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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: S6W-00997

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 June 2021
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Tom Arthur on 24 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take in light of the UK Government’s announcement that it would rule out COVID-19 appeals on non-domestic properties on 25 March 2021, and introduce a £1.5 billion discretionary relief scheme, in England.

On 25 March 2021 the UK Government committed to ruling out COVID-19 appeals on non-domestic properties in England. It concurrently announced a new Business Rates relief fund of £1.5 billion for businesses affected by COVID-19 outside the retail, hospitality, and leisure sectors.

We anticipate that this will result in consequential funding for the Scottish Government, but at this point we are still waiting for confirmation of when this will be received. Once that confirmation is provided, we remain committed to passing on all business support consequentials through a tailored package of measures for Scottish business during the recovery period.

In the interim, we agree in principle with the UK Government that market-wide economic changes to rateable values, such as from COVID-19, should be only considered at revaluation to ensure fairness to all ratepayers; and that it is not appropriate to use the material change of circumstances provisions in the non-domestic rates legislation in relation to COVID-19, or COVID-19 restrictions.

The Scottish Government can therefore confirm its intention to also take measures to rule out COVID-19 appeals, whilst continuing to ensure that we best support the most affected businesses and sectors in the recovery period. We will set out our legislative plans after the summer.

Question reference: S6W-00613

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 24 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to update the guidance for seating at weddings to take account of the indoor hospitality numbers at COVID-19 protection levels 1 and 0.

Question reference: S6W-00942

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 21 June 2021
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 21 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its response to the three “harassment” reports that were published in March.

Question reference: S6W-00430

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 16 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what lessons will be learned from the incident over the weekend of 29 May 2021, which saw 17 lorries left behind in Stornoway due to a shortage of freight capacity.

Since becoming Minister for Transport, I have prioritised issues on our ferry networks. I have met with senior CalMac representatives to provide support and with local MSPs (25 May) to hear their concerns. I have agreed to continue with regular dialogue given the importance of the issue.

Following these discussions and in light of the recent issues with the MV Loch Seaforth, funding has now been agreed which will allow officials to work with CalMac Ferries Ltd to implement the process of chartering the MV Pentalina. Berthing trials are happening this week to assess the suitability of the vessel across the network.

In relation to the issue with the MV Hebridean Isles, I understand all goods were shipped early Saturday morning and the remainder later that afternoon (29 May 2021) on the MV Isle of Lewis.

Question reference: S6O-00044

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 June 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve support for victims of crime.

Question reference: S6T-00001

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 May 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 May 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the ongoing disruption to lifeline ferry routes served by CalMac.

Question reference: S5W-36078

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 March 2021
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 22 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress in delivering the National Islands Plan.

One of the first provisions introduced by the ground-breaking Island (Scotland) Act 2018 was a duty on Scottish Ministers to prepare a National Islands Plan. From April to July 2019, we consulted widely on what was important to our island communities. The result of this consultation, was the publication of the National Islands Plan in December 2019.

I am proud to say that the Scottish Government’s first Annual Report of the National Islands Plan has been laid in Parliament today. The production of this report marks a key milestone in the implementation of the National Islands Plan. I am heartened to see progress being made despite the difficulties posed by the unprecedented events of 2020.

During the pandemic, we had to re-prioritise our efforts to support our island communities. This has had a direct impact on the implementation of the Plan itself, and as such many of the previously envisaged timescales have been extended. However, despite this, I am pleased to tell you that progress has still been made towards the majority of the commitments in the National Islands Plan.

Aligned to the National Islands Plan and as required by the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018, we also introduced new regulations that brought the need to conduct Island Communities Impact Assessments into force in December 2020. We look forward to continuing to support the relevant authorities and our island communities to ensure that these assessments promote island proofing across the board.

Question reference: S5O-05160

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 March 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent supporting communities affected by COVID-19 in the last year.

Question reference: S5F-04912

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 15 March 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 March 2021

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is regarding the impact on Scotland of reported figures indicating that the barriers and uncertainty created by Brexit have had an impact on commercial activity between the UK and Europe.

Question reference: S5W-36024

Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 March 2021
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 15 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when the Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) Evaluation Report will be published, and how Scottish Ministers plan to utilise the findings of the Evaluation to inform the Scottish Government’s future ferry fares policy.

The Ferries Plan 2013-2022, published in 2012, committed to rolling out RET on the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS) network within the term of that Parliament.

Reports evaluating the impact of RET for each of the pilots from 2008 to 2014 are available on the Transport Scotland website, and today I confirm the publication of the latest evaluation report in this series, which Transport Scotland commissioned Peter Brett Associates LLP, now part of Stantec, and ProVersa Ltd, to provide, with a focus on the ‘2015 routes’ where RET was implemented.

RET has delivered significant ferry fare reductions to the Clyde and Hebrides, leading to a welcome boost in carryings which, in turn, supports our island and remote communities. Its success can be measured in terms of how RET has contributed towards its original investment objectives which were to:

• increase demand for ferry services by making ferry travel more affordable and

accessible;

• increase tourism and supporting existing tourism markets; and

• enhance local economies and the wider national economy.

The Evaluation reports on a broad consensus that RET has been a good thing for island communities, providing a strong fit with the emerging policy context, and in particular objectives related to economic development, social inclusion and inclusive growth.

This report will inform the upcoming fares review being conducted as part of the forthcoming Islands Connectivity Plan (ICP) that will be set in the context of the National Transport Strategy 2 and the National Islands Plan.

When we published the current Ferries Plan, which the Islands Connectivity Plan will replace, we were clear that RET fares were not a panacea. This Evaluation Report sets in context some of the negative consequences in some communities of cheaper travel and resulting impacts on ferry services and infrastructure. This Report will provide an invaluable resource as we look to the future of ferry services, and to ensure that any decisions taken on this aspect of policy have a firm evidence base.

Finally, Ministers remain committed to reducing ferry fares on services to the Northern Isles. In this regard, work has resumed on consideration of potential mechanisms for reducing ferry fares on services across the Pentland Firth. The impacts of Brexit, and in particular the ongoing consultation by the UK Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on subsidy control mechanisms that replace State Aid regulations, post-Brexit, have further complicated this work and our own policy development on this issue is at an early stage as a consequence.