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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-26011

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 June 2015
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 18 June 2015

To ask the Scottish Government on what date the minute of the board meeting of Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) of 31 March 2015 was posted on the CMAL website and when it will post the minute of the 29 April 2015 meeting.

Question reference: S4W-26017

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 June 2015
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 18 June 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the retendering of contracts for ferry services has on (a) employment, (b) the economy, (c) ferry services and (d) passengers on remote island communities; how many invitations to tender for such services it has issued in each year since 1999, and what information it has regarding how many were issued from 1990 to 1998.

Retendering ensures that these lifeline ferry services can continue to support sustainable economic growth and cultural development of our island communities.

In compliance with European regulations, ferry services tendered since 1999 are: Northern Isles Ferry Services (2002, 2006, 2012); Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (2006); Gourock to Dunoon (2006, 2011); and Campbeltown to Ballycastle (2002, 2005).

In compliance with European regulations, ferry services tendered between 1990 and 1998 are: Northern Isles Ferry Services (1997).

Question reference: S4W-26015

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 June 2015
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 18 June 2015

To ask the Scottish Government how the proposed changes to the CalMac pension fund will impact on (a) Caledonian MacBrayne, (b) Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd and (c) David MacBrayne Ltd staff.

Question reference: S4T-01065

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 15 June 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 June 2015

To ask the Scottish Government how it is responding to the concerns of the CalMac workforce, who have recently been balloted for strike action.

Question reference: S4W-25932

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 June 2015
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 11 June 2015

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-25677 by Derek Mackay on 3 June 2015, whether it considers that the information provided is consistent with the comment in the Department for Transport impact assessment report, Raising the national speed limit for HGVs > 7.5t on single carriageway roads in England and Wales, that "there is little academic evidence about how a change in the HGV speed limit would affect road casualties. We commissioned a report by TRL [Transport Research Laboratory] (2009) into the potential effect of an increase in the HGV<7.5 speed limit on single carriageway roads. Unfortunately, the final report was unable to reach any firm conclusions about the likely effects", and what the reason is for its position on this matter.

The Department for Transport used analytical modelling in its impact assessment for single carriageway roads in England and Wales which forecast that ‘there would be an additional 1.7 to 3.5 fatal and 4.2 to 8.5 serious accidents involving HGVs >7.5t each year as a result of the speed limit increase’. The lack of academic evidence referred to by the Transport Research Laboratory , combined with this modelling work, means that the Scottish Government does not believe there is justification for a blanket change in the HGV speed limit in Scotland at present.

Question reference: S4O-04472

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 June 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 June 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has received regarding the cost of flights to and from Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles.

Question reference: S4W-25766

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 May 2015
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 10 June 2015

To ask the Scottish Government who David MacBrayne Ltd's (DML) nominated directors on Solent Gateway Ltd are; how many (a) part- and (b) full-time DML staff work for Solent Gateway Ltd, and what information it has on whether they are registered for UK tax and national insurance payments.

Question reference: S4W-25767

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 May 2015
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 10 June 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what financial commitment David MacBrayne Ltd (DML) has made to Solent Gateway Ltd and what risk assessment has been carried out of how Solent Gateway Ltd failing would impact on (a) DML and (b) taxpayers.

Question reference: S4W-25765

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 May 2015
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 10 June 2015

To ask the Scottish Government on what date David MacBrayne Ltd formed the joint venture with GBA (Holdings) to establish Solent Gateway Ltd and when this was announced to the Parliament.

Solent Gateway Ltd was incorporated on 31 December 2014. This joint venture was not announced to the Scottish Parliament. However, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence, Mr Philip Dunne, announced on 3 March 2015 to the House of Commons that he had launched the process to grant a concession to manage, and exploit the commercial potential of, the Marchwood Sea Mounting Centre and that Solent Gateway Ltd has been selected as the preferred bidder. This will be a joint venture between David MacBrayne Ltd and GBA (Holdings) Ltd.

Question reference: S4W-25839

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 01 June 2015
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 10 June 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what external consultants Transport Scotland has contracted, and at what cost, to work on the invitation to tender for the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract.