I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-06601 on 8 February 2017. 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

The Scottish Government paid 200,000 in January 2015 to DFDS, in support of the company’s operation of the Rosyth to Zeebrugge freight ferry service. The Scottish Government has not provided Forth Ports with funding for the route since January 2015.

The Scottish Government is committed to securing the Rosyth to Zeebrugge ferry service on an environmentally and economically sustainable basis in the interests of the freight industry and businesses in Scotland.

The Scottish Government has not raised the issue of seafarer pay rates on the Rosyth to Zeebrugge freight route with the UK Government or DFDS.

Scottish Ministers wrote to UK Ministers on 4 November 2016 asking the UK Government to investigate the wider issue of employment protection for seafarers, including the applicability of National Minimum Wage legislation in the maritime sector, specifically regarding seafarers working exclusively in UK waters.

Data on the number of freight passengers travelling on the Rosyth to Zeebrugge ferry is published in the Scottish Transport Statistics. The latest figures are at Table 9.13(b) in the report at:

http://www.transport.gov.scot/report/j415388-12.htm

It should be noted that the Finlandia Seaways can carry a maximum of
12 passengers per sailing.

The information requested is not held by the Scottish Government as Rosyth to Zeebrugge is a commercial freight ferry route operated by DFDS.

Improvements to the port facility or vessel to increase the capacity and improve the environmental performance have been made by the port authority Forth Ports or ferry operator DFDS.

We understand this included improvements to the port infrastructure to allow double stacked containers to be loaded onto the vessel, as well as the installation of scrubber technology on the Finlandia Seaways to comply with Sulphur Emissions Control Area restrictions.

Data on the volume of freight transported on the Rosyth to Zeebrugge ferry is not retained in the format you request. The figures we receive from DfT Maritime Statistics are published in the Scottish Transport Statistics. The latest figures are at Table 9.13(b) in the report at:

http://www.transport.gov.scot/report/j415388-12.htm

The Scottish Government does not hold details of the freight capacity of the vessel used on the route. There have not been any specific discussions with DFDS or Forth Ports regarding potential future increases in capacity although we continue encourage them to keep this under review and support them in their efforts to grow the volumes on the route.

This is a matter for Revenue Scotland, a non-ministerial department and officeholder in the Scottish Administration, which is responsible for the collection and management of the devolved taxes and publication of related statistics.

Statistics on residential, non-residential and aggregate LBTT revenues are published on a monthly basis by Revenue Scotland on its website.

During the last parliamentary term, a total of 1362 affordable homes were delivered by the Wheatley Housing Group.