- Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 July 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 10 August 2018
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-15117 by Humza Yousaf on 21 March 2018, which trains stations are (a) fully, (b) partly and (c) not accessible.
Answer
A list showing the extent of accessibility at each of Scotland’s railway stations is available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib number (59936).
- Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 20 July 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 6 August 2018
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-17561 by Fergus Ewing on 20 July 2018, whether it remains committed to bringing forward a Good Food Nation Bill.
Answer
The Scottish Government remains fully committed to achieving our ambition for Scotland to continue to develop and grow as a Good Food Nation. We are considering legislative and policy options to deliver this ambition.
- Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 July 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 6 August 2018
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its discussions with the UK Government regarding the (a) crew welfare and (b) pollution prevention measures in place following the grounding of the MV Priscilla cargo vessel on the Pentland Skerries off the coast at Caithness.
Answer
The Scottish Government’s discussion with the UK government has been through liaison with the UK government’s Secretary of State’s representative (SOSREP) who was in overall charge of the incident response to the grounding of MV Priscilla. The SOSREP also issued situation reports that included updates on the welfare of the 6 crew members. Prior to the recovery operation three crew members left the vessel. There were no reported injuries to the 6 crew.
There were no reports of any pollution during the grounding or subsequent recovery operation. The salvage plan included pollution prevention measures in the event of any pollution. Prior to re-floating of the vessel, the salvors successfully removed 28 tonnes of fuel oil to reduce any possible pollution risk as well as lighten the vessel for re-floating.
- Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 July 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 2 August 2018
To ask the Scottish Government where the 18 turbines proposed for the Benbrack Wind Farm near Carsphairn in Dumfries and Galloway will be manufactured.
Answer
The development of the Benbrack Wind Farm will be tied to its grid connection date, meaning that we would expect construction to commence during 2022. This means that it is too early at this stage to establish details concerning the manufacture and supply of turbines and other components and services.
However, the developer (EON) is fully aware of the importance placed by the Scottish Government on economic impact, with a particular focus on Scottish supply chain content and economic benefit, and has confirmed that it will be contacting and adding local contractors to its procurement database.
The port of Ayr has been identified as the preferred entry point for relevant components, which will bring benefits to the immediate area. We also expect relevant specialist companies in Scotland to tender for contracts to deliver the required turbine components e.g. towers once a preferred supplier has been identified.
- Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 July 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 2 August 2018
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the submissions to its Consultation on Free Bus Travel for Older and Disabled People and Modern Apprentices have not been published, and when it will publish its analysis of and response to the submissions.
Answer
We have today published the analysis of responses and, where permission was received, the responses themselves. They can be found on the Transport Scotland website at https://www.transport.gov.scot/consultation/consultation-on-free-bus-travel-for-older-and-disabled-people-and-modern-apprentices/.
Also today, I have announced the Scottish Government's response to the consultation, including our decision to retain 60 as the qualifying age.
- Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 July 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 1 August 2018
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has requested details of Pentland Ferries’ annual fares revenue from the Gills Bay to St Margaret’s Hope route in each of the last five years for which there are records.
Answer
In developing the proposed mechanism to deliver reduced passenger and car fares on ferry services to Orkney and Shetland, there have been a number of discussions between Scottish Ministers, Transport Scotland officials and Pentland Ferries. This included requesting details of past fares revenue on a commercially confidential basis.
- Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 July 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 1 August 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what impact the delay in introducing the Road Equivalent Tariff scheme on public ferry routes to the Orkney Isles is having on the tendering of the next contract for Northern Isles Ferry Services.
Answer
There is no direct impact. As is currently the case, future changes to fare tariffs brought about by the introduction of the Road Equivalent Tariff scheme would lead to an adjustment in the subsidy payable to the operator of the ferry services under the terms of the public service contract.
- Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 July 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 1 August 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of access to trade union representation for staff at Pentland Ferries.
Answer
The Scottish Government has made no assessment of access to trade union representation for staff at Pentland Ferries.
- Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 July 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 1 August 2018
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has requested details of the annual number of passengers and vehicles carried by Pentland Ferries on the Gills Bay to St Margaret’s Hope route in each of the last five years for which there are records.
Answer
In developing the proposed mechanism to deliver reduced passenger and car fares on ferry services to Orkney and Shetland, there have been a number of discussions between Scottish Ministers, Transport Scotland officials and Pentland Ferries. This included requesting details of past annual passenger and vehicle carryings on a commercially confidential basis.
- Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 July 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 1 August 2018
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason there is a delay in introducing the Road Equivalent Tariff scheme on the publicly subsidised ferry route between Scrabster and Stromness in the Pentland Firth.
Answer
On routes to Orkney, it has been necessary to engage with commercial operators in respect of introducing the Road Equivalent Tariff scheme on the Pentland Firth routes. To date it has not as yet been possible to reach an agreement.
I am determined to work through the issue to see what more can be done. I will provide a further update to stakeholders and to Parliament as soon as I can, with a view to bringing the full benefits of the scheme to the people of Orkney and Shetland.