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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

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Question reference: S4W-09895

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 September 2012
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 19 October 2012

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered what impact the creation of a sulphur oxides emissions control area in the North Sea in 2014 will have on the Rosyth-Zeebrugge freight ferry service.

Question reference: S4W-09276

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 August 2012
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 25 September 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what the percentage change was in the level of (a) passengers, (b) cars and (c) freight using (i) CalMac Ferries Ltd-operated services to the Western Isles and (ii) routes operated by (A) CalMac Ferries Ltd and (B) NorthLink Ferries that were not covered by the road equivalent tariff pilot in (1) 2007, (2) 2008, (3) 2009, (4) 2010 and (5) 2011.

The percentage change data requested are set out in the following tables.

Northlink Data

Northlink / Calendar Year	Passengers	Cars	Freight
Lerwick/Aberdeen	%	%	%
NorthLink 2007	-0.21	-1.47	34.49
NorthLink 2008	-0.75	0.26	14.47
NorthLink 2009	4.17	-0.15	-2.79
NorthLink 2010	6.2	4.27	5.39
NorthLink 2011	5.87	-1.08	5.41
Kirkwall/Aberdeen
NorthLink 2007	-2.28	-0.81	79.39
NorthLink 2008	-6.17	-8.99	16.77
NorthLink 2009	8.06	8.05	5.97
NorthLink 2010	-2.61	-6.03	0.02
NorthLink 2011	1.57	1.22	27.28
Lerwick/Kirkwall
NorthLink 2007	-14.77	-14.23	82.86
NorthLink 2008	-0.54	-1.97	10.86
NorthLink 2009	5.31	-2.1	16.77
NorthLink 2010	5.47	7.09	12.74
NorthLink 2011	4.1	-2	17.47
Stromness/Scrabster
NorthLink 2007	4.6	5.06	9.67
NorthLink 2008	-6.35	-5.03	32.42
NorthLink 2009	4.21	-0.97	4.8
NorthLink 2010	-6.32	-9.31	-13.77
NorthLink 2011	-2.51	-3.67	-4.05

From 2007 onwards the NorthLink Ferries freight figures are inclusive of livestock metres. This was the first full year that the system was introduced.

CalMac Data

CalMac Route	Passenger % Difference 2011 v 2010	Passenger % Difference 2010 v 2009	Passenger % Difference 2009 v 2008	Passenger % Difference 2008 v 2007	Passenger % Difference 2007 v 2006
Wemyss Bay to Rothesay	-3.23%	-2.73%	2.02%	-3.81%	1.40%
Ardrossan to Brodick	-5.29%	2.15%	1.17%	-5.56%	1.78%
Claonaig to Lochranza	-9.94%	-4.36%	8.52%	-7.99%	4.05%
Largs to Cumbrae Slip	-4.07%	0.96%	1.35%	-5.27%	3.86%
Colintraive to Rhubodach	-13.73%	1.40%	1.68%	-0.46%	-2.69%
Tarbert LF to Portavadie	-9.45%	-2.33%	17.23%	-1.63%	-10.57%
Kennacraig to Islay	2.90%	-1.23%	7.55%	1.23%	3.20%
Oban to Craignure	-3.67%	-2.39%	4.28%	-7.07%	-6.82%
Oban to Castlebay/Lochboisdale	5.84%	2.07%	23.60%	-0.88%	2.79%
Mallaig to Armadale	3.94%	1.71%	11.38%	-1.60%	0.86%
Uig to Tarbert/Lochmaddy	0.27%	-2.18%	14.89%	0.89%	7.89%
Ullapool to Stornoway	1.44%	3.53%	20.28%	-1.45%	2.41%
Fishnish to Lochaline	1.28%	-7.54%	5.76%	-9.11%	-2.11%
Kennacraig to Islay/C'say/Oban	36.04%	-19.72%	1.71%	14.36%	18.83%
Oban to Coll/Tiree/Castlebay	23.25%	-26.17%	15.97%	6.94%	-0.79%
Mallaig to Eigg/Muck/Rum/Canna	-4.21%	2.29%	9.20%	2.09%	9.17%
Oban to Coll/Tiree	-3.65%	-1.38%	13.83%	0.27%	5.18%
Oban to Colonsay	-10.28%	0.79%	3.81%	-3.88%	1.42%
Tobermory to Kilchoan	-2.01%	-8.61%	0.55%	-5.58%	-0.72%
Oban to Lismore	0.64%	9.66%	19.51%	11.68%	10.11%
Fionnphort to Iona	-4.95%	0.42%	4.48%	-9.95%	-3.40%
Tayinloan to Gigha	-12.95%	2.79%	12.05%	-7.52%	-2.46%
Sconser to Raasay	-7.64%	-5.77%	-4.56%	2.88%	12.99%
Berneray to Leverburgh	0.12%	-0.38%	7.98%	0.14%	4.78%
Ardmhor (Barra) to Eriskay	5.08%	-5.52%	22.83%	2.66%	3.63%
Summary	-3.41%	-0.54%	5.05%	-4.21%	0.24%

