Colin Smyth

8 Jun 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve the monitoring of public expenditure on harbour dues at harbours that are not owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Levying and payment of harbour dues is governed by the Harbours Act 1964 and is a commercial arrangement between harbour authorities and harbour users. In relation to Scottish Government supported ferry services, the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contrac…

8 Jun 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with representatives of David MacBrayne regarding a public sector bid for the ScotRail public transport franchise.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government has held a number of discussions about the rail franchising process in Scotland over the last 18 months with David MacBrayne Limited (DML) and with other existing public sector transport providers. The Minister for Transport and the Is…

8 Jun 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it estimates the cost is to the public purse of procuring public services in the (a) rail and (b) lifeline ferry sector through the process of competitive tendering.

Answer · Michael Matheson: (a) I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-11184 on 20 September 2017. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentaryb…

8 Jun 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it takes to monitor the functioning of ferry user groups representing passengers on Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service routes.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Ferry User Groups, now known as Ferry Stakeholder Groups, are administered by the Highlands & Islands Transport Partnership (HITRANS), who hold responsibility for monitoring the functioning of these groups. The Terms of Reference for each of the Groups were r…

31 May 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the level of compliance with the Environmental Protection (Restriction on the Use of Lead Shot) (Scotland) No. 2) Regulations 2004.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: No specific analysis has been carried out on the level of compliance with the Environmental Protection (Restriction on the Use of Lead Shot) (Scotland) No. 2) Regulations 2004.

31 May 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is considering changes to the system for regulating the use of lead firearm ammunition.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government currently has no intention to change the law on the use of lead ammunition but it will consider further information as it becomes available.

31 May 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors the effectiveness of the Environmental Protection (Restriction on Use of Lead Shot) (Scotland) (No. 2) Regulations 2004.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government monitors the effectiveness of the Environmental Protection (Restriction on Use of Lead Shot) (Scotland) (No. 2) Regulations 2004 through reported crimes and prosecutions. In addition, informal monitoring is undertaken by local and Nati…

31 May 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions have there been each year for breaches of the Environmental Protection (Restriction on Use of Lead Shot) (Scotland) (No. 2) Regulations 2004.

Answer · Michael Matheson: There was 1 offence prosecuted in 2012-13 under the Environmental Protection (Restriction on Use of Lead Shot) (Scotland) (No. 2) Regulations 2004, which resulted in a conviction. Source: Scottish Government Criminal Proceedings database to 2016-17.

10 May 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the third supplementary to question S5F-02186 by Nicola Sturgeon on 29 March 2018 (Official Report, c. 20), what options are being explored to prevent the large-scale culling of mountain hares, and when this process will be concluded.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The independently-led group, chaired by Professor Werritty set up to examine how to ensure grouse moor management is sustainable and compliant with the law is also examining mountain hare management. The group will report back to the Cabinet Secretary for Env…

10 May 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the total annual harvest of mountain hares in each of the last five years.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government does not have access to the National Gamebag Census (NGC) dataset held by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT). GWCT routinely publish only summary data, in the form of trend indices. Following a request from Scottish Natur…

10 May 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what payments were made by Scottish Natural Heritage to the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust for (a) access to and (b) analysis of National Gamebag Census data for mountain hares in (i) 2016, (ii) 2017 and (iii) 2018.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: A single payment of £358.80 was made by Scottish Natural Heritage to the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust in 2017 to analyse the National Gamebag Census dataset up to 2015, the most recent year available at the time. There was no payment for such work in …

10 May 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of all contracts with Kier Construction Scotland that it has contributed, or is contributing, funding to.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government has no direct contracts in place with Kier Construction. The following table sets out the projects that the Scottish Government has contributed (or is contributing) funding towards, where Keir Construction has been the contractor. This…

4 May 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what policy is in place regarding funding the use of lead shot in publicly-funded goose culling/management schemes.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: For any goose shooting under publicly funded schemes, non-lead shot is required to be used over wetlands as set out in The Environmental Protection (Restriction of Use on Lead Shot) (Scotland) (No.2) Regulations 2004. For the Greylag Adaptive Management Pilo…

4 May 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what cause of death was determined in relation to a group of whooper swans found dead in the Fairnington area of the Scottish Borders in December 2017 and January 2018.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Five of the sixteen recovered whooper swan carcases found dead in the Fairnington area in the Scottish Borders inDecember 2017 were identified as having died from lead poisoning as a result of ingesting lead of an unknown type and that they had not been shot.…

4 May 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the regulation system for the use of lead ammunition in firearms is fit for purpose.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government is not aware of any issues that make the regulation system for the use of lead ammunition in firearms not fit for purpose.

