Parliamentary questions
Des McNulty
1,840 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any decision has been made to review the proposed new rail-ferry interchange at Gourock, in light of concerns expressed at the level of subsidy required for each person using the passenger ferry service between Gourock and Dunoon.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Gourock transportinterchange project is being taken through a design development phase, which includesdetailed business case evaluation to ensure the interchange and the wider commercialre-development provide value for money.</p><p>There are no plans to i…
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected cost is of the proposed new rail-ferry interchange at Gourock.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: A working group reportin 2006 recommended that a budget of up to £20.5 million would be required to deliverthe transport interchange at Gourock. The cost estimate is expected to be reducedduring design development but as the further design and feasibility wor…
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether a new rail-ferry interchange at Gourock has been the subject of a STAG appraisal.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Gourock Interchangeproject has not been appraised in accordance with the Scottish Transport AppraisalGuidance (STAG), as funding had been awarded before the guidance was formally introduced.An economic appraisal was completed in January 2006 and a detaile…
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions took place with (a) Caledonian MacBrayne and (b) Western Ferries regarding the need for a new rail-ferry interchange at Gourock.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: There have been regulardiscussions over a long period of time between the Scottish Executive, TransportScotland and a wide range of stakeholders regardingGourock Transport Interchange. Caledonian MacBrayne has been consulted on the projectas the work has prog…
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions took place with (a) Caledonian MacBrayne and (b) Western Ferries regarding the need for a new pier at Dunoon and the specification for the facility.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Responsibility forthe Dunoon Pier development rests with Argyll and Bute Council. I understand thatthere were full discussions between the council, the appointed consultant and thetwo principal ferry operators regarding the need for the new linkspan at Dunoon…
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which ministers took the decision to build a new pier at Dunoon.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The new administrationdoes not have access to papers relating to the decision making processes employedby its predecessor. However, it is a matter of public record that the decision onfunding for the breakwater was announced on 22 October 2001 by the then Min…
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost would have been of providing the new pier at Dunoon designed only for the use of foot passengers and whether a variety of design specifications was considered and costed.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: A range of designoptions was considered and costed for the project at Dunoon Pier. However, in viewof the intention to keep open the possibility of a vehicle service a passenger onlyoption was not considered. The breakwater was intended to protect the Victori…
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was of providing the new pier at Dunoon.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The total cost of the new breakwater and linkspan at Dunoon Pier was £5.2 million.</p>
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the new pier at Dunoon is used for vehicle traffic and, if so, what volume of vehicles it serves.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I understand thatthe new linkspan is not at present used for vehicle traffic.<</p
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why the new pier at Dunoon was constructed to facilitate vehicle as well as passenger traffic.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I understand thata new linkspan was constructed to keep open the possibility of a vehicle serviceoperating from Dunoon Pier. The original linkspan is designed for side-loading whichsignificantly restricts the range of vehicle carrying vessels that can use the…
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the decision was taken to build a new pier at Dunoon.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Dunoon Pier is ownedby Argyll and Bute Council and the council was responsible for the improvement worksat the pier. The Scottish Executive’s role was as a funder. There were two awardsof Scottish Executive funding in relation to the project. The first, invol…
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what further steps the Scottish Government will take to address outstanding concerns of parents, pupils and teachers regarding the implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: We are committedto working with the UK Government to ensure the safety of Scotland’s roads. The new offence, provided by section 21 of the Road Safety Act 2006, of causing death by driving while unlicensed,disqualified or uninsured reflects the fact that driv…
20 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the new vessel owning company which is being set up as part of the tendering process for the Clyde and Hebridean ferry services has been or will be asked to undertake preliminary design work for new tonnage to service the Greenock-Dunoon route.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Caledonian Maritime AssetsLtd has not been asked to undertake any preliminary design work for vessels forthe Gourock-Dunoon ferry route. The Executive is currently examining theoptions that are available for the route and will announce its conclusions assoon …
20 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, if Caledonian MacBrayne is not prevented from providing commercial services on an unsubsidised basis, what discussions have taken place with the company regarding provision of unsubsidised ferry services on the Greenock-Dunoon route.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Caledonian MacBrayne was oneof the operators invited by the former administration in July 2006 to tenderfor an unsubsidised Gourock-Dunoon ferry service. Neither CalMac nor the otheroperators invited to tender submitted a bid.</p>
20 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Caledonian MacBrayne is restricted in any way from providing commercial services on an unsubsidised basis.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Guidelines were issued on 1 March 1995 by thethen Secretary of State for Scotland to Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd. Those guidelinesregulate how the company should operate business activities beyond thoserequired to deliver the network of services that qualify for…
