Elaine Murray

4 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £40 million of additional funding for housing, announced in the 2013-14 draft budget, has been allocated to the financial year 2012-13; which Level 4 budget lines will benefit from this, and by how much.

Answer · John Swinney: £30 million of the additional £40 million announced in the 2013-14 draft budget statement has been allocated to financial year 2012-13. All of this money will be allocated to the Housing Supply Level 4 budget line.

4 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the £35 million of additional funding for housing, announced in June 2012, includes any Barnett consequentials and, if so, how much.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-10102 on 30 October 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentaryb…

4 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the £40 million of additional funding for housing, announced in the 2013-14 draft budget, includes any Barnett consequentials and, if so, how much.

Answer · John Swinney: Barnett consequentials accrue to the Scottish Block as a whole, and it is for Scottish Ministers to decide how to allocate the total resources available to them across devolved spending programmes.

1 Oct 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact its recent announcement regarding the Schools for the Future programme will have on Dumfries and Galloway Council's learning town initiative consultation.

25 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the annual saving will be as a result of the reductions to the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Project funding announced on 4 July 2012.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government remains committed to the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme and the electrification of the Scottish network. The estimated cost for the initial phase that was announced on 4 July is £650 million. The timing, specification and cost…

24 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government (a) when and (b) where the position of chair of NHS Dumfries and Galloway will be advertised.

Answer · Alex Neil: The post of chair at NHS Dumfries and Galloway will be advertised once the Parliament has had the opportunity to consider the Independent Evaluation into Health Board Elections. The London School of Economics in association with the University of St Andrews …

20 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the report by Jacobs Consultancy on the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme will be published in full and, if so, when.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Jacobs report was published on 19 September 2012 and is publicly available on the Transport Scotland website.

20 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-08955 by Keith Brown on 21 August 2012, on what date (a) ScotRail and (b) Network Rail were advised of the findings of Transport Scotland's review of the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme.

Answer · Keith Brown: Whilst aware that a review of EGIP was being undertaken by Transport Scotland, the findings of the Jacobs report were advised to (a) First ScotRail on 28 June 2012 and (b) Network Rail on 27 June 2012. Ministers set out the way forward for EGIP alongside Edi…

20 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when repayment of the loan from Network Rail for the construction of the revised Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme will start.

Answer · Keith Brown: These payments commenced in Financial Year 2010-11.

20 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the decision to reduce the budget for the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme from £1 billion to £350 million was signed off.

Answer · Keith Brown: We do not recognise the figure of £350 million. Up to £650 million capital investment has been budgeted for phase 1 of EGIP, delivering approximately 80% of the programme benefits for only 60% of the costs. Ministers set out the way forward for EGIP alongsi…

20 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Statement of Funds Available in The Scottish Ministers’ High Level Output Specification published on 21 June 2012 includes the estimates for the revised Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme announced on 4 July 2012.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Statement of Funds Available (SoFA) published alongside the High Level Output Specification (HLOS) on 21 June 2012 set out the public financial resources that are, or are likely to become, available to support the overall programme of activity specified i…

20 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the revised Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme announced on 4 July 2012 has been subject to a Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) appraisal.

Answer · Keith Brown: Jacobs UK presented their “Strategic Transport Projects Review. Edinburgh Glasgow Rail Improvements” report to Transport Scotland in October 2007. The revised Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme announced on 4 July 2012 is subject to the standard process…

13 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Scottish Water is prevented from offering compensation to residents who have been financially disadvantaged by road closures caused by projects that have taken longer than scheduled.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government has directed Scottish Water to undertake numerous improvements to water and wastewater services during the current regulatory period which runs from 2010 to 2015. These are improvements that will benefit communities across Scotland. S…

31 Aug 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what legislation regulates the declaration of bankruptcy by individuals.

Answer · John Swinney: In Scotland, the legislation that applies to the bankruptcy of an individual is the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985 (as amended) (the Act). The Act sets out the criteria by which creditors may petition for the bankruptcy of an individual, and those that an ind…

31 Aug 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether a creditor has the right of appeal when an individual declares themselves bankrupt and, if so, how an appeal may be lodged.

Answer · John Swinney: An individual cannot declare themselves bankrupt. A creditor has no right of appeal against a decision to award bankruptcy to an individual, irrespective of whether the award is made by a court following a creditor petition or by the Accountant in Bankruptcy …

31 Aug 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether being in receipt of an income would prevent an individual from declaring themselves bankrupt.

