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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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S4W-20271

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 March 2014
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 3 April 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what minimum legal standards apply to the maintenance regime for vessels working on Scottish ferry routes.

Question reference: S4W-20274

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 March 2014
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 3 April 2014

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its experience of vessel breakdowns on Scottish ferry routes, what steps it is taking to develop constructive relationships with shipbrokers and what assurances it has received that Serco NorthLink will undertake to develop such relationships.

Question reference: S4W-20270

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 March 2014
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 3 April 2014

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects Serco NorthLink’s (a) insurance claims and (b) negotiations with the engine manufacturer regarding the breakdown and repair of the MV Hamnavoe between April and May 2013 to be completed.

Question reference: S4W-20273

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 March 2014
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 3 April 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what costs Scrabster Harbour Trust incurred in making alterations to accommodate MV Helliar berthing in Scrabster between April and May 2013.

Question reference: S4W-20272

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 March 2014
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 3 April 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what recent comparison has been made between the maintenance standards for vessels working on the (a) Northern Isles and (b) Clyde and Hebridean ferry routes.

There has been no comparison made between the maintenance standards for vessels working on the Northern Isles ferry services or the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services. Both require to comply with the minimum regulatory standards for vessels, set by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. This includes international safety management standards which include regulatory requirements for a detailed maintenance system to be in place for each vessel.

Question reference: S4W-20275

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 March 2014
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 3 April 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what assurances it has received from Serco NorthLink that it will introduce measures to improve its communications strategy, in relation to dealing with vessel failure, with (a) island communities, (b) passengers, (c) trade unions and (d) businesses; what those measures will be, and when they will be introduced.

Serco Northlink Ferries Ltd consistently review their communications strategy and provide regular updates to Transport Scotland.

The daily and key recipient briefings introduced during the Hamnavoe service interruption have been captured in the contract business interruption processes. These were further reviewed after the Hamnavoe returned to service and categorised by sector, for instance tourism/freight/hotelier/operator. They are regularly reviewed and updated by the operator to ensure all key contact details remain current.

Resilience planning is discussed by the operator at both the Orkney emergency group committee and Caithness transport forum meetings which are attended by both NorthLink’s customer care manager and freight manager. The operator attends Zetrans on a quarterly basis and likewise meets both trade unions and business stakeholders from both the passenger and freight sectors on a regular basis. Its most recent public forum held on the Hamnavoe on Thursday 6 February 2014 was attended by over 80 representatives of Orkney businesses and local interest groups.

Question reference: S4W-20276

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 March 2014
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 3 April 2014

To ask the Scottish Government whether the proposed closure of the upper level tunnel at Glasgow Queen Street station will coincide with work being carried out at the Winchburgh tunnel.

Question reference: S4O-03065

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 March 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 March 2014

To ask the Scottish Government on what basis it considers that its childcare plans for an independent Scotland would create a 6% rise in female employment.

Question reference: S4W-19964

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 February 2014
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 13 March 2014

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-15727 by Keith Brown on 28 June 2013, when the report will be published.

Question reference: S4W-19967

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 February 2014
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 13 March 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Serco NorthLink regarding procedures in the event of a vessel breaking down on its Northern Isles' services.