Parliamentary questions
Richard Leonard
963 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
19 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what date it expects the MV Caledonian Isles to return to service on the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract, and whether it will provide an update on the progress of the dry dock repair of the vessel.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: There is currently no firm date for the return of MV Caledonian Isles. Transport Scotland officials continue to engage with CalMac weekly, and although complex, works are progressing well.
19 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last discussed the negotiations to bring Ardrossan harbour into public ownership with the board of Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I meet regularly with CMAL CEO to receive updates and explore progress on a range of live projects. I last met with Kevin Hobbs on 27 August and status of the commercially sensitive negotiations around Ardrossan was discussed.Updates to the NZET Committee and…
19 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the current full-time equivalent staffing commitment is at (a) Transport Scotland and (b) Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd for the Ardrossan Harbour Redevelopment Project.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Neither Transport Scotland or CMAL record staff time or costs by project task and therefore we are unable to provide the member with a definitive response. I can confirm that project partners across Scottish Government and CMAL continue to work on the Ardross…
19 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of the (a) duration and (b) value of (i) scheduled and (ii) unscheduled dry dock work carried out on CMAL-owned vessels at Inchgreen dry dock facility since 1 January 2015.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government is unable to provide such a list, as the dry dock facility at Inchgreen has not been used to undertake scheduled or unscheduled dry dock work on vessels that are owned by CMAL.
19 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the current expected in-service date for MV (a) Isle of Islay, (b) Glen Rosa, (c) Loch Indaal, (d) Lochmor and (e) Claymore, and when this was last discussed with CalMac Ferries Ltd.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Please see the Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) interim update provided to the NZET Committee on 1 September 2025 on the delivery progress of MV Isle of Islay and the other vessels currently under construction in Türkiye. The letter has been pub…
19 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) CalMac Ferries Ltd and (b) the Maritime and Coastguard Agency regarding the reported passenger safety incident on the MV Alfred on 16 August 2025.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: CalMac informed Transport Scotland of the incident, which is their contractual obligation. The Scottish Government has no role in discussing these matters with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
19 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that the specifications in the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract to be directly awarded to CalMac are discussed with the recognised trade unions before 1 October 2025.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Since the launch of the RMT People’s CalMac Campaign in 2022 we have been engaging with Trade unions on their aspiration for a CHFS3 of Direct Award to CalMac Ferries. The Scottish Government agrees that a Direct Award is the best and most appropriate w…
19 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects discussions to begin between CalMac Ferries Ltd and the recognised trade unions regarding (a) commercial crewing levels and (b) route-specific sea trials for the MV (i) Isle of Islay, (ii) Glen Rosa, (iii) Loch Indaal, (iv) Lochmor and (v) Claymore.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Discussions have already taken place for the MV Isle of Islay in relation to commercial crewing levels in which trade unions, with the exception of RMT, have agreed the crew numbers.A meeting will be scheduled by CalMac Ferries Ltd within the coming weeks wit…
22 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what weighting was given to workers having a voice in the scoring of tender bids for ScotRail’s outsourced business functions contract.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-39497 on 15 August 2025. 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-committee…
22 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it will introduce to ensure that outsourced contracts for ScotRail are delivered by companies that recognise trade unions.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: These are operational decisions for ScotRail Trains Ltd. In discharging its operational responsibilities, SRT is required to comply with Scottish Government Fair Work policies.
22 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment in terms of (a) value for money and (b) adherence with the Fair Work framework it has made of bringing the ScotRail business functions, including finance, payroll and customer experience, which are currently outsourced inhouse to Solvd.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-39497 on 15 August 2025. 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-committee…
22 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government who will carry out the ScotRail business functions, including finance, payroll and customer experience, which are currently outsourced inhouse to Solvd, once the Solvd contract comes to an end.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: At time of the transition to public ownership and control of ScotRail, in order to maintain service levels while minimising disruption to staff, it was decided that the contracts for the contact centre, finance and payroll which were delivered to ScotRail by …
22 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its policy is regarding the outsourcing of ancillary functions by its publicly owned rail operators.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-39497 on 15 August 2025. 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-committee…
9 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of all of the funding that it has provided to any LGBTQI+ charities and organisations in the financial year 2024-25.
Answer · Kaukab Stewart: The Scottish Government provided funding of over £1.1m from the Equality and Human Rights Fund to organisations working to promote LGBTQI+ equality in Scotland in 2024-25.This funding provides support for a range of initiatives, including supporting pol…
11 Jun 2025 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to the consultation by Alexander Dennis on the future of its facilities in Falkirk and Larbert.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: This will be a hugely worrying time for the workforce at ADL, their families and the wider community. We have engaged extensively with Alexander Dennis and its parent company NFI to ensure that every possible avenue is explored to mitigate the need for redund…
9 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it has paid to GB Railfreight to undertake shunting duties at Carstairs for Caledonian Sleeper in each of the last two financial years.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: This is an operational matter for Caledonian Sleeper Ltd. The Member may wish to contact Caledonian Sleeper directly.
22 May 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had regarding its support for humanitarian assistance, in light of reports of the increasing number of deaths in Gaza.
20 May 2025 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government how its policies to support Scottish culture and heritage ensure that the contribution of prominent figures, such as trade unionist, Michael McGahey, can be honoured.
13 May 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the economic impact of the closure of the Grangemouth oil refinery.
7 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many timetabled services under the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract have been provided by the MV Alfred since 1 May 2023.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: MV Alfred has operated 2,720 sailings since 1 May 2023 (covering up to 30 April 2025).
7 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the total cost to date is of time chartering the MV Alfred from Pentland Ferries for deployment on the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-35337 on 11 March 2025 which covered the costs of the current charter agreement. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be fo…
7 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the current time charter of the MV Alfred for CalMac Ferries expires.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The current time charter of MV Alfred from Pentland Ferries will run until 31 May 2025.
29 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether Scotland’s Railway has experienced any delays in awarding contracts to suppliers in the last two years; if so, what the reasons were for any such delays, and whether any scheduled rail projects were delayed as a result.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The awarding of contracts to suppliers are matters for Network Rail, ScotRail and Caledonian Sleeper.
29 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent by Scotland’s Railway in the first year of the Control Period 7 funding period.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Network Rail has spent £461 million of Network Grant funding and £163 million of Enhancement Grant funding in year one of the control period. The quoted figures represent Network Rail spend alone.
22 Apr 2025 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure everyone living and working in Scotland lives in accommodation that meets an adequate standard.
3 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what representation it had at the responsible dog ownership summit on 20 September 2024.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-36695 on 16 April 2025.The Summit Report is available on the Scottish Government website: https://www.gov.scot/publications/report-scottish-government-responsible-dog-ownership-summit-discussions-key-stakeholde…
3 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the outcome was of its responsible dog ownership summit on 20 September 2024.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Government is grateful to everyone who attended and contributed to the Responsible Dog Ownership Summit held in Edinburgh on 20 September 2024.The Summit brought together attendees from a wide range of organisations.The Summit was jointly chaired…
3 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the short life working group on the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 last met.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-36005 on 1 April 2025.The Short Life Working Group was set up by the Scottish Government to review the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 (“the 1991 Act”).The last meeting of the Short Life Working Group to re…
24 Mar 2025 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on staffing at ScotRail ticket offices.
17 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is proposing to take, in light of the work of its short-life working group on the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Government keeps all dog control legislation under review and that includes the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 (“the 1991 Act”).A Scottish Government led Short Life Working Group was established in 2022 to assist with taking forward our comm…