Mr David Davidson

3 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18594 by Tavish Scott on 15 September 2005, what action it will take to alleviate pressure on the Forth Road Bridge.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Responsibility for the operation of the Forth Road Bridge is a matter for the Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA) in the first instance. The Executive is working closely with FETA and other stakeholders to address access and congestion issues associated …

3 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what commitments it has received from rail freight companies to make use of enhanced gauging between Mossend and Elgin and how many additional rail journeys this will generate each year.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Without the gauge enhancement scheme, there is a risk that the existing freight traffic could be lost to road whilst the decision to progress allows for increased movement of freight by rail. This is a significant development for the north east of Scotland as…

28 Sep 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to encourage tourists to visit locations outwith the central belt.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: VisitScotland’smarketing programmes are aimed at increasing the volume and value of tourismright across Scotland. Each area has its own distinctiveattributes and attractions, which VisitScotland will continue to marketstrongly as part of its product portfolio…

22 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it released information regarding the tendering of the Gourock to Dunoon ferry services to any MSP before the Minister of Transport and Telecommunications issued the notice of his intentions in this respect.

Answer · Tavish Scott: In line with normal Scottish Executive practice, ministers with a portfolio interest were involved in considering the decision relating to the Gourock to Dunoon ferry service and the arrangements for the announcement of that decision. No other MSPs were infor…

22 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it can take to mitigate the effects of high fuel prices on disabled people.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive’s central heating programme aims to ensure that everyone of pension age, whether or not they are disabled, has central heating and adequate home insulation. In addition, the Warm Deal scheme offers a package of home insulation measures …

21 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the outcome was of the Minister for Transport and Telecommunications' visit to the Camphill Trust in Aberdeen.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The visit gave me the opportunity to meet staff and residents of the Camphill community and to get a better understanding of their concerns about the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.</p>

21 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what budget commitment it will make to improving rural roads other than trunk roads.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Grant Aided Expenditure (GAE) provision for local roads is to be increased by £60m per annum in 2006-07 and 2007-08 (a 23% increase) as part of Spending Review 2004. The total GAE provision to local authorities for roads maintenance will amount to £320 millio…

21 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will next conduct a roads assessment of non-trunk roads.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The responsibility for non-trunk roads rests with local authorities and any decision to carry out condition surveys or other assessments is a matter for them.</p>

21 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it will give to the Motorway of the Northern Seas project.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Executive supports modal shift from road to sea which the Motorway of the Northern Sea project seeks to encourage and will work with those looking to develop proposals that meet the aims of the project.</p>

21 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it has given to the Northern Maritime Corridor project.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Executive has been working with Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Orkney Islands Council, lead partners in the Northern Maritime Corridor project, to promote and market to potential investors the proposal to establish a container transhipment facility …

21 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it is having, and with which operators, in respect of developing coastal shipping services linking east coast ports with (a) Orkney, (b) Shetland, (c) Iceland, (d) the Faroe Islands and (e) continental Europe.

Answer · Tavish Scott: In general, the development of such coastal shipping services is a commercial matter for shipping operators to consider. We do, however, have a role in circumstances where financial support is necessary to maintain essential lifeline services to island commun…

21 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to develop dedicated and affordable livestock sea transport from Orkney and Shetland to mainland Scotland.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Executive has set out its plans for the transportation of livestock from the Northern Isles to the Scottish mainland in the Invitation to Tender (ITT) for the next Northern Isles Ferry Services contract issued to short listed bidders. The detail of the pl…

21 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what income was generated from speed cameras in each police force area in the last five years.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The information available relates to cameras operating within the Scottish Safety Camera Programme as given in the following table.</p> <p>Revenue (£) Generated from Speed Cameras Operating within the Scottish Safety Camera Programme</p><table border=1 cellsp…

21 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many fatal accidents occurred on each trunk road in the last five years.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The number of fatal accidents on each trunk road in the last five years (January 2000 to December 2004) is as follows:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p align=center>Trunk Road</p></td> <td> <p align=cent…

21 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many accidents involving injury were attributed to weather conditions including snow and ice on each trunk road in each of the last five years.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Prior to 2005 there was no requirement for police authorities to supply accident contributory factors as part of the Stats 19 returns which form the national database. The figures supplied represent those injury accidents which were recorded with weather fact…

21 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the costs were of snow clearing and ice treatment on each trunk road in each of the last five years.

