Colin Smyth

12 Aug 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is covering the Abellio ScotRail rolling stock lease costs under the terms of the Emergency Measures Agreement (EMA) and, if so, how much it has spent on this in the first six months of the EMA.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Emergency Services Agreement (EMA) covers all the operating costs of the day to day operations of both Train Operating Companies that are not covered by revenue from passengers, and this includes rolling stock lease costs. A full reconciliation of all cos…

12 Aug 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what management fee is due to be paid to Abellio ScotRail at the end of its six-month Emergency Measures Agreement.

Answer · Michael Matheson: To date no management fees have been paid to Abellio ScotRail under the Emergency Measures Agreement (EMA) as this will be calculated at the end of the EMA term once a full reconciliation has taken place.

12 Aug 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what date it plans to implement the disclosure provisions under the Management of Offenders (Scotland) Act 2019.

11 Aug 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many jobs will be created by the (a) electrification programme, (b) manufacturing of rolling stock and (c) advanced technologies referred to in its Rail Decarbonisation Programme.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Through our commitment to a long term rolling programme to decarbonise Scotland’s Railway we know that this will create more skilled and sustainable jobs in Scotland, providing a significant additional contribution to our economy.

10 Aug 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many jobs have been created by the (a) electrification programme, (b) manufacturing of rolling stock and (c) advanced technologies referred to in its Rail Services Decarbonisation Action Plan.

Answer · Michael Matheson: In the last 10 years the Scottish Government has invested around £1 billion in some 441 (track) kilometres of electrification and associated infrastructure improvements directly benefitting over 35 million passenger journeys each year. This rolling programme…

10 Aug 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to publish an updated timeline for the implementation of its Rail Services Decarbonisation Action Plan, and whether this will set out when electrification work will (a) begin and (b) be completed on each line.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Transport Scotland has committed to publishing an update to the Rail Services Decarbonisation Action Plan in 2023. As part of the routine development work for all routes, the rail industry will engage with interested parties and updates will be provided when …

7 Aug 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what targets are in place for native woodland planting, and whether it plans to replace those set out in the 2020 Challenge for Scotland's Biodiversity.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The current native woodland planting target is 3,000 - 5,000 hectares a year in the 2020 challenge for Scotland’s Biodiversity. The target will be reviewed in line with the new Biodiversity Strategy. In the period since April 2017, over 4,000 hectares a year…

4 Aug 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-30494 by Fiona Hyslop on 9 July 2020, by what date it will publish its updated report on the cost and programme for vessels 801 and 802.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Further to the answer to S5W-29020 on 21 May 2020, S5W-29558 on 9 June 2020 and S5W-30494 and in line with the easing of lockdown restrictions and a phased restart of work at the yard the updated report will be completed when a full and thorough assessment of…

28 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the impact of the COVID-19 social distancing measures. what action it is taking to ensure that blind and partially-sighted people feel confident that they are able to receive the support they require when in public spaces, and how it will promote awareness among the public t…

Answer · Christina McKelvie: In order that blind and partially-sighted people, and others that require guide support when out and about, can feel confident that they are able to receive the support they require, Scottish Government officials have worked with Public Health Scotland to dev…

23 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much support it has provided to the bus industry during COVID-19, broken down by (a) type and (b) purpose of funding; whether any of this funding was subject to meeting conditions, and, if so, whether it will publish a full account of what conditions were placed on such funding.

Answer · Michael Matheson: To date, the Scottish Government has provided, or announced funding totalling £32.9 million of capital and £196.8 million of resource during the COVID-19 period to the bus industry through a number of programmes which are detailed in the following tables. Whe…

23 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many schoolchildren it estimates travel to school on (a) dedicated school and (b) public transport.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government does not collect data about the number of school children that use either dedicated school transport or public transport. This information may be held by local authorities. The Scottish Household survey showed that in 2018 14 per cent…

17 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the £10 million allocated to the bus priority rapid deployment fund is in addition to spending set out in the 2020-21 budget, and whether any of this funding has (a) come from the £10 million allocated to bus priority infrastructure in the 2020-21 budget and (b) been reallocated …

Answer · Michael Matheson: The £10 million allocated to the Bus Priority Rapid Development Fund was repurposed from the 2020-21 budget for longer-term bus priority infrastructure projects, which were paused, due to the COVID-19 crisis.

13 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to encourage and support the Trump Turnberry resort to retain its workforce and avoid redundancies.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: We recognise this is an extremely difficult time for businesses but ultimately, it is for employers to maintain jobs and pay their workers throughout this crisis. We have provided over £2.34 billion in business support to help businesses through this. We woul…

13 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the likely impact on the local community of the reported proposals to make at least 67 employees redundant at the Trump Turnberry resort.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: At this stage we have little local data. The tourism and hospitality sector has been shaken across Scotland and it is unfortunate to hear the Turnberry resort is considering these proposals. We recognise however that this is a business decision and at this t…

13 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of reports of plans to worsen the terms and conditions, including sick pay, of staff employed at the Trump Turnberry resort.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Employment legislation, including statutory sick pay (SSP), is a reserved matter and we have made no formal assessment of the reported situation at Trump Turnberry. The Scottish Government encourages all employers to apply Fair Work practices and a flexible …

