Questions and answers

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 ��˿�� 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-01111

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 28 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 15 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve the reliability of CalMac crossings to Arran in advance of summer 2022.

The Scottish Government is committed to maintaining and improving the reliability of lifeline ferry services that play a key role in supporting the economic, social and cultural development of island and remote communities - including the Arran service.

We continue to invest in the reliability of vessels in Clyde and Hebrides network through the Resilience Fund which was established in 2008 to improve the future reliability and availability of vessels, including both vessels operating on the Ardrossan to Brodick route and for ensuring the resilience of the Lochranza service.

It is extremely disappointing that Pentland Ferries has taken a business decision not to make the MV Pentalina available for charter. However, the Scottish Government will continue to work with CalMac and Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd to actively explore opportunities for chartering alternative additional tonnage for the Clyde and Hebrides network.

Question reference: S6W-01112

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 28 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 15 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of ferry disruption to and from Arran, and what the economic cost is to the island of such disruption.

Question reference: S6W-01108

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 28 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 15 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what the annual maintenance and repair costs have been for each ferry in the CalMac fleet in each year since 2010.

CalMac invests significantly in vessel maintenance. Each vessel is taken out of service annually to undergo an established programme of inspection and maintenance activities. This includes planned maintenance, preventative maintenance, repair and certification renewal to ensure the continued safety and reliability of the service.

The annual cost of maintenance and repairs by CalMac Ferries Limited on the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services fleet since 2010 is detailed in the following table:

The figures are given as a fleet value rather than per vessel to retain commercial confidentiality of CalMac Ferries Limited.

CHFS1 contract (October 2007 to September 2016) *
CY4	CY5	CY6	CY7	CY8	CY9
2010-11	2011-12	2012-13	2013-14	2014-15	2015-16
£	£	£	£	£	£
8,773,942	9,740,368	10,913,829	1,256,003	14,586,837	22,676,731

CHFS2 contract (October 2016 to September 2024) *
CY1	CY2	CY3	CY4	CY5
2016-17	2017-18	2018-19	2019-20	2020-21
£	£	£	£	£
14,065,768	17,522,632	15,604,781	18,360,136	17,883,821 **

* Contract Year (CY) is October to September

** CHFS2 CY5 value is a forecast

Question reference: S6W-01109

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 28 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 13 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how it is developing the skills base required for further ferry replacement projects at the shipbuilding yards on the Lower Clyde.

Ferguson Marine have strong links with the local college and have a thriving apprentice community. The yard currently have five apprentices who will complete their training this summer, and a further twenty four who will shortly be moving up into their second year.

The 2021 apprentice recruitment process is also underway, aimed at recruiting fifteen new apprentices for September 2021. The yard are also considering a Foundation Apprentice programme, and potentially taking apprentices into non-technical disciplines such as Finance and Human Resources.

Question reference: S6W-01105

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 28 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 13 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what factors will affect the final launch date of (a) MV Glen Sannox and (b) Hull 802, following completion of the project.

Question reference: S6W-01110

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 28 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 13 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its long-term ambitions are for the Ferguson Marine yard in Inverclyde.

Question reference: S6W-01104

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 28 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 13 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the letter of 24 June 2021 from Ferguson Marine to the Convener of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee, when it became aware of the further delay to Hulls 801 and 802.

Question reference: S6O-00038

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 June 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans for National Towns of Culture.

Question reference: S6F-00067

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 June 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 June 2021

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will consider issuing a formal apology to the historic victims of forced adoption.

Question reference: S5W-36126

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 March 2021
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 23 March 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact on (a) Hunterston and Torness power stations and (b) EDF Renewables of the reported EU plan to break-up EDF, and what discussions it has had or plans with (i) the UK Government, (ii) EDF and (iii) the EU regarding this.