Jamie Greene

20 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which CalMac ferries carry a defibrillator; how often these are tested; what proportion of the fleet this represents; by what date these will be rolled out across every vessel, and whether it will provide a breakdown of all other medical equipment that is carried by each craft.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: All CalMac vessels carry a defibrillator. These were rolled out across the CalMac fleet in June and July 2012. These defibrillators are maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. In regard to medical equipment kept on board CalMac vessels…

20 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many health incidents have been recorded on each CalMac ferry in each year since 2009-10, also broken down by (a) route served and (b) type of incident.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: CalMac Ferries Ltd are unable to provide the answer broken down by route, as incidents are recorded by vessel. All recorded health incidents since 2009 are available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 60292).

20 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the effectiveness of CalMac regarding the acquisition of new vessels.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) are responsible for the acquisition of new vessels. CalMac Ferries Ltd play an important role in this process through providing a Statement of Operator Requirements and provide on-going support to CMAL throughout the pro…

20 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which CalMac ferries can berth at ports outside of their designated routes, broken down by port.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: CalMac Ferries Ltd. continue to run a programme of vessel berthing tests across the ports on the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service network. Of the vessels tested so far, the information regarding which CalMac ferries can berth at ports outside of their designa…

20 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it prioritises the provision of lifeline ferry services.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-20054 on 13 December 2018. 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/parliamentarybusines…

20 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many onboard staff CalMac ferries have employed in each year since 2009-10.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The numbers of on-board staff employed by CalMac for each year are set out in the following table. These numbers are an average over each financial year. 2009-2010   815 2010-2011   835 2011-2012   822 2012-2013   802 2013-2014   859 2014-2015   976 20…

20 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what contingency plans there are should (a) one and (b) more than one ferry in the CalMac fleet be removed from operation.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Responsibility for the deployment of vessels in the fleet is a matter for the operator, CalMac Ferries Limited. CalMac will prioritise the deployment of vessels, taking into consideration the circumstances and vessel availability at that time. In the event of…

20 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how long each ferry in the CalMac fleet is expected to be operational.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: “Scottish Ferry Services:- Ferries Plan (2013-2022)” states that our vessel replacement policy is to replace vessels once they have reached the end of their working lives. This is around 30 years and the replacement date of each vessel will be kept under revi…

20 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of resilience across the CalMac fleet.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Responsibility for carrying out any analysis of resilience across the CalMac fleet is an operational matter for the operator, CalMac Ferries Ltd. Consequently, the Scottish Government has not carried out any such assessment of its own, although it engages clo…

13 Nov 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many police officers there are.

12 Nov 2018 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what plans the Scottish Government has to evaluate the impact on sales of minimum unit pricing of alcohol.

24 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of what areas have received support from the ScotRail Service Quality Incentive Regime (SQUIRE) in each of the last two years, also broken down by the amount allocated.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The value of spend on each project is commercially sensitive, however the total spend on all projects since the beginning of the current Franchise is £6,531,839.   Completed projects Refurbishment of Leuchars Station, waiting rooms, toilets etc Refurbishm…

24 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent on repairs to the CalMac fleet in each calendar year since 2007.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The annual cost of repairs by CalMac Ferries Limited on the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services fleet since 2007 is detailed in the following table. Costs for 2018 are not yet available. 2007 £7,920,199 2008 £8,279,384 2009 £8,575,398 2010 £9,581,796 2…

24 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the current size is of the ScotRail Service Quality Incentive Regime (SQUIRE) fund.    

Answer · Michael Matheson: As of end of Rail Period 7 - 13 October 2018 the SQUIRe Investment Fund stands at £4,350,997.  

24 Oct 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will next meet North Ayrshire Council.

23 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many vessels in the current CalMac fleet have been built since 2007; how many tons of vessels have been built since 2007; what percentage of the total fleet tonnage this represents, and how many vessels there are in the current fleet, broken down by vessel tonnage.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Since 2007, there have been 8 new vessels introduced by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) to the CalMac Ferries fleet operating on the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service (CHFS) network. The combined gross tonnage of these 8 vessels is 19477 tonnes. Th…

22 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many times services on the (a) Tobermory-Kilchoan, (b) Ardrossan-Brodick, (c) Claonaig-Lochranza, (d) Ardmhor-Eriskay, (e) Oban-Castlebay, (f) Colintraive-Rhubodach, (g) Wemyss Bay-Rothesay, (h) Oban-Coll-Tiree, (i) Oban-Colonsay-Port Askaig-Kennacraig, (j) Talbert-Portavadie, (k) La…

