- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 December 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 8 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the publication of the report, Dignity for Drivers, by ASLEF, what steps it is taking in Scotland to address the issue raised suggesting that there is a lack of satisfactory toilet facilities for train drivers.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-31539 on 6 December 2024. 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.
- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 December 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 8 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government when CalMac will begin the crew familiarisation process on the MV (a) Isle of Islay and (b)Loch Indaal.
Answer
CMAL is in constant dialogue with CalMac on the new vessels programme and the crew familiarisation process on the MV Isle of Islay and MV Loch Indaal will begin once the vessels have been transited from Türkiye to Scotland.
- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 December 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 8 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the publication of the report, Dignity for Drivers, by ASLEF, what impact the proposed reductions in ScotRail station ticket office opening hours will have on driver access to toilet facilities.
Answer
ScotRail stations will continue to offer access to Facilities and toilets used by the public and in most cases will remain open even when ticket offices are shut.
- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 December 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 8 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6T-02170 by Fiona Hyslop on 5 November 2024, what its response is to reported concerns that the "redeployment of some ScotRail staff to provide more and better assistance for passengers" and a reduction in ScotRail ticket office opening hours, might affect the (a) opening hours of waiting rooms and (b) access to toilet facilities in stations.
Answer
Whilst this is an operational matter for ScotRail, ScotRail has assured the Scottish Government that staffed stations will continue to offer access to assets as they do at present. Facilities and toilets used by the public in most cases will remain open even when ticket office desks are shut.
- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 December 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 8 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government when CMAL will take delivery of the MV (a) Isle of Islay and (b) Loch Indaal.
Answer
CMAL alongside the shipyard continue to work hard to ensure the delivery of these vessels. CMAL provided their regular update to the NZET committee on the vessel delivery on 18th December 2024 and expect to be able to provide assessment of delivery dates for MV Isle of Islay and MV Loch Indaal towards the end of January 2025, following the successful completion and presentation of the pre-sea trials commissioning and outfitting activities.
- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 December 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 8 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken across the rail network in Scotland to improve access to good quality toilet facilities for (a) drivers, (b) train crew, (c) track workers and (d) other staff.
Answer
The Scottish Government notes the report commissioned by ASLEF and its findings. Every worker should be able to work with dignity and this includes having an access to toilet facilities. The report findings are for train operating companies, as employers to consider.
- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 December 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 23 December 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what progress the Retail Industry Leadership Group has made on delivering its priority objectives, including a (a) Fair Work Agreement, (b) Just Transition Plan and (c) skills audit and action plan for the sector.
Answer
The priorities of the ILG will flex and take account of changing economic and policy circumstances, but will continue to develop actions in the Retail Strategy on:
(a) Fair Work -The Industry Leadership Group will take forward the action on Fair Work, working with members to produce a Fair Work document which will showcase good examples of Fair Work in the sector and contain useful resources for organisations, using the valuable insight gained from the Fair Work Working Group (FWWG).
(b) Just Transition - The ILG will work across industry to share expertise and promote best practice.
(c) Retail skills - An audit has been completed, and an action plan has been drafted, with priority areas identified. Discussions are currently taking place with Skills Development Scotland, Scottish Government Employability Division and other stakeholders, including Local Employability Partnerships, to implement and evaluate a pilot approach to developing a pipeline of trained, informed and motivated individuals to compete for available jobs in the retail sector.
- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 December 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 23 December 2024
To ask the Scottish Government how the terms of reference of the Retail Industry Leadership Group are being reviewed to better incorporate smaller businesses, and when any revised terms of reference will be published.
Answer
The Retail Industry Leadership Group, co-chaired by myself and Polly Jones, Senior Manager, Corporate Affairs, Asda, is in the process of finalising a refreshed Terms of Reference (ToR) to better reflect the ongoing work of the Group. All members have had the opportunity to provide their views on this process, including a discussion on the ToR at an ILG meeting on 06 November 2024. The revised ToR, which now includes a redrafted line highlighting that the Group will promote the interests of businesses in all their sizes and formats, is expected to be published on the ILG gov.scot page in early 2025.
- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 December 2024
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 18 December 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to increase active patient registrations with NHS dentists.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 18 December 2024
- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 22 November 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Kate Forbes on 4 December 2024
To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will reach a decision regarding extending the terms of reference for the inquiry into the death of Sheku Bayoh.
Answer
Following the Bayoh family’s request to extend the Inquiry’s Terms of Reference, the Government started the process of gathering views, including consulting with the Chair of the Inquiry.
All relevant matters will be given full and careful consideration in order for a decision to be made. This work is ongoing and a decision will be made as soon as possible.