Parliamentary questions
Richard Leonard
963 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
30 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of section 315(2) of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987, which local authorities have (a) applied to the Scottish Ministers for the dispensation of the making of byelaws with respect to accommodation for seasonal workers and (b) been (i) granted and (ii) denied such a dispensation…
Answer · Paul McLennan: The Scottish Government does not hold the requested information. This information is held at a local authority level. Local authorities are required under section 202B of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 to keep a register of all byelaws.
30 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many control test inspections on farms have been conducted by Scottish Government Agricultural Wages Inspectors in 2024 to date.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: During the 2024 calendar year up until 10 October 2024, 88 Control Test Inspections have been conducted by Agricultural Wages Inspectors (AWI). This figure is in addition to 9 complaint cases raised directly by agricultural employees, that AWIs have investiga…
27 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the legal status is of seasonal agricultural workers housed in caravan accommodation on agricultural land, with regards to that accommodation.
Answer · Paul McLennan: The rights that a worker has in tied accommodation will depend on the type of tenancy or occupancy agreement in place. If an employer gives an employee accommodation as part of the job and the employee has to live there to be able to do the job, they may have…
26 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government about withholding any customs incentives available in Green Freeports to PetroIneos in the event that it pursues the closure of the Grangemouth oil refinery.
Answer · Kate Forbes: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-30246 on 11 October 2024. 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-co…
26 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made any representations to PetroIneos to state that seed capital for site preparation and infrastructure in the outer boundary of Green Freeports will not be made available for the proposed import-export terminal in the event that PetroIneos pursues the closure of the Gra…
Answer · Kate Forbes: As you will know, delivery of Green Freeports are a joint initiative between the Scottish Government and the UK Government, with a detailed programme in place to do this. Responsibility for the various incentives (including tax and seed capital) lie with the …
26 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of any impact of the Forth Green Freeport tax and customs incentives on the decision of PetroIneos to close the Grangemouth oil refinery and open an import-export terminal.
Answer · Kate Forbes: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-30246 on 11 October 2024. 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-co…
26 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to withholding or reducing any tax incentives available in Green Freeports to PetroIneos in the event that it pursues the closure of the Grangemouth oil refinery.
Answer · Kate Forbes: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-30246 on 11 October 2024. 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-co…
20 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-29506 by Fiona Hyslop on 17 September 2024, what the estimated cost to the taxpayer is of administering the tender process for this contract.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: CMAL are the procurement authority and administer the tendering process through their staff. This would be a normal BAU cost by way of paying the salaries of the staff involved.
10 Sep 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to support the retention of Scotland’s public libraries.
4 Sep 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support specialist neonatal intensive care units across Scotland.
2 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to issue the invitation to tender for the Phase 1 design and build contract in the Small Vessel Replacement Programme, and what it anticipates the value will be of this public contract.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) as procuring authority foresee the invitation to tender issuing late September/early October 2024. A contract range will be given but it will be for bidders to confirm the cost of the design and build contract and for…
2 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment (a) Transport Scotland and (b) CMAL has made of (i) passenger accessibility and (ii) crew training for the Phase 1 contract in the Small Vessel Replacement Programme.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Engagement and consultation have been undertaken on both aspects ahead of the live procurement. Passenger accessibility and crew training and familiarisation has also been included in the scope of the Small Vessel Replacement Programme ahead of successful del…
2 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent steps it has taken to ensure that low and zero carbon-fuelled ferries are safely (a) crewed and (b) operational from all harbours on the (i) Clyde and Hebrides, (ii) Northern Isles and (iii) inter-island ferry service contract routes.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) work with operators, crew and unions to ensure that all replacement ferries are safely crewed and operated from the ports and harbours they are set to serve before their introduction. The four vessels being built at C…
2 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the cost of the tendering process for the Small Vessel Replacement Programme Phase 1 contract.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government does not hold this information as the cost of tendering for the Small Vessel Replacement Programme is a cost borne by the bidders in the procurement process.
2 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that the successful bidder for the Phase 1 design and build contract in the Small Vessel Replacement Programme is required to recognise trade unions, including seafarer unions, at the (a) test and survey, (b) launch, (c) equip and (d) sea trial stage of …
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Consultation and engagement with seafarer unions has been ongoing for SVRP and will continue during the design and build stage and will include (a) test and survey, (b) launch, (c) equip and (d) sea trial stage of the contract.