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Information on how many times services on the ferry routes requested have been (i) delayed and (ii) cancelled in each year since 2007 in the form requested has been collated and is available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre ( Bib . number 60164…

22 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the total cost is of its communication team, and how many staff the team has had in each year since 2007, broken down by role.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The cost of frontline communications staff/press officers in each year since 2007 to the most recent financial year is available at Scottish Government website: https://beta.gov.scot/publications/cost-of-frontline-communications-staff/ The number of full-t…

22 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the total cost is of the First Minister’s communication team, and how many staff it has had in each year since 2007, broken down by role.

Answer · Derek Mackay: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W–19518 on ? 7 November 2018. 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/parliamentarybusin…

9 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many Scotland-domiciled students have been unable to access a place at a Scottish university due to the cap on places in the current academic year.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government firmly believes that access to university should not be based on the ability to pay, however, there is a need to exert a level of control over the higher education budget, which means that the number of students able to access a funded…

9 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the First Minister has accepted an invitation from the President of the Government of Catalonia to visit Barcelona, and, if so, what the total estimated cost of the visit is projected to be.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The First Minister of Scotland and the President of Catalonia met at the First Minister’s official residence in Edinburgh on the evening of 11 July. It was a cordial meeting aimed at strengthening the ties of friendship between Scotland and Catalonia. The Pre…

9 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the total cost of using locum staff at NHS Ayrshire and Arran has been in 2018.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: From January - August 2018 NHS Ayrshire and Arran has spent £6,563,200 on internal and agency Medical Locum staff. This equates to 0.9% of their overall 2018-19 budget allocation. Temporary staff allow NHS Boards to maintain services during times of planned a…

9 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the recommendations in the Sustainable Growth Commission report on the economics of an independent Scotland are now official policy.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government is considering the Sustainable Growth Commission recommendations carefully to see what more can be done within our existing powers, while making the case for these powers to be extended. As set out in the Programme for Government, our…

28 Sep 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the reported pay disputes between Transport Scotland and the contractor are having on the opening of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR).

Answer · Michael Matheson: There are no disputes impacting on the opening of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR). While Aberdeen Roads Limited (ARL) reports that the project is on target to open in late autumn 2018, they are unable to estimate a precise opening date while reme…

27 Sep 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in the event that David MacBrayne Limited or one of its subsidiaries submits a bid for the Gourock to Dunoon public service obligation (PSO), whether the bidding company will be bound to follow the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) and public procurement procedures for the ac…

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Tendering for individual contracts are matters for the board of David MacBrayne Ltd. In reaching a decision, the board will look to follow best practice in corporate governance and public procurement procedure.

27 Sep 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Gourock Dunoon Ferry Services Steering Group will meet to discuss the services' procurement process, and whether the group will be able to submit views on the approach used in the invitation to tender.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Following publication of the Contract Notice on 8 July 2016, the Gourock Dunoon Steering Group held its final meeting on 9 August 2016. A new Stakeholder Group was established to provide views on the Invitation to Tender for the next contract. The Stakeholde…

26 Sep 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5T-01217 by Derek Mackay on 18 September 2018 (Official Report, c. 7), when (a) the cabinet secretary was and (b) its officials were first advised that there was an overrun of costs on the contract for Ferguson Marine to build the ferries, and whether …

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-19044 on 23 October 2018. 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/parliamentarybusines…

25 Sep 2018 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve accessibility at railway stations.

25 Sep 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5T-01217 by Derek Mackay on 18 September 2018 (Official Report, c. 7), what the repayment conditions are of the loan to Ferguson Marine; what interest rate is being charged; when the repayment is due, and what enforcement options are available to it if…

Answer · Derek Mackay: Scottish Ministers have provided two commercial loan facilities to Ferguson Marine Engineering Limited on fully commercial terms. The terms and conditions of the loan agreements are commercially confidential. The Government has a duty of care to protect such …

25 Sep 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5T-01217 by Derek Mackay on 18 September 2018 (Official Report, c. 7), how many of the 400 jobs associated with the work on the ferries are seasonal or temporary, and what information it has regarding how many of the employees are domiciled or resident…

Answer · Derek Mackay: Workforce levels, terms and conditions of employment, the domiciliary arrangements and residency status of the workers employed at Ferguson Marine Engineering Limited are all matters for the business and individuals concerned. The Scottish Government does not…