Chamber and committees

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: S5W-05914

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 10 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government when it last assessed the model of managing trunk road maintenance and what the outcome was.

The model for managing the Scottish Trunk Road Network was assessed as part of the procurement strategy in 2012 for the current 4^th Generation (4G) Trunk Road Maintenance Contracts. The strategy resulted in the current 5 unit model, with the contracts commencing in April 2013 for the North West and South West units; August 2014 for the North East and South East units; and June 2015 for the Forth Bridges unit.

The procurement strategy for the next generation (5G) contracts will be prepared during 2017.

Question reference: S5W-05612

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 22 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding who is responsible for advising the DVLA when an HGV licence-holder is convicted of a so-called road-rage offence.

The conditions attached to the gaining and retention of drivers' licences is regulated by the Road Traffic Act 1988 and is a reserved matter for the UK Government.

In the event an HGV driver is convicted of an endorsable offence, the Court will notify DVLA of the conviction. Where a conviction does not result in an endorsement (e.g. common assault), the holder of the Operator's Licence (the employer, or the individual in circumstances where the driver is self-employed), would be expected to notify the Traffic Commissioner.

The Traffic Commissioner would expect to be informed of such a conviction given their responsibility for ensuring HGV drivers remain "fit by reason of conduct" to retain their HGV licence.

Question reference: S5W-05382

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 20 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will list the bidders for the next Gourock to Dunoon ferry contract; when it expects to announce the preferred bidder, and when it will place the full procurement timetable for this contract on the Transport Scotland website.

Question reference: S5W-05611

Current Status: Withdrawn

Question reference: S5W-05172

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 8 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether the dualled section of A96 between Inverurie and Bucksburn complies with being a category 7A all-purpose dual carriageway as set out in the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB).

The current characteristics of the section of the A96 between Inverurie and Bucksburn are in line with a Category 5 dual all-purpose carriageway, which is generally kerbed or has a 1m hardstrip, has gaps in the central reserve and allows at-grade roundabouts. Grade separation can also be a feature of Category 5 roads.

The Scottish Government, through the Infrastructure Investment Plan (IIP) published in 2011, has committed to completing the dualling of the A96 between Inverness and Aberdeen by 2030. This is an ambitious target, but one that underlines our commitment to connecting Scotland’s cities with a high quality transport system that will generate economic growth.

The project will deliver a consistent, safe and high standard of route between Inverness and Aberdeen. As the project progresses, the developing solutions will be fully reviewed at the appropriate stage to ensure that they provide a value for money solution and that they achieve the best possible outcomes in return for the significant investment which will be required.

Question reference: S5W-05218

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 5 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-04737 by Humza Yousaf on 30 November 2016, what "local harbour legislation" Cromarty Firth Port Authority/Port of Cromarty Firth operates within.

Question reference: S5W-04738

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 30 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether a trust port can operate a limited company.

Question reference: S5W-04737

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 30 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what role it plays in reviewing the work of trust ports.

Question reference: S5W-04736

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 30 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how it will engage with stakeholders regarding the impact of the Harbours (Scotland) Act 2015, and what action it will take to gauge the success of the legislation in meeting its aims.

We have already engaged with affected ports and the Office for National Statistics on the impact of the 2015 Act, in particular its provisions relating to the repeal of the Scottish Ministers’ power to require a trust port to privatise.

ONS has recently agreed that removal of this provision by the 2015 Act has allowed them to reclassify affected Scottish trust ports as Private Non-Financial Corporations.

The 2015 Act’s requirement for Harbour Order applicants to only submit one copy of an order and supporting documents is already in effect and the industry has been made aware of this.

Question reference: S5W-04739

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 30 November 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has issued to trust ports regarding the conflict that might arise between their obligation to manage the assets of ports for the benefit of (a) service users, (b) employees, (c) local communities, (d) public authorities and (e) other stakeholders and any direct interest they have in a limited company.

The Scottish Government has not issued specific guidance to trust ports on this matter. Ports must act in accordance with the functions conferred upon them in their local legislation.

Trust Ports are expected to take account of guidance in ‘Modern Trust Ports For Scotland’ published in 2012 which includes considering the varying and potentially competing needs of all of its stakeholders, considering the interests of the port as a whole. A copy of Modern Trust Ports for Scotland is available at: http://www.transport.gov.scot/report/j249946-00.htm