Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21579 on 25 June 2014. 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.

NHS boards are expected to provide insulin pumps, and associated consumables, to patients who meet the clinical criteria, within a reasonable timescale and free of charge.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21579 on 25 June 2014. 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.

In the ferries plan we stated that we intend to roll out the road equivalent tariff (RET) to all lifeline services and where we are not responsible for those services we will discuss the appropriate form and timing of any roll out with those who are. Consideration of the implementation on the Gourock-Dunoon service is on-going.

We are aware that introducing RET on the Gourock–Dunoon ferry route now would increase fares for a large number of users, due to the fact that while the advertised fares are higher than RET, many users are currently able to access fares that are lower than RET.

The Diabetes Action Plan sets out our vision for a world class diabetes service and includes a comprehensive and ambitious programme of work to improve care for people living with diabetes. Work is currently in hand to refresh the plan to ensure that our priorities and actions to improve care are fully aligned to the 2020 Vision for Health and Social Care and continue to meet the needs of people living with diabetes.

Around £900,000 is invested each year by the Scottish Government to support the implementation of the Diabetes Action Plan.

The Scottish Government is supportive of the introduction of a graduated driver licencing (GDL) scheme and in January 2014, I wrote to the UK Government calling for the consideration of either UK-wide measures to be introduced, or for powers to be devolved to Scotland. This was refused. Following the decision of the Scottish Parliament in March 2014 to call on the UK Government to take action, I have again written to the UK Transport Secretary on 2 June 2014 expressing regret at their lack of action and urging them to consider a pilot of GDL in Scotland. I await a response.

This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing.

The Scottish Government’s working assumption is that new build vessels are likely to be required for the route. Decisions on whether these vessels will be procured by the operator of the next competitively tendered contract, or by the Scottish Government through Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd, have yet to be taken. Either way, vessels will have to meet specifications set out to deliver the policy objective of “a safe, reliable, frequent, commuter ferry service… able to operate reliably throughout the year in the weather and sea conditions experienced on the Firth of Clyde”. The outline specifications provided in the Gourock-Dunoon feasibility study report provide a useful starting point for the development of detailed specifications for reliable vessels.

It is too soon to say how much vessels will cost although the report of the Gourock-Dunoon feasibility study estimated £3 million per vessel for passenger-only ferries and £6 million per vessel for vehicle-passenger ships.

The observation of all applicable EU rules will be an important consideration when developing long-term solutions for the Gourock-Dunoon ferry service.

A subsidy will be provided for the provision of the contracted ferry service rather than for vessels. Vessel costs and harbour costs (berthing dues and pier dues) will form part of the overall operating costs. Each bidder for the ferry service contract will need to make their own forecast of the costs and revenues and their subsequent grant requirement.

The terms of reference for the report commissioned by the Scottish Government stated that: “the revenue and costs assumed for vehicle carrying should be for vessels optimal for the route in terms of design, manning levels, speed and vehicle and passenger capacity”.

The report states (paragraph 4.1.3) that: “this [vessel] specification required for the study needs to be proportionate to the task, i.e. we are not designing vessels but attempting to establish outline specifications and associated broad and typical costs”.

The outline specifications, including the proposed vessel dimensions, provided in the report provide a useful starting point for the development of detailed specifications for reliable vessels for the Gourock-Dunoon town centre service.