Andrew Wilson

22 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the population of (a) cormorants, (b) goosanders and (c) red breasted mergansers was in each year since 1994, also expressed as a percentage of the 1994 figures.

Answer · Allan Wilson: This information is not held directly by the Executive. The following estimates and commentary have been supplied by Scottish Natural Heritage. Data are available separately for breeding pairs and for the peak wintering population. <P>Breeding Population:<P>F…

22 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why there was "no obligation on it to protect occupational pensions", as referred to in paragraph 15 of Appendix 1 to the submission by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities referred to in the report by the Auditor General for Scotland, The New Trunk Road Contracts: An Examination …

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member the answer given to question S1W-20257. The Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment Regulations 1981 do not apply so as to transfer contract terms in relation to membership of occupational pension schemes.

22 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why it concluded that the Statement of Practice did not apply to staff transfers under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) regulations associated with the trunk road maintenance contracts tendering process, as referred to in paragraph 15 of Appendix 1 to the submission…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: After careful examination, the Scottish Executive concluded that the Statement of Practice did not apply. The Scottish Executive was not the employer of the public sector workers involved, nor did the Scottish Executive or its predecessors ever employ them.

21 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Section 13, of Schedule 7, Part 2 of the Term Contract for Management and Maintenance of the Scottish Trunk Road Network was complied with in full by Amey Highways Ltd and BEAR (Scotland) Ltd for each contract area; which date each contract area complied with Section 13, and whet…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20202 on 19 December 2001.

21 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what contact Amey Highways Ltd and BEAR (Scotland) Ltd have had with Railtrack Plc as required by Section 11.11 of Schedule 7, Part 2 of the Term Contract for Management and Maintenance of the Scottish Trunk Road Network since 1 April 2001; what date each contact was made, and what reaso…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20202 on 19 December 2001.

21 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Amey Highways Ltd and BEAR (Scotland) Ltd have enough plant resource in place to meet the requirements of Section 5 of Schedule 7, Part 2 of the Term Contract for Management and Maintenance of the Scottish Trunk Road Network for each contract area, and, if not, how much plant res…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20202 on 19 December 2001.

21 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the computer systems referred to in Section 4.2 (i), (ii) and (iii) of Schedule 7, Part 2 of the Term Contract for Management and Maintenance of the Scottish Trunk Road Network (a) are compatible with each computer system operated by Amey Highways Ltd and BEAR (Scotland) Ltd acro…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20202 on 19 December 2001.

21 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the statement released by email directly to a selection of ministers and MSPs by Amey Highways Ltd on 15 November 2001, whether the company's motorway maintenance programme "has met the exacting standards laid down by the Scottish Executive"; how many default notices have …

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive and the Performance Audit Group (Halcrow Group Ltd in association with PricewaterhouseCoopers) monitor the performance of Amey Highways in order to see if this performance meets the standards required by the trunk road contract. Where c…

20 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what specific mechanisms have been put in place to ensure "cross boundary co-operation," as specified in section 11.4 on snow clearance of carriageways and hardshoulders of Schedule 7, Part 2 of the Term Contract for Management and Maintenance of the Scottish Trunk Road Network, by Amey…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20202 on 19 December 2001.

20 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether sections 3.1.1, 3.1.2, 3.1.3 and 3.1.4, Planning and Reporting Requirements, of Schedule 7, Part 2 of the Term Contract for Management and Maintenance of the Scottish Trunk Road Network were complied with in full by Amey Highways Ltd and BEAR (Scotland) Ltd for each contract area,…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer to given question S1W-20202 on 19 December 2001.

20 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19092 by Sarah Boyack on 12 November 2001, how many (a) individuals and (b) organisations were present at the "Ready for Winter ? Winter Maintenance on Scotland's Roads" conference at Victoria Quay on 25 September 2001; whether it will provide full d…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Approximately 100 individuals, representing 42 organisations, were present at the "Ready for Winter - Winter Maintenance on Scotland's Roads" conference on 25 September 2001. <P>The agenda included the following:<P>Working with an Operating Company<P>A Winter…

19 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Amey Highways Ltd or BEAR (Scotland) Ltd have been involved in 'partnering workshops' since 1 April 2001 and, if so, (a) on what dates and where each workshop took place; (b) what organisations were represented by how many persons on each occasion; (c) what the agenda was for eac…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive has held Partnering Workshops with Amey Highways Ltd and BEAR Scotland Ltd. A joint workshop was held for the South East and South West Units on 31 May and 1 June 2001 at the Norton House Hotel, Ingliston. The workshops for the North Ea…

16 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received representations from any organisation or individual regarding the winding down or cessation of the Railway Modernisation Fund and, if so, on what date and from whom.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I am not aware of any such representations.

16 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last had consultations with Her Majesty's Government on the Railway Modernisation Fund and whether it was informed in these consultations whether this fund was either in the process of being wound down or had ceased to operate.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I understand from the Executive's discussions with the UK Government that future arrangements for investing and promoting private investment in the railway will be set out in the Strategic Rail Authority's Strategic Plan which is to be published shortly.

