Parliamentary questions
Des McNulty
1,840 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
29 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation has taken place with disabled people regarding the performance of the current Scotrail franchise.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Executive carried out open consultation in 2000 in advance of the current ScotRail Franchise. This informed the direction and guidance given by the Scottish Executive to the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) which was responsible for awarding the fr…
29 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the interests and concerns of disabled people in the formulation of transport policy will be addressed following the closure of the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland is being amalgamated with the Public Transport Users'' Committee for Scotland (PTUC) as part of the Effective Government initiative, to remove duplication in the responsibilities of both bodies.</p> <p >It will …
29 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions took place with stakeholders, showing the dates on which these discussions took place, prior to the announcement that the Scotrail franchise with FirstGroup plc would be extended until 2014.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11683 on 23 April 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <u><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/web…
29 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what contribution has been made by Passengers’ View Scotland to the development of public transport policy since its inception in April 2007.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The PVS Annual Report is due to be published in the near future and will give information on its work since April 2007.</p>
29 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how public transport users can access the work of Passengers’ View Scotland.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: It is for Passengers'' View Scotland (PVS) to determine how public transport users can access its work. However, information is available through the PVS website.</p>
29 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how Passengers’ View Scotland will be involved in the delivery of the National Transport Strategy.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We are developing a Delivery Plan to drive forward the commitments of the National Transport Strategy.</p> <p >A Stakeholder Group will be established to oversee the Delivery Plan. We expect the Convener of Passengers'' View Scotland to be a member of that g…
29 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how Passengers’ View Scotland consults rail passengers.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: This is a matter for Passengers'' View Scotland to consider in the context of its remit and the expectation that it will work in close partnership with Passenger Focus to ensure that there is no duplication of responsibilities.</p>
29 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what topics it expects to discuss at its next meeting with Passengers’ View Scotland; when the discussions will be held; who will be involved, and what format the discussions will take.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Passengers'' View Scotland (PVS) meets regularly to discuss matters relating to the interests of public transport users. A special joint meeting was held with the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS) on 20 March. More recently, a meeting of the P…
29 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the work of Passengers’ View Scotland links to the remit of Passenger Focus.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: In keeping with the principles of best value and efficient government, Passengers'' View Scotland is expected to work in close partnership with Passenger Focus to ensure there is no duplication of responsibilities.</p>
29 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had on a regular basis with Passenger Focus.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Regular meetings take place with Passenger Focus, both at ministerial and official level, to discuss a range of subjects within the remit of Passenger Focus.</p>
24 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the financial advantages to First ScotRail are in revenue terms of the extension of the franchise agreement and what projections there are of expected and target revenue each year between the current financial year and the end of the franchise extension.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The information requested is given in <i >ScotRail Franchise Amendment Agreement</i>, a copy of which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 45544).</p>
24 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence it has that First ScotRail was attempting to reduce passenger numbers using franchised services and what disincentives in the previous franchise agreement would have encouraged First ScotRail to seek to reduce passenger numbers.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Executive has no evidence that First ScotRail was attempting to reduce passenger numbers. Under the “cap and collar” arrangements of the original agreement the franchisee was disincentivised to continue to grow the business once the 80% revenue s…
24 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish all documents relating to the Scotrail franchise extension by placing them in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12260 on 9 May 2008. 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/webapp/wa…
24 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how any outcomes from the consultation on the National Planning Framework can be incorporated into the Scotrail franchise and where responsibility rests for ensuring that this is done.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The operation of the variation mechanism in the ScotRail franchise has been improved through the agreement of the extension. This will allow outcomes from the framework to be incorporated into the franchise under the lead of Transport Scotland.</p>
24 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the membership of the group overseeing the delivery of the National Transport Strategy action plan will be and where and when its meeting dates and agendas will be published.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Membership of the NTS Stakeholder Group is expected to comprise stakeholders including COSLA, the business sector, STUC, regional transport partnerships, academics and bodies representing wider transport interests, as well as officials from transport, climate…
24 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether passenger fare reductions were considered as a means of reducing the excess revenue above the annual level of target revenue in discussions regarding the Scotrail franchise.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The agreement which gives effect to the franchise extension contains an initiative to create pilot fares schemes designed to encourage modal shift to train. This will also help to evaluate the impact of interventions in fares policy.</p>
