with its staff through established collective bargaining arrangements. I understand that established rest day working agreements remain in place for all ScotRail operational staff. The exceptional sup…
24 Dec 2020 · First Minister's Question
Question to be taken in Chamber.
22 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will outline the parameters that were set for Scottish football’s governing bodies in relation to the use of the £30 million funding package announced on 10 December 2020.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The emergency funding levels were agreed between the Scottish Government and the Scottish FA following analysis of the impact of spectator absence and the remaining costs and income streams in each league. The funding will be used to support ongoing football …
22 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has been involved in, following its announcement on 10 December 2020, regarding how to allocate the £10 million of grant funding for Scottish football clubs outwith the Premiership.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Following a number of detailed discussions, the distribution mechanism for the £10 million grant funding has been agreed with the Scottish FA. This has now been communicated to clubs and affiliated national associations to allow this this urgent emergency fin…
17 Dec 2020 · First Minister's Question
Question to be taken in Chamber.
10 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of the impact of COVID-19 on people with autism.
Answer · Clare Haughey: The Scottish Government continues to be committed to improving the lives of autistic people in Scotland. We recognise autistic people have faced and responded to a wider range of challenges than the general population. That’s why we have been working closely …
10 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support is being given to people with autism to help with the changes to their routine caused by COVID-19.
Answer · Clare Haughey: The Scottish Government knows how difficult the Covid-19 Pandemic has been on autistic people, their families and carers. That’s why we have provided over £300,000 worth of funding to national Autism Organisations for the delivery of vital front line support …
10 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether home care workers will receive the COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as care home workers.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Joint committee on Vaccinations and Immunisations (JCVI) initial advice is focussed on preventing severe illness and loss of life, first and foremost and this is why it focusses on older people and health and social care workers. Home Care workers are co…
10 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether a carer who receives payment for caring for a relative will receive the £500 "thank you" bonus.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: Personal assistants employed in the adult social care sector by the person they support will be in scope of the pro rata £500 payment being made to those NHS and adult social care staff who have been employed since 17 March 2020.
10 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether home care workers receive regular COVID-19 testing and, if not, for what reasons.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: On 25 November the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport set out to parliament our plans for expansion of routine asymptomatic testing for home care workers (including those who work in housing support). In line with clinical and public health priorities id…
10 Dec 2020 · First Minister's Question
Question to be taken in Chamber.
4 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many cancer screening appointments have been cancelled in each month since February 2020, broken down by screening programme.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: As processes vary across the three cancer screening programmes, it is only possible to provide cancellation data for the breast screening programme. Cervical screening programme appointments are made and cancelled within sample taker locations, primarily in …
4 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many cancer services referrals have been made by GPs in (a) each year since 2017 and (b) 2020 to date.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: Management information on Urgent suspicion of Cancer referrals has only been routinely collected from November 2019 onwards. The referral data is management information only which is not validated and is not currently published. However we are currently work…
4 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many NHS and social care staff have died during the COVID 19 pandemic; how many of these people's families were eligible for the £60,000 death-in-service payment, and how many have received the payment to date.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: I would like to express again my most sincere condolences to the family and friends of health and care workers who have died as a result of Covid-19. As of 9 December we have received 13 formal notifications of the deaths of NHS staff, and 19 formal notificat…
4 Dec 2020 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether pharmacists and their support teams will be offered weekly COVID-19 tests.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government announced on 25 November Scotland's updated approach to testing for frontline healthcare workers in a patient facing role, with priority for those who will be going into care homes, including members of the community pharmacy team. Exp…