- Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 June 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 16 June 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what lessons will be learned from the incident over the weekend of 29 May 2021, which saw 17 lorries left behind in Stornoway due to a shortage of freight capacity.
Answer
Since becoming Minister for Transport, I have prioritised issues on our ferry networks. I have met with senior CalMac representatives to provide support and with local MSPs (25 May) to hear their concerns. I have agreed to continue with regular dialogue given the importance of the issue.
Following these discussions and in light of the recent issues with the MV Loch Seaforth, funding has now been agreed which will allow officials to work with CalMac Ferries Ltd to implement the process of chartering the MV Pentalina. Berthing trials are happening this week to assess the suitability of the vessel across the network.
In relation to the issue with the MV Hebridean Isles, I understand all goods were shipped early Saturday morning and the remainder later that afternoon (29 May 2021) on the MV Isle of Lewis.
- Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 June 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 16 June 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether Abellio ScotRail requires ministerial permission to agree a rest-day working enhancement for ticket examiner and conductor grades.
Answer
The Scottish Government has already spent around £1bn to support Scottish rail services – including an increase of more than £400m over normal rail support payments for ScotRail. As well as maintaining essential railway services this funding has secured full railway staff employment throughout the pandemic period.
Abellio ScotRail is authorised to negotiate increases in pay from within the available railway Emergency Measures Agreement funding where the cost of these increases can be fully covered by mutually agreed efficiencies negotiated through the existing collective bargaining arrangements.
- Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 June 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Clare Haughey on 16 June 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance has been issued to (a) local authorities and (b) primary schools regarding children's transitions from early learning and childcare to primary school (i) generally and (ii) in relation to parents and carers attending their child's P1 induction days.
Answer
The Coronavirus (COVID-19): early learning and childcare (ELC) services was updated on 21 May to include a new section with guidance on transitions to primary school . This guidance is aimed at ELC settings and local authorities. Similar guidance has also been issued to schools.The guidance states that where this minimises the number of adults visiting schools, children should be accompanied to transition visits by ELC staff rather than by parents. The guidance explains that this should also ensure that the visit is undertaken by someone who is familiar with and used to applying the COVID risk mitigations in education settings.
Schools will be able to explain what alternative provisions they have in place to engage with parents remotely to support their child’s transition to school.
The guidance also explains that schools should be able to proceed with enhanced in person transition visits to support children who need it most. This allows children with additional support needs to become familiar with the primary school before they attend in August, in line with responsibilities under the Additional Support for Learning Act. This may involve the attendance of parents but this will be decided on a case by case basis through dialogue between the ELC setting and the school and should be supported by a bespoke risk assessment.
- Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 June 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 16 June 2021
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has reportedly not provided additional funding for the outstanding 2020 Abellio ScotRail pay award, in light of it funding a performance and management fee for the company under its Emergency Measures Agreement.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-00322 on 16 June 2021 2021. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 June 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 16 June 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding moving driving licence theory tests to an online system.
Answer
Driver and vehicle licensing and testing is reserved to the UK government. Matters relating to the delivery mechanism and conduct of the driving theory test are the responsibility of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) although they are required to follow the regulations and guidance in force in Scotland to suppress transmission of Covid-19. The Scottish government is in regular dialogue with the DVSA to discuss its progress in reducing the backlog of theory and practical driving tests that have arisen following the introduction of Covid-19 restrictions but we are not aware of any plans to deliver the driving theory test on an online basis.
- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 June 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 16 June 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on the Smart Ticketing Delivery Strategy 2018, and whether it anticipates any delays in its implementation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answer
Transport Scotland continues to make good progress on the 2018 Smart Ticketing Delivery Strategy, having introduced smart interoperability, exceeded smart journey targets, established the Mobility as Service Investment Fund and continuing to support operators during the pandemic so that over 90% of bus services now accept contactless payment, reducing contagion points for passengers. Work on the Transport Act Smart Ticketing and Bus Open Data measures was paused during the pandemic, however is now reconvening, with consultation on the National Smart Ticketing Advisory Board expected this summer. Additional projects responding to the pandemic have also been delivered, including multi-operator ‘Bus capacity tracker’ service through Traveline Scotland - significantly improving people’s ability to plan their journey and travel safely - and a trial supporting the NHS track and trace on board rail and ferry services.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 03 June 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 16 June 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what action it plans to improve the booking system for COVID-19 vaccinations, and how it is addressing any reported issues or concerns that have arisen since the current system was implemented.
