- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 April 2018
-
Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 10 May 2018
To ask the Scottish Government how many members of the board of Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) have a registered home address on an island, also broken down by which island.
Answer
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 May 2018
-
Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 16 May 2018
To ask the Scottish Government how it encourages non-departmental public bodies to promote and facilitate public participation in their decisions and activities.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 16 May 2018
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 April 2018
-
Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 9 May 2018
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-15396 by Humza Yousaf on 26 April 2018, on what dates the minister (a) has met and (b) plans to meet the chair of the HIAL board to discuss the introduction of car parking charges at Sumburgh, Kirkwall and Stornoway airports.
Answer
I met the Chair of the HIAL Board on 12 March 2018 and spoke with her by telephone on 26 April 2018 when a range of issues were discussed.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 April 2018
-
Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 9 May 2018
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-15397 by Humza Yousaf on 26 April 2018, on what date the board of HIAL agreed to carry out the consultation on the introduction of car parking charges at Sumburgh, Kirkwall and Stornoway airports, and when ministers were informed of the plan to consult.
Answer
The HIAL Board decided to consult on the implementation of the extension of car parking charges to Sumburgh, Kirkwall and Stornoway airports at its meeting on 6 February 2018. Ministers were informed of HIAL's communications plan on 5 March 2018.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 April 2018
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 8 May 2018
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is normal practice regarding modern apprenticeships for Skills Development Scotland to only pay a contribution to the cost of the qualification, with employers expected to pay any remaining balance.
Answer
Scottish Government policy is to provide a contribution towards modern apprenticeship training based on a series of variables, with employers expected to make a contribution to additional costs of training and assessment as required.
SDS undertook a systematic review of all contribution rates, with ongoing review of individual frameworks on an evidence-led basis. This takes into account factors such as content of the framework and any formal structured learning that takes place away from the workplace.
In 2017-18 this Government introduced enhanced contribution rates for disabled people and those with experience of care up to the age of 29. Contracting arrangements for 2018/19 included increased contributions to the costs of delivering early years and childcare; dental nursing and management frameworks.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 April 2018
-
Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 8 May 2018
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has asked Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) to assess the freight capacity of the freighters operating between Lerwick and Aberdeen.
Answer
Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) has a bareboat charter arrangement with the owners of the current freight vessels (MV Helliar and MV Hildasay) that are utilised on the Lerwick, Kirkwall and Aberdeen routes. These vessels are currently sub-chartered to Serco Northlink Ferries. Discussions are on-going regarding the future freight vessel requirements and involve Transport Scotland, CMAL and the operator who are working together to consider the future freight demand for the Northern Isles.
The MV Helliar and the MV Hildasay each provide 885 lane metres of capacity per sailing. Average deck utilisation of the freighters in 2017 was 56%. Average deck space utilisation of the freighters in the first quarter in 2018 was 59%. Serco NorthLink Ferries works closely with industry to monitor trends and analyse capacity to ensure that freight capacity is available to meet both current and future demand.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 April 2018
-
Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 8 May 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to investigate the options that are available to address the reported growing capacity problems on the lifeline ferry routes to Shetland, including considering whether new larger ferries should be provided.
Answer
The Northern Isles Ferry Services (NIFS) Study report was published on the Transport Scotland website on 25 April. The Study assessed the potential impact of reduced passenger and car fares and considered supply-side options to provide additional capacity to alleviate the expected demand pressures, such as additional daytime sailings.
Options for the Aberdeen routes appear to be challenging with the existing tonnage. However, once members of the NIFS Study Working Group have formally responded to the report we will work with them to consider the next steps for the future of the services and to identify affordable longer-term solutions to the capacity issues. This includes consideration of all possible options.
Transport Scotland works closely with the existing operator and industry to ensure both current and future demand can be met.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 April 2018
-
Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 8 May 2018
To ask the Scottish Government whether it provides guidance to (a) local authorities and (b) education authorities regarding monitoring the ethnicity of staff.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not provide guidance to local authorities regarding the monitoring of the ethnicity of staff.
The Equality Act 2010 (the 2010 Act) requires public authorities to: eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation; advance equality of opportunity; and to foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not. This is known as the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED).
Through the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) (Scotland) Regulations 2012 the Scottish Government has introduced a number of measures to ensure that public authorities comply with the Equality Act’s provisions. These include enhanced data collection, greater transparency and the assessment of new, revised and existing policies.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission is responsible for compliance with the Act, and the Scottish Government works closely with the Commission who have produced a suite of technical guidance on the delivery of the public sector equality duty in Scotland that can be found at:
https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/publication-download/technical-guidance-public-sector-equality-duty-scotland
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 April 2018
-
Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 8 May 2018
To ask the Scottish Government whether it provides guidance to local authorities regarding how to recruit a more representative workforce in relation to ethnicity.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not provide guidance to local authorities regarding how to recruit a more representative workforce in relation to ethnicity.
The Equality Act 2010 (the 2010 Act) requires public authorities to: eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation; advance equality of opportunity; and to foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not. This is known as the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED).
Through the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) (Scotland) Regulations 2012 the Scottish Government has introduced a number of measures to ensure that public authorities comply with the Equality Act’s provisions. These include enhanced data collection, greater transparency and the assessment of new, revised and existing policies.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission is responsible for compliance with the Act, and the Scottish Government works closely with the Commission who have produced a suite of technical guidance on the delivery of the public sector equality duty in Scotland that can be found at:
https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/publication-download/technical-guidance-public-sector-equality-duty-scotland
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 April 2018
-
Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 8 May 2018
To ask the Scottish Government whether it collates ethnicity data in relation to the recruitment of teachers.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not collate ethnicity data in relation to the recruitment of teachers. Teacher recruitment and the collation of data is a matter for local authorities.
The Equality Act 2010 (the 2010 Act) requires public authorities to: eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation; advance equality of opportunity; and to foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not. This is known as the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED).
Through the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) (Scotland) Regulations 2012 the Scottish Government has introduced a number of measures to ensure that public authorities comply with the Equality Act’s provisions. These include enhanced data collection, greater transparency and the assessment of new, revised and existing policies.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission is responsible for compliance with the Act, and the Scottish Government works closely with the Commission who have produced a suite of technical guidance on the delivery of the public sector equality duty in Scotland that can be found at:
https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/publication-download/technical-guidance-public-sector-equality-duty-scotland
