- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 April 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 13 May 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether any higher education institution has sought its advice, or approval, before entering into partnerships with Chinese organisations engaged in defence, surveillance, or dual-use technology research.
Answer
Scottish higher education institutions are autonomous bodies, and any partnerships they enter are a matter for them and their governing bodies.
The Scottish Government expects Scottish universities to carefully consider and manage the reputational, ethical and security risks associated with any partnerships within global academic networks engaged in defence, surveillance, or dual-use technology research. This includes conducting due diligence, taking into account key sector guidance, and remaining compliant with relevant legal requirements, such as the National Security Act 2023 and National Security and Investment Act 2021.
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 April 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Fairlie on 13 May 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether Aberdeen City Council remains in compliance with conditions attached to Scottish Government grant funding for the hydrogen-bus project, and what action it can take in the event of non-compliance.
Answer
All Scottish Government grants are managed in line with the terms of the relevant grant offer letter and the Scottish Public Finance Manual.
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 April 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 13 May 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, since the MV Glen Sannox entered operational service, what information it has on the (a) total volume of (i) marine diesel and (ii) liquefied natural gas consumed and (b) number of road-tanker deliveries of liquefied natural gas made to the vessel in that period.
Answer
MV Glen Sannox has consumed 683m3 of marine diesel and 369 metric tonnes of LNG (Liquified Natural Gas) since she entered service. This has involved sixteen separate LNG deliveries by road tankers.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 28 April 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 13 May 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of all leases that are currently held by the Scottish public sector, broken down by (a) cost and (b) department or agency.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold information on all public sector leases centrally. The following table shows all current Scottish Government leased properties and the cost of each lease.
Property | Total lease cost | Department |
10 Commerce Street (Fraserburgh Fishery Office) | £14,674.00 | Scottish Government |
28 Cunzie Street (Anstruther Fishery Office) | £12,223.00 | Scottish Government |
40 Hall Street (Campbeltown Fishery Office) | £8,839.00 | Scottish Government |
5 Atlantic Quay | £543,546.00 | Scottish Government |
7 Ferry Terminal Building (Kirkwall Fishery Office) | £2,500.00 | Scottish Government |
AB1 Building | £49,607.00 | Scottish Government |
Alexander Fleming House | £48,559.00 | Scottish Government |
Alexandra Buildings (Lerwick Fishery Office) | £26,392.00 | Scottish Government |
Bothwell House (Ground and First Floors) | £23,165.00 | Scottish Government |
Brooms Road - Dumfries | £259,827.00 | Scottish Government |
Bute House | £87,500.00 | Scottish Government |
Bute House Car Park | £8,250.00 | Scottish Government |
Caley Building (Peterhead Fishery Office) | £24,688.00 | Scottish Government |
Charlotte House | £83,645.00 | Scottish Government |
Compass House | £45,634.00 | Scottish Government |
Culag Pier (Lochinver Fishery Office) | £7,502.00 | Scottish Government |
Custom House (Stornoway Fishery Office) | £18,817.00 | Scottish Government |
Denholm House | £107,818.00 | Scottish Government |
Fishmarket Building (Eyemouth Fishery Office) | £10,688.00 | Scottish Government |
Garage No.2 Lockup, North St, Fraserburgh | £15,260.00 | Scottish Government |
Hadrian House | £96,061.00 | Scottish Government |
Harbour Buildings (Mallaig Fishery Office) | £4,037.00 | Scottish Government |
Inchbraoch House | £5,983.00 | Scottish Government |
James Street | £503.00 | Scottish Government |
Kinlochbervie Fishery Office - Number 7 | £2,609.00 | Scottish Government |
Ocean Trade Centre | £141,572.00 | Scottish Government |
Office at Tarbert Fish Market | £788.00 | Scottish Government |
Russell House | £285,238.00 | Scottish Government |
Kinlochbervie Fishery Office - Number 5 | £1,400.00 | Scottish Government |
Saughton House - land | £160,000.00 | Scottish Government |
Scotland House - Brussels | £373,930.00 | Scottish Government |
Scotland House - London | £439,230.00 | Scottish Government |
St Ola House (Scrabster Fishery Office) | £20,000.00 | Scottish Government |
Strathearn House | £393,722.00 | Scottish Government |
The Douglas Centre (Buckie Fishery Office) | £5,767.00 | Scottish Government |
The Island Centre, Crossapol | £6,300.00 | Scottish Government |
The Links, Golspie | £16,845.00 | Scottish Government |
The Zoology Building | £162,441.00 | Scottish Government |
Unit 4, Seagate, Peterhead | £5,946.00 | Scottish Government |
Unit 4B Kinlochleven Business Park | £5,416.00 | Scottish Government |
Unit 5, Old Quay - Campbeltown | £1,000.00 | Scottish Government |
West Shore Street (Ullapool Fishery Office) | £6,750.00 | Scottish Government |
- Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 April 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Kaukab Stewart on 13 May 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-36216 by Kaukab Stewart on 17 April 2025, and in light of the UK Supreme Court ruling regarding For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers, whether it will provide an update on whether it will ensure that, whenever sex is recorded, it is made clear whether this refers simply to sex, or to a person's "legal sex" based on a Gender Recognition Certificate.