2 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will set out the capital allocation for (a) vessel procurement and (b) harbour infrastructure upgrades in Phase 1 of the Small Vessel Replacement Programme.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The full costs of the procurement for the seven vessels as part of the Small Vessels Replacement Programme are estimated to be around £175 million including the provision of harbour upgrades and shore power connections.The split cannot be given at this …
2 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what CMAL's total capital budget is for the Small Vessel Replacement Programme.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The current estimate for the seven new vessels and related port works in SVRP Phase 1 is £175 million. CMAL are progressing the vessel procurement with a view to agreeing a contract around March in 2025. The project spend profile remains under review an…
2 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Marine Scotland regarding the upgrades of harbours owned by (a) CMAL and (b) local authorities required by the (i) Small Vessel Replacement Programme and (ii) draft Islands Connectivity Plan.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) as procuring authority for the programme will continue to involve all relevant stakeholders, including local authority harbour owners, in planned upgrades and works associated with the Small Vessel Replacement Program…
2 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment (a) Transport Scotland and (b) CMAL has made of comparative crewing levels for the Phase 1 contract in the Small Vessel Replacement Programme.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Crewing levels will be comparable with existing small vessels to ensure safe manning and operation of the new vessels when they are introduced. CalMac Ferries Limited will continue to engage with crew and unions ahead of the vessels introduction. Further deta…
27 Aug 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to implement Scotland’s National Transport Strategy.
23 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many of its former senior (a) civil servants and (b) agency staff sought its approval in (i) 2021-22, (ii) 2022-23 and (iii) 2023-24 to take up a position with another employer, also broken down by how many times this approval was granted.
Answer · Ivan McKee: 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 (i) 2021-22, (ii) 2022-23 and (iii) 2023-24 is published on the Scottis…
22 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a timescale for the introduction of an integrated ticketing scheme covering all forms of public transport.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Significant progress has been made in recent years to improve smart, integrated ticketing and payment on public transport. Since 2019 Scottish smartcards are universal, meaning they are compatible for nearly all smart tickets available in Scotland. This inclu…
22 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with ScotRail to ensure that the technology partner it appoints to deliver “a state-of-the-art multi-channel e-commerce solution that redefines convenience, accessibility, and value for our passengers” will provide integrated ticketing with the Gla…
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has discussed with ScotRail and Scottish Rail Holdings its live procurement exercise for a technology partner to deliver an ecommerce solution to ensure it is compatible with our new Smart, Digital, Integrated Ticketing and Payments De…
8 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many contracts it has awarded to supported businesses in Scotland in each of the last five calendar years.
Answer · Ivan McKee: Supported Businesses make an important contribution to the Scottish economy. Not only through the goods and services they deliver, but also by providing meaningful employment, training, and social support for those who may otherwise be excluded from the workp…
8 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many contracts have been awarded to supported businesses by public bodies in each of the last five calendar years.
Answer · Ivan McKee: Supported Businesses make an important contribution to the Scottish economy. Not only through the goods and services they deliver, but also by providing meaningful employment, training, and social support for those who may otherwise be excluded from the workp…
26 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will list the (a) recipient, (b) value and (c) project status of each of the Piers and Harbours Grants that it has issued from the Infrastructure Investment Plan to date.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Lochmaddy infrastructure project was led and delivered by the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar(CNES) and the offer of capital grant funding provided was £15,747,640. The Tarbert (Harris) project was led and delivered by CMAL, the total spend by Transport Scotla…
26 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of any additional costs from Transport Scotland’s contracts for external consultancy services that will result from the 12-month extension to the current contract for Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services from 1 October 2024.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Currently there are no estimated additional costs from Transport Scotland’s contracted external consultancy services relating to any extension of the CHFS2 contract.
26 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ensure that the Islands Connectivity Plan includes Orkney Islands Council in any new approach to procuring second-hand tonnage on publicly subsidised ferry services.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Islands Connectivity Plan recognises that Councils face the same challenges as the Scottish Government of meeting transport connectivity needs with ageing vessels in a time of financial challenge and this Government has already provided more than £220 mil…
26 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the remaining annual funding levels are for the Infrastructure Investment Plan (IIP) to 2025-26, and what assessment it has made of the impact of inflation levels since 2021-22 on the total IIP budget.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government is absolutely committed to improving and modernising our ferry services and better meeting the needs of island residents, businesses and communities. The Infrastructure Investment Plan referenced capital investment of at least £580 mil…
26 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to (a) set funding levels for each phase of the Vessels and Ports Plan for the (i) Clyde and Hebrides and (ii) Northern Isles public ferry networks to 2045 and (b) publish the Islands Connectivity Plan in full.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: As part of the Islands Connectivity Plan, the updated Vessel and Ports Plan was published for consultation on 1 February 2024. The Plan provides a long-term plan to 2045 for the vessel and port investment considered necessary to address the key challenges of …