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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: S5W-13097

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 04 December 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 13 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-11608 by Humza Yousaf on 7 November 2017, for what reason the review has proved to be complex; what the technical points that have to be addressed are; what the anomalies within the existing fares structure were, and by what date it will publish the result of the review.

The existing ferry freight fares structure is extremely complex, with differences in, for example, rates per mile, categories of freight, rules of carriage and discounts, across the various ferry networks.

Much work has been done to assess the existing freight fares structure , generate options for a future structure, and assess the impacts of any potential changes.

The Freight Fares Review Working Group agreed on a preferred freight fares structure, which is on a cost neutral basis, at a meeting in March 2017. Since then, officials have been conducting further analysis to assess the impact of any potential changes, with regular discussions with Ministers.

Further details will be made available once conclusions have been reached and decisions made.

Question reference: S5W-13087

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 13 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-12548 by Humza Yousaf on 15 November 2017, what steps it is taking to ensure that appropriate cover is provided on the Stromness-Scrabster ferry route when the MV Hamnavoe is in dry dock; what its response is to concerns that a freight vessel might be used as a replacement during this period; what its position is on the appropriateness of using such a craft and, in light of this, whether it will confirm if it would permit the use of a freighter.

Serco NorthLink Ferries continue to use best endeavours to search the open market for appropriate replacement tonnage for the MV Hamnavoe whilst she undergoes her scheduled period of dry dock at the start of 2018. At present, no final decision has been taken by the operator. Use of a freighter is permitted under the terms of the Public Service Contract, and freight vessels have previously been utilised on the Pentland Firth crossing.

Pentland Ferries also provide connections to Orkney from the mainland and there is a reciprocal arrangement that exists to ensure services are adequately maintained during periods of essential dry docking.

Question reference: S5W-13066

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 12 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to use (a) the (i) Energy Efficiency Programme (SEEP) and (ii) Warm Homes bill and (b) other measures to invest in and support work (A) to bring more existing stock back in to use and (B) where properties need repaired or upgraded before insulation work begins.

We will set out further detail on Scotland’s Energy Efficiency Programme (SEEP) in the SEEP routemap to be published next year.

As set out in the Programme for Government, we will take forward legislation within this Parliament where this is needed to deliver the aims of Scotland’s Energy Efficiency Programme (SEEP) and to tackle fuel poverty.

To progress these we are currently seeking views (until 1 February 2018) on a new draft fuel poverty strategy (https://consult.gov.scot/better-homes-division/fuel-poverty/), which includes a proposed statutory target to effectively eradicate fuel poverty by 2040. This ambition would be backed up by, amongst others, a non-statutory sub-target to remove energy efficiency as a driver for fuel poverty by ensuring all homes reach a minimum energy performance rating by this date. Responses to this consultation will inform the development of a Warm Homes Bill to be laid in Parliament in June 2018.

The Scottish Government funds the work of the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership, which provides direct support and advice to individuals looking to report an empty home or to bring empty homes back into use. The Partnership also supports a network of dedicated Empty Homes Officers across Scotland to provide advice and support at local level. The Partnership has brought over 2800 homes back into use since 2010, and we are further supporting that success with a commitment to double funding in the Programme for Government.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced new powers in the Budget for English Authorities to introduce a council tax levy of up to 100% to encourage owners to bring homes back into use. This power has already been available to local authorities in Scotland since 2013.

Question reference: S5T-00813

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 11 December 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent reports from HMICS and Audit Scotland on police governance.

Question reference: S5W-12883

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 11 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a timeline for the launch of the Scottish 4G Infill Programme for Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-12884

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 11 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government by what criteria prospective sites will be chosen for the Scottish 4G Infill Programme for Scotland, and how operators will be supported to bid.

The proposed initial intervention area published on 4 August 2017 – which was not intended to represent a comprehensive picture of 4G “notspots” – was derived using variety of data sources available to the Scottish Government at that time. Site selection was based on a number of factors, primarily the need to ensure sufficient critical mass of population in target areas to ensure site viability. The intervention area will be refined as the extent of mobile network operators’ commercial 4G rollouts becomes clearer and through further consultation with the industry to ensure effective targeting of resources.

We have engaged extensively with mobile operators and other prospective bidders throughout the programme’s development to ensure their understanding of our expectations of the programme deliverables and their readiness when the procurement is launched.

Question reference: S5W-12930

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 7 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the comment by Anne Pinkman, the Convenor of the Scottish Working Group on Women’s Offending, in Scottish Justice Matters that "funding for services, even when they can evidence positive outcomes is a real issue".

The new funding distribution methodology for Criminal Justice Social Work funding, introduced in April 2017 and agreed with COSLA, delivers a more transparent and fairer system for distributing funding across Scotland. It allows statutory community justice partners and third sector to work collaboratively to tackle the underlying causes of offending. Every local authority has the flexibility to target resources to meet local priorities, which includes funding for women's services and programmes.

Decisions on the allocation of grant funding from Scottish Government in 2018-19 in respect of community justice services will be made in due course, in response to the outcome of the current Spending Review.

Question reference: S5O-01601

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 December 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what immediate action it is taking to support the economies of Orkney and Shetland.

Question reference: S5W-12929

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 6 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the comment by Neil Ratley of Venture Trust in The Herald on 20 November 2017 that “without a new source of funding for the Next Steps programme, hundreds of Scottish women won’t have access to a successful programme breaking the cycle of reoffending and helping them into employment.”

Question reference: S5W-12928

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 6 December 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has carried out of the Venture Trust’s Next Steps programme, and what action it is taking in response to reports that the programme might close when its current ifunding comes to an end.

The Scottish Government does not fund Venture Trust's 'Next Steps' programme and has never done so.

In the current year, the Scottish Government has allocated around £100 million to local authorities to help deliver community sentences, support the rehabilitation of men and women sentenced by the courts and reduce reoffending. In addition, the Scottish Government provides around £4.5 million every year specifically for women's services.

The funding for Criminal Justice Social Work Services, which includes provision for women's services, transferred to local authorities on 1 April 2017 under the new model for Community Justice, following the disestablishment of Community Justice Authorities. The new funding distribution methodology delivers a more transparent and fairer system for distributing funding across Scotland. It allows statutory community justice partners and the third sector to work collaboratively to tackle the underlying causes of offending. Every local authority now has the flexibility to target resources to meet local priorities, which includes funding women's services and programmes.