4 May 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps will be taken to ensure that there are no repeat episodes similar to the mass death of whooper swans in the Fairnington area of the Scottish Borders in December 2017 and January 2018.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Given that the cause of deaths of the whooper swans in the Fairnington area of the Scottish Borders in December 2017 and January 2018 were inconclusive, there is no guarantee that any steps the Scottish Government takes would prevent a repeat scenario.

4 May 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S5W-12478, S5W-15636 and S5W-16135 by Roseanna Cunningham on 10 November 2017, 26 March 2018 and 4 May 2018 respectively, whether it has completed its discussions with animal welfare groups and local authorities regarding increasing the penalties for …

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has regular contact with its major animal welfare stakeholders. Scottish Government officials have discussed, and corresponded on, an increase to the penalties for animal cruelty offences with a number of animal welfare organisations, …

1 May 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what contracts it has awarded to the Kier Group since May 2016.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government has not awarded any contracts to the Kier Group over the period from May 2016.

27 Apr 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited has spent on Gourock Harbour in each year since 2011-12.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The following table details the level of investment that Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited has spent on Gourock Harbour in each year since 2011-12. Expenditure incurred on Gourock Harbour Revenue Expenditure Capital Expenditure  £ £ 2011-12 1,228,813…

27 Apr 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date the invitation to tender for the next public contract for ferry services between Gourock and Dunoon will be issued.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: No date has been set. Arrangements for the way forward for the Gourock-Dunoon service will be announced shortly.

27 Apr 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the fire on the vessel, Finlandia Seaways, in Rosyth on 16 April 2018. 

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government has not held discussions with the UK Government regarding the fire on the Finlandia Seaways vessel. However, I have held discussions with both Forth Ports and DFDS following the announcement that the route was to be cancelled and will …

27 Apr 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the decision by DFDS to withdraw the roll-on roll-off freight service between Rosyth and Zeebrugge will impact on Scotland's (a) maritime freight capacity and (b) economy.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Scotland remains well connected through a range of multimodal services operating from ports throughout Scotland. The Scottish Government does not hold information on the specific impact to the economy of the withdrawal of the DFDS Rosyth-Zeebrugge freight fer…

27 Apr 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it cost Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited to purchase the MV (a) Hrossey, (b) Hjaltland and (c) Hamnavoe.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The terms for purchasing the MV Hamnavoe, the MV Hjaltland and the MV Hrossey are commercially sensitive. Release of this information would be in breach of the confidentiality agreements with the vendor, the Royal Bank of Scotland.

27 Apr 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the annual cost of maintaining the Caledonian MacBrayne fleet has been in each year since 2010.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: As the vessel owners, Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) undertake statutory upgrades to the CalMac fleet. Details on the levels of recent investment are detailed in the following table for years 2010 to 2018:- Year £m 2010 £0.9m 2011 £1.3m 2012 £1…

27 Apr 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the annual cost has been of maintaining the MV (a) Hrossey, (b) Hjaltland and (c) Hamnavoe in each year since 2012.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Serco Northlink Ferries (SNF), as operator of the vessels, have responsibility for maintenance. SNF consider that details of maintenance costs is commercially sensitive information and so should not be released.

25 Apr 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the provision of school meals during school holidays.

Answer · John Swinney: No child should be going hungry, that is why the Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan, published in March, sets out action to achieve our ambition to end child poverty. Within the range of actions to increase household incomes and reduce costs, we have includ…

23 Apr 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S5W-12478 and S5W-15636 by Roseanna Cunningham on 10 November 2017 and 26 March 2018 respectively, whether it will confirm what legislative vehicles it is considering to deliver the commitment to amend the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006…

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Scottish Government officials have discussed, and corresponded on, an increase to the penalties for animal cruelty offences and other potential amendments to the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 with a number of animal welfare organisations, incl…

12 Apr 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it has (a) requested from and (b) been offered by the UK Government following the announcement by Young's Seafood of the proposed closure of Pinneys in Annan.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The potential closure of the Pinneys site in Annan could be devastating for the workforce, their families and the communities of Annan and beyond and the Scottish Government is focused on finding a solution to maintain production at the site and retain as man…

12 Apr 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) financial and (b) other support (i) it has and (ii) its agencies have provided to Young's Seafood in each year since 2008.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Whilst there are constraints, under State Aids regulations, on the public sector in terms of the financial support available to large seafood businesses such as Young's Seafood, since 2008 Scottish Enterprise has provided £70,500 of financial support to Young…

12 Apr 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the appointment process was for the appointment of the members of the advisory group for the Audit Scotland report, Transport Scotland’s ferry services, and which members of the group declared an interest in private ferry operators.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: This is a matter for Audit Scotland, who were wholly responsible for the appointment of members of the advisory group.