Questions and answers

Question reference: S4O-05689

Asked by: Mike MacKenzie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 March 2016
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Developing the Young Workforce programme.

Question reference: S4W-30551

Asked by: Mike MacKenzie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 March 2016
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by John Swinney on 14 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish a consultation paper on a new tax to replace air passenger duty in Scotland.

Question reference: S4O-05679

Asked by: Mike MacKenzie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 March 2016
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made with the dualling of the A9.

Question reference: S4O-05615

Asked by: Mike MacKenzie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 February 2016
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Island Areas Ministerial Working Group.

Question reference: S4W-29924

Asked by: Mike MacKenzie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 February 2016
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 16 February 2016

To ask the Scottish Government when it will issue the final invitation to tender for the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services.

The final invitation to tender (ITT) to operate the Clyde and Hebrides lifeline ferry services (CHFS) has issued to CalMac Ferries Ltd. and Serco Caledonian Ferries Ltd.

The Independent Procurement Reference Panel’s final report on the procurement process for CHFS has been published on 16 February 2016, alongside the ITT. The panel confirmed, as was the case for the initial and interim stages, the final invitation to tender was fair, open and transparent to both bidders.

Both participants are required to submit their final bids by 7 March 2016. We anticipate that the successful operator will be announced at the end of May 2016 and begin the new eight year contract from 1 October 2016.

The ITT and the panel’s report have been published on Transport Scotland’s website http://www.transport.gov.scot/ferries/clyde-and-hebrides.

Question reference: S4T-01318

Asked by: Mike MacKenzie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 February 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 February 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the productivity of the Laggan and Tormore fields west of Shetland.

Question reference: S4O-05492

Asked by: Mike MacKenzie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 January 2016
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 27 January 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what recent investment it has made in school infrastructure in the Highlands and Islands.

Through the Schools for the Future programme, the Scottish Government are currently supporting the construction costs of 20 school projects in the Highlands and Islands.

In addition, the First Minister announced on Monday 25 January 2016 that we will be supporting the construction costs of a further 19 school projects across Scotland. This includes Alness Academy in the Highlands and Lossiemouth High School in Moray.

This is a further demonstration of the Scottish Government's ongoing commitment to improving the quality of Scotland's school estate.

Question reference: S4W-29167

Asked by: Mike MacKenzie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 January 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 18 January 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what action its agencies take to promote the use of locally-sourced stone.

Historic Environment Scotland, which is a non-departmental public body, is working with the British Geological Survey to develop a natural stone database for Scotland that will enable public access to records and information on building stone types, quarries from which stone has been sourced and buildings in which it has been used. This database, which is due to be launched in 2017, will help the Scottish stone industry promote the historic and future use of stone resources. Historic Environment Scotland is funding the British Geological Survey to identify further opportunities for it to work with the Scottish stone industry to secure resources for the conservation of our historic environment.

Historic Environment Scotland promotes the use of technically appropriate and locally sourced stone and regularly advises on testing and matching materials. The body encourages local authorities to make this a requirement when approving planning applications for listed building consent for alterations, extensions or demolitions works. It is hoped this will raise awareness of the importance of using the correct stone type and help stimulate supply of an appropriate local material.

Historic Environment Scotland also promotes the use of traditional Scottish materials through the Engine Shed: Scotland’s Building Conservation Centre, which plans to open in Stirling later in 2016. Historic Environment Scotland is required to operate within public procurement frameworks, which reflect EU procurement rules and require open and fair competition. Within this context, Historic Environment Scotland will work closely with the indigenous building stone industry to promote the use of locally sourced materials.

Question reference: S4W-29168

Asked by: Mike MacKenzie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 January 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 18 January 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to promote the use of locally-sourced stone when work is being carried out on buildings and structures that are considered iconic.

‘Creating Places’, the Scottish Government policy on architecture and place, published in 2013, encourages project clients, commissioners, designers and approvers to take advantage of locally-sourced materials to facilitate sustainable development.

An overarching aim of the policy is that design should respond appropriately to context. However, it is recognised that use of specific materials may be subject to EU procurement rules on open and fair competition for the supply of material and provisions in the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014, which require contracting authorities to consider, before carrying out a regulated procurement, how it can improve the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of their area.

The Scottish Government supports Architecture and Design Scotland to provide advice on the use of sustainable materials, including stone.

On 1 October 2015 the Scottish Government launched Historic Environment Scotland as a non-departmental public body with a general function of investigating, caring for and promoting Scotland’s historic environment. Historic Environment Scotland’s activities include providing expert advice for the conservation, repair and maintenance of historic buildings and structures, including the use of appropriate materials.

Question reference: S4W-29166

Asked by: Mike MacKenzie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 January 2016
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 15 January 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what advice it provides to local authorities to encourage the use of locally-sourced stone.

‘Creating Places’, the Scottish Government policy on architecture and place, published in 2013, encourages project clients, commissioners, designers and approvers to take advantage of locally-sourced materials to facilitate sustainable development. The Scottish Government supports Architecture and Design Scotland to provide advice on the use of sustainable materials, including stone.

An overarching aim of the policy is that design should respond appropriately to context. However, it is recognised that use of specific materials may be subject to EU procurement rules on open and fair competition for the supply of material and provisions in the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014, which require contracting authorities to consider, before carrying out a regulated procurement, how it can improve the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of their area.

On behalf of Scottish Government, Historic Environment Scotland and the British Geological Survey have worked in partnership with a number of local authorities to identify local natural stone resources for potential use in the conservation, repair and maintenance of traditional buildings; these include Orkney Islands Council, East Ayrshire Council, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. Through its education and outreach programme, Historic Environment Scotland continues to raise awareness of the importance of natural stone resources to our sense of place and encourages local authorities to actively investigate local building stone resources and to recognise the sustainable economic development opportunities that an indigenous stone industry can provide through local employment, particularly in rural areas.

Chamber and committees