Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-11103

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 30 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to ensure that P&O Ferries does not benefit from public funding granted to the Scottish Maritime Cluster Limited by Transport Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-10616

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 26 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 26 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the reported commitment by the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport to the Cumbrae Ferry Committee and Cumbrae Community Council in a meeting on 1 June 2022, what discussions there have been with Transport Scotland regarding the request to provide a discounted multi-journey scheme for ferry users.

I met with Cumbrae ferry stakeholders on 1 June 2022 to discuss a range of ferry issues. It was agreed that Transport Scotland and CalMac would consider if books of tickets could be offered to islanders under the new ‘Ar Turas’ ticketing & reservation system.

The intention is to provide users of the Largs-Cumbrae service with the option to purchase a convenience 10-journey ticket product online or at the Largs ticket office. I await an update from my officials in Transport Scotland and CalMac on this matter.

Question reference: S6W-10614

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 26 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 23 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider adding discounted CalMac ferry services as a permanent offer for those eligible for a Young Scot National Entitlement Card.

I slanders who are eligible for a Young Scot National Entitlement Card currently receive two free return journeys to the mainland each year.

The introduction of the Road Equivalent Tariff on CalMac ferry services delivered an estimated average 34% reduction in passenger fares and 40% for cars and it continues to save passengers around £25m a year.

The young persons’ free bus travel scheme applies to all young people across the country, including those who live on Scotland’s islands. However, it is important that Government reflects on policy implementation in rural areas and in our island communities. To that end, ferry fares policy and specifically the issue of young people’s access to public transport, will be considered as part of the Fair Fares review.

Question reference: S6W-10615

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 26 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 22 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether the contracts to build ScotRail’s new hydrogen-powered trains will be awarded to Scotland-based train builders.

Question reference: S6T-00871

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 September 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will make a statement on the policing and arrests at events connected to the death of The Queen and the proclamation of the new monarch.

Question reference: S6W-10900

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 20 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce a supplementary subsidy to the UK Government’s £400 energy bill discount.

Our Programme for Government this year committed to use our Emergency Budget Review to double our Fuel Insecurity Fund to £20 million in 2022-23, to help households at risk of self-disconnection or self-rationing of energy use. This Fund is delivered through third sector partner organisations, specifically the Fuel Bank Foundation, Scottish Federation of Housing Associations and Advice Direct Scotland, and supports people struggling with their energy bills to the point that they are at risk of self-rationing their energy use, or self-disconnecting entirely. It includes provision for households on any tariff type and using any type of fuel.

Question reference: S6W-10898

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 20 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what correspondence it has had with the UK Government regarding the impact in Scotland of any ineligibility of park home owners to receive the £400 energy bill discount.

Scottish Government officials have engaged with UK Government counterparts regarding the provision of support to consumers such as park home owners who are ineligible for the £400 Energy Bills Discount Scheme. Officials have provided details on the number and location of mobile home sites in Scotland to assist with identifying how best to distribute the funding.

On 8 September, the Prime Minister announced a package of measures to help mitigate the impact of rising energy prices on consumers. This stated that those households who are not part of the regulated market, such as those living in park homes, are set to receive support through a new fund. The Scottish Government has asked for further detail and clarification, and have been advised that this will form part of the Chancellor’s fiscal statement later this month.

Question reference: S6W-10899

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 20 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what correspondence it has had with the UK Government regarding the impact in Scotland of the £400 energy bill discount.

The £400 Energy Bills Discount Scheme will provide important relief for consumers. However, the Scottish Government believes that much more action is required at UK Government level to help mitigate the impact of the energy price crisis, especially for those most vulnerable. The First Minister wrote to the Prime Minister ahead of her statement in the House of Commons on 8 September, making it clear that the UK Government must target additional financial support to those most in need, over and above measures already announced. We will continue to argue this case.

Question reference: S6W-10902

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 20 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that trading licences are not granted to so-called “phoenix companies” set up by company directors to avoid paying existing debts.

The operation of company law is reserved to the UK Government. The Companies Act 2006 is the main legislation which governs the operation of companies within the UK including in Scotland. This includes the law relating to where trading certificates may be required in order for a company to trade.

The Insolvency Service, which is an executive agency of the UK Government and sponsored by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, includes information as to their role in dealing with 'phoenix companies' on their website. The role of the Insolvency Service includes investigating potential examples of director misconduct in the context of phoenix companies.

