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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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S6W-01649

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 July 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 16 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government which company employs the crew of the MV Arrow during CalMac Ferries' time charter of the vessel on the Ullapool-Stornoway route.

Question reference: S6W-01650

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 July 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 16 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it had with CalMac Ferries regarding the employment conditions applicable to the time charter of the MV Arrow.

Question reference: S6W-01418

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 July 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 9 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-00828 by Graeme Dey on 7 July 2021, what impact the UK Government’s proposals for (a) subsidy control mechanisms and (b) competition law might have on the work to make the Road Equivalent Tariff subsidy available to Pentland Ferries’ private routes across the Pentland Firth.

The Scottish Government continues to work under the interim Subsidy Control regime introduced by the UK Government on 1 January 2021 and provisions held within the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. Alongside this, consideration has to be given to any further UK Subsidy Control obligations such as World Trade Organisation membership and commitments arising from international treaties and Fair Trade Agreements to which the United Kingdom is a party.

The UK Government introduced a Bill on Subsidy Control to Parliament on 30 June 2021 with a view to implementation of a permanent Subsidy Control regime.

Officials will continue to diligently work through the UK Government’s proposals to understand the impact on subsidies, including on ferry services.

Question reference: S6W-01545

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 July 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 6 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it expects the MV Coruisk to re-enter service on the Clyde and Hebrides ferry network.

Question reference: S6W-01544

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 July 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 6 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact that COVID-19 has had on the (a) number and (b) type of vehicles carried by the CalMac fleet.

Question reference: S6W-01202

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Monday, 12 July 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 6 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-00821 by Graeme Dey on 28 June 2021, how many shipbrokers have been employed by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) in each year since 2010-11.

CMAL are regularly contacted by 7 core shipbrokers who bring to their attention vessels that may be suitable for Scottish routes. This is due to the international standard that the broker takes a fee from the seller should a vessel be purchased.

CMAL have frequent and regular engagement with 7 core shipbrokers who assist with the identification of vessels that may be suitable for Scottish ferry routes.

Question reference: S6W-01197

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Monday, 12 July 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 6 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-00821 by Graeme Dey on 28 June 2021, (a) who the owner and (b) what the specification is of each of vessel that Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) has assessed.

When considering a vessel, CMAL review a number of elements to assess suitability for Scottish ferry routes including vessel dimensions, speed and displacement, as well as the vehicle deck garage heights, loading system (ramps), shore side interfaces, compliance with the Maritime Coastguard Agency Regulations and the vessel’s suitability for Scottish waters.

CMAL do not disclose the names of either the vessels it assesses or their ownership. This is due to the possible impact upon the market value of the vessel should it become apparent that a government body is considering their purchase, which could result in the price going up and making it harder to achieve Value for Money for the Scottish tax payer.

Question reference: S6W-01543

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 July 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 6 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Seatruck Ferries regarding the time charter of additional tonnage for the Clyde and Hebrides ferry network, and whether it raised (a) trade union recognition and (b) collective bargaining agreements between CalMac and recognised trade unions during any such discussions.

Question reference: S6W-01542

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 July 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 6 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the news release issued by CalMac Ferries on 24 August 2020, at which location dry dock maintenance work was carried out on each ferry, and how much of CalMac's expenditure was spent on procuring this work on each vessel.

The yards which CalMac Ferries Ltd use to undertake dry dock maintenance work for the vessels in the fleet is an operational matter for them to determine.

CalMac Ferries Ltd procure their contracts in a fair and open competition manner, allowing an award to the bidder that offers the best value for money. CalMac Ferries Ltd publish details pertaining to the contracts on the Public Contracts Scotland website.

CalMac Ferries Ltd awarded contracts to Cammell Laird Shiprepairers & Shipbuilders Ltd, Dales Marine Services and Ardmaleish Boatbuilding Co Ltd.

Contract details are available by following the links: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=DEC401718 and https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=DEC401701 .

Question reference: S6W-01441

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 July 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 6 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government for what reasons the Prior Information Notice for the ScotRail franchise anticipates a core Operator of Last Resort period of three to five years, and not the maximum, 10.

The Prior Information Notice (PIN) referred to confirmed Ministers’ intention for Scotrail services to be delivered through a wholly owned company of the Scottish Ministers in terms of the Operator of Last Resort following expiry of the current ScotRail Franchise Agreement.

It is intended that Operator of Last Resort arrangements will provide a period of stability for passengers and staff while we assess the scale and pace of recovery from Covid 19 and future rail reform.

As the PIN was published on 31 March 2021, almost 2 months ahead of the UK Government’s delayed White Paper on Rail, there was considerable uncertainty around reform at the time. Accordingly, through the PIN, Ministers reserved the right to put OLR arrangements in place as appropriate, up to the maximum period of 10 years. It also indicated the envisaged direct award at that point was for a period of 3-5 years with any optional additional period(s) exercisable at the sole discretion of Ministers.

Although the White Paper has now been published, we are pressing the UK Government for further clarity on how their proposals, and timescales for implementation of future rail reform, will impact our aspirations for Scotland’s railways. This will help inform future decisions about the duration of the OLR arrangements, subject to the 10 year maximum referred to in the PIN.