Dean Lockhart

23 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the outline business case for its proposed publicly-owned energy company.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government has committed to publishing the outcomes of the Outline Business Case once it has been discussed with interested local authorities and next steps agreed. Discussions with potential local authority partners have been interrupted by Coro…

16 Jun 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support and guidance it is providing to older people during the COVID-19 outbreak.

11 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider reducing the social distancing guidance from 2m to 1m in special circumstances in order to increase capacity on (a) ferries, (b) buses, (c) trains and (d) other transport networks.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government advice remains that everyone should ensure physical distancing of 2 metres when in contact with others from outside your household. This assessment is based on expert scientific advice provided by the independent Scientific Advisory Gr…

11 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to promote (a) domestic and (b) international routes from Scottish airports to support the aviation industry’s recovery after the COVID-19 outbreak.

Answer · Michael Matheson: We are working with Scotland’s airports to re-establish connectivity to support business and the inbound tourism market, focusing first on the most important routes serving key markets. The rate at which routes can be re-established depends on travel restrict…

11 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what changes it will make to planning guidelines to allow (a) temporary and (b) permanent (i) cycle and (ii) bus lanes to be introduced more quickly.

Answer · Michael Matheson: There will be no changes to planning guidelines as these types of measures are classed as permitted developments under planning rules. Local authorities already have the ability to put in place Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders (TTROs) which allows them to…

11 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what financial support it is giving to CalMac during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-29432 on 5 June 2020. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://beta.parliament.scot/parliamentary-debates-…

11 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it is giving to (a) train and (b) bus operators in relation to the procurement of PPE.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government recently published its Transport Transition Plan and detailed guidance, which contains advice on PPE and face coverings for transport operators, their staff and the public. During the COVID-19 period the Scottish Government is providi…

11 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will bring forward guidelines for ferry companies seeking to balance the demands of social distancing, connectivity for local businesses and the restart of the tourism industry from 15 July 2020.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: On 21 May 2020, the First Minister published the COVID-19 – Framework for Decision Making setting out Scotland’s route map through and out of the crisis, ‘the Route Map’. This was supported by the Transport Transition Plan published 26 May 2020. The Transport…

11 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects ScotRail services to return to a full timetable as part of the easing of the lockdown restrictions, and whether this will be before schools are scheduled to return on 11 August 2020.

Answer · Michael Matheson: In line with prevailing Scottish Government guidance Abellio ScotRail has adopted a phased recovery approach to returning rail passenger services to pre COVID-19 levels. Plans are being developed for a further increase in rail passenger services to be facili…

11 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when low emission zones are scheduled to be introduced, and what consideration it is giving to their postponement in order to support the transport industry’s recovery after the COVID-19 outbreak.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 emergency has resulted in necessary changes to priorities across the Scottish Government. Whilst the commitment to introduce Low Emission Zones into Scotland’s four biggest cities by the end of 2020 has been paused, we…

10 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in light of reports that Abellio ScotRail was in breach of its franchise contract after failing to pay bills on time.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Transport Scotland apply the contract through effective monitoring and use the appropriate provisions to require Abellio ScotRail to address any payment performance issues accordingly. The contract specifies that Abellio ScotRail should process 'valid invoice…

10 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to publish its postponed Infrastructure Investment Plan.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government originally planned to publish the Infrastructure Investment Plan in June 2020 but publication was delayed in order to focus on the immediate health crisis presented by COVID-19. Investment in infrastructure offers the greatest opportu…

2 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many times the Rail Recovery Taskforce, which it has established in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, has met, and how many future meetings are scheduled.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Rail Recovery Task Force, which comprises of Transport Scotland, Abellio ScotRail and Network Rail, was established in April 2020 to develop plans to increase rail passenger services in line with Scottish Government advice. The Task Force first met on 28…

2 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it is giving to public transport firms with the recruiting of social distancing marshals for each phase of COVID-19 lockdown easing.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Transport Scotland is working closely to support public transport companies to ensure that they will be able to respond to higher levels of demand as we ease out of lockdown. We have issued guidance to operators which sets out that they should adopt a risk ba…

2 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expect flights to recommence from the country's airports and at what rate these will be reintroduced, in light of EasyJet announcing plans to resume some services from 15 June 2020.

