Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer back to my answer to question S4W-14017. Officials adhere to the Civil Service Code when engaging with government officials from other countries. No specific guidance to officials on dealing with ministers and officials from the Government of Qatar and reference to the imprisonment of the poet, Mohammed al-Ajami has been issued.

The Scottish Government’s International Framework recognises that, as a good global citizen, Scotland has a strong and enduring commitment to securing democracy, the rule of law and fundamental human rights across the world. We expect all states to comply with international and human rights law, and we condemn human rights abuses wherever they occur.

Substantial monitoring and evaluation was carried out by independent consultants Halcrow Group Limited during the period of the Road Equivalent Tariff pilot in the Western Isles, Coll and Tiree. Halcrow produced their ‘Assessment of the Impacts of the Road Equivalent Tariff Pilot’ report in July 2011. That report was published by Transport Scotland and a copy of the report can be accessed by following the attached link

http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/files/documents/water/ferries/Assessment_of_the_Impacts_of_the_RET_Pilot_-_Final_Report.pdf

A further independent report produced by MVA Consultancy Ltd on the ‘Impact of the Removal of RET Fares from Commercial Vehicles on The Western Isles, Coll and Tiree’ was published by Transport Scotland in April 2013 and can be accessed by following the attached link

http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/strategy-and-research/publications-and-consultations/j264768-00.htm

RET has been made a permanent feature on services to the Western Isles, Coll and Tiree, and a further RET pilot was rolled out on services to Islay, Colonsay and Gigha in October 2012. Evaluation of this pilot will take place prior to the roll-out of RET to Arran in October 2014, and to all West Coast and Clyde islands within the term of this Parliament.

Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) for all carrying types was introduced as a pilot on routes to the Western Isles, Coll and Tiree on 19 October 2008. RET for larger commercial vehicles was however, withdrawn from April 2012. RET was continued for passengers, cars, small commercial vehicles and coaches on this route on a permanent basis. RET was rolled out as a pilot to Islay, Colonsay and Gigha from October 2012.

The annual carrying statistics split by passenger and type of vehicle on a route by route basis are available on the CalMac Ferries Limited website. The information can be accessed by following the attached link

http://www.calmac.co.uk/corporate-calmac/carrying-statistics.htm.

RET is a distance based fares structure, which underpins the Scottish Government’s commitment to providing one single overarching fares policy across ferry services subsidised by the Scottish Government.

Fares are set using a fixed element, reflecting the fixed costs that exist on each route, and a variable rate per mile. There are no plans to rename the scheme.

Halcrow Group Ltd and MVA Consultancy Ltd have been involved in providing independent advice to the Scottish Government in the creation and calculation of the RET scheme.

Halcrow Group Ltd were commissioned by the Scottish Government and prepared the following reports:

Road Equivalent Tariff Study – Stage 1 Phase 1 Report – October 2007

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/935/0061363.pdf

Road Equivalent Tariff Study – Stage 1 Phase 2 Report – February 2008

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/935/0061364.pdf

Road Equivalent Tariff Study – Stage 1 Phase 3 Report – Impact Analysis – February 2008

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/935/0061365.pdf

Road Equivalent Tariff Study – Stage 1 Phase 4 Report – Pilot Study – February 2008

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/935/0061366.pdf

Assessment of the Road Equivalent Tariff Pilot – July 2011

http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/files/documents/water/ferries/Assessment_of_the_Impacts_of_the_RET_Pilot_-_Final_Report.pdf

MVA Consultancy Ltd were commissioned by Scottish Government and prepared the following report;

Impact of the Removal of RET Fares from Commercial Vehicles on The Western Isles, Coll and Tiree – May 2013

http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/strategy-and-research/publications-and-consultations/j264768-00.htm.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-14936 on 31 May 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-14939 on 31 May 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

The report recommended a foot passenger fare of a fixed element of £2.00 plus a rate per mile of £0.10. The rate per mile was updated to £0.13 in October 2012 to reflect the then current cost of travel.

No information is held by the Scottish Government on the most commonly driven cars or the associated cost per mile to drive them.

Information on the 10 most popular new cars sold is available from Table 1.11 of Scottish Transport Statistics No 31: 2012 Edition. This table can be accessed by following the attached link:

http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/strategy-and-research/publications-and-consultations/j251205-026.htm.

Information on vehicle running costs by type and size of engine is available from the RAC and is provided in the following link:

http://www.emmerson-hill.co.uk/downloads/Motoring_Costs_April_2012.pdf.

Fish Producer Organisations (POs) are membership organisations made of up fishermen that are provided for in EC Regulations that in Scotland and elsewhere in the European Union play an important role in the co-ordination of supplies of fish to markets and in the improvement of trading conditions for member vessels. POs in Scotland and in the UK also manage allocations of fish quota carrying out functions delegated to them by Government.

At present the Scottish Government does not propose to involve bodies other than POs in the management of fish quotas. The Government also considers, and concluded such in a report published during 2012, that there is scope for POs to do more to fully fulfil their functions in the organisation of supply and the development of markets. The Government continues to work towards these aims in close partnership with POs in Scotland.