- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 8 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how the recommendations of the Project Neptune review of ferry governance will inform the delivery of the (a) National Transport Strategy, (b) National Islands Plan, (c) Infrastructure Investment Plan, (d) Strategic Transport Projects Review and (e) Islands Connectivity Plan.
Answer
The outputs from Project Neptune will be considered alongside the suite of existing documents that support our ambitious vision for Scotland’s transport system for the next 20 years.
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 8 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) value and (b) duration is of each contract that it has signed with Ernst and Young in connection with the Scottish ferries network since 1 January 2015.
Answer
The value and duration of the contracts the Scottish Government has signed with Ernst & Young in connection with the Scottish ferries network since 1 January 2015 are listed below:
Project Neptune - £156,000 – 2021-2022
Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services: Financial Support - £404,000 – 2015-end of CHFS contract .
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 8 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of any staff reductions by Network Rail on rail services in Scotland.
Answer
The Scottish Government is not aware of any staff reductions that would impact upon rail services in Scotland. The member may wish to contact the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) as the safety and economic regulator of Scotland’s railway.
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 8 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what changes, if any, have been made to the Routes and Services Methodology applied to Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service routes since it was first used to draw up the Ferries Plan (2013-22).
Answer
The Routes and Services Methodology (RSM) used in the Ferries Plan has been reviewed and updated to support the preparation of the Islands Connectivity Plan (ICP). In addition to refreshing data sources it will also consider: reliability and resilience; capacity and connectivity; and wider socio-economic needs and alignment with the National Transport Strategy and the National Islands Plan.
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 03 March 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 8 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish a long-term funding strategy for community-based adult learning provision.
Answer
Our Adult Learning Strategy will be launched in May. It has been co-produced with adult learning stakeholders, including senior staff from adult learning organisations and adult learners themselves, and aims to improve life chances for adult learners across Scotland. We want to create the conditions for connected adult learning opportunities that link Scotland’s communities, local authorities, third sector organisations, colleges and universities around an offer of learning for adults, particularly those furthest from inclusion and experiencing disadvantage.
To improve the lives of adult learners we need to ensure that there is a strong, well-understood, well-connected and well-resourced system of adult learning in Scotland. The strategy will set out our commitment to evaluating the suitability and levels of future funding arrangements for community-based adult learning. Through the delivery of the strategy we want to ensure that appropriate levels of funding are available to engage and support adult learners across Scotland to meet their needs.
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 8 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) Community Needs and (b) Market Assessments have been carried out to date on Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service routes.
Answer
Community Needs Assessments were carried out for all routes included in the 2012 Ferries Plan and will be updated alongside the Islands Connectivity Plan (ICP). We have commenced work to support the following live investment projects;
Mallaig – Lochboisdale Vessel Replacement Project
Oban – Craignure
Gourock – Dunoon – Kilcreggan
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 8 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Network Rail regarding any reductions to the maintenance budget in Scotland.
Answer
During the Covid pandemic Network Rail and Transport Scotland examined ways where efficiency savings could be made. There has been no reduction to the maintenance budget in Scotland.
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 8 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Network Rail regarding any proposed staff reductions in Scotland.
Answer
Transport Scotland has not held any discussions with Network Rail on proposed staff reductions in Scotland.
Network Rail advise that UK wide it has undertaken two rounds of an industry special Voluntary Severance Scheme, focused on management grades where it could be verified there would be no impact on safety, performance or customer service. However, no representations have been made to Scottish Government on this matter.
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Current Status:
Withdrawn
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 18 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 4 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-01341 by Maree Todd on 26 July 2021, whether it will commit to continuing to provide free-of-charge lateral flow tests, and what scientific advice it has received regarding when regular testing will no longer be necessary.
Answer
It is important, in line with the principle of healthcare being free at the point of use, that lateral flow device (LFD) tests should remain free of charge for any circumstance in which testing is required as part of clinical care.
The COVID-19 Strategic Framework Update, published on 22 February, sought input from public health specialists who support a move to focus on protecting those at highest clinical risk, supporting patient care and responding to outbreaks, as we move towards the endemic phase.
A transition plan setting out the next steps for Test and Protect in Scotland will be published later this month.