Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-22223

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 13 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 7 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-12681 by Mairi McAllan on 13 December 2022, whether the second National Marine Plan (NMP2) will require Regional Marine Plans that are produced in line with the latest scientific and economic evidence, and in consultation with all stakeholders.

The new National Marine Plan 2 (NMP2) is being developed with stakeholders and regional planners. Once adopted, the new NMP2 will provide the context for future regional marine planning by setting the vision for the sustainable management of our marine space. The updated NMP2 will also set national aims and objectives for marine planning as well as set out how these will be supported by regional objectives. The NMP2 will provide a new focus on regional issues and priorities which could be considered within future regional plans.

Regional marine plans must be in conformity with the National Marine Plan currently in effect, unless relevant considerations indicate otherwise, and are developed by delegates known as Marine Planning Partnerships. The current Plan sets out that the precise approach and coverage of the regional plan will be for these Partnerships to determine based on local priorities and taking account of existing partnerships, methodologies and alignment with other local plans.

The requirements for public consultation on a marine plan and assessment of the condition and review of the physical, environmental, social, cultural and economic characteristics of a region are set out in the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010.

Question reference: S6W-22225

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 13 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 7 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-12681 by Mairi McAllan on 13 December 2022, whether the second National Marine Plan (NMP2) will require Regional Marine Plans to be produced by a set date.

The purpose of Scotland’s National Marine Plan is to set out the strategic policies for the sustainable development of our marine resources. Regional marine plans are currently being developed for three out of the eleven defined Scottish Marine Regions (Orkney, Shetland and the Clyde). Unlike the National Marine Plan, which ‘must’ be prepared and adopted under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010, regional marine plans ‘may’ be prepared and adopted, under the same legislation. It is not within the scope of any National Marine Plan to require the production of Regional Marine Plans by a set date.

Question reference: S6W-22224

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 13 October 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 7 November 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-12681 by Mairi McAllan on 13 December 2022, whether the second National Marine Plan (NMP2) will require Regional Marine Plans that set specific areas, bounded by grid coordinates, for individual uses of marine space or specific combinations of such uses.

Eleven Scottish Marine Regions are spatially defined under the Scottish Marine Regions Order 2015. Certain functions for marine planning for these regions can be designated to a delegate, known as Marine Planning Partnerships, through Ministerial Direction. The current National Marine Plan provides guidance to support the development of regional marine plans but specifies that the precise approach and coverage of the regional plan, will be for Marine Planning Partnerships to determine based on local priorities and taking account of existing partnerships, methodologies and alignment with other local plans.

The National Marine Plan 2 (NMP2) is in the early stages of development, working with Marine Planning Partnerships and stakeholders, it will set the context for future regional marine planning and consider options for spatially explicit planning as part of the NMP2 process.

Question reference: S6T-01599

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 30 October 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 31 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to resolve industrial action in schools.

Question reference: S6W-21899

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 29 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 18 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many second-hand vessels have been considered for (a) charter and (b) purchase by (i) CMAL and (ii) CalMac since 1 June 2022 to date.

Question reference: S6F-02428

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 02 October 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 October 2023

To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of any impact of operational changes in the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service on response times to recent incidents, including the fires at the Ayr Station Hotel and Kitty’s nightclub in Kirkcaldy.

Question reference: S6W-21393

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 29 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide a list of the total payments made from the public purse to Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP for consultancy work on the (a) design and (b) tender of the (i) Northern Isles Ferry Service passenger specifications, (ii) Northern Isles Ferry Services freight specifications and (iii) Gourock to Dunoon contracts.

Question reference: S6W-21394

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 29 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide a list of the total payments made from the public purse to Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP for consultancy work on the (a) design and (b) tender of the (i) Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS) 1 and (ii) CHFS2 contract.

Question reference: S6W-21350

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 28 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will list, by local authority, any buildings where reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) has been used on the justice estate since 2007, and whether any action was taken following structural inspection of these buildings.

The Scottish Government has directly engaged with justice stakeholders to provide the following information. Police Scotland have confirmed that RAAC has been identified in three sites across the Police Scotland estate, in Edinburgh, Perth and Dundee. These sites are pre 2007, however where RAAC has been identified, appropriate mitigation measures have been put in place and there is no immediate risk to officers, staff or visitors.

Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) have confirmed ongoing structural survey work is underway, RAAC has been identified in one building within the North Lanarkshire area at Airdrie Sheriff Court.

The Scottish Government’s response to question S6W-21348 on 27 September 2023 provides the member with a response to the question “To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of any fire station buildings that contain reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC)”.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

Question reference: S6W-21349

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 28 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether any research or structural inspections have been carried out since 2007, to assess whether reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) has been found in any buildings on the justice estate.

The Scottish Government has directly engaged with justice stakeholders to seek updates on the current position across the justice estate. The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) undertakes a regular rolling inspection regime of the buildings in its estate. There is an on-going programme of condition surveys underway to inform the programme of works needed over the short (1yr) medium (2-5yrs) and long (6-10yrs) term to undertake maintenance or remedial work identified on a managed risk basis.

In order to ensure a rigorous assessment in relation to reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) the SCTS conducted desk-based and visual surveys of its estate over the summer and is conducting detailed structural surveys of the 10 buildings on its estate that were either constructed or had major works carried out during the time period in which RAAC was in use. These surveys will confirm whether or not RAAC is present in any facility and, if so, its condition and whether any remediation is required. At this point RAAC has been identified in one building – Airdrie Sheriff Court. No immediate signs of risk or deterioration of structural integrity have been identified. SCTS are conducting further work to identify any medium or longer term arrangements that may be required to ensure continued safety. The building is safe and the detailed survey will make recommendations to ensure that remains the case.

The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) based on their knowledge of the SPS estate, do not believe that RAAC is present within the prison estate. SPS is however conducting a further evidence based scoping exercise to identify any buildings that cannot be categorically ruled out as containing RAAC. Any buildings identified will require further investigation and may need more intrusive testing/inspection by specialist consultants. The initial scoping exercise is due to be concluded by 30 September 2023.

In April 2023, Police Scotland undertook visual inspections of 65 sites across its estate, resulting in 36 sites being confirmed as not containing RAAC. The remaining 29 sites were inspected by structural engineers, and RAAC was confirmed as present at 3 of these sites in Edinburgh, Perth and Baluniefield.

Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) are not aware definitively of any RAAC buildings in their estate, however, COPFS have engaged surveyors to carry out a desktop study of their owned and leased estate. At this stage, of the owned 8 assets, only one; Dumbarton, may fall within the RAAC age band, suggesting it may require further investigation.

The Scottish Government’s response to PQ S6W-21348 on 27 September 2023 provides the member with a response to the question “To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of any fire station buildings that contain reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC)”.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

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