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: S6W-14008

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 24 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has provided to meet emergency repair work at fishing harbours since July 2019.

Question reference: S6W-13748

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 24 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the reported statement by Transport Scotland, that the delay to the publication of the 2023 ferry fares for CalMac is due to the cost of living crisis, is credible.

Question reference: S6W-13747

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 24 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government on what date Transport Scotland will confirm the 2023 ferry fare rates for CalMac.

Question reference: S6W-13750

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 24 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the reported decision by CalMac, to publish its 2023 summer sailing timetable in two phases, will have a detrimental impact on island businesses and those who rely on advanced bookings.

CFL will open up all routes for the whole summer timetable period by Friday 20 January – with the exception of Mallaig-Armadale, Mallaig-Small Isles and Mallaig-Lochboisdale, (which will open by 31 January).

For the Mallaig routes, CFL are still working through tidal amendments for the whole summer timetables. CFL will engage with those communities directly. However, each community are already aware of their core timetables.

Question reference: S6W-13746

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 24 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government on what date it anticipates CalMac will publish the (a) first and (b) second phase of its 2023 summer sailing timetable.

CalMac Ferries Ltd (CFL) issued communications to stakeholders on 17 January confirming it will open up all routes for the whole summer timetable period by Friday 20 January – with the exception of Mallaig-Armadale, Mallaig-Small Isles and Mallaig-Lochboisdale (which will open by 31 January).

For the Mallaig routes, CFL are still working through tidal amendments for the whole summer timetables and that work will not be complete by 20 January. CFL will engage with those communities directly and explain the reasons for the delay. However, each community are already aware of their core timetables.

Question reference: S6W-13745

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 24 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason CalMac is reportedly delaying the publication of its 2023 summer sailing timetable.

The delay was due to the necessary detailed consideration and discussions required at all levels of Government in order to find a way to mitigate the impact on ferry fares of an unprecedented level of CPI of 9.1%.

I announced on 15 January that fares on the Northern Isles and Clyde & Hebrides ferry networks will be frozen for six months.

The decision on fares allows operators to now release their timetables for booking until the end of September.

Question reference: S6W-13749

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 24 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason CalMac is reportedly planning to publish its 2023 summer sailing timetable in two phases rather than in its entirety.

CFL will open up all routes for the whole summer timetable period by Friday 20 January – with the exception of Mallaig-Armadale, Mallaig-Small Isles and Mallaig-Lochboisdale (which will open by 31 January).

For the Mallaig routes, CFL are still working through tidal amendments for the whole summer timetables and that work will not be complete by 20 January. CFL will engage with those communities directly. However, each community are already aware of their core timetables.

Question reference: S6W-13744

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 24 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported comments by Cllr Uisdean Robertson that the ferries division of Transport Scotland should be relocated to an islands base, rather than being based in Edinburgh, in light of reports of delays to the publication of CalMac’s 2023 summer sailing timetable and its 2023 ferry fares.

The delays to the publication of the timetable and confirmation of fare levels were not related in any way to the geographical location of Transport Scotland staff.

The delay was wholly due to the necessary detailed consideration and discussions required at all levels of Government in order to find a way to mitigate the impact on ferry fares of an unprecedented level of CPI of 9.1%.

The Scottish Government is acutely aware of the particular challenges faced by our island communities, where the ongoing cost of living impacts are arguably more challenging than in any other part of the country. Additionally, Ministers are mindful of the disruption on the ferry network in recent times - particularly in relation to the Clyde and Hebrides network.

I was pleased to announce last week a six month fares freeze, it is the right thing for our island communities and I hope it will go some way to encouraging tourism this summer as island businesses continue to recover from the pandemic .

Question reference: S6W-13599

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many NHS 24 call handlers who can speak more than one language there have been in each year since 2017.

Question reference: S6W-13752

Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 24 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether reported delays to CalMac’s new booking system is contributing towards the late publication of its 2023 summer sailing timetable.