Jamie Greene

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 knowledge it had of the overruns regarding the ferries, and when it was made aware of these issues.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) made Transport Scotland aware of cost and time overruns of the two new ferries project in July 2017 when CMAL were advised by Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd (FMEL).

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), in light of the cabinet secretary's comment that, "of course due diligence has been conducted", whether it will publish details of this.  

Answer · Derek Mackay: Lending by Scottish Ministers is governed by a series of controls that ensure the public purse is protected. This includes appropriate due diligence supported by independent third-party verification on matters commercial and legal. The nature of information …

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 discussions it has had with (a) Ferguson Marine and (b) Caledonian Assets Maritime Ltd (CMAL) regarding moving the development of the ferries to another shipyard for completion.

Answer · Derek Mackay: As part of its approach to risk management mitigation, Transport Scotland had discussions with Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd on the potential time and cost implications of moving the two new ferries to an alternative location for completion.

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 correspondence it has had with the (a) European Commission and (b) EU Directorate-General for Competition regarding the loan to Ferguson Marine.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Scottish Ministers have provided two commercial loan facilities to Ferguson Marine Engineering Limited. These were negotiated on fully commercial terms following appropriate due diligence and with the benefit of independent third-party verification. On this b…

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 advice it received regarding whether the loan to Ferguson Marine (a) was legal, in particular with regard to state EU state-aid rules and (b) constituted a loan under commercia…

Answer · Derek Mackay: Scottish Ministers have provided two commercial loan facilities to Ferguson Marine Engineering Limited. The Scottish Government has taken appropriate legal and commercial advice on this matter. Both loans were negotiated on fully commercial terms following ap…

21 Sep 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether there are any plans to move the homeport of the Arran ferry while the harbour is being upgraded.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-18197 on 5 September 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/parliamentarybusine…

18 Sep 2018 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what schemes it has introduced to compensate farmers for lost income due to failures with public transport systems, including ferries.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: While there are schemes in place to compensate rail and ferry passengers for any delays or disruption caused by transport operational issues, there are no such equivalent schemes for freight customers, including farm businesses. We know, however, that many fa…

17 Sep 2018 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will provide an update on the Scottish Breast Screening Programme, in light of reports that many women were not contacted for their final check-up.

17 Sep 2018 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that £45 million has been loaned to Ferguson Marine, and whether this is related to the provision of two new ferries being built under contract to CMAL.

11 Sep 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis has been carried out of the potential impact on (a) air quality and (b) the environment of the proposed oil rig decommissioning plant in Hunterston.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has received a third party request to direct North Ayrshire Council to undertake an EIA. It would be inappropriate to comment further until consideration of this request has been completed.

11 Sep 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on making the Hunterston industrial site an area for regeneration.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Scotland’s third National Planning Framework, published in 2014, recognises Hunterston as an area of co-ordinated action and sets out a range of uses that may be appropriate to make best use of its assets. We will look again at this and other strategic sites …

13 Aug 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the upgrades to Ardrossan Harbour, and whether the home port will be moved to Troon while the upgrades are being made.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Work on the details of the preferred option for infrastructure improvements to the harbour is progressing well. The Ardrossan Task Force is looking at arrangements for the continuity of ferry services during construction works at Ardrossan. The Task Force is…

13 Aug 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to upgrade Ardrossan Harbour station.

Answer · Michael Matheson: There are no plans at this time to upgrade the station. Ardrossan Harbour Station will be considered within the wider Ardrossan Harbour Masterplan project. Engagement with partners is ongoing on the aspirations of improving the connectivity between the Ferry …

13 Aug 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many times the CalMac ferry from Ullapool to Stornoway has been delayed since 1 May 2018.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: During the period between 1 May 2018 and 31 August 2018, CalMac Ferries Ltd scheduled 704 sailings on the Ullapool-Stornoway route. Of these, a total of 137 sailings were delayed, including those that qualify as “relief events” which are due to factors beyond…

13 Aug 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many times CalMac-operated ferries have been delayed since 1 May 2018.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: During the period between 1 May 2018 and 31 August 2018 a total of 53,856 sailings were scheduled by CalMac Ferries Ltd on the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry service network. Of these, a total of 2,678 sailings (4.97%) were delayed, including those that qualify as …

6 Aug 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Bank of England notes are legal tender in Scotland and should be accepted as payment in stores.