CalMac Route	Cars % Difference 2011 v 2010	Cars % Difference 2010 v 2009	Cars % Difference 2009 v 2008	Cars % Difference 2008 v 2007	Cars % Difference 2007 v 2006
Wemyss Bay to Rothesay	-1.82%	-4.33%	1.80%	-2.65%	3.81%
Ardrossan to Brodick	-4.74%	-1.32%	3.76%	-4.65%	4.18%
Claonaig to Lochranza	-11.24%	-6.14%	5.78%	-7.29%	3.77%
Largs to Cumbrae Slip	-1.91%	-0.81%	-2.29%	-5.43%	8.52%
Colintraive to Rhubodach	-4.32%	-3.16%	-1.00%	-2.29%	0.82%
Tarbert LF to Portavadie	-7.37%	-1.84%	3.09%	0.43%	9.24%
Kennacraig to Islay	3.39%	-3.69%	7.88%	1.60%	4.15%
Oban to Craignure	0.38%	-5.04%	3.78%	-4.01%	-2.30%
Oban to Castlebay/Lochboisdale	7.05%	-1.81%	34.85%	-1.19%	4.19%
Mallaig to Armadale	1.13%	-4.56%	16.60%	-0.73%	6.13%
Uig to Tarbert/Lochmaddy	-0.33%	-2.81%	22.43%	3.03%	13.04%
Ullapool to Stornoway	0.29%	1.32%	36.61%	-0.35%	4.48%
Fishnish to Lochaline	1.97%	-5.48%	5.91%	-5.88%	0.37%
Kennacraig to Islay/C'say/Oban	36.76%	-17.24%	-0.39%	18.25%	28.95%
Oban to Coll/Tiree/Castlebay	11.28%	-18.81%	21.47%	5.98%	-5.20%
Mallaig to Eigg/Muck/Rum/Canna	-14.67%	14.81%	-9.61%	6.81%	46.95%
Oban to Coll/Tiree	-2.92%	-1.11%	21.43%	0.02%	5.26%
Oban to Colonsay	-7.52%	4.21%	-0.89%	-4.84%	5.16%
Tobermory to Kilchoan	-4.90%	-8.27%	11.38%	-6.97%	-5.97%
Oban to Lismore	-1.33%	9.93%	12.61%	-0.84%	12.19%
Fionnphort to Iona	7.17%	13.04%	-4.07%	2.67%	-11.96%
Tayinloan to Gigha	-10.31%	-2.08%	5.56%	-3.51%	7.37%
Sconser to Raasay	-10.17%	-7.41%	0.11%	13.14%	21.04%
Berneray to Leverburgh	-1.17%	-4.32%	14.95%	-0.28%	3.75%
Ardmhor (Barra) to Eriskay	6.54%	-6.07%	21.99%	-3.32%	9.61%
Summary	-1.54%	-2.99%	6.75%	-2.45%	3.90%

CalMac Route	Commercial Vehicles % Difference 2011 - v 2010	Commercial Vehicles % Difference 2010 v 2009	Commercial Vehicles % Difference 2209 v 2008	Commercial Vehicles % Difference 2008 v 2007	Commercial Vehicles % Difference 2007 v 2006
Wemyss Bay to Rothesay	13.79%	4.91%	-15.52%	6.71%	-3.80%
Ardrossan to Brodick	-13.94%	13.95%	-7.90%	-7.45%	13.31%
Claonaig to Lochranza	-9.39%	1.55%	1.81%	-16.89%	46.83%
Largs to Cumbrae Slip	3.75%	-8.92%	-20.28%	-15.16%	20.50%
Colintraive to Rhubodach	9.80%	-8.36%	-14.13%	-2.73%	8.45%
Tarbert LF to Portavadie	10.97%	-17.99%	17.88%	-17.64%	2.64%
Kennacraig to Islay	10.58%	0.57%	-3.45%	4.89%	9.77%
Oban to Craignure	1.37%	6.13%	-4.45%	24.26%	5.47%
Oban to Castlebay/Lochboisdale	-6.79%	8.48%	19.08%	-2.87%	0.10%
Mallaig to Armadale	-26.44%	-3.48%	-36.24%	72.89%	-1.51%
Uig to Tarbert/Lochmaddy	3.37%	11.28%	-4.97%	5.15%	15.27%
Ullapool to Stornoway	12.75%	3.71%	5.90%	1.98%	1.91%
Fishnish to Lochaline	0.26%	12.90%	-11.96%	0.69%	19.62%
Kennacraig to Islay/C'say/Oban	29.04%	19.94%	-19.46%	-5.56%	77.95%
Oban to Coll/Tiree/Castlebay	10.43%	-20.80%	6.69%	17.50%	-9.97%
Mallaig to Eigg/Muck/Rum/Canna	21.59%	30.05%	14.69%	-15.71%	-11.02%
Oban to Coll/Tiree	19.94%	-6.90%	15.36%	-12.99%	9.25%
Oban to Colonsay	-8.90%	-3.31%	6.34%	-1.39%	-4.64%
Tobermory to Kilchoan	8.33%	-36.84%	111.11%	-60.87%	27.78%
Oban to Lismore	6.89%	12.26%	-13.82%	16.26%	2.12%
Fionnphort to Iona	-15.43%	18.66%	-2.49%	17.53%	-25.45%
Tayinloan to Gigha	-10.82%	2.73%	9.78%	-31.19%	4.14%
Sconser to Raasay	-28.37%	22.23%	-17.43%	43.10%	36.38%
Berneray to Leverburgh	10.68%	-11.44%	2.12%	-7.27%	41.19%
Ardmhor (Barra) to Eriskay	-10.61%	-4.81%	23.39%	-2.35%	-5.18%
Summary	4.11%	3.24%	-6.53%	0.94%	6.46%

