Parliamentary questions
Des McNulty
1,840 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
7 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to publish a Scottish Sustainable Procurement Action Plan.
Answer · John Swinney: Drafting of the Action Plan is at an advanced stage and we anticipate that it will be submitted to the Public Procurement Reform Board for consideration and acceptance within the next month. Once it has been accepted, we will then be in a position to publish …
3 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is confident in the accuracy of its earlier projections of the demand for new homes in the Scottish Borders and whether these projections are reflected in the strategic development plans proposed by the City of Edinburgh, Midlothian and Scottish Borders councils and approved by…
Answer · Alex Neil: Projections of the demand for new homes in specific local authority areas are not undertaken by Scottish Government. Such projections are the responsibility of local authorities.</p>
3 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest benefit-to-cost ratio is for the Waverley railway project and whether these estimates have been affected by the current economic downturn and problems in the financial markets.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The latest Benefit-to-Cost Ratio (BCR) for the Borders Railway is 1.36 following recent changes in the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) to the way in which the BCR is calculated. Sensitivity testing has demonstrated that the business case remains …
3 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-20117 by Stewart Stevenson on 30 January 2009, whether it will provide up-to-date information on projected (a) patronage levels and (b) train timetables for the Waverley railway project.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: (a) The latest opening year patronage levels for the Borders Railway is estimated to be approximately 700,000 return journeys per year;</p> <p >(b) It is too early to state the exact timetable for the Borders Railway other than to confirm trains will run on …
3 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Council of Economic Advisers has discussed the Waverley railway project and, if so, what its views are.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Council of Economic Advisors has not discussed the Borders Railway project.</p>
3 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the delay in advertising the contract for the Waverley railway project will result in extra costs.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: No additional costs are expected in advertising the contract for the Borders Railway project at a later date than previously anticipated.</p>
3 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive for what reasons the publication of the official notice advertising the contract for the Waverley railway project has been delayed until May 2009.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22694 on 5 May 2009. 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.scottishparliament.uk/Apps2/Busi…
3 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the estimated cost of the Waverley railway project remains as between £235 and £295 million.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Yes. I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-15552 on 10 September 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at: </p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.…
3 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Network Rail has agreed to connect the Waverley railway project to the rail network; what costs have been identified, and who is responsible for meeting these costs.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Network Rail has agreed to connect the Borders Railway to the existing rail network. The requirement to facilitate the connection to the main network was set out in the High Level Output Statement (HLOS) which details what Ministers require Network Rail to de…
3 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether provision has been made in the revised costings for the Waverley railway project for buying the land needed to connect the new line to existing tracks.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Yes, provision has been made.</p>
3 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on land acquisition in connection with the Waverley railway project and whether the land acquisition has been completed.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: £6.8 million has been spent to date on land acquisition for the Borders Railway Project. Land assembly has been substantially completed with all land required to build the railway now purchased. A small number of ancillary plots adjacent to the route remain t…
3 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the report on the Waverley railway project for Transport Scotland by Cyril Sweet, whether all the concerns about the technical and financial elements of the business case have been addressed.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The technical and financial issues raised in the Cyril Sweet report have been addressed.</p>
3 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what professional advice it has sought on the feasibility of borrowing from financial markets for the Waverley railway project.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland has sought advice from a number of financial organisations regarding the funding of the Borders Railway project. Discussions have been held with Transport Scotland''s financial advisors (Messrs Ernst & Young), the Scottish Government Fi…
3 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive for what reasons it did not hold the planned event with potential bidders for the Waverley railway project in 2008 and when this event will take place.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Due to unprecedented changes in the economic climate, it as agreed by the Borders Railway Project Board that it was not prudent to hold the Market Information Day until further market testing had taken place to ensure best value for money could be achieved.</…
3 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on the market interest in the Waverley railway project.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: An update on market interest will be made available at the appropriate stage in the <i >Official Journal of the European Union </i>(OJEU) procurement process.</p>
3 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what conclusions have been reached from the latest market testing discussions regarding the Waverley railway project between Transport Scotland and contractors.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Market testing discussions with contractors undertaken during August 2008 established that there is sufficient market appetite for the project and that the private sector is capable of delivering the required outcome.</p>
3 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether market testing discussions with contractors relating to construction work for the Waverley railway project are about the Waverley to Gorebridge section or the whole route.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: All market-testing discussions have been related to the whole route, from Edinburgh Waverley to Tweedbank.</p>
3 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the expected start date for the Waverley railway project is still 2010.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Borders Railway remains on target to commence with main construction works during the life of this Parliament, in line with my previous statement to Parliament on 5 March 2008. Transport Scotland is already progressing with the delivery of advance works d…
3 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any discussions regarding tram line 3 have considered extending the tram line to Midlothian.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: No material proposal to extend the tram line to Midlothian has been considered.</p>
3 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place to progress tram line 3 to link Edinburgh city centre with the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government has discussed with both City of Edinburgh Council and Tie Ltd what processes would need to be followed if they wished to secure powers to construct Tramline 3.</p>
3 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers or Transport Scotland have considered bringing the Edinburgh South Suburban Railway network back in to use for either heavy or light rail.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Edinburgh South Suburban Railway (ESSR) is designated by Network Rail as a primary freight route, conveying around 50 freight trains per day. The re-opening of the ESSR to passenger services was considered through the Strategic Transport Projects Review, …
30 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to question S3W-9066 by Michael Russell on 25 February 2008 and question S3W-19266 by Roseanna Cunningham on 20 February 2009, whether the matters of process raised with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) by the Minister for Environment were the same…
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Yes.</p>
30 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a moratorium on the erection of bilingual road signs and, if so, how long this will last.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: There is no moratorium on the erection of bilingual road signs in areas where these have been authorised by the Scottish Government. In particular we are continuing the authorised programme of installing bilingual direction signs on the A82 trunk road between…
26 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether allegations of unreasonable delay, incompetence or unfairness of any kind by the Highland Council in the handling of applications from Aviemore resort hotels were made to ministers or civil servants and, if so, who made the allegations and on what dates, whether any evidence suppo…
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Mary Scanlon MSP wrote to Scottish ministers on 7 December 2007 expressing concern that the planning application by Aviemore Highland Resort was being delayed by Highland Council, Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA), Scottish Environment Protection Agen…
26 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether allegations of unreasonable delay, incompetence or unfairness of any kind by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in the handling of applications from Aviemore resort hotels were made to ministers or civil servants and, if so, who made the allegations and on what dates, whet…
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Several Members of the Scottish Parliament and a member of the United Kingdom Parliament expressed concern to Scottish ministers between 6 and 11 December 2007 about the handling of Aviemore Highland Resort''s planning applications suggesting that the Scottis…
26 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether allegations of unreasonable delay, incompetence or unfairness of any kind by the Cairngorm National Park Authority in the handling of applications from Aviemore resort hotels were made to ministers or civil servants and, if so, who made the allegations and on what dates, whether a…
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Mary Scanlon MSP wrote to the First