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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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S4W-02882

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 September 2011
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 3 October 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had discussions with the (a) public and (b) private sector regarding establishing a ferry regulator.

In February 2011 the then Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth indicated that the Government was now examining the scope for introducing a statutory ferry regulator which could have strong powers to ensure there is no predatory commercial activity on any Scottish ferry route. We have to date had no discussions regarding the issue with the public or private sector or with the European Commission.

Question reference: S4W-02883

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 September 2011
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 3 October 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had discussions with the European Commission regarding the operations of a ferry regulator in Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-02878

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 September 2011
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 3 October 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will establish a ferry regulator.

As indicated by the Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment earlier this year, the possibility of establishing a Ferry Regulator to monitor the service of non-government and non-local authority ferry operators in Scotland is being considered as part of the Scottish Ferries Review. However, there are no detailed proposals at this stage. Ministers expect to publish a Draft Ferries Plan before the end of 2011.

Question reference: S4W-02881

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 September 2011
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 3 October 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what regulations the proposed ferry regulator will be responsible for.

Question reference: S4W-02879

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 September 2011
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 3 October 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what the budget of the proposed ferry regulator will be.

Question reference: S4W-02489

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 September 2011
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 29 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive how much the withdrawal of the Air Discount Scheme for business travel will cost (a) private businesses, (b) public sector organisations and (c) third sector bodies.

We have made no assessment of the cost for businesses and organisations in the public and third sectors from the more active exclusion of business-related travel from the Air Discount Scheme (ADS).

We have estimated that the more active exclusion of business-related travel from the scheme could reduce the ADS requirement by up to £2.7 million. However, as a demand-led scheme, it is not possible to provide final costs for the scheme in 2011-12 and the years ahead.

Scottish Government officials are currently pursuing a meeting with European Commission counterparts to discuss the exclusion of business-related travel. This is likely to take place during October.

Question reference: S4W-02490

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 September 2011
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 29 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive which (a) organisations and (b) individuals have made representations to it regarding the withdrawal of the Air Discount Scheme.

Question reference: S4W-02491

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 September 2011
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 29 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it estimates it will save from the withdrawal of the Air Discount Scheme for business travel.

Question reference: S4W-02517

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 02 September 2011
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 29 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to discuss the Air Discount Scheme with the European Commission and to seek clarification on its use for business-related travel, in light of comments by Transport Scotland in the Press and Journal on 31 August 2011.

Question reference: S4W-02722

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 September 2011
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 29 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff on (a) CalMac (b) NorthLink and (c) Argyll ferries are trained to operate a defibrillator.