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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: S6W-23728

Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 08 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 8 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what process will be used to identify the seven small ferries currently operated by CalMac staff on the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service (CHFS) network that will be replaced by 2026, and when it anticipates that the first of these replacement ferries will be in service on the CHFS network.

The Small Vessel Replacement Programme is complex. Costs, delivery timescales and funding profiles evolve as details develop through the ongoing outline business case process. The re-profiling of budget from 2023-24 will not impact on the timelines for delivery as set out in recent public engagement events. The first vessel is currently expected to be delivered in the third quarter of 2026 with further vessels at four to six month intervals thereafter until 2028.

Question reference: S6W-23735

Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 08 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 4 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-21356 by Fiona Hyslop on 29 September 2023, what advice on the direct award of the CHFS3 contract it has received from Turner and Townsend to date.

Transport Scotland are working closely with specialist commercial and technical advisors, Turner and Townsend, to progress development of the next Clyde and Hebrides (CHFS) contract specification. Alongside other internal and external specialists, and together with ongoing community and other key stakeholder engagement, this work will continue throughout the due diligence exercise to confirm the most effective, efficient and affordable approach delivering the CHFS network.

Question reference: S6W-23729

Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 08 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 4 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will list the consultancies that Transport Scotland has signed an agreement with under the Multiple Supplier Framework Agreement for Maritime Consultancy Services.

The Multiple Supplier Framework Agreement for Maritime Consultancy Services was awarded to the following suppliers (1) Stantec UK Limited (2) Turner and Townsend Project Management Limited and (3) Fisher Advisory Ltd. Transport Scotland publishes the results of all regulated procurements via contract award notices on the Public Contracts Scotland website. The Contract Award Notice is available with the following link: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUN451348

Question reference: S6W-23731

Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 08 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 4 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how many of its staff are currently employed in the Subsidy Control Team.

Question reference: S6W-23734

Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 08 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 4 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the ministerial statement on 16 November 2023, what resources it has allocated for the (a) remainder of the current financial year and (b) financial year 2024-25 for the exploration of the case for directly awarding the next contract for the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service to CalMac.

Question reference: S6W-23704

Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 08 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 4 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports of antisocial behaviour remaining "stubbornly high", what its position is on whether current levels of antisocial behaviour on trains exceed any thresholds set by ScotRail's safety committee, and whether it will provide an update on its plans to tackle antisocial behaviour on trains.

Question reference: S6W-23733

Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 08 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 4 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether lifeline ferry services in Scotland are services of public economic interest under the UK Government’s subsidy control rules.

Question reference: S6W-23730

Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 08 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 4 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what the total value is of any public contracts for services procured by Transport Scotland under the Multiple Supplier Framework Agreement for Maritime Consultancy Services, since June 2021 to date.

Question reference: S6W-23732

Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 08 December 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 4 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government when it last discussed the next contract for the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service with representatives of the UK Government.

Question reference: S6O-02944

Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 December 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 January 2024

To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with universities and colleges to address the reported skills gap across the economy.