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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: S5O-01531

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 November 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to recruit and retain GPs in NHS Ayrshire and Arran.

Question reference: S5W-12374

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 20 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many ferries were delayed due to (a) fog and (b) wind in winter 2016-17, and how the number of delays due to technical issues in that period compared with those arising from the weather conditions.

Our ferry Public Service Contracts recognise that there are certain events which are not within the control of the operator, where it would be unreasonable to apply performance deductions to the operator. This is termed a “Relief Event”, and includes sailings cancelled or delayed due to bad weather in line with safety procedures, delays due to unavailability or operational restrictions of harbour facilities. It is recorded where a sailing has been delayed due to inclement weather but the specific element(s), for example a) fog or b) wind, of inclement weather involved are not detailed.

Total weather related delays for winter 2016-17 (24 October 2016 to 30 March 2017 inclusive) are detailed below;

CalMac Ferries Ltd – 450 or 0.94% of scheduled sailings.
Serco NorthLink Ferries – 99 or 11.20% of scheduled sailings.
Argyll Ferries Ltd – 7 or 0.08% of scheduled sailings.*

Total technical delays for winter 2016/17 (24 October 2016 to 30 March 2017 inclusive) are as follows;

Calmac Ferries Ltd – 72 or 0.15% of scheduled sailings.
Serco NorthLink Ferries – 2 or 0.23% of scheduled sailings.
Argyll Ferries Ltd – 20 or 0.24% of scheduled sailings.*

*The low percentage of weather and technical delays can be attributed to the Scottish Ministers decision to deploy the MV Coruisk on the route over the winter period.

Question reference: S5W-12460

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 03 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 17 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what funding it has allocated to (a) increasing the number of and (b) maintaining electric vehicle charging points.

Question reference: S5W-12427

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 15 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the findings of the Audit Scotland report, Transport Scotland’s ferry services, whether it will provide a breakdown of the difference between the original contracted non-fuel subsidy payments and the actual non-fuel subsidy payments for each contract year.

The following table details both the original contracted non-fuel subsidy payment and the actual non-fuel subsidy payments from Contract Year 1 to Contract Year 6 of the Public Service Contract between the Scottish Ministers and Argyll Ferries Ltd.

	Original Contracted Non-fuel Subsidy	Actual Non-fuel Subsidy
Contract Year 1	£1,358,199	£1,307,617
Contract Year 2	£1,215,330	£1,289,846
Contract Year 3	£1,417,344	£2,858,961
Contract Year 4	£1,427,512	£3,145,458
Contract Year 5	£1,428,332	£2,907,842
Contract Year 6	£1,473,386	Not received

There are a variety of reasons that contribute to differences between the initial contracted subsidy amount and the actual subsidy amount. One reason arising is that during the lifetime of the contract, maintenance and fuel costs have increased. Another reason being contract variations implemented, such as the charter of the MV Coruisk to improve winter reliability and the related replacement bus service. The details of these costs and their variances from original contracted subsidy are commercially sensitive to the operator.

Question reference: S5W-12428

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 15 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the findings of the Audit Scotland report, Transport Scotland’s ferry services, what its position is on whether the Gourock-Dunoon service’s cost-to-subsidy ratio illustrates that the service level is excessive and inappropriate in respect to the needs of the community.

The Gourock to Dunoon ferry service provides a vital transport link for foot passengers between Dunoon town centre harbour and the rail head at Gourock harbour. The public service obligation is set by the Scottish Ministers and the need for the service is defined by the impact it has on the wider economic and social sustainability of the community served. In its 2009 Decision on Scottish Ferry Services, the European Commission concluded that there is a sound economic and social justification for public support of a passenger service on this route.

Question reference: S5W-12430

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 15 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the findings of the Audit Scotland report, Transport Scotland’s ferry services, what its position is on whether the requirement to provide an additional vessel on the Gourock-Dunoon route over winter indicates that the vessels on the route are inappropriate.

Due to significant weather disruption during winter 2011-12 and particularly, winter 2012-13, the Scottish Ministers took the decision to deploy the MV Coruisk on the Gourock to Dunoon route in passenger mode only to improve the resilience of the service.

Argyll Ferries Ltd charter the MV Coruisk from the CalMac fleet at a time when she would otherwise be surplus to requirements. This reduces the net cost to Transport Scotland and provides more effective value for money.

Scotland have reported on the MV Coruisk’s deployment every winter period. Statistical information on her service and resilience operations on the route can be found on Transport Scotland’s website at the following link.

https://www.transport.gov.scot/publication/reports-on-the-deployment-of-the-mv-coruisk/

Question reference: S5W-12429

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 15 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the findings of the Audit Scotland report, Transport Scotland’s ferry services, whether it is aware of any issues that have arisen regarding officials’ training and experience in respect of the Gourock-Dunoon tender process.

Question reference: S5W-12462

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 03 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 15 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what funding it has allocated to encourage electric vehicle usage.

Question reference: S5W-12461

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 03 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 15 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how it encourages electric car usage, particularly in rural areas.

We allocate funding to a range of initiatives to encourage electric car and van usage. Funding is provided to all 32 local authorities, distributed according to formulae approved by COSLA. Also all consumer and commercial incentives are available nationwide.

A more detailed update is available in ‘Switched On Scotland Phase Two: An Action Plan For Growth’ which is available at https://www.transport.gov.scot/publication/switched-on-scotland-phase-two-an-action-plan-for-growth/

Phasing out the need for new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2032 is a vision for all of Scotland rural, island, urban for individuals and businesses to reap the benefits of this cleaner greener future.

Question reference: S5W-12372

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 15 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making with its plans to develop nationwide segregated walking and cycling routes, including those not just on newly-built roads, and how much is being allocated from its active transport budget towards this.

I announced in September that £22.5 million will be invested in 5 projects from now until 2022, as part of the Community Links PLUS programme. There will be 2 projects delivered in Edinburgh and one each in Glasgow, Inverness and Stirling. In addition, the winner of the first round of Community Links PLUS, Glasgow City Council, will receive £3.25 million. This Scottish Government investment will attract 50% match funding from the local authorities involved. A third round of CL PLUS will be announced shortly, which will again allocate funding for segregation and public realm improvements to encourage walking and cycling.

As part of the dualling plans for trunk roads, non motorised user groups are looking at preferred routes and public consultation for these routes is currently underway.

Discussions are on-going with all stakeholders about how the £80 million record funding for active travel will be allocated and announcements will be made in due course as part of the Budget Bill process.