- Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 December 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 21 December 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the restoration of roll-on, roll-off (a) passenger and (b) freight services between Rosyth and Zeebrugge.
Answer
Transport Scotland officials have regular discussions with UK Government Department for Transport officials regarding a number of maritime issues, including direct ferry links to Europe.
- Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 December 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 20 December 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with representatives from (a) Forth Ports and (b) Antwerp-Bruges Port Authority regarding the restoration of roll-on, roll-off ferry services between Rosyth and Zeebrugge.
Answer
Transport Scotland officials have regular discussions with Forth Ports officials regarding a number of maritime issues, including direct ferry links to Europe.
Transport Scotland officials have met with Antwerp-Bruges Port Authority officials twice this year, to discuss potential links between Scottish ports and Antwerp-Bruges Port. There have also been government to government discussions with the Government of Flanders and Transport Scotland officials are maintaining this contact.
- Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 December 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 20 December 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of the impact that the restoration of roll-on, roll-off (a) passenger and (b) freight ferry services between Rosyth and Zeebrugge could have on employment in the (i) shipping, (ii) port and (iii) rail freight sectors of the Scottish economy.
Answer
The Scottish Government is supportive of the reintroduction of ferry services from Scotland to Europe.
My officials in Transport Scotland have engaged with a number of interested parties proposing such services and we will continue to engage with potential operators and Scotland’s main ports to provide information and advice on what the Scottish Government can offer in support of a viable commercial proposition. The Scottish Government and Transport Scotland have also been engaging with port and haulage stakeholders to explore options to increase trade moved through Scottish ports and we continue to work with Scotland’s main ports to explore the possibility of new ferry services to the Continent.
- Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 December 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 20 December 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of the potential environmental impact of restoring roll-on, roll-off (a) passenger and (b) freight ferry services between Rosyth and Zeebrugge.
Answer
The Scottish Government and Transport Scotland have been engaging with stakeholders to identify opportunities and barriers to increasing shipments of exports from Scottish ports and airports directly which could have environmental and economic benefits. This work is ongoing.
- Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 December 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 20 December 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with David MacBrayne Ltd regarding the operation of roll-on, roll-off ferry services between Rosyth and Zeebrugge.
Answer
The Scottish Government have had no discussions with David MacBrayne Ltd regarding a ferry service between Rosyth and Zeebrugge. Subsidy Control rules mean any route would have to operate on a commercial basis and this would be a matter for David MacBrayne Ltd’s Board to consider.
- Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 December 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 20 December 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to put a contract out to commercial tender for roll-on, roll-off ferry services between Rosyth and Zeebrugge.
Answer
The Scottish Government have no plans to tender for a ferry service between Rosyth and Zeebrugge. Subsidy Control rules limit government directly funding international commercial ferry connections beyond initial start-up support. As commercial propositions, we continue to work with potential commercial operators who are interested in introducing new ferry services to the Continent.
- Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 December 2022
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 22 December 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the actions taken in Forth Valley Royal Hospital following its escalation to stage 4 of the NHS Scotland National Performance Framework for Governance, Leadership and Culture.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 22 December 2022
- Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 18 November 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 5 December 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that Transport Scotland may entrust the provision of Caledonian Sleeper passenger services to a company owned and controlled by the Scottish Ministers and make a direct award of a public service contract in that regard, and in light of Article 5 (2) or Article 5 (6) of Regulation (EC) No 1370/2007, whether it will award the contract to operate the Caledonian Sleeper service to a company owned by the Scottish Government.
Answer
In accordance with the requirements of the Railways Act 1993 and the Scottish Ministers’ Franchising Policy Statement, consideration is being given to the successor arrangement for the continued provision of Caledonian Sleeper services.
- Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 18 November 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 5 December 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the Caledonian Sleeper service is a commercial asset.
Answer
Caledonian Sleeper is a subsidised Franchise. The Caledonian Sleeper Franchise is of significant social, economic and environmental value to the people of Scotland.
- Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 18 November 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 5 December 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the financial impact of a direct award to Serco Caledonian Sleeper Ltd or a company owned and controlled by the Scottish Government for the operation of the Caledonian Sleeper service from June 2023.
Answer
In accordance with Scottish Ministers franchising policy statement, appropriate assessment of a direct award to Serco Caledonian Sleepers Ltd. is being made and Ministers will inform Parliament when this assessment is concluded.