Question reference: S4O-01287

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 September 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 September 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve administrative justice.

Question reference: S4W-09277

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 August 2012
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 12 September 2012

Data on Scottish Government support for ferry services are not broken down by route.

The deficit grant payments made by the Scottish Government to CalMac Ferries Ltd for the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services in the financial years 2007-08 to 2010-11 are as follows:

	2007-08	2008-09	2009-10	2010-11
Grant (£000)	£38,286	£53,338	£57,338	£58,113

Subsidy figures for CalMac Ferries Ltd for 2011-12 will be published in the Company’s annual accounts which will be available in October 2012. Copies of these accounts will be laid in the Parliament (SG/2012/155).

Question reference: S4W-09289

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 August 2012
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 12 September 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what the revenue was of each route operated by (a) CalMac Ferries Ltd and (b) NorthLink Ferries in (i) 2007, (ii) 2008, (iii) 2009, (iv) 2010 and (v) 2011.

Revenue data for CalMac Ferries Ltd and NorthLink Ferries Ltd operated ferry services are not available by route. Revenue figures for the whole Clyde and Hebrides ferry services (CHFS) network and the Northern Isles ferry services are detailed in the undernoted tables for the financial years 2007-08 to 2010-11.

CalMac Ferries Ltd	2007-08	2008-09	2009-10	2010-11
Revenue (£000)	£97,489	£109,507	£113,195	£115,173

Northlink Ferries Ltd	2007-08	2008-09	2009-10	2010-11
Revenue (£000)	£36,756	£48,832	£56,109	£58,275

Revenue figures for CalMac Ferries Ltd and NorthLink Ferries Ltd for 2011-12 will be published in their annual accounts which will be available in October 2012. Copies of these accounts will be laid in the Parliament (SG/2012/155 and SG/2012/156).

Question reference: S4W-09278

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 August 2012
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 12 September 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what the revenue has been of the CalMac Ferries Ltd-operated services to the Western Isles in each year since 2008.

Question reference: S4W-09279

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 August 2012
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 12 September 2012

To ask the Scottish Government how much road equivalent tariff support there was for each route operated by (a) CalMac Ferries Ltd and (b) NorthLink Ferries in (i) 2007, (ii) 2008, (iii) 2009, (iv) 2010 and (v) 2011.

Road equivalent tariff (RET) data for CalMac Ferries Ltd operated ferry services are not available by route. Information on Scottish Government support for RET for the Western Isles, Coll and Tiree is detailed in the undernoted table for the financial years 2007-08 to 2010-11.

2007-08	2008-09	2009-10	2010-11
£0	£1.9 million	£6.5 million	£6.5 million

RET figures for 2011-12 will be published in Scottish Government accounts which will be available shortly.

Question reference: S4W-08965

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 August 2012
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 21 August 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what mechanisms it will put in place to help local authorities achieve the level of childcare provision required as a result of the proposed Rights of Children and Young People bill.

Question reference: S4W-08964

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 August 2012
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 21 August 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what the estimated cost of childcare provision will be resulting from the proposed Rights of Children and Young People bill, broken down by local authority area.

Question reference: S4W-09010

Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 06 August 2012
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 21 August 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what guidelines it will issue to landlords who have opted out of the Tenancy Deposit Schemes (Scotland) Regulations 2011 on providing mechanisms for independent dispute resolution.

The Scottish Government has no plans to issue guidelines to private landlords on the provision of independent dispute resolution on matters related to tenant deposits.

All private landlords who take or hold a deposit in connection with a relevant tenancy have a legal duty to act in accordance with the Tenancy Deposit Schemes (Scotland) Regulations 2011, unless they are otherwise exempt. Landlords must also participate in the independent dispute resolution process provided by the scheme they choose to lodge a deposit with, if that is the preference of their tenants.