Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-06998

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 04 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 17 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) Ltd identified any issues with the cabling for MV Glen Sannox prior to the week ending 24 December 2021.

Question reference: S6W-06999

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 04 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 17 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it carried out a survey of the (a) MV Glen Sannox and (b) Hull 802 vessels prior to taking Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd into public ownership, and whether it identified any issues during those surveys, and, if so, what those issues were.

Prior to the Scottish Government taking control of the yard leading to Nationalisation, it was not possible to undertake a detailed analysis of the work required to complete the vessels. The detailed design and planning was the responsibility of the former owners of the yard.

It was only once the yard was in Scottish Government control that the full information was available and the full extent of issues with the design and approval of the ship become known. On 18 December 2019, the Turnaround Director submitted a report on the conditions of the two ferries, together with a revised programme and cost to complete the vessels. A copy of the report can be found on the Scottish Government website – Ferguson Marine: report on cost and programme for vessels 801 and 802 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

Question reference: S6W-07207

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 March 2022
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Ash Regan on 17 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish its report in response to the recent public consultation on legal services regulation reform.

The Scottish Government committed in our most recent Programme for Government to launch a public consultation on legal services regulation reform, to consider what changes may be required to the statutory framework to protect consumer interests and promote a flourishing legal sector.

Delivering on that commitment, the consultation was published in 1 October 2021 and closed on 24 December 2021. The proposals consulted were developed collaboratively with stakeholders representing the legal sector and the consumer view.

The Scottish Government is carefully considering the responses to the consultation, and a consultation analysis report will be published later this year.

Question reference: S6W-07149

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 16 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has cost Historic Environment Scotland to erect and maintain scaffolding at the Dun Carloway Broch site since July 2019.

The information requested is not held centrally, but instead concerns day-to-day operational matters best answered directly by Historic Environment Scotland. Please be advised I have asked Historic Environment Scotland to write to the member with the answer to his question.

Further to this enquiry, I understand that Historic Environment Scotland have offered Donald Cameron MSP a site visit to Dun Carloway Broch with Historic Environment Scotland experts, to learn first-hand about the type of issues that the property is facing, and I look forward to learning the results of this visit.

Question reference: S6W-06888

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 25 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 8 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what financial support it will offer to local authorities to help upgrade school IT networks so that these can cope with every pupil receiving a free tablet or laptop.

Question reference: S6F-00884

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 07 March 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 March 2022

To ask the First Minister whether she will provide an update on the Spring roll-out of the COVID-19 booster vaccine.

Question reference: S6O-00840

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 March 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any legal advice it has sought for its proposed Independence Referendum Bill.

Question reference: S6W-06089

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 1 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-03100 by Graeme Dey on 30 September 2021, for what reasons its Strategic Transport Projects Review 2 did not recommend a fixed link from South Ronaldsay (Orkney Islands) to Gills Bay (Scottish mainland).

STPR2 did not recommend further work on the business case development of this proposed fixed link after being considered at the detailed appraisal stage.

An engineering assessment of the shortest possible road tunnel and alternate bridge option, which measured 15kms and 12kms respectively, concluded that both options were currently impractical to construct. The tunnel on the grounds of fire safety and the bridge due to the potential length of span required over the deepest section of water.

Furthermore, while the STPR2 Case for Change for the Highlands and Islands Region highlighted issues relating to the resilience of island connections, no analysis undertaken through the STPR2 process supported a conclusion that a fixed link connection between the Orkney Islands and Scottish mainland would address this strategic problem. Instead, STPR2 recommendation 24, recommends the renewal and replacement of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services and Northern Isles Ferry Services vessels including progressive decarbonisation by 2045.

Question reference: S6W-06088

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 1 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-03100 by Graeme Dey on 30 September 2021, for what reasons its Strategic Transport Projects Review 2 did not recommend a tunnel between Benbecula and Skye.

STPR2 did not recommend further work on the business case development of this proposed fixed link after being considered at the detailed appraisal stage.

An engineering assessment of the shortest possible road tunnel and alternate bridge option, which measured 32kms and 24kms respectively, concluded that both options were currently impractical to construct. The tunnel on the grounds of fire safety and the bridge due to the potential length of span required over the deepest section of water.

Furthermore, while the STPR2 Case for Change for the Highlands and Islands Region highlighted issues relating to the resilience of island connections, no analysis undertaken through the STPR2 process supported a conclusion that a fixed link connection between the Outer Hebrides (Benbecula) and Skye would address this strategic problem. Instead, STPR2 recommendation 24, recommends the renewal and replacement of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services and Northern Isles Ferry Services vessels including progressive decarbonisation by 2045.

Question reference: S6W-06087

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 February 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 1 March 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-03100 by Graeme Dey on 30 September 2021, for what reasons its Strategic Transport Projects Review 2 did not recommend a new rail connection to/from Kintyre linking to Cowal, including fixed link or ferry crossing.

STPR2 did not recommend further work on the business case development for this proposed fixed link after the preliminary appraisal stage.

This was on the basis that the assessment work had highlighted significant issues in relation to topography and infrastructure requirements needed for this option.

As a result the option was assessed as not offering “value for money” and consequently was not considered further in the appraisal process.

The Access to Argyll and Bute (A83) project announced a recommended preferred route corridor through Glen Croe in March 2021. This will help address the strategic need to improve connectivity to the Argyll and Bute region.

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