Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government carried out a staff travel survey in 2012. The survey results can be viewed online:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2014/01/2595

Since I last commented on the investigation on the use of Scotland's airports for rendition flights, I can confirm that an interim report has been provided by Police Scotland, outlining the information they have gathered to date in particular in relation to the rendition project's report. Further investigations have been instructed. This includes consideration of the recent findings from the United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Study of the Central Intelligence Agency’s Detention and Interrogation Program, the executive summary of which was published on 9 December 2014. This report includes reference to rendition flights and it is important to look at this source of information to check whether there is any evidence disclosed in the report of Scottish airports being used for such flights. This is a complex investigation and is international in scope which requires detailed and thorough investigation and consideration. Once the final report is submitted to the Crown it will be considered by Crown Counsel who will make any decision on criminal proceedings. Crown Counsel's decision will be made public.

Yes. We have had broad assurance from the Department for Transport (DfT) that the current levels of service provision will be maintained in the new InterCity East Coast franchise.

Specific advice from DfT, however, is that there is no specific obligation on the new East Coast franchisee to deploy specific set formations on any given route; the new franchise agreement will place an obligation on the franchise operator to utilise the Intercity Express Programme fleet in a way that best meets demand.

We will reiterate our view that current levels of provision must be fully maintained in our discussions with the new franchisee.

As noted in my response to the answer to question S4W-23610 on 23 December 2014, we have provided comprehensive advice to the Department for Transport on this issue. Officials have also discussed this requirement with all bidders for the InterCity East Coast franchise in advance of their bids.

Information received from the Department for Transport indicates that InterCity Express trains will be built with a galley to provide hot food to all passengers, although we have not seen the full detail of the winning bid for InterCity East Coast, and await confirmation of this point.

We will pursue this issue directly in discussions with the new franchisee.

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.

In December 2012 the Scottish Government provided a letter of advice to the UK Government on its requirements of the InterCity East Coast franchise. This included advice on the need for continued and improved catering provision for passengers travelling north of Edinburgh.

The advice notes ‘the particular requirements of the long distance market in terms of catering and passenger comfort and amenity’, and that ‘services to Scotland (particularly to Aberdeen and Inverness) are amongst the longest passenger rail services in the UK, and notes the need for enhanced luggage space and catering over these routes’.

In summary, the advice argues that ‘it is important that a full catering offer is retained on services to Scotland, and that offer recognises that some services extend more than three hours beyond Edinburgh’.

However, the Scottish Government does not have the powers to direct the franchisee. The InterCity East Coast franchise is specified and let by the UK Government.

We do not currently have information on the sectional running times of the InterCity Express trains over the Perth to Inverness route. We are aware of concerns about the performance of these trains, as you have highlighted, and have sought clarification from the Department for Transport.

We will raise the performance of these trains in discussion with the new franchisee.

The Scottish Government is fully committed to the vision of A More Active Scotland in ensuring that the people of Scotland, including Scottish Government employees, will enjoy more active and healthier lives.

We have created a physical activity hub that provides guidance, links and advice about free healthy living opportunities, sports and fitness clubs, active volunteering, active travel, Scottish Government physical activity policies, cycle and walking routes and more. It also sets out information about organised challenges across all ability levels which employees can consider getting involved in.

The Scottish Government Sports and Social Association (SGSSA) and court sport are responsible for the promotion and development of recreational, sporting and social facilities and activities for employees and retired employees of the Scottish Government and its agencies, providing access to a range of workplace based facilities including workplace gymnasiums, swimming pool and instructor led classes to increase levels of personal activity and fitness.

As part of our employee assistance, contract staff have access to a Help Health and Wellbeing Service – a unique web-based health management resource that offers a combination of personally tailored programmes and general health information and support, including personal training programmes, weight management planning, healthy eating and nutritional advice, stress management solutions and a general advice centre.

In addition, we participate in and promote initiatives and schemes such as Fit in ’14, Physical Activity Awareness Week, Walk to Work Week and Cycle 2 Work.

The Scottish Government is a strong supporter of environmental justice. It is wholly committed to having appropriate structures in place to protect our environment which enable the best decisions to be made around activities that affect it.

As regards to the SNP manifesto commitment to publish an options paper on an environmental court, the Scottish Government will meet this commitment before the end of this parliamentary term in 2016.

The requirements for equality impact assessment are laid out in The Equality Act (2010) Specific Duties (Scotland) Regulations 2012. In line with the regulations, the equality impact assessment is applicable to new or revised plans, policies and strategies, but it is not required for individual operational decisions, such as, which monuments and structures to designate.

Historic Scotland approaches diversity from a broad perspective, seeking to address and celebrate the full spectrum of cultural diversity. Historic Scotland consistently retains this as a core principle throughout its development programmes in seeking to enhance understanding.

Reflecting this position, Historic Scotland’s approach to diversity in its developmental programmes is to ensure that the topic is a theme which is addressed throughout. There are specific sessions on disability and diversity in Historic Scotland’s induction package for new staff.