Answer · Michael Matheson: A limited number of services have continued to operate throughout the lockdown period. We are expecting a slow recovery of some air services over the summer period assuming that steady progress is made in moving through the phases of the Scottish Government’s…

2 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what additional support it will provide to the coach industry in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in light of reports that a number of businesses are facing permanent closure, which could impact on jobs and the tourism sector.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-28998 on 27 May 2020 which is available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/ormain.aspx

2 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will allocate to the transport sector all Barnett consequentials arising from UK Government transport initiatives in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Answer · Kate Forbes: All Covid-19 related consequentials will be fully committed to funding the Scottish Government’s emergency response. These consequentials are not ring-fenced and will be allocated based on need. It should be noted that the costs of the Covid response to date …

1 Jun 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-29020 by Fiona Hyslop on 21 May 2020, when the report on updated costs and delivery programme for vessels 801 and 802 will be published.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The updated report on cost and programme for vessels 801 and 802 will be finalised when a full assessment of the impact of the delay has been made. This will take account of the confirmed date for the move to Phase 2 of Coronavirus (COVID-19): framework for …

12 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update of the estimated cost of the adaptation work required at each of the ports that will be used by the hybrid ferries that are under construction at Ferguson Marine, including the cost for the development of liquefied natural gas bunkering facilities.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The marine and landside upgrade works being undertaken at these ports go much further than simply accommodating the new vessels – the works replace ageing infrastructure that would have required significant capital investment even in the absence of the new hy…

12 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update of the estimated (a) completion cost and (b) delivery date of each of the hybrid ferries that are under construction at Ferguson Marine.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I have asked Tim Hair, Turnaround Director of Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) Limited to provide an updated report on cost and programme for vessels 801 and 802 to reflect the impact of COVID 19. The updated report will be published in due course.

11 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it expects to receive in Barnett consequentials following the announcement by the UK Government on 9 May 2020 of up to an additional £2 billion investment in active travel.

Answer · Kate Forbes: HM Treasury have indicated that no Barnett consequentials will arise from this announcement.  

5 May 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, following the report in The Times on 4 May 2020 that the sale of Glasgow Prestwick Airport has been delayed because of the COVID-19 outbreak, whether it will provide an update on the work to find a buyer for the airport, and what the implications for its budget would be of a delay or ca…

Answer · Michael Matheson: Since announcing that a Preferred Bidder for Glasgow Prestwick Airport had been selected, the aviation industry has been contending with challenges of an unprecedented scale caused by the Coronavirus pandemic. Every aspect of the industry has been impacted an…

29 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much the contract Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) announced on 2 April 2020 to KC LNG to design and install Scotland’s first liquefied natural gas bunkering facilities at Uig and Ardrossan will cost, and whether the contract was put out to tender.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: On 30 March 2020, Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) awarded the contract valued at £4.461m to Kosan Crisplant (KC) which is part of the MAKEEN Energy Group. The tender process and contract award was conducted as an open tender exercise following the …

29 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of all contracts awarded by Ferguson Marine since it was taken into public control in August 2019, and indicate whether each contract was put out to tender, and what the total cost was of each contract.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The following information has been supplied to us by Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) Limited (FMPG):- FMPG has awarded contracts to International Contract Engineering Ltd and to Alliance Project Control and details are available on the Public Contracts Scotla…

7 Apr 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it decided to limit the financial support available to businesses under the COVID-19 fund to a per property basis rather than per business; when this decision was made, and what impact this might have on the total that it could be awarded in Barnett consequentials.

Answer · Kate Forbes: We always said that we would continue to listen to business and keep the support under revision. From 5 May, a second phase of the grant scheme will allow business ratepayers with more than one property to apply for a grant for all of their eligible propertie…

10 Mar 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much revenue will be raised from the Higher Property Rate, broken down by industry sector.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: The following table sets out the net Non-Domestic Rates income that is estimated will be raised from the Higher Property Rate in 2020-21, broken down by property class. These estimates are representative of Non-Domestic Rates policy as at Budget time, and do …

25 Feb 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to use its social security policies to address reported high levels of economic inactivity.

19 Feb 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action was taken following the ice fall on the Queensferry Crossing in 2019.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Following the occurrence of falling ice in March 2019 a multi-party review of the contributory factors and worldwide practice was undertaken. This review concluded that management by operational practice remained appropriate, enhanced by additional forecasti…

19 Feb 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the economic impact of the recent closures of the Queensferry Crossing.

Answer · Michael Matheson: No assessment has been made as this closure was short term.

19 Feb 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration was given in relation to ice falling on the Queensferry Crossing during the design and building of the bridge.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The potential for falling ice from a cable-stayed bridge at this location was recognised and considered during design development. In common with practice on similar structures elsewhere in the world at the time, it was decided that this issue would be best …