- Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 April 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 2 May 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether CalMac has sufficient contingency to minimise disruption caused by breakdowns within its fleet.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-15994 on 3 May 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx
- Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 April 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 1 May 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been carried out of the (a) age and (b) condition of each of CalMac’s ferries.
Answer
All ships, including ferries, are subject to a very strict regulatory environment. CalMac’s ferries are owned by and chartered from Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL). Each vessel is maintained within classification rules set by the classification society, Lloyds Register. All vessels are also subject to flag state rules which in the case of the CalMac fleet are enforced by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).
All vessels that are both flagged and operated in UK waters, such as the CalMac fleet, are subject to periodic thorough surveys by the MCA. These statutory surveys are carried out by the MCA to ensure that the operator complies with the MCA’s statutory requirements. Vessel surveys are normally undertaken during the vessel’s annual dry docking.
Information on the age of CalMac’s ferries is available on Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd website at the following link: http://www.cmassets.co.uk/ferries/
- Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 April 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 1 May 2018
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason some train stations charge to use toilet facilities, and what (a) equalities and (b) environmental issues are considered when determining whether to impose these.
Answer
Abellio ScotRail maintained the charges for toilets it inherited from the previous franchise. The revenue generated helps with the on-going improvements and staffing of the facilities as well as helping to manage some
anti-social behaviour issues.
In addition, charges are in place at Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverley which are operated directly by Network Rail. Disabled customers are admitted free.
- Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 April 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 1 May 2018
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14851 by Humza Yousaf on 9 March 2018, whether it considers that the devolution of the functions of Network Rail could be achieved before the end of 2018 and, if so, what its position is on whether sufficient time exists to adequately implement such a change before the new funding mechanism comes into force.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-16006 on 1 May 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .
- Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 April 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 1 May 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) ScotRail and (b) the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) in light of the proposed strike action regarding the number of CCTV specialist staff.
Answer
The Minister has met with both TSSA officials and ScotRail, as he normally does, where this issue was discussed.
- Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 April 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 1 May 2018
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the second supplementary to question S5F-01881 by John Swinney on 16 November 2017 (Official Report, c. 20) regarding the ScotRail voluntary leaver scheme, in light of the Deputy First Minister's comment that Abellio ScotRail must fulfil its contractual obligations, whether it considers that the operator has done so by accepting severance applications from 17 of its 22 CCTV specialist staff.
Answer
The Franchise contract makes provision for management to pursue efficiency and effectiveness within its operation. It is for ScotRail to resolve this matter with Unions and staff consistent with its franchise obligations and within the commitment for no compulsory redundancies.
In total 9 "specialist CCTV staff" have left the company between the two centres through the Voluntary Leavers Scheme.
For clarity there is the equivalent of 61 full time posts within the CCTV centres at Paisley and Dunfermline.
- Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 April 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 1 May 2018
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14851 by Humza Yousaf on 9 March 2018, whether it has held any further discussions with the UK Government regarding the devolution of the functions of Network Rail.
Answer
In his discussion with Jo Johnson MP, Minister of State for Transport on 27 March, the Minister for Transport and the Islands re-iterated the Scottish Government’s long-held position that the Network Rail Scotland route should be fully devolved. Scottish Government officials have also had regular and detailed discussions with UK Government counterparts on the matter.
Changes to Network Rail’s devolved structure should take place well in advance of the start of Control Period 6 in April 2019, and this point has been made to the UK Government on several occasions. Such lead in time is required to ensure that sufficiently robust governance and accountability is in place to manage the change from capital borrowing to capital grant. Also to maximise the efficiency and adaptability of the Network Rail route in Scotland as we enter the new Control Period.
- Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 April 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 1 May 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what investment (a) was made in each of the last five years and (b) is planned for each of the next five years to (i) maintain and (ii) replace CalMac’s fleet.
Answer
Vessel Maintenance:
As the vessel owners, Caledonian Maritime assets Ltd (CMAL) undertake statutory upgrades to the CalMac fleet. Details on the levels of recent investment are as follows:-
Year | £m |
2014 | £1.9 |
2015 | £2.5 |
2016 | £2.0 |
2017 | £3.0 |
2018 | £3.0 ( Estimate) |
For future years CMAL have an annual statutory upgrade budget of £3m. From time to time there are changes in legislation which require statutory upgrades to the vessels. In addition, there are also other upgrades that are agreed with the vessel owners which will enhance or benefit the asset.
In addition to monies invested by CMAL, CalMac have confirmed the undernoted levels of investment for maintenance of the CalMac fleet in the past 5 years.
| | Financial Year Ending: |
| | March 2013 | March 2014 | March 2015 | March 2016 | March 2017 |
Maintenance (excl. owner upgrades) | £15.0m | £18.7m | £20.2m | £21.0m | £20.8m |
CalMac’s future programme of maintenance work is subject to change according to the vessels maintenance programme. In general terms the level of planned work will be broadly comparable to recent years. The level of work can vary due to planned variations in workscope and there will be an element of reactive maintenance work as a result of inspections and survey. During the course of day to day operations, there will also be unplanned breakdown maintenance which is included in the cost of maintenance of the fleet.
Vessel Replacement
The full list of new vessels introduced from 2014 is set out in the following table:-
Vessel | Financial year | Scottish Government investment | Third Party investment |
MV Hallaig | 2013-14 | £11.75m | |
MV Lochinvar | 2014-15 | £11.75m | |
MV Loch Seaforth* | 2014-15 | | £42.0m |
MV Catriona | 2016-17 | £12.8m | |
MV Carvoria | 2017-18 | £0.200m | |
Total | | £36.5m | £42.m |
*Owned by Lloyds leased by CMAL
We continue to invest. Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd are currently building two 100 metre dual fuel ferries, worth £97 million. These vessels are to be initially assigned to the Arran and Uig Triangle services.
On 4 April 2018 on a visit to Islay I announced that Islay will be next in line for a new ferry. My officials are investigating potential designs and there will be discussions with the island community at the appropriate point. The Vessel Replacement and Deployment Plan 2016 published on 31 January 2018 gives an overview of how existing, planned and prospective vessels could be deployed across the Clyde and Hebrides network to deliver the commitments set out in the Scottish Ferries Plan and better address forecast demand.
- Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 April 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 27 April 2018
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Police Scotland’s Vulnerable Person Database is operating in compliance with data protection law, and, if so, whether it will remain compliant following the forthcoming changes.
Answer
As noted in the response to Parliamentary Question S5W-13355 answered on 10 January 2018 , this is an operational matter for Police Scotland. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx
However, the Scottish Government understands that a new weeding and retention policy for the Vulnerable Persons Database was agreed in January 2018, to ensure that personal information is not kept longer than necessary in order to comply with data protection legislation.
Following this agreement, ICT development work associated with the technical solution is underway and expected to be fully implemented before the end of this calendar year. Police Scotland is fully cognisant of the forthcoming introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation from 25 May 2018, with which it will be required to comply.
- Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 April 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 26 April 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what the economic value of tourism is to each local authority area.
Answer
Statistics on the Gross Value Added of the Sustainable Tourism sector, for each of Scotland's Local Authorities, are published in Table 2.2
of the Scottish Government's Local Authority Area Growth Sector Statistics Database. The statistics can be accessed here:
http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Business/Publications/GrowthSectors/LADatabase
These statistics are based on the latest Annual Business Survey (ABS), conducted by the Office for National Statistics.
