Seòmar agus comataidhean

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

Criathragan Hide all filters

Displaying 878 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S6W-01543

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 July 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 6 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Seatruck Ferries regarding the time charter of additional tonnage for the Clyde and Hebrides ferry network, and whether it raised (a) trade union recognition and (b) collective bargaining agreements between CalMac and recognised trade unions during any such discussions.

Question reference: S6W-01544

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 July 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 6 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact that COVID-19 has had on the (a) number and (b) type of vehicles carried by the CalMac fleet.

Question reference: S6W-01202

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 12 July 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 6 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-00821 by Graeme Dey on 28 June 2021, how many shipbrokers have been employed by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) in each year since 2010-11.

CMAL are regularly contacted by 7 core shipbrokers who bring to their attention vessels that may be suitable for Scottish routes. This is due to the international standard that the broker takes a fee from the seller should a vessel be purchased.

CMAL have frequent and regular engagement with 7 core shipbrokers who assist with the identification of vessels that may be suitable for Scottish ferry routes.

Question reference: S6W-01197

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 12 July 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 6 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-00821 by Graeme Dey on 28 June 2021, (a) who the owner and (b) what the specification is of each of vessel that Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) has assessed.

When considering a vessel, CMAL review a number of elements to assess suitability for Scottish ferry routes including vessel dimensions, speed and displacement, as well as the vehicle deck garage heights, loading system (ramps), shore side interfaces, compliance with the Maritime Coastguard Agency Regulations and the vessel’s suitability for Scottish waters.

CMAL do not disclose the names of either the vessels it assesses or their ownership. This is due to the possible impact upon the market value of the vessel should it become apparent that a government body is considering their purchase, which could result in the price going up and making it harder to achieve Value for Money for the Scottish tax payer.

Question reference: S6W-01199

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 12 July 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 23 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-00829 by Graeme Dey on 28 June 2021, whether it has discussed with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency the (a) existence and (b) functioning of the onboard safety committee on the MV Pentalina.

Question reference: S6W-01201

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 12 July 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 23 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) passenger and (b) vehicle carrying capacity is on the MV (a) Pentalina and (b) Alfred after the requirement for one-metre physical distancing is taken into account.

Question reference: S6W-01200

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 12 July 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 23 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-00824 by Graeme Dey on 28 June 2021, what the (a) passenger and (b) vehicle capacity is of each vessel listed after the one-metre physical distancing requirement is taken into account.

Further to question S6W-00824, the constrained passenger and vehicle carrying capacity with 1 metre mitigations in place for the vessels listed, are detailed in the following table.

Vessel	Passenger Capacity (1m)	Vehicle Capacity **	Deck Space (metres)
MV Caledonian Isles	276	92 PCU	150 m
MV Coruisk *	150 #	35 PCU	70 m
MV Isle of Arran *	79	55 PCU	103 m
MV Isle of Mull	218	66 PCU	150 m
MV Loch Seaforth	304	130 PCU	372 m
MV Finlaggan	206	79 PCU	180 m
MV Herbridean Isles	118	60 PCU	125 m

* Summer timetable only

# This includes MCA dispensation allowing 100 passengers to remain in their vehicles on the car deck

** Maximum capacity for cars, this can vary dependant on operational requirements and if mezzanine deck is deployed (where applicable)

Physical distancing does not restrain the deck capacity, either in metre or PCU (passenger car unit). The limitations is on passenger capacity. Vehicle capacity will vary dependant on the combination of type of vehicles and number of occupants per individual vehicle.

Question reference: S6W-01443

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 July 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 23 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government for what reasons the Cycle to Work scheme has not been made available to ScotRail employees for 2021-22.

Question reference: S6W-01198

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 12 July 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 23 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-00829 by Graeme Dey on 28 June 2021, what recent advice it has received from the (a) Maritime and Coastguard Agency and (b) other regulatory authorities on the safety of the MV Pentalina to operate on routes in the current contract for Clyde and Hebrides ferry services.

Question reference: S6W-00828

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 June 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 7 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its policy is on making the Road Equivalent Tariff subsidy available to Pentland Ferries’ private routes, across the Pentland Firth.

The Scottish Government remains committed to reducing fares on Northern Isles ferry routes.

Following engagement with European Commission officials in 2019, Transport Scotland officials were developing proposals to introduce Road Equivalent Tariff. This work was rightly paused in early 2020, while resources were pivoted to deal with the Covid outbreak, however work has recently resumed.

Engagement between Transport Scotland officials and ferry operators has taken place and will continue as the work progresses.