16 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-4094 by Sarah Boyack on 15 November 2001, what specific powers Scottish ministers have in relation to the rail industry in Scotland; whether it has received any representations regarding these powers from any government agency or external organisatio…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: For the specific powers that Scottish ministers have in relation to the rail industry in Scotland, I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-19849 on 12 December 2001.<P>As to the second part of this question, I refer the member to the answer giv…

15 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Amey Highways Ltd or BEAR Scotland Ltd have made any direct contact with journalists, press organisations, MPs or MSPs in respect of the trunk road maintenance contracts; if so, on what date and whether in each case prior permission was sought from the Executive to make such conta…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Since October Amey Highways Ltd and BEAR Scotland Ltd have issued media statements and responded to media requests for factual information from Scottish daily and local newspapers, Sunday newspapers, news agencies and broadcast media. <P>Two statements regard…

15 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has provided, or plans to provide, any financial support to any rail projects associated with the BP Amoco plant at Grangemouth, which projects these are, and what safety mechanisms have been built into the conditions for any such financial support to protect the public interes…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: A Freight Facility Grant (FFG) award totalling £9.7 million was made in September 1999 to TDG Nexus for the development of rail freight facilities at Grangemouth. The main flow of traffic to be handled by the facility was as regards the production of polyethy…

15 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it stated that BEAR Scotland Ltd were "theoretically able to cope" with winter roads problems as reported in the Press and Journal on 14 November 2001 and, if so, whether this statement applies to any of the other winter contract provisions.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive approved a Winter Maintenance Plan which was scrutinised by the Performance Audit Group. This plan shows that BEAR is capable of complying with the requirements of the contract. Given the unpredictability of winter conditions, no provid…

15 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Amey Highways Ltd or BEAR Scotland Ltd have gritted any metal bridge structures with salt based products since 1 April 2001, and, if so, which bridges, on what date, who authorised such gritting, and why permission was given on each occasion.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Glycol is normally applied instead of salt as a precautionary treatment when ice or light snow is expected on two bridges with metal decks; the A898 Erskine Bridge and A9 Kessock Bridge.<P>Salt has been used on one occasion since 1 April 2001, when the Kessoc…

14 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many lorry miles have been removed so far per year as a consequence of projects approved under the Freight Facility Grant scheme and whether it will provide details of each of these projects and rank them in order of pound/pence per mile/kilometre of support received under the scheme.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Projects awarded grant under the Freight Facilities Grant scheme will remove a total of 13.4 million lorry miles from Scotland's roads each year. Details of each of these projects in order of grant cost per lorry mile removed is shown in the table.<TABLE BORD…

12 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government regarding the impact of any scarcity of rail signalling resources on the development of rail projects in Scotland and on what dates, to whom and on what specific issues were any such representations made.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the United Kingdom Government about a wide range of issues related to railways.

12 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what studies it has commissioned to date on rail or road freight flows and what information it has on (a) current rail and road flows and (b) projected flows for the remainder of this parliamentary session in (i) each parliamentary region and (ii) each parliamentary constituency.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: In April 2001 the Scottish Executive commissioned consultants to carry out a study to take a strategic view of the potential for developing sustainable freight movements across the whole of Scotland. The study is expected to be completed and published early t…

12 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive by what process it prioritises projects seeking support under the Freight Facilities Grant scheme and on what criteria such prioritising is based.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: There are a number of variables that are considered when prioritising Freight Facilities Grant applications. The principal criteria used are a comparison of the grant cost with the environmental benefits that will be secured, the actual level of grant sought …

9 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-3969 by Sarah Boyack on 1 November 2001, on what date it approved the winter maintenance plans in respect of each trunk roads maintenance contract awarded to AMEY Highways Ltd and BEAR Scotland Ltd and on what date these plans were required to be in …

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Contract requires the Operating Companies to submit their Winter Maintenance Plans to the Scottish Executive for detailed scrutiny by 31 July 2001.<P>The plans are then scrutinised by the Performance Audit Group and, if necessary, amended or clarified bef…

9 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has to determine and influence the future delivery of rail services in Scotland and what use it has made of these powers in the context of consultation and negotiation with the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: On 31 March 1998, Henry McLeish MP, then the minister responsible for Transport at the Scottish Office, announced in the House of Commons that a range of important responsibilities for the operation of railways in Scotland would be transferred to the Parliame…

9 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail any discussions it has had on vertical integration of the rail network since Railtrack plc went into administration, specifying with whom and on what date.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Since Railtrack plc went into administration I have had a number of meetings with relevant bodies and individuals at which the subject of vertical integration of the rail network was amongst those discussed.

9 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what actions it has taken and representations it has made, specifying where appropriate to whom and on what date, in order to secure and protect the future delivery of the Larkhall to Milngavie rail link and whether any equivalent actions or representations have been taken or made in res…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government, the Strategic Rail Authority, Strathclyde Passenger Transport and the rail industry about a wide range of issues. During these contacts we have stressed the importance of continuing developm…

9 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-4059 by Sarah Boyack on 8 November 2001, whether it has ever been consulted by, or instigated consultation with, the Strategic Rail Authority on the allocation of the UK rail modernisation fund to railway investment projects in Scotland and, if so, w…

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the Strategic Rail Authority on a wide range of issues.

8 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on what dates, for each contract area, it received the relevant information required under Schedule 3, Part 4, paragraphs 5 and 6 of the Term Contract for Management and Maintenance of the Trunk Road Network.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20202 on 19 December 2001.

7 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on what date and by whom it was first informed that Railtrack plc was being considered for administration.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive has been in regular contact with the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions on a wide range of issues, including the decision to place Railtrack plc into administration, and regular contact continues on issues arising…