20 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had any discussions with Western Ferries on a users’ charter or quality contract for ferry services between Gourock and Dunoon or Hunter’s Quay and McInroy’s Point and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: A proposal for a Users’Charter was submitted to the previous administration by the Managing Directorof Western Ferries in 2004. This proposal, amongst other issues was discussed,at several meetings between Executive officials, Ministers and Western Ferries.Th…
20 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the European Commission has made any statement or offered advice regarding restrictions on the ferry service between Gourock and Dunoon provided by Caledonian MacBrayne; whether any such statement is publicly available, and whether it will publish any relevant correspondence.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: There have been a number ofexchanges over several years between the European Commission, the UK Governmentand the Scottish Executive on a range of ferry issues including the Gourock-Dunoonservice. The general convention is that such communications are not pub…
20 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the justification is for restricting the ferry service between Gourock and Dunoon provided by Caledonian MacBrayne to an hourly frequency and in its time of operation.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answerto question S3W-2279 answered on 7 August 2007. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament's website the search facility forwhich can be found at: <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/web…
20 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the justification was in 1982 for restricting the ferry service between Gourock and Dunoon provided by Caledonian MacBrayne to an hourly frequency and in its time of operation.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I understand that therestrictions were introduced in 1982, following consideration of a number ofother options aimed at removing what was seen as the anomaly of a commercialservice facing competition from a service that was receiving Governmentsubsidy. These …
20 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the subsidy per passenger is for the ferry service between Gourock and Dunoon provided by Caledonian MacBrayne.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Caledonian MacBrayne’sAnnual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements for 2005-06 indicate thatthe operating loss on the Gourock-Dunoon ferry service was £2.451 million. The2006 edition of Scottish Transport Statistics indicates that in 2005 624,700passen…
20 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what costs are involved in operating the ferry service between Gourock and Dunoon provided by Caledonian MacBrayne and where detailed cost information is made publicly available.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Caledonian MacBrayne’spublished Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements for 2005-06indicate that the loss on the Gourock-Dunoon route in that year was £2.451 million.The company does not publish more detailed information on costs and revenues onth…
20 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why a monopoly ferry service provider is acceptable on most routes between the Hebrides and the mainland but is not acceptable between Gourock and Dunoon.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: While CalMac Ferriesis the sole operator on a number of west of Scotland ferry routes, that reflects historical developments over many years. the Scottish Executive is not in a position to impose monopoly arrangements on any route,as any operator is free to o…
20 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its interpretation is of the Hitrans data regarding ferry services between Gourock and Dunoon and how it differs from the interpretation placed on it by the managing director of Western Ferries.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Executive considers thatWestern Ferries’ interpretation of the HITRANS data very significantlyunderstates the extent to which passengers on the CalMac service betweenGourock and Dunoon travel to and from Gourock Pier by train. The survey datasuggest that …
20 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what basis ministers have argued that any virtual monopoly vehicle ferry service between Greenock and Dunoon would be unregulated.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Scottish Ministers have notargued that this would be the case.</p>
20 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what basis ministers have argued that a very material subsidy is received by Western Ferries.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: There is no ScottishExecutive subsidy available to Western Ferries for their route betweenMcInroy’s Point and Hunter’s Quay.</p>
3 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is in respect of reported comments by Councillor Ian Chisholm that SNP councillors in Fife favour a tunnel under the Forth and his statement in a letter to the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change that “I think the consensus view with the public at l…
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: It is Scottish ministers’ responsibilityto make the correct decision on the type of replacement Forth crossingbased on a factual analysis of the evidence available. Transport Scotland willhold Public Information Events over the summer to hear the views of the…
3 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in order to ensure that dualling of the A9 delivers value for money and benefits travellers and the economy, it will invite Audit Scotland to review plans for the project.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotlandunderstands that Audit Scotland will shortly commence its value for money studyMajor Capital Projects Review. It is for Audit Scotland to determine whichspecific projects will be studied.</p>
3 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in order to ensure that the M8 Baillieston to Newhouse project delivers value for money and benefits travellers and the economy, it will invite Audit Scotland to review plans for the project.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answerto question S3W-1867 on 30 July 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp…
3 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in order to ensure that the M80 Stepps to Haggs project delivers value for money and benefits travellers and the economy, it will invite Audit Scotland to review plans for the project.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answerto question S3W-1867 on 30 July 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp…
3 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in order to ensure that electrification of the Glasgow to Edinburgh rail line delivers value for money and benefits travellers and the economy, it will invite Audit Scotland to review plans for the project.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotlandunderstands that Audit Scotland will shortly commence its value for money studyMajor Capital Projects Review. It is for Audit Scotland to determine whichspecific projects will be studied.</p><p>As with all projects of thisscale, we will asse…