Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-42308

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 22 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-41435 by Mairi McAllan on 18 November 2025, whether it will provide a list of those specific organisations that it (a) has met or consulted with (i) between 20 November 2024 and 16 January 2025 and (ii) since 17 January 2025 and (b) it plans to consult with in the development of the consultation on accommodation standards for caravans and mobile accommodation for seasonal workers.

As I stated in my previous answer to Question S6W-41435 from Ariane Burgess MSP, initial meetings with stakeholders took place between 20 November 2024 and 16 January 2025 including with local authorities, farmer representatives, farm employers and regulatory bodies. This was to help better understand the situation during the scoping work.

Further meetings will be held with the wider sector when officials are in a position to begin consultation.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

Question reference: S6W-41567

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 18 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding the number of older and vulnerable people who will have their insurance policies for funeral costs withdrawn as a result of the termination of the Family Protection Plan by C Mutual and Maiden Life Försäkrings from 30 November 2025.

We understand that around 4,900 individuals across 71 UK credit unions will lose cover without compensation. The impact in Scotland is estimated to be c1,400 individuals across 29 credit unions in Scotland. Some of those may be eligible for alternative policies on similar terms however individuals over 81 years of age, or with pre-existing medical conditions, may be unable to secure alternative cover and may have insufficient funds to pay for their funeral. The Scottish Government has engaged with the Financial Conduct Authority and impacted credit unions in Scotland to understand the implications of the withdrawal and the support being provided to current policyholders.

The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government and I met with Paul Sweeney MSP and a representative of impacted credit unions on Tuesday 18 November and I have continued to engage with the credit union to discuss this further.

The regulation of financial services is fully reserved; however, the Cabinet Secretary wrote to Lucy Rigby, the Economic Secretary to the Treasury on 21 November to ask her to consider the requests of the coalition of Scottish Credit Unions with an offer to meet to discuss this issue.

We stand ready to work with the UK Government to avoid some of our most vulnerable people from being forced into funeral poverty or having to resort to debt to enable them and their families to have peace of mind at the end of their life.

Question reference: S6O-05324

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 December 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether regional news serves an important function in a democracy.

Question reference: S6W-42309

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 17 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-41436 by Mairi McAllan on 19 November 2025, whether it will consider introducing a relationship between the charge levied by the employer for accommodation and the accommodation offset rate when it introduces bespoke statutory accommodation standards.

Question reference: S6W-42394

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 16 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Islands Connectivity Plan’s Community Needs Assessment methodology recognising the importance of workforce issues, including crewing levels, seafarers hours of work, seafarer certification, seafarer accommodation, operating conditions, vessel type and vessel design, in the route specific provision of lifeline ferry services, what formal role (a) ferry staff and (b) recognised trade unions will have in the Community Needs Assessment of lifeline ferry services envisaged in the plan.

The Community Needs Assessment (CNA) methodology recognises how crewing levels, working hours and crew location influence service design. For each assessment, the relevant operator will be asked to check that crewing information used to inform an understanding of current service delivery on each route is accurate. Equally, for the generation and appraisal of options to address identified transport connectivity needs, the methodology recognises the importance of ensuring that these are deliverable, including the impact on personnel of options that would mean a change in the route service level. At appropriate stages in the assessment, further input and validation from the operator, including from crew, port staff and their representatives, will be needed to ensure that the outputs from the assessments are based on a full understanding of how the services are delivered and the operational impact of any changes.

For example, for the Cowal Community Needs Assessment published in September 2024, crew and trade unions were briefed on the future options for Gourock-Dunoon ferry services and fed back on the report before decisions were made on implementation. Crew were then instrumental in supporting the development of new draft timetables to meet the requirements of the CNA prior to consultation on those with the community.

Question reference: S6W-42395

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 12 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recommendations in the recent report by Glasgow University’s Adam Smith Business School on behalf of the Economic and Social Research Council, A Stakeholder Model of Public Ferry Service Provision.

We note the report and that many of themes explored align well with themes identified in the recently published Islands Connectivity Plan.

Regarding the governance recommendation Scottish Ministers have not taken any decisions at this stage on potential further reforms to the governance of Scotland’s ferry bodies. Work to consider all available options is ongoing, and no approach has been ruled out.

We recognise the importance of clear communication, particularly during times of disruption. As part of the CHFS3 grant agreement, CalMac will be preparing a Customer service and accessibility plan and a disruption management plan to consider these matters further.

We also recognise the importance of consultation highlighted in the report and agree that it is vital to hear from a wide range of voices. Ministers, Transport Scotland officials, CalMac and CMAL will continue to engage with island communities, businesses, staff, trades unions and wider stakeholders across the network on new policy, timetables and projects to fully understand the wider range of challenges and opportunities as we invest to sustain and enhance services.

Question reference: S6W-42396

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 12 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on planned reforms to the governance of ferry services provided by CalMac under the Clyde and Hebrides (Third Generation) contract, which commenced on 1 October 2025.

Regarding the governance recommendation Scottish Ministers have not taken any decisions at this stage on potential further reforms to the governance of Scotland’s ferry bodies. Work to consider all available options is ongoing, and no approach has been ruled out.

The immediate priority is the successful delivery of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS3) contract, which commenced on 1 October 2025, and the introduction of six new major vessels into service. These measures are essential to strengthening resilience and improving the reliability of services for island communities.

Question reference: S6O-05308

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 December 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to address the issue of assaults against transport workers.

Question reference: S6O-05272

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 December 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what communication the finance secretary has had with the UK Government and the Financial Conduct Authority regarding what support is available for policyholders impacted by the withdrawal of the Family Protection Plan by CMutual and Maiden Life Försäkrings.

Question reference: S6W-41690

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 18 November 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many inspections at farms have been carried out by its Agriculture Wages Inspection Team since 1 January 2025, broken down by (a) how many were as a result of a complaint received by a third party and (b) what proportion related to people holding a Seasonal Worker Visa, and what information it has regarding what the subsequent (i) outcomes and (ii) actions taken by the Inspection Team have been.

(A) Since 1 January 2025, Agricultural Wages Inspectors (AWIs), acting on behalf of the Agricultural Wages Enforcement Team (AWET), have conducted a total of 70 on-farm inspections. Of these, 64 were Control Test Inspections (CTIs)—routine spot checks—and 6 were complaint-based inspections initiated by workers submitting formal complaints regarding pay and working conditions under the Agricultural Wages (Scotland) Order (“The Order”). Further inspections in 2025 are scheduled to take place.

The inspection year runs from 1 April to 31 March.

(B) AWIs carry out inspections at employers’ premises throughout the year. Complaint inspections are prompted by individual workers completing and submitting complaint forms to the AWET, detailing concerns about wages or working conditions. Workers who believe their employment terms do not comply with The Order are encouraged to contact AWET and complete a complaint form to enable investigation. We cannot undertake a compliant inspection based on assumptions from a third party as we need access to the worker’s payslips and time records, however, where we are notified of a suspected concern by a third party, we will endeavour to schedule a future CTI, and three such inspections are in train for 2025.

Since January 2025, AWIs have interviewed 206 workers during inspections. This total includes:

3 workers on the Seasonal Worker Visa scheme

4 workers on three-year Skilled Worker visas

1 seasonally contracted worker with EU Settled Status

Regarding (i) & (ii) inspections outcomes involving seasonal workers are ongoing. Where issues of non-compliance are identified, these will be raised with the employers for rectification. Should employers fail to address the concerns, enforcement notices will be issued in accordance with the provisions of The Order.

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