- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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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 whether it will meet with representatives of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar to discuss (a) short-term and (b) medium-term proposals for the improvement of ferry services (i) to, (ii) from and (ii) within the Western Isles.
Answer
Transport Scotland (TS) and the Scottish Government Islands Team meet regularly with elected members and officers of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar to discuss a range of ferries issues including future planning and have also engaged on the Comhairle's Local Transport Strategy. The Comhairle were also a partner in a recent study, commissioned and funded by TS, of future options for ferry services to, from and within the Outer Hebrides. The Comhairle has produced a paper setting out proposals for ferry service improvements and future vessel investments and an initial meeting to discuss this with government officials has been arranged.
- 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 the Abellio ScotRail pay awards for 2020 and 2021 remain outstanding, and whether it will meet representatives of the recognised trade unions to discuss this.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-00322 on 16 June 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: Siobhian Brown, MSP for Ayr, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 June 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 16 June 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider changing the current COVID-19 regulations regarding the docking of UK cruise ships to enable passengers to embark and disembark in areas in Level 2 or lower so that they have the same freedoms as people travelling between Scotland and England via plane, train or bus.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-00577 on 16 June 2021. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx
- 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: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, 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, to bring them in line with other forms of travel, what consideration it has given to reviewing social-distancing requirements on board ferries.
Answer
Physical distancing has been an important element in controlling the spread of COVID which is key to keeping our economy open and moving forward to recovery from the impacts of the virus.
Much work has been undertaken by operators in order to safely maximise capacity on ferries. The exemption from 10 July 2020 to allow 1 metre distancing on ferries, with appropriate risk mitigations, significantly increased passenger capacity, and continues to ensure that ferry services can support the reopening of the tourism sector that is so essential for the sustainability of island and rural economies, as well as enabling islanders to travel to the mainland.
The Scottish Government is reviewing physical distancing including its impact on transport, and an announcement of the outcome of this review is due shortly. Sectoral guidance will be updated to reflect the outcome of the review. Physical distancing has been an important tool for controlling the virus but, as with all restrictions, we will only have this in place as long as is necessary.
- 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, further to the answer to question S5W-36144 by Michael Matheson on 23 March 2021, by what date the (a) Abellio ScotRail and (b) Serco Caledonian Sleeper Emergency Measures Agreement performance and management fees will be published on the Transport Scotland website.
Answer
It was Transport Scotland’s intention to publish the Emergency Measures Agreements 1 (March – September 2020) performance and management fee values for (a) Abellio ScotRail and (b) Serco Caledonian Sleepers Ltd in April 2021.
However, due to the pre-election period this was not possible and Transport Scotland now intend to publish this information in due course upon completion of an appropriate diligence process to establish the correct contractual amounts.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist 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 to which shipyards it proposes to award contracts to build the ferries that will replace those in the current CalMac fleet.
Answer
It is too early to say where future vessels to replace the current CalMac fleet will be built. These replacement programmes will follow national procurement rules; ensuring quality, value for money and the timely delivery of vessels to serve our island communities.
On 8 June 2021 I announced that the process to build a new ferry for Islay was formally under way. The Scottish Government look forward to continuing to work with key stakeholders to develop programmes for major vessels and small vessels – investing at least £580m in our ferry networks over the next five years.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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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 whether it will make a statement on the causes of the MV Loch Seaforth's withdrawal from service, and whether it is satisfied that all of the measures recommended by the vessel's builders were undertaken during its annual maintenance.
Answer
The breakdown on the MV Loch Seaforth caused unacceptable disruption for our island communities. It is imperative the causes of that breakdown are understood and lessons properly learned so that we avoid this situation arising again in future. The cause of the breakdown remains subject to ongoing investigation. It would be inappropriate to comment further until that investigation is complete .