Answer · Kate Forbes: No banknote, including Bank of England notes or notes issued by the Scottish banks, qualifies for the term 'legal tender' in Scotland. However, the term legal tender does not in itself govern the acceptability of banknotes in transactions. Whether or not note…

6 Aug 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which railway stations are to be given improved accessible facilities for disabled people from the Access for All fund in 2019.

Answer · Michael Matheson: At the end of July 2018, the Department for Transport (DfT) formally launched the Inclusive Transport Strategy and invited Transport Scotland to nominate stations to be considered for future Control Period 6 Access for All funding. Transport Scotland is curr…

31 Jul 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it will spend on railway line electrification in the current parliamentary session.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government currently has three projects underway which involve railway line electrification; the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP), Shotts Electrification and Stirling Dunblane Alloa Electrification. On completion of each project, Ne…

31 Jul 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to converting the ScotRail fleet to make use of hydrogen technology.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government is investing significantly in the ScotRail fleet and electrification projects which will deliver important user benefits such as improved journey times, lower emissions, and reduced maintenance costs across the rail network in Scotland…

31 Jul 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the roll-out of the Hitachi class 385 trains will be complete.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The latest output schedule from Hitachi shows that they plan to deliver all 70 class 385 trains to Scotland by next April. This will allow ScotRail to introduce the full fleet by the May 2019 timetable change date across various central belt routes. The next…

31 Jul 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the redevelopment of Glasgow Queen Street station is projected to be completed within the £120 million budget.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Network Rail has confirmed it currently anticipates the redevelopment of Glasgow Queen Street Station, part of the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP), being delivered within the original estimate of £120 million. Scottish Ministers announced in M…

27 Jul 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that all public sector staff receive the same or similar pay increases regardless of the department or service for which they work.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Our approach to setting our public sector pay policy reflects the value the Scottish Government places on its public sector workforce and underpins our drive to create a more successful country focussing on business growth, jobs and fair work. Leading by exam…

10 Jul 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for how many days in each week since its opening has the Queensferry Crossing had all lanes fully open to all traffic.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Since opening to traffic in September 2017, the Queensferry Crossing has been open each day, with the exception of Thursday 30 November 2017 to 6 December 2017 when defects identified to the surfacing adjacent to the joints of the Queensferry Crossing meant t…

5 Jul 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many social security claimants there were in Scotland in each year from 2012 to 2017.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: With the exception of Scottish Welfare Fund awards and Discretionary Housing Payments, all elements of social security spending, during this period, were within the competence of the UK Government. The Scottish Government does not hold information on the over…

5 Jul 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on social security in each year from 2012 to 2017.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The only elements of social security spending in Scotland which were funded by the Scottish Government during this period were Scottish Welfare Fund awards and Discretionary Housing Payments. The Scottish Government began funding these benefits in 2013-14. Al…

5 Jul 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it estimates it would cost to replace CalMac's ferry fleet.

Answer · Michael Matheson: There are currently 11 major sized vessels, 4 medium sized vessels and 16 minor sized vessels within the CalMac fleet, a total of 31 vessels. The estimated cost of replacing the entire CalMac fleet at today’s prices would be around £800m.

5 Jul 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to improve NHS waiting times.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: I have been very clear that one of my key priorities for NHSScotland is the improvement of waiting times and that I fully expect all Boards to make significant progress in eradicating long waits in the coming year. In May the Scottish Government announced it …

5 Jul 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on hyperloop trains.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government is watching the development of Hyperloop, which is still in the early concept stage, with interest. In the meantime the Government continues to invest in developing the transport network using existing technologies to meet current and …

5 Jul 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to assist farmers that may be experiencing challenges due to the recent dry weather.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government is working with NFU Scotland to support SEPA to disseminate information to farmers, crofters and land managers on how to avoid problems and minimise impact resulting from water extraction and irrigation practice. We will continue to m…

5 Jul 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to promote the motoring industry, in light of reports that car sales in Scotland have fallen.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The latest UK wide figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that demand for alternatively fuelled vehicles has grown reflecting the increased emphasis on the development of these vehicles by the automotive sector. The Scottish …