8 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when each section of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 will come into force.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The implementation of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 has been affected by the Covid 19 Pandemic. This has impacted particularly on the development of guidance and regulations and the related consultation processes. RTP section 122 came into force in March …

6 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what date security clearance was requested to allow Public Health Scotland officials to access the information required to carry out quarantine checks on people arriving from abroad.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Public Health Scotland (PHS) officials began working with the Home Office on 8 June to secure access to the data on individuals arriving in the UK and residing in Scotland during self-isolation. As the required security clearance allowing direct access to th…

6 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will place a copy of the 2020-26 Northern Isles Ferry Services contract on the Transport Scotland website.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The 2020-26 Northern Isles Ferry Services contract commenced on 30 June 2020. A non-commercially sensitive copy will be published on Transport Scotland’s website in Autumn 2020.  

6 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects the Turnaround Director of Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) Limited to provide an updated report on cost and programme for vessels 801 and 802, including any impacts of COVID-19 on the delivery of these contracts.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Further to the answer to S5W-29020 on 21 May 2020 and S5W-29558 on 9 June 2020 the updated report will be finalised when a full assessment of the impact of lockdown has been made. If the transition out of lockdown continues as planned it is anticipated the re…

6 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the incident on 25 June 2020 when the MV Arrow, reportedly under charter with Serco NorthLink, ran aground in water off Aberdeen Harbour.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government have not conducted any discussions with the UK Government regarding the incident on 25 June 2020 involving the MV Arrow. The MV Arrow, is owned by Seatruck and was on short term hire to substitute for the regular vessel MV Helliar on …

6 Jul 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will list the monthly subsidy payments received by Serco NorthLink for the six-month extension to the Northern Isles Ferry Services contract, which was announced by Transport Scotland on 6 February 2020.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: In order to complete the award process and allow an adequate mobilisation period, the Scottish Government announced on 6 February 2020 that the Northern Isles Ferry Services (NIFS) contract was to be extended by a period of up to six months to ensure continui…

8 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government , further to the answer to question S5W–29296 by Christina McKelvie on 2 June 2020, at what stage in the COVID-19 lockdown process people with sight loss, who are not defined as being at risk from the virus, will be allowed to be guided by someone outside their household in navigating pu…

Answer · Christina McKelvie: I refer back to my answer of 2 June: at all times it has been permitted for people to go out to help anyone at risk who needs support, this includes providing guide support. Scottish Government has used at risk , rather than vulnerable to reflect that a lot …

5 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W–29296 by Christina McKelvie on 2 June 2020, how it defines people who are at risk from COVID-19, and whether this group includes all blind and partially-sighted people who require being guided to navigate public spaces.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: Scottish Government has used the term at risk rather than vulnerable to reflect that a lot of people who do not consider themselves vulnerable may, due to a range of circumstances, which may or may not be medical, find themselves at greater risk from Covid-19…

5 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-29296 by Christina McKelvie on 2 June 2020, whether it will provide specific guidance to carers, including unpaid carers, regarding the guiding of blind and partially-sighted people during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: The Scottish Government has produced a suite of guidance documents which are reviewed in line with the regular three-weekly review of the lockdown requirements and will be read alongside the legal restrictions and prohibitions contained in the Health Protecti…

3 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) offences have been recorded, (b) fixed penalty notices have been issued and (c) businesses have been prosecuted under section 4(1) of The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions) (Scotland) Regulations 2020.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Police Scotland are publishing weekly updates on the use of coronavirus legislation, including Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) issued and other intervention activity. Between Friday 27 March and Wednesday 3 June, a total of 3,213 FPNs were issued and 238 arrests…

3 Jun 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to create any new offences to enforce restrictions on travel distances for the purpose of exercise and leisure and group size for the purpose of meeting other households.

1 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact on disabled passengers of Abellio ScotRail’s plans to reduce the number of Travel Shop serving positions at Glasgow Queen Street station.

Answer · Michael Matheson: As this is a matter for Abellio ScotRail, I have asked my officials to organise that Abellio ScotRail respond to the member directly.  

1 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has reviewed Abellio ScotRail’s proposals for changes to the redeveloped Glasgow Queen Street station Travel Shop in light of COVID-19 and the need for social distancing.

Answer · Michael Matheson: It is the responsibility of Abellio ScotRail to ensure the plans for the Travel Shop at the redeveloped Queen Street station take account of the recently published Transport Transition plan which contains comprehensive guidance relating to physical distancing…

1 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Abellio ScotRail regarding its plans to reduce the number of Travel Shop windows from six to two at the redeveloped Glasgow Queen Street station.

Answer · Michael Matheson: As this is a matter for Abellio ScotRail, I have asked my officials to organise that Abellio ScotRail respond to the member directly.  

1 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential risks to staff and passenger safety and security in relation to the proposals to relocate the Travel Shop serving windows to an open plan location at the redeveloped Glasgow Queen Street station.

Answer · Michael Matheson: As this is a matter for Abellio ScotRail, I have asked my officials to organise that Abellio ScotRail respond to the member directly.