Phoenix companies and the role of the Insolvency Service - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Question reference: S6W-10800

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 02 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 20 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many individuals currently serve on the boards of two or more public bodies, and whether it will provide a list of those individuals and the positions that they hold.

The Scottish Government public appointments team in line with the Ethical Standards Commissioner Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies in Scotland publishes information on those holding board member and Chair positions on the boards of regulated public bodies. This information is published on the Public Appointments website on the Scottish Government Website. [ Full list of public appointments by public body - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) ].

Currently there are 57 individuals who serve on two or more Boards of public bodies.

An extract is attached below highlighting those individuals who currently serve on the boards of two or more public bodies.

Board Members Holding Two or More Public Appointments

Name	Board	Position
Ailsa Raeburn	Crown Estate Scotland	Member
Ailsa Raeburn	Highlands and Islands Enterprise	Member
Albert Donald	Grampian NHS Board	Member - Whistleblowing Champion
Albert Donald	Highland NHS Board	Member - Whistleblowing Champion
Amanda Bryan	Crown Estate Scotland	Chair
Amanda Bryan	Highlands and Islands Enterprise	Member
Andrew Thin	Crofting Commission	Commissioner
Andrew Thin	Scottish Land Commission	Chair
Angiolina Foster CBE	Public Health Scotland	Chair
Angiolina Foster CBE	Scottish Fire and Rescue Service	Member
Ann Allen MBE	Architecture and Design Scotland	Chair
Ann Allen MBE	National Museums of Scotland	Member
Ann Allen MBE	Scottish Futures Trust	Member
Ann Allen MBE	Water Industry Commission for Scotland	Member
Anne-Marie Monaghan	Greater Glasgow & Clyde NHS Board	Lay Member
Anne-Marie Monaghan	Independent Living Fund Scotland	Member
Bill Matthews	Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission	Chair
Bill Matthews	Scottish Futures Trust	Member
Brian Baverstock	Scottish Fire and Rescue Service	Member
Brian Baverstock	Scottish Legal Aid Board	Member
Brian Moore	Lanarkshire NHS Board	Lay Member
Brian Moore	The State Hospitals Board for Scotland	Chair
Carole Wilkinson	Care Inspectorate	Member (in capacity as Chair of HIS)
Carole Wilkinson	Healthcare Improvement Scotland	Chair
Caroline Stuart	Regional Colleges and Regional Boards (Dumfries and Galloway)	Chair
Caroline Stuart	Scottish Funding Council	Member
Caroline Stuart	Scottish Police Authority	Member
Christine Lester	Accounts Commission for Scotland	Member
Christine Lester	Healthcare Improvement Scotland	Lay Member
Douglas Moodie	Care Inspectorate	Chair
Douglas Moodie	Healthcare Improvement Scotland	Member (in capacity as Chair of Care Inspectorate)
Douglas Moodie	Scottish Social Services Council	Member (in capacity as Chair of Care Inspectorate)
Dr Carol Evans	Food Standards Scotland	Member
Dr Carol Evans	Skills Development Scotland	Member
Dr Gaener Rodger	Highland NHS Board	Lay Member
Dr Gaenor Rodger	Cairngorms National Park Authority	Member
Dr Heather Reid	Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority	Member
Dr Heather Reid	NatureScot	Member
Dr Keith Nicholson	Highlands and Islands Enterprise	Member
Dr Keith Nicholson	VisitScotland	Member
Dr Kirsty Darwent	Scottish Fire and Rescue Service	Chair
Dr Kirsty Darwent	Scottish Agricultural Wages Board	Chair
Dr Mike Cantlay OBE	Scottish Funding Council	Chair
Dr Mike Cantlay OBE	NatureScot	Chair
Dr Paul Stollard	Historic Environment Scotland	Member
Dr Paul Stollard	Scottish Fire and Rescue Service	Member
Dr Poonam Malik	Scottish Enterprise	Member
Dr Poonam Malik	Skills Development Scotland	Member
Dr Susan Walker	Food Standards Scotland	Member
Dr Susan Walker	Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland	Member
Dr William Maxwell	Care Inspectorate	Lay Member
