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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: S5W-25189

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 20 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what actions it plans to take to establish a net zero air travel region in the Highlands and Islands, and when it expects to achieve this objective.

Air travel continues to be one of the quickest and most convenient ways to travel, not least for islands communities. We will work to decarbonise scheduled flights within Scotland by 2040. We will support the trialling and introduction of low and zero emission aircraft with the first such trials taking place in 2021. We will also work in collaboration with Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd to create the world’s first zero emission aviation region to decarbonise airport operations and infrastructure. In undertaking these commitments, engagement with passengers, other airport users and relevant stakeholders will be a priority. As technology in this area is moving quickly, we will work closely with researchers and product developers to ensure our plans benefit from the latest innovation and knowledge exchange. Further information on our proposals will be set out later this year in HIAL’s updated strategy.

Question reference: S5W-25066

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 02 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 20 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-23068 by Paul Wheelhouse on 22 May 2019, which stated that a formal announcement regarding the successful bidder for the Northern Isles Ferry Services' contract would be "made in August", whether it can confirm who the successful bidder was or by what date it will do so.

Following a fair and transparent public procurement competition, I can today confirm that the preferred bidder to operate the Northern Isles Ferry Services is Serco Ltd. We now enter a statutory ten-day standstill period, before confirming the formal award of contract to Serco Ltd. The new contract starts on 31 October 2019 and will run for a period of eight years, with an option for the Scottish Ministers to exercise a break clause at the end of year six.

Serco will provide continuity and the provision of high-quality, affordable ferry services that will be welcomed by local communities. Just some of the benefits of the new contract, details of which will be published following contract award, include upgraded cabins and terminal facilities, and improved customer communications and services. The contract also aligns with the Scottish Government’s Fair Work Framework, including measures for pension protections and security of employment.

Following formal contract award, a non-sensitive copy of Serco Ltd’s contract will be published on Transport Scotland’s website.

Question reference: S5W-25222

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 09 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 20 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government when an updated Scottish Ferries Plan will be published, and what consultation will take place with stakeholders ahead of this.

Question reference: S5W-25188

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 20 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that lifeline air services in the Highlands and Islands are accessible and affordable while establishing a net zero air travel region.

A move to decarbonising air services in the Highlands and Islands has the potential to make communities more accessible and more affordable. Electric aircraft are expected to have lower operating costs than conventional aircraft, both in terms of fuel costs and maintenance. Lower operating costs also have the potential to improve the sustainability of routes, make new routes viable, and reduce costs of passengers. Further information will be set out later this year in HIAL’s updated strategy.

Question reference: S5W-25255

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 19 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether the collection of empty drinks containers through its proposed deposit return system will be provided at the producers' expense for all retailers and other operators of collection points, irrespective of their location.

As set out in the draft Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) Regulations, published on 10 September 2019, producers, directly or through a scheme administrator, will be obliged to collect scheme packaging marketed by that producer from all return points free of charge in line with their operational plan. A condition of registering for the scheme, whether as a producer or a scheme administrator, will be to outline the frequency with which it will collect scheme packaging from retailers and other return points.

Question reference: S5W-25256

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 19 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of any international evidence that suggests that being included in a deposit return system has led to an increase in the price of the drinks themselves.

The Deposit Return Scheme Full Business Case Stage 1 establishes that the cost of the scheme will be borne in part by producers as a form of extended producer responsibility. As in any competitive market, it is for producers to determine how much of this cost to pass on to consumers. A Full Business Case Stage 2 is planned for publication in early 2020 and will include indicative producer fees, drawing on evidence of international best practice.

Question reference: S5W-25226

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 09 September 2019
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 19 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to recent reports that Orkney’s harbour seal population has declined by 85% in the last 20 years, and what steps are being taken to identify the reasons for this decline.

In response to local declines in harbour seal populations, the Scottish Government introduced a Seal Conservation Area for Orkney in 2007 which provides additional protection to vulnerable seal populations.

Scottish Government is currently funding a major research project to investigate possible causes for these local declines. The research has already eliminated bycatch, entanglement, pollution, disease and shooting as significant factors. Effort is now focused on exploring other potential causes such as prey quality, competition with grey seals, predation by other marine mammals and harmful algal biotoxins. The research will report its findings in 2020.

Question reference: S5T-01783

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 16 September 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how it will address the reported backlog of unresolved criminal cases.

Question reference: S5W-24631

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 August 2019
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 3 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been referred to the Interventions for Vulnerable Youth service in each year since its inception.

Question reference: S5W-24634

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 August 2019
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 3 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether an impact assessment of the closure of the Interventions for Vulnerable Youth service has been carried out and, if so, what the conclusions were.

The needs of the 10 young people supported through the IVY service are paramount. IVY are currently working with those young people and their local authority to ensure that services and supports, including appropriate support around transitions, are in place from the end of October.

Following the decision made by CYCJ to cease hosting the IVY service, the Scottish Government have carried out a survey of all 32 local authorities to understand the level of need for the service and what alternative provisions are available within the local authority to support vulnerable young people. Of the 18 responses received support will be considered through multi-agency planning and local resources, including Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and psychologists.