Answer
Work has already begun across the Scottish Government to consider the implications of the Supreme Court judgment. While we await the updated Code of Practice from the Equality and Human Rights Commission, the Permanent Secretary has convened a Short Life Working Group (SLWG), at the request of Scottish Ministers.
The SLWG is considering the implications of the Supreme Court judgment in areas such as legislation, guidance and funding. The SLWG has already met and consists of senior civil servants across the Scottish Government.
The outputs of the SLWG, along with the updated EHRC Code of Practice, will inform our next steps in determining updates to relevant guidance affected by the Supreme Court judgment.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 April 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Kaukab Stewart on 13 May 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the Supreme Court’s
unanimous decision on the definition of “woman” in the Equality Act 2010 is
final and binding.
Answer
The Scottish Government has made clear that it accepts the judgment of the Supreme Court.
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 April 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 13 May 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to (a) monitor and (b) publish data on the (i) actual volumes of marine diesel and liquefied natural gas consumed by the MV Glen Sannox once it is in service and (ii) associated fuel-related greenhouse gas emissions.
Answer
Under the CHFS (Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service) contract, the Scottish Government monitors fuel consumption by all vessels operating on the CalMac network. However, there are no plans to publish this data at present.
The Scottish Government does not monitor or publish greenhouse gas emissions produced by, or associated with, vessels operating on the CalMac network. However, CalMac have a reporting requirement under UK MRV (Monitoring, Reporting and Verification) regulations on total carbon emissions for all vessels in their fleet over 5,000 GT (Gross Tonnage).
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 April 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 13 May 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will issue guidance to universities and research institutions regarding collaboration with Chinese entities that UK intelligence agencies have deemed a security risk.
Answer
The Scottish Government has no plans to issue additional guidance for universities and research institutions regarding collaboration with Chinese entities that UK intelligence agencies have deemed a security risk.
Universities are autonomous institutions and are responsible for ensuring their alliances and partnerships are safe and appropriate. Ministers expect all institutions to understand and manage the risks associated with international partnerships and conduct appropriate due diligence.
Whilst national security is reserved to the UK Government, we expect universities to comply with relevant legal requirements, including the National Security Act 2023, and National Security and Investment Act 2021. We also expect our universities to carefully consider advice and existing guidance from bodies such as Universities UK, and the UK Government’s Research Collaboration Advice Team, to support them in managing risks of international partnerships.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 April 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 13 May 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what due diligence requirements are in place for Scottish universities entering into, or renewing, international research agreements, particularly with institutions linked to states designated as strategic competitors or hostile by the UK Government.
Answer
Although universities are autonomous institutions, we expect them to be conducting due diligence on international research agreements - including complying with relevant legal requirements already in place and carefully considering guidance published by Universities UK, and the UK Government’s Research Collaboration Advice Team, to support them in managing risks of international partnerships.
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 April 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 13 May 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the greenhouse gas emissions attributable to transporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) by road to the bunkering point for the MV Glen Sannox, including (a) the total CO2-equivalent emissions per tonne of LNG transported and (b) a comparison with the emissions profile of delivering an equivalent energy quantity of marine diesel.
Answer
In 2014, Transport Scotland, supported by Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd and CalMac Ferries Ltd (CFL), set out the case to procure two new dual-fuel vessels for the Clyde and Hebrides ferry network which included analysis of fuel emissions and estimated operating costs. In November 2023, Transport Scotland requested a report from CFL on expected carbon emissions relating to Liquified Natural Gas, including end-to-end transportation. CFL completed a detailed assessment and provided their findings to Transport Scotland in a report in January 2024. This report has been released and is available on the Scottish Government website via the following link:
https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/foi-eir-release/2024/06/foi-202400412376/documents/eir-202400412376---information-released---annex-a---c/eir-202400412376---information-released---annex-a---c/govscot%3Adocument/EIR%2B202400412376%2B-%2BInformation%2Breleased%2B-%2BAnnex%2BA%2B-%2BC.pdf
CFL have set out a range of activities and actions around fuel use and emissions monitoring in their 2024 – 2027 Environmental Plan and we will continue to work with them to reduce carbon emissions and improve environmental sustainability of ferry operations in the coming years.