Answer · John Swinney: In Scotland all debtor applications for an award of bankruptcy are made by the Accountant in Bankruptcy. Section 5(2) of the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985 (as amended) prescribes the conditions and criteria that must be met in order for an individual to appl…

31 Aug 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government under what circumstances an individual may declare themselves to be bankrupt.

Answer · John Swinney: In Scotland, an individual may apply to the Accountant in Bankruptcy for an award of their bankruptcy if they: are Apparently Insolvent; or have signed a trust deed which failed to become protected; or have a Certificate for Sequestration. The individual must…

2 Aug 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce secondary legislation under the Private Rented Sector (Scotland) Act 2011 to clarify the law on the charging of premiums in the private rented sector and if so, when.

Answer · Keith Brown: Section 32 of the Private Rented Housing (Scotland) Act 2011 provides Scottish ministers with the power to make regulation to outline premium charges that are permissible. The Scottish Government intends to lay secondary legislation in the Scottish Parliament…

2 Aug 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its response to its consultation on the charging of premiums in the private rented sector.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government has announced its response to the consultation on the charging of premiums in the private rented sector. We intend to commence the provisions contained in section 32 of the Private Rented Housing (Scotland) Act 2011 to amend the defin…

31 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ask Transport Scotland to review its proposed reduction in the train service between Ayr and Paisley Gilmour Street.

Answer · Keith Brown: The total number of trains between Ayr and Paisley Gilmour Street will be maintained through a connecting service at Irvine.

31 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the additional train services between Glasgow and Ayr under consideration by Transport Scotland will stop at Paisley Gilmour Street and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Answer · Keith Brown: From December 2012, there will be two new fast trains which will operate each hour from Ayr to Glasgow, running non-stop from Kilwinning thus not calling at Paisley Gilmour Street. All routes will benefit from reduced journey times with some services being u…

31 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether rail services between Cumbernauld and Glasgow will take longer as a result of the route accommodating electric services and diesel trains to Stirling.

Answer · Keith Brown: The interface between electric and diesel trains, which is present on the network currently, will not impact on journey times.

31 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the Glasgow Crossrail link.

Answer · Keith Brown: Glasgow Crossrail was considered as part of the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) and rejected as it would not make best use of the rail network. As a standalone intervention it would not achieve the step change necessary to deliver significant impro…

31 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme team considered running longer trains on the main Edinburgh/Glasgow line prior to Jacobs Consultancy's review of the programme.

Answer · Keith Brown: Longer trains were considered prior to the Jacobs review of the programme. The proposed Queen Street Station redevelopment presented an opportunity, which was not previously available, to extend the platforms to accommodate longer trains.

31 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether details of the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme published on the Transport Scotland website were changed to reflect the changes in the implementation plan and, if so, when.

Answer · Keith Brown: Details of the changes in the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme implementation plan will be available soon.

31 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Jacobs Consultancy report for Transport Scotland on its review of the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme is publicly available and, if so, where.

Answer · Keith Brown: The report produced by Jacobs for Transport Scotland is not currently publicly available. The report will be published in due course.

31 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when (a) ScotRail and (b) Network Rail were first advised that Transport Scotland had commissioned Jacobs Consultancy to review the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme.

Answer · Keith Brown: Senior officials at both Network Rail and ScotRail were aware that Transport Scotland was undertaking a review of EGIP and the findings were shared in advance of the public announcement.

31 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Jacobs Consultancy discussed its review of the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme with (a) Network Rail and (b) ScotRail when preparing its report.

Answer · Keith Brown: Jacobs did not discuss its review of the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme with Network Rail or ScotRail when preparing its report.

31 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it expects (a) Glasgow City Council, (b) Network Rail and (c) Buchanan Partnership to contribute financially to the redevelopment of Glasgow Queen Street railway station and the removal of the Millennium Hotel extension.

Answer · Keith Brown: We are in the process of engaging the relevant stakeholders regarding the redevelopment of Glasgow Queen Street railway station. Funding arrangements will form part of those discussions.

24 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for which public sector organisations the Scottish Futures Trust achieved £131 million of savings in 2011-12 and how much each organisation saved.

Answer · Alex Neil: I have asked Barry White, Chief Executive of the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) to respond. His response is as follows: Over the past 12 months, a total of £131.4 million of benefits and savings have been secured by the Scottish Futures Trust, made up of a va…