Answer · Tavish Scott: It is not possible to provide the costs of snow clearing and ice treatment for each trunk road as winter maintenance is paid for on a unit wide basis. The costs of winter maintenance in each of the four trunk road unit areas for each of the last five years is…

21 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which contractors are responsible for snow and ice treatment on each trunk road.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The trunk road network is divided into four geographical units, north east, north west, south east and south west. Winter maintenance on trunk roads in the north east and north west units is the responsibility of BEAR Scotland Ltd and winter maintenance on tr…

21 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans are in place to deal with any winter weather problems on each trunk road.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Comprehensive requirements for dealing with winter weather problems on trunk roads are contained in the contracts with the four trunk road Operating Companies. Each year the Operating Companies are required to translate these into Winter Maintenance Plans (WM…

7 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the National Transport Agency's budget, excluding the budget for major infrastructure, will be spent on operating rail services.

Answer · Tavish Scott: In 2006-07, £264.8 million of the National Transport Agency’s Budget will be spent on operating rail services. The agency’s total budget for 2006-07 will be increased to include sums to reflect the transfer from the Department of Transport of the responsibili…

29 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to increase the single discount for council taxpayers to 50% and, if so, how this will be funded and what effect it will have on other discounts and exemptions.

Answer · George Lyon: There are no plans to increase the single persons discount for council taxpayers to 50%.</p>

22 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to upgrade the M80/A80 to motorway standard throughout.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Draft statutory orders to upgrade to motorway the remaining section of the A80 between Stepps and Haggs have been published. They have attracted a number ofobjections and a Public Local Inquiry has been arranged and will commence on 3 October 2005. If the out…

22 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to upgrade the A8 to motorway standard between the A73 and M73.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Partnership Agreement includes a commitment to complete the Scottish motorway network. The construction of a new motorway between the A8 junctions with the M73 and the A73 forms part of this. Draft statutory orders for this new length of motorway will be …

22 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to build a second road crossing over the Forth at South Queensferry.

Answer · Tavish Scott: None.</p>

22 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine rail line will be completed.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The programme for the completion of the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine rail line is spring 2007.</p>

22 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many new staff will be employed by the National Transport Agency in addition to those transferred from the Transport Group of the Executive's Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning Department.

Answer · Tavish Scott: It is expected that there will be around 200 staff in the agency. Most of these will transfer from the transport group, however, there will  be a number of new posts, largely resulting from an increased management role in the public transport major projects a…

22 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff from the Transport Group of its Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning Department will be transferred to the National Transport Agency.

Answer · Tavish Scott: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-18592 on 22 September 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/web…

22 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff are employed in the Transport Group of its Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning Department.

Answer · Tavish Scott: There are currently 262 posts in the Transport Group of the Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning Department.</p>

17 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce a deferred payment scheme in respect of council tax for pensioners.

Answer · George Lyon: There are no plans to introduce a deferred payment scheme in respect of council tax for pensioners.</p> <p>If any individual is experiencing difficulties in paying their council tax charge they should discuss making alternative payment arrangements with their…

15 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the total number of passengers carried on the Caledonian MacBrayne network was in each of the last five years.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The number of passengers Caledonian MacBrayne has carried over the last five financial years is set out in the following table:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p>Financial Year</p></td> <td> <p align=cent…

15 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which routes currently operated by Caledonian MacBrayne carry more than 300,000 passengers per year.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd currently operates five routes which carry more than 300,000 passengers per year. These routes are: Oban to Craignure, Gourock to Dunoon, Wemyss Bay to Rothesay, Largs to Cumbrae and Ardrossan to Brodick.</p>