Answer
The Scottish Government aim is that is that the public should be able to access COVID- 19 vaccinations they require, at the time and in the format that they need it in. We are actively investigating more interactive appointing systems, while recognising that this will not work for everyone and will be need to be accompanied by other ways of securing appointments.
As a Government we always looking to improve service delivery, and building on the success of the unpaid carers and 18 to 29 years old self-registration service, lessons learned from the implementation of the National Vaccination Scheduling Systems, is that there is an opportunity to move to a more person- centred appointments services with benefits for individuals and communities, alike.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 03 June 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 16 June 2021
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the use of electric scooters on streets is prohibited and, in light of reports suggesting that these vehicles might provide potential environmental benefits, what plans it has to review its position regarding their use.
Answer
Electric scooters (e-scooters) are effectively illegal to ride on streets and in other public places due to a number of pieces of UK-wide and Scottish legislation.
Last summer, the UK Government made some amendments to UK legislation to allow limited trials of rentable e-scooters to take place in local authority areas – aiming to gather evidence on effects of their use in a controlled environment. These amendments were made on a fast-track basis to facilitate rapid progression of trials in English local authorities. The UK Government did not factor-in time in planning the trials for the Scottish Parliament to consider and potentially implement the changes to Scottish law that would be required in order for trials to take place in Scottish local authority areas.
The UK Government has signalled its intention to publish proposals in 2022 for potential further legalisation of e-scooters beyond the current trials. Scottish legislation continues to apply in Scotland which makes use of e-scooters on roads or cycle paths illegal. The Scottish Government will continue to monitor trends as a matter of course in order to inform future policy.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 03 June 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 16 June 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support Caledonian Sleeper staff who are planning industrial action for 11 days over a pay dispute.
Answer
The Scottish Government has provided exceptional additional funding in excess of £35 million to maintain full employment on full pay for Caledonian Sleeper Staff, throughout the pandemic period, despite the significant reduction in passenger numbers. In total, the Scottish Government has spent around £1bn thus far to maintain essential services and full railway staff employment since the start of Covid lockdown.
Given this exceptional financial support, there is no additional funding available to support an increase in costs. However, Serco Caledonian Sleepers Limited is authorised to increase pay where this can be fully funded by agreed efficiencies negotiated though the established collective bargaining process with staff representatives.
I understand that discussions on possible efficiencies have been offered and I encourage staff representatives to negotiate to secure a reasonable agreement that will avoid their proposed disruption to passengers and significant and unnecessary loss of pay for railway staff.
- Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 03 June 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 16 June 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether planning regulations need reforming, and what its response is to reports of decisions by East Dunbartonshire Council being overturned by Ministers, leading to pressure on local infrastructure and loss of greenbelt land.
Answer
The Scottish Government is currently progressing a programme of reform of Scotland’s planning system, including implementation of the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019.
The right to appeal certain planning decisions made by local planning authorities is a long-established and important part of the planning system, recently supported by the Scottish Parliament in passing the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019. In the vast majority of appeals independent reporters from the Scottish Government’s Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) are appointed to decide the appeal. In all cases the reporter is required by statute to make the final decision on the planning merits of the case, in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. The reporter takes full account of submissions made by all parties involved in the appeal, including those made by members of the local community.
Since 1 January 2018 reporters have made the final decision on 8 planning appeals in East Dunbartonshire Council area - refusing the appeal on six occasions and allowing the appeal and granting planning permission on two occasions. One of the proposals granted planning permission was an extension to the Bearsden Golf Club and the other for residential development in Bishopbriggs. In both appeals the reporter found that the proposal conformed with the Development Plan.