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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S4W-25528

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 May 2015
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 27 May 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been made of the annual cost of the outcome of the harmonisation of pay and conditions for Police Scotland staff from across the former police forces.

The Scottish Police Authority (SPA) and Police Scotland are responsible for taking forward work on the harmonisation of pay and conditions for police staff which is being delivered through the joint SPA/Police Scotland ‘Staff Reward and Modernisation of Policy’ project.

It is too early to assess the annual cost of the outcome of the harmonisation of pay and conditions as the Staff Reward and Modernisation of Policy’ project is ongoing.

Police staff play a significant and important role in keeping Scotland safe. Whether day to day management falls to Police Scotland or the SPA, all police staff are employed by the SPA.

Question reference: S4W-25461

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 May 2015
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 21 May 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what the minimum requirements were in the invitation to tender for the (a) current and (b) previous contract to provide ferry services to Orkney and Shetland.

The tender evaluation criteria used to award the current Northern Isles ferry services contract (2012-18) is set out in Section 3 of the Invitation to Submit Final Tender, Instructions to Participants, which is available from Transport Scotland’s website:

http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/system/files/documents/tsc-basic-pages/NIFS%20Vol%203%20ISFT%20ISFT%20Issue%20Version%282%201%29%2015%2002%2012%204%20for%20publication%20-%2018%20sept%202014.pdf

The tender evaluation criteria used to award the previous Northern Isles ferry services (2006-12) contract is set out in Section 5 of the Invitation to Tender for Northern Isles Ferry Service, which is available from the Scottish Government’s website:

http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2005/09/2195702/57039

Question reference: S4W-25459

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 May 2015
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 21 May 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what opportunity NorthLink Ferries Ltd was given during the pre-tender negotiation period to revise its tender for the contract to provide services to Orkney and Shetland in order to address concerns that its tender did not meet the minimum requirements set out in the invitation to tender.

Transport Scotland held three separate meetings with Northlink Ferries Ltd after which they were invited to submit their outline proposals. Where the proposals were considered to be at risk of falling short of the acceptable quality, this was highlighted in writing to them before inviting final tenders. In addition, a follow-up clarification meeting was held with Northlink Ferries Ltd during the tender evaluation period to clarify aspects of their bid.

Question reference: S4W-25460

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 May 2015
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 21 May 2015

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ask Audit Scotland to investigate the handling of the award of the 2012 contract to provide ferry services to Orkney and Shetland.

Question reference: S4T-01012

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 11 May 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 May 2015

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will make a statement on the resignation of the convener of the Crofting Commission.

Question reference: S4W-25361

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 27 April 2015
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 7 May 2015

To ask the Scottish Government which budget would cover any legal costs arising from the civil action between Shetland Islands Council and Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd.

Question reference: S4W-25355

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 27 April 2015
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 6 May 2015

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to produce whole-of-Scotland consolidated accounts and, if so, for which financial year.

I advised the Scottish Parliament’s Finance Committee in December 2014 that I had asked officials to develop proposals to improve and enhance financial reporting. This work is currently in progress through the Scottish Government’s Fiscal Capability 2015 programme. The consideration of proposals to improve and enhance financial reporting will include consideration of consolidated public accounts and, as is proper, the Scottish Government will consult with the Parliament, and specifically with the Public Audit Committee, before proceeding.

Question reference: S4W-25357

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 27 April 2015
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 6 May 2015

To ask the Scottish Government whether it expects the Scottish Fiscal Commission to share financial and economic information with the Office for Budget Responsibility.

The Scottish Government published A Consultation on the Scottish Fiscal Commission on 26 March 2015. This consultation sets out our detailed proposals for legislation to establish the commission as an independent statutory body in Scotland, including a draft Bill.

We note in the consultation that it may be necessary for the Scottish and UK governments to agree powers for the Scottish Fiscal Commission and the Office for Budget Responsibility to share information with each other to support their respective functions. We will consider this issue in light of responses submitted to the consultation paper.

Question reference: S4W-25358

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 27 April 2015
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 6 May 2015

To ask the Scottish Government whether the introduction of consolidated whole-of-Scotland accounts would help in the assessment of the no deterrent principle in terms of individual tax changes over the fiscal cycle of government spending.

The principle, and application, of no detriment will be discussed as part of seeking an agreement between the Scottish and UK Governments on a fiscal framework for Scotland. The introduction of further consolidated public accounts may provide useful information and this will be considered as part of the commitment to develop financial reporting. In considering the assessment of the no detriment principle, however, it is likely that other sources of information additional to financial reporting will also be required.

Question reference: S4W-25291

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 April 2015
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 1 May 2015

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to retrofit Braille buttons at the doors and toilets of ScotRail rolling stock that is not so equipped.

All Abellio ScotRail trains must comply with the European rail vehicle accessibility standards (the TSI PRM) by 1 January 2020.

The TSI PRM is a wide range of standards that specifies how all aspects of a train should be designed and built to facilitate the safe and comfortable carriage of passengers with reduced mobility. The TSI PRM requires trains to provide braille signage on entrance and toilet door buttons.

Currently 160 (55.5%) of ScotRail’s fleet of 288 trains already fully complies with the TSI PRM, which includes the provision of braille signage on buttons. It is likely most of the 44.5% of the fleet that does not fully comply with the TSI PRM will have braille signage on buttons, but do not comply with the TSI PRM on other areas.

ScotRail has made a commitment to refurbish the remainder of the fleet that will be retained beyond 2020 to the TSI PRM standard by early 2019. This will ensure the entire fleet is fitted with braille signage where appropriate.

All 104 new trains which are planned to be introduced by the end of 2018 into its fleet by ScotRail will be TSI PRM compliant.

ScotRail are currently refining a programme of refurbishment to older rolling stock, and at this stage cannot specify how many trains do not currently have braille signage on buttons and what it will cost to retro-fit these as part of wider refurbishment. However, it is likely to be a relatively small proportion of older trains that may not have braille signage.