Dr William Maxwell	Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator	Member
Elizabeth Humphreys	Independent Living Fund Scotland	Member
Elizabeth Humphreys	Public Health Scotland	Member - Whistleblowing Champion
Elizabeth Humphreys	Scottish Ambulance Service	Member - Whistleblowing Champion
George Walker	Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator	Interim Chair
George Walker	Scottish Housing Regulator	Chair
Gillian Mawdsley	NHS Education for Scotland	Member - Whistleblowing Champion
Gillian Mawdsley	Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission	Legal Member
Gordon Johnston	Forth Valley NHS Board	Member - Whistleblowing Champion
Gordon Johnston	Mental Welfare Commission	Lay Member
Graham MacNeil Bell OBE	Community Justice Scotland	Member
Graham MacNeil Bell OBE	Highland NHS Board	Lay Member
Grant Macrae	David MacBrayne Ltd	Non-Executive Director
Grant Macrae	Scottish Police Authority	Member
Ian Russell CBE	National Museums of Scotland	Chair
Ian Russell CBE	Scottish Futures Trust	Chair
James Martin	Scottish Legal Complaints Commission	Chair
James Martin	Environmental Standards Scotland	Chair
Janie McCusker	Forth Valley NHS Board	Chair
Janie McCusker	Regional Colleges and Regional Boards (Glasgow)	Chair
Jean Ford	Ayrshire & Arran NHS Board	Lay Member
Jean Ford	NHS Education for Scotland	Lay Member
Jean Lindsay	Crown Estate Scotland	Member
Jean Lindsay	Revenue Scotland	Member
Katharina Kasper	Children’s Hearing Scotland	Chair
Katharina Kasper	Lothian NHS Board	Member - Whistleblowing Champion
Katharina Kasper	Scottish Police Authority	Member
Keith Redpath	Care Inspectorate	Lay Member
Keith Redpath	NHS National Services Scotland	Chair
Linda Bamford	Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland	Chair (Convener)
Linda Bamford	Poverty and Inequality Commission	Member
Linda Semple	Ayrshire & Arran NHS Board	Lay Member
Linda Semple	NHS Golden Jubilee Board	Lay Member (Vice Chair)
Lorna Jack	Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd	Chair
Lorna Jack	Scottish Funding Council	Member
Marieke Dwarshuis	NHS 24	Lay Member
Marieke Dwarshuis	Scottish Housing Regulator	Member
Marieke Dwarshuis	Scottish Legal Aid Board	Member
Martin Hill	Lanarkshire NHS Board	Chair
Martin Hill	Scottish Environment Protection Agency	Member
Michelle Miller	Scottish Children's Reporter Administration (SCRA)	Chair
Michelle Miller	Scottish Police Authority	Member
Naghat Ahmed	Care Inspectorate	Lay Member
Naghat Ahmed	Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland	Member
Peter Murray	Lothian NHS Board	Lay Member
Peter Murray	Scottish Social Services Council	Member
Prof Donald MacRae OBE	Highlands and Islands Enterprise	Member
Prof Donald MacRae OBE	Water Industry Commission for Scotland	Chair
Raymond McMenamin	Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission	Legal Member
Raymond McMenamin	Scottish Legal Aid Board	Member
Sandra Campbell	Care Inspectorate	Member (in capacity as Convener of SSSC)
Sandra Campbell	Scottish Social Services Council	Chair (Convener)
Sandy Riddell	Grampian NHS Board	Lay Member
Sandy Riddell	Mental Welfare Commission	Chair
Sharon O'Connor	Accounts Commission for Scotland	Member
Sharon O'Connor	David MacBrayne Ltd	Non-Executive Director
Siobhan White	Lanarkshire NHS Board	Lay Member
Siobhan White	Scottish Housing Regulator	Member
Stephen McAllister	Forth Valley NHS Board	Lay Member
Stephen McAllister	NHS Golden Jubilee Board	Lay Member
Stephen McAllister	Risk Management Authority	Member
Steve Barron	Public Health Scotland	Member
Steve Barron	Scottish Fire and Rescue Service	Member
Stuart Currie	The State Hospitals Board for Scotland	Lay Member
Stuart Currie	Scottish Ambulance Service	Lay Member
Susan Douglas-Scott	Independent Living Fund Scotland	Chair
Susan Douglas-Scott	NHS Golden Jubilee Board	Chair
Tim Ingram	David MacBrayne Ltd	Non-Executive Director
Tim Ingram	Western Isles NHS Board	Member
Tim McKay	Accounts Commission for Scotland	Member
Tim McKay	Scottish Legal Aid Board	Member
Willie Watt	National Galleries of Scotland	Member
Willie Watt	Scottish National Investment Bank	Chair

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