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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: S4W-08181

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 22 June 2012
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 2 July 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the implementation of a Scotland-wide bus survey that would make it possible to compare performance by area and by bus operator.

Question reference: S4W-08186

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 22 June 2012
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 2 July 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive how many bus punctuality improvement partnerships are in operation and what assessment of their impact is being undertaken.

Question reference: S4W-08153

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 June 2012
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 2 July 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the terms of the regulations laid before the UK Parliament in June 2012 in relation to the (a) Green Deal, (b) Energy Company Obligation and (c) Renewable Heat Incentive and what impact they will have in Scotland.

In relation to the Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation, the Scottish Government is content with the regulations and consented to them being laid before the UK Parliament.

In terms of the regulation relating to the Renewable Heat Incentive, we remain concerned about the impact this will have on investment in the sector at such a critical time. We feel that it is important to provide certainty and confidence and this action will only add to the uncertainty.

In the Scottish Government’s response to the consultation, we told the UK Government it was our belief that the measures set out were misguided and unnecessary and, while we do not agree that this measure is required, we understand the UK Government’s reasons for introducing a change, and they have acknowledged and are aware of the risks associated with their actions.

We are very supportive of appropriate fiscal measures that will help protect the credibility of the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme and we continue to work with the UK Government as they develop longer term proposals.

Question reference: S4W-08185

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 22 June 2012
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 2 July 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive whether bus operators are required to provide punctuality data to it or any of its statutory bodies.

Question reference: S4W-08184

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 22 June 2012
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 2 July 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the work of enforcement examiners will be involved with bus punctuality assessment.

Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) examiners involved in bus punctuality improvement will, as part of their duties, assess the suitability of systems for monitoring and improving punctuality that operators have in place. This work is considered to form around 20-25% of their normal duties. When required they may also carry out specific assessment of punctuality as part of a wider investigation.

Question reference: S4W-08138

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 June 2012
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 29 June 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-07040 by Keith Brown on 11 May 2012, which ferry routes are served by the six vessels leased by the public sector from the private sector and what the (a) leasing, (b) maintenance and (c) other costs have been in each year of each contract.

The ferry routes served by vessels leased or chartered by the public sector from the private sector are as follows:

Northlink Ferries Ltd

The MV Hjaltland and the MV Hrossey operate between Aberdeen and Kirkwall / Lerwick, with the MV Hamnavoe operating between Stromness and Scrabster.

The MV Helliar and the MV Hildasay are freight-only vessels and operate between Aberdeen, Lerwick and Kirkwall.

CalMac Ferries Ltd

The MV Muirneag operates a freight service between Stornoway and Ullapool.

In terms of costs:-

(a) The costs of leasing or chartering these vessels are covered by confidentiality agreements between their owners and the ferry operators.

(b) The following table sets out the maintenance costs of MV Hrossey, MV Hjaltland and MV Hamnavoe since the current contract with Northlink Ferries Ltd commenced in October 2006.


Vessel Maintenance	Hrossey	Hjaltland	Hamnavoe	Total
July - June (£000)
2006-07	445	505	373	1,323
2007-08	398	524	354	1,276
2008-09	407	545	262	1,214
2009-10	574	548	520	1,642
2010-11	687	873	289	1,849

Notes:

The twelve month information runs from July to June.

The information relates to vessel maintenance costs. It does not include any overhaul costs.

MV Helliar, MV Hildasay and MV Muirneag are chartered and the owners are responsible for maintenance costs.

(c) The following table sets out the other costs of MV Hrossey, MV Hjaltland and MV Hamnavoe since the current contract with Northlink Ferries Ltd commenced in October 2006.

Annual Overhaul Refit/Dry Dock costs	Hrossey	Hjaltland	Hamnavoe	Total
July - June (£000)
2006-07	148	174	151	473
2007-08	70	73	218	361
2008-09	640	673	62	1,375
2009-10	272	266	281	819
2010-11	309	392	74	775

Notes:

The 12 month information runs from July to June.

The information relates to costs arising from the annual overhaul period.

MV Helliar, MV Hildasay and MV Muirneag are chartered and the owners are responsible for overhaul costs.

Question reference: S4W-08139

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 June 2012
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 29 June 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-07040 by Keith Brown on 11 May 2012, how many of the vessels will need to be replaced in the next (a) six and (b) 12 years and what the estimated cost of a new vessel is in each case.

Question reference: S4O-01215

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 June 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 June 2012

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what it is doing to promote the availability in the building of beer brewed in Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-07618

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 31 May 2012
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 19 June 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-07396 by Alex Neil on 30 May 2012, when it will provide a substantive response.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on individual contracts centrally over this period.

Monthly details of individual items of expenditure over £25,000 since 2010 are published at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/expenditure.

Details of individual public contracts awarded can be accessed through Public Contracts Scotland using the guidance available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/Procurement/directory.

Question reference: S4O-01127

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 June 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 June 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Renewable Energy Investment Fund will be open for bids from community bodies.