- Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 September 2013
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 26 September 2013
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on employment in the oil and gas sector in Scotland, what representations it will make to the Helicopter Safety Steering Group regarding the appointment of a group to review the seating configuration on Super Puma helicopters, and to ensure that its terms of reference include seating configurations on all other helicopters operating offshore.
Answer
The Scottish Government will continue to work with industry, unions, UK Government and the Helicopter Safety Steering Group to ensure that issues such as this are fully considered.
- Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 September 2013
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 26 September 2013
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on employment in the oil and gas sector in Scotland, whether it will discuss with the UK Government a formal agreement between employers' representatives and trade unions regarding trade union access to employees offshore, including the provision of regular berths on helicopters transporting workers offshore.
Answer
The Scottish Government will continue to work with industry, unions, UK Government and the Helicopter Safety Steering Group to ensure that issues such as this are fully considered.
- Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 September 2013
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 26 September 2013
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on employment in the oil and gas sector in Scotland, what discussions it has had on the safety of helicopters used offshore with (a) employers and (b) trade unions on the Helicopter Safety Steering Group, and what the outcomes of those discussions were.
Answer
Since the tragic accident, the Scottish Government has had numerous discussions directly with unions and Oil and Gas UK, and has worked closely with wider industry as part of the Helicopter Safety Steering Group. These discussions have covered a range of issues and the Scottish Government has sought to reassure that necessary investigations are underway and, once completed, that lessons must be learned to enhance the safety of the offshore oil and gas sector.
- Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 September 2013
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 26 September 2013
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on employment in the oil and gas sector in Scotland, what steps it has taken to reassure offshore workers about the safety of Super Puma helicopters following the recent fatal accident.
Answer
The Scottish Government has held a number of discussions with industry and unions, and will continue to do so. In addition, the Scottish Government is working with the Helicopter Safety Steering Group and will support the far reaching independent and strategic safety review of helicopter safety in the North Sea as a key starting point for rebuilding confidence of the workforce.
- Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 September 2013
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 26 September 2013
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on employment in the oil and gas sector in Scotland, what its position is on the Helicopter Safety Steering Group (HSSG) commissioning an independent review of the safety of helicopter operations in the UK Continental Shelf, and whether it has made recommendations to the HSSG on review membership.
Answer
The Scottish Government supports the review announced by the Helicopter Safety Steering Group. We have been working closely with the HSSG since the accident and we will continue to offer our assistance and support where appropriate. The Scottish Government has made no specific recommendations to the HSSG on review membership but has encouraged a wide workforce participation.
- Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 September 2013
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 26 September 2013
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on employment in the oil and gas sector in Scotland, whether it has sought assurances from the UK Government that (a) employers and (b) licensed operators in the North Sea will not seek to blacklist or discriminate against offshore workers who refuse to board Super Puma helicopters in light of their safety record.
Answer
The Scottish Government continues to work with unions, operators, Oil and Gas UK and UK Government to ensure the continuation and safety of offshore operations in the North Sea, and to ensure that support is given to build confidence in helicopter travel based on a dialogue and quality information.
- Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 September 2013
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 26 September 2013
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on employment in the oil and gas sector in Scotland, what its position is on calls for an independent public inquiry into the cause of the recent fatal helicopter accident in the North Sea.
Answer
Law officers will consider the result of all the investigations and whether any criminal proceedings or fatal accident inquiry is in the public interest. Ministers will then consider the need for further inquiries once the findings of the AAIB investigation are known and considered by the Civil Aviation authority. The Scottish Government would have to reach an agreement with the United Kingdom Government about the nature of any inquiry, as it would have to be undertaken under the Inquiries Act 2005, which is reserved legislation
- Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 September 2013
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 26 September 2013
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on employment in the oil and gas sector in Scotland, what its position is on the adoption of Norwegian standards of (a) safety, (b) inspection and (c) regulation of helicopter operations in the North Sea, and whether it will make representations to the UK Government in this regard.
Answer
The Scottish Government will support cross-industry discussions as part of the HSSG review to see whether any lessons can be learned from Norwegian safety and maintenance regime. The Scottish Government will support the HSSG review with industry, unions and UK Government.
- Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 September 2013
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 26 September 2013
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on employment in the oil and gas sector in Scotland, what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the recent fatal helicopter accident in the North Sea and what the outcomes were.
Answer
Scottish Government worked closely with UK government on a range of issues in response to this tragic event. We will continue to do so until the causes are known and any safety recommendations are implemented to enhance the safety of those working offshore in the North Sea.
- Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 September 2013
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 2 October 2013
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase the availability of educational psychologists.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 2 October 2013