- Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 September 2025
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Current Status:
Answer expected on 25 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how many times, in each of the last three calendar years, its Agricultural Wages Enforcement Team has reported concerns to local authorities regarding the standards of accommodation provided in their areas to migrant workers, broken down by (a) local authority and (b) what the outcome was.
Answer
Answer expected on 25 September 2025
- Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 September 2025
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Current Status:
Answer expected on 25 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that three of the biggest six local authority areas that use the Seasonal Worker Visa scheme are located in Scotland, what representation it has made to the UK Government regarding the review of the scheme by the Migration Advisory Committee, and what the outcome was.
Answer
Answer expected on 25 September 2025
- Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 September 2025
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 18 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what interventions it has made to end the current dispute over jobs and cuts in the higher education sector.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 18 September 2025
- Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 05 September 2025
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 8 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government on what date it expects the MV Caledonian Isles to return to service on the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract, and whether it will provide an update on the progress of the dry dock repair of the vessel.
Answer
There is currently no firm date for the return of MV Caledonian Isles. Transport Scotland officials continue to engage with CalMac weekly, and although complex, works are progressing well.
- Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 05 September 2025
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 8 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to review the charter agreement with Pentland Ferries for the MV Alfred to provide contracted Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services from Troon to Brodick, before the current agreement expires.
Answer
The charter of MV Alfred is an operational matter for CalMac Ferries Ltd as the network service operator. The Scottish Government has no role in reviewing the charter agreed with Pentland Ferries.
- Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 05 September 2025
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 8 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of the (a) duration and (b) value of (i) scheduled and (ii) unscheduled dry dock work carried out on CMAL-owned vessels at Inchgreen dry dock facility since 1 January 2015.
Answer
The Scottish Government is unable to provide such a list, as the dry dock facility at Inchgreen has not been used to undertake scheduled or unscheduled dry dock work on vessels that are owned by CMAL.
- Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 05 September 2025
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 8 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what the current full-time equivalent staffing commitment is at (a) Transport Scotland and (b) Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd for the Ardrossan Harbour Redevelopment Project.
Answer
Neither Transport Scotland or CMAL record staff time or costs by project task and therefore we are unable to provide the member with a definitive response. I can confirm that project partners across Scottish Government and CMAL continue to work on the Ardrossan Harbour Redevelopment Project as quickly as practicable whilst negotiations on port purchase are progressed.
- Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 05 September 2025
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 8 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) CalMac Ferries Ltd and (b) the Maritime and Coastguard Agency regarding the reported passenger safety incident on the MV Alfred on 16 August 2025.
Answer
CalMac informed Transport Scotland of the incident, which is their contractual obligation. The Scottish Government has no role in discussing these matters with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
- Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 05 September 2025
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 8 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government when it last discussed the negotiations to bring Ardrossan harbour into public ownership with the board of Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd.
Answer
I meet regularly with CMAL CEO to receive updates and explore progress on a range of live projects. I last met with Kevin Hobbs on 27 August and status of the commercially sensitive negotiations around Ardrossan was discussed.
Updates to the NZET Committee and Ardrossan Task Force were provided on 1 September and I look forward to further updating Parliament in due course.
- Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 05 September 2025
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 8 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects discussions to begin between CalMac Ferries Ltd and the recognised trade unions regarding (a) commercial crewing levels and (b) route-specific sea trials for the MV (i) Isle of Islay, (ii) Glen Rosa, (iii) Loch Indaal, (iv) Lochmor and (v) Claymore.
Answer
Discussions have already taken place for the MV Isle of Islay in relation to commercial crewing levels in which trade unions, with the exception of RMT, have agreed the crew numbers.
A meeting will be scheduled by CalMac Ferries Ltd within the coming weeks with the RMT to continue discussions. This same approach will be taking forward for all new vessels entering service.
In regards to the route specific sea trials mentioned, CalMac have confirmed that once that vessel is under their operation, the vessel personnel will operate under the terms of their individual Seafarer Employment Agreements and Collective Agreements, which they do not envisage as needing to be re-negotiated.