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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.

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Question reference: S6W-00346

Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 16 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will produce a strategic plan for the procurement and construction of new vessels to serve the ferry network and, if so, by what date the plan will be produced.

The Scottish Government's Infrastructure Investment Plan published 4 February 2021 stated that:

"We will produce and maintain a long-term plan and investment programme for new ferries and development at ports to improve resilience, reliability, capacity, and accessibility, increase standardisation, and reduce emissions to meet the needs of island communities, supported by investment of at least £580 million during the next five years as well as completing two new ferries for the Isle of Arran and the Uig Triangle"

A National Mission with Local Impact - draft infrastructure investment plan 2021-2022 to 2025-2026: consultation - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

We will produce this long-term plan as part of the Islands Connectivity Plan that will replace the Ferries Plan from January 2023. In the meantime, our investment programme continues to be based on the Vessel Replacement and Deployment Plan; additional detail of the current programme is included in Annex D of the Infrastructure Investment Plan and updates have recently been shared with key island stakeholders.

vrdp-annual-report-2016-30-january-2018.pdf (transport.gov.scot)

Question reference: S6W-00347

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 16 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding an inquiry into the historical practice of forced adoption.

Question reference: S6W-00373

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 16 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it recognises dental care as part of preventative healthcare, and, if so, how it will ensure that cost is not a barrier to receiving adequate healthcare.

Question reference: S6W-00323

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 June 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 16 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether Abellio ScotRail requires ministerial permission to enter pay talks with the recognised trade unions regarding the 2021 pay award for ScotRail staff and, if so, whether this permission has been (a) requested and (b) granted.

Question reference: S6W-00364

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 16 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will make a statement on its plans to (a) charter or (b) purchase one or more vessels to support the existing Caledonian MacBrayne fleet.

Question reference: S6W-00319

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 June 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 16 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to meet the RMT to discuss the industrial dispute regarding Abellio ScotRail's (a) reported refusal to negotiate a rest-day working enhancement for ticket examiner and conductor grades and (b) reported breach of the Dignity and Respect policy at the company's Perth Depot, and whether it will encourage Abellio Scotland to engage in talks with the union to help resolve this.

(a) Scottish Government normally meets railway trade union representatives as part of the routine STUC meeting cycles to discuss any issues at hand. However due to Covid these meetings have not taken place in the normal manner. Arrangements for a meeting with railway trade union representatives are now being made.

(b) Individual matters in relation of the Dignity and Respect policy are for Abellio ScotRail and the employee(s) concerned.

Question reference: S6W-00425

Asked by: Dean Lockhart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 16 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives from the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park and what was discussed.

Ben Macpherson MSP, as Minister for Rural Affairs and Natural Environment, met with the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority (LLTTNPA) via Microsoft Teams on 17 February 2021. This was a meeting with the Convener (James Stuart) and Chief Executive Officer (Gordon Watson) of the LLTTNPA. The agenda covered; LLTTNPA’s background to strategic priorities, green recovery and the park authority’s future plans.

Question reference: S6W-00362

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 16 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will make a statement on the causes of the MV Loch Seaforth's withdrawal from service, and whether it is satisfied that all of the measures recommended by the vessel's builders were undertaken during its annual maintenance.

Question reference: S6W-00353

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 June 2021
Current Status: Holding Answer by Graeme Dey on 16 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd, (b) CalMac Ferries, (c) passenger groups and (d) trade unions regarding the chartering of additional vessels to operate on routes set out in the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services contract.

Question reference: S6W-00367

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 16 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will meet with representatives of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar to discuss (a) short-term and (b) medium-term proposals for the improvement of ferry services (i) to, (ii) from and (ii) within the Western Isles.

Transport Scotland (TS) and the Scottish Government Islands Team meet regularly with elected members and officers of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar to discuss a range of ferries issues including future planning and have also engaged on the Comhairle's Local Transport Strategy. The Comhairle were also a partner in a recent study, commissioned and funded by TS, of future options for ferry services to, from and within the Outer Hebrides. The Comhairle has produced a paper setting out proposals for ferry service improvements and future vessel investments and an initial meeting to discuss this with government officials has been arranged.