24 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive at what revenue level the (a) 50% and (b) 80% clawback of excess revenue from passenger fares to the Scottish Government would have kicked in under the terms of the franchise prior to the extension and at what revenue level any clawback will now apply.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: In the franchise agreement as originally let, the 50% revenue share level was applied to marginal revenue above 102% of target, the 80% share at 106% of target. These limits have been reset at 110% and 114% respectively.</p>
24 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions were held with other train operators, ferry operators and bus operators, prior to the decision to extend the Scotrail franchise, regarding connection times with different passenger services, including dates and agendas, and how such discussions fed into revisions agreed t…
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Under the terms of the franchise agreement, since first awarded in 2004, First ScotRail has had an on-going obligation to cooperate with other public transport operators on all aspects of the integration of services including timetabling, information, ticketi…
24 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the revised performance indicators in the extended Scotrail franchise include requirements to meet the needs of visually impaired passengers, including ensuring that on-train automated announcement systems give accurate information about station stops.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Service Schedules agreement in the ScotRail franchise, which addresses service quality for all passengers, has contained a test for monitoring the accuracy of on-train announcements since the commencement of the franchise agreement.</p>
24 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the terms of the performance regime are as agreed in the revised and extended Scotrail franchise.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The information requested is given in <i >ScotRail Franchise Amendment Agreement</i>, a copy of which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 45544).</p>
24 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the date of implementation is of the revised revenue targets and profit-sharing arrangements for the Scotrail franchise.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The information requested is given in <i >ScotRail Franchise Amendment Agreement</i>, a copy of which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 45544).</p>
24 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what basis and with what justification the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth took the decision to extend the Scotrail franchise without consultation because of the potential damage that might have been caused to FirstGroup plc’s share price.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The extension of the ScotRail franchise was the activation of a contractual provision which has existed since the franchise was let and was not in any way related to potential damage to FirstGroup plc''s share price.</p> <p >The agreement was price sensitive…
24 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish all the background information, not covered by the restriction under freedom of information legislation in respect of the provision of advice to ministers, produced by officials on the financial and transport issues involved in the decision to extend the Scotrail f…
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Information relative to the extension of the ScotRail franchise, except that which is considered exempt under Freedom of Information legislation, will be published on the Transport Scotland website in due course.</p> <p >In addition, the information request…
24 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the relevant data about passenger numbers and target revenue will be published to allow the proposition that the extension of the Scotrail franchise is a good deal for passengers to be tested.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The information requested is given in the <i >ScotRail Franchise Amendment Agreement</i>, a copy of which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 45544).</p>
24 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected subsidy level is for the Scotrail franchise from 2008-09 to 2013-14.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The information requested is given in <i >ScotRail Franchise Amendment Agreement</i>, a copy of which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 45544).</p>
16 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the eligibility criteria for free bus travel should be extended to include those who receive the lower rate mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance and, if so, when such a change might be introduced and what steps are being taken to reduce the red t…
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scotland-wide Free Bus Travel Scheme for Older and Disabled People will be the subject of a review during 2008. No changes will be made to the current eligibility criteria in advance of the review which is due to report by the end of the year.</p> <p >St…
11 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why the decision to consider the terms of the extension to the Scotrail franchise was taken prior to the completion of the consultation on the National Planning Framework.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson : I refer the member to the ministerial statement I gave in the Parliament on 17 April 2008 and to the answer to question S3O-2916 on 17 April 2008. The statement and Oral Question can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialRepo…
11 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it had with Network Rail, prior to agreeing enhanced service provision under the extended Scotrail franchise, to ensure that capacity could be met.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: It is for First ScotRail, through its relationship with Network Rail, to secure the track access rights necessary to allow new services to be delivered.</p>
11 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the costs will be of leasing the additional rolling stock required for the enhanced services announced as part of the extension of the Scotrail franchise and how these will be met.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11778 on<b> </b>1 May 2008. 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/w…
11 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the additional rolling stock requirements will be for the enhanced services announced as part of the extension of the Scotrail franchise.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Details of the additional rolling stock requirements for the enhanced services announced as part of the extension of the ScotRail franchise are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.</p>