Chamber and committees

Legislation is not required and to introduce legislation would not be compatible with our policy priorities.

The successful outcomes delivered by our colleges are founded on a partnership between Government and colleges. That partnership has its roots in existing governance arrangements – themselves the cause of reclassification. We have no plans to weaken that relationship between Government and the college sector.

We are creating strong regional institutions of influence, increasingly collaborating across the public and private sectors. Our current plans to strengthen governance complement this new regional structure.

UK Government Ministers have insisted that we must begin implementing the ONS decision with effect from 1 April 2014.

Colleges were notified of the change in 2010. Since then Scottish Ministers have been raising objections with HM Treasury on the basis for the decision, the timing of implementation and the scope for mitigating the implications.

The Cabinet Secretaries for Education and Lifelong Learning and Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth held a positive and constructive meeting with college Chairs and Principals on 13 May to discuss the impact of reclassification.

The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning met with the Regional Leads on 14 May. A Project Team has also been established and met with the college Finance Directors on 23 May.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-14746 on 22 May 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

Under the terms of the Public Service Contract between Scottish Ministers and Serco Ltd, in respect of the Northern Isles Ferry Service, the subsidy for providing this service, is paid monthly and not daily. The subsidy provided is not split between the routes which Serco NorthLink operate. The grant payment is therefore paid to cover all the services combined.

Under the terms of the contract, Serco NorthLink are required to pay a penalty whenever the services do not run according to schedule other than in cases where this is due to a relief event. This breakdown of the MV Hamnavoe is not considered to be a relief event and will result in a fixed penalty to Serco NorthLink of £7,732 per return sailing missed. Discussions are ongoing with the operator in respect of what penalties should be imposed following the introduction of the freighter service.

The six year cost of the Scottish Government contract with Serco Northlink is £223 million. The sums paid in subsidy will vary in each year of the contract and from month to month in accordance with the provisions in the contract, particularly in relation to penalties payable to the Scottish Government and provisions in relation to any increased fuel costs payable to Serco Northlink. Serco are paid monthly in arrears.

There were no discussions prior to 25 April 2013 between Transport Scotland and Serco Northlink to consider modifications at Stromness or Scrabster harbours.

Following the unforeseen mechanical engine failure of the MV Hamnavoe, Serco Northlink took immediate and proactive action to bring one of their freight vessels into service on the Scrabster to Stromness route.

Serco Northlink worked in conjunction with the Scrabster Harbour Trust to make alterations to the Queen Elizabeth Berth that have since allowed the freight vessel, MV Helliar, to operate. This service commenced operating on the Scrabster to Stromness route from 2 May 2013. During the period from 25 April 2013 to 2 May 2013 Serco Northlink kept both myself and Transport Scotland officials fully appraised of the modification works at the Queen Elizabeth Berth, Scrabster.

The MV Helliar has been operating two return sailings each day on a broadly similar timetable to the scheduled service. The timetable was established through discussion with local hauliers and it provides a major increase in freight and vehicle carrying capacity across the Pentland Firth.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-14746 on 22 May 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

Following the unforeseen engine failure of the MV Hamnavoe, Serco Northlink immediately informed the Scottish Government and put in place its contingency plans to minimise disruption to ferry users travelling to Orkney.

The Scottish Government believes that Serco Northlink has adopted all necessary measures to ensure those intending to travel to Orkney are able to do so.

The MV Hamnavoe was sent to the Babcock Marine port wet basin at Rosyth where engineers worked round the clock to complete the necessary repairs. Currently, the MV Hamnavoe is scheduled to be back in service by Thursday 23 May 2013.

Both the Scottish Government and Serco Northlink have been highly proactive in letting the general public know that, with the contingency arrangements in place, Orkney is very much open for business and accessible to those wishing to travel.

The Scottish Government supports and requires the contingency arrangements that are put in place by Serco Northlink for dealing with any unplanned technical failures that affects the ferries that they operate.

Following the mechanical failure of the MV Hamnavoe on 24 April 2013, Serco Northlink immediately moved to communicate directly with booked customers and provide, or help to identify, alternative travel arrangements for any passengers affected.

Serco are continuing to work in cooperation with other ferry operators to arrange alternative options for travel. They are confident that the expected level of demand can be met through Pentland Ferries and have arranged for courtesy travel between the ports where the Pentland Ferries’ berths and the ports of Scrabster and Stromness. Serco staff are available to help all passengers to book alternative options. Serco’s alternative Kirkwall-Aberdeen service is operating as normal.

In addition, Serco took swift action to bring one of their freight vessels into service on the Scrabster-Stromness route. The MV Heliar now operates two return sailings each day on a broadly similar timetable to the scheduled service. The timetable was established through discussion with local hauliers and it provides a major increase in freight and vehicle carrying capacity across the Pentland Firth.

Notwithstanding this, we will, as always, seek to learn lessons from the situation. Both Serco Northlink and the Scottish Government will be speaking to key stakeholders to deliver further improvements to contingency plans for the future.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-14746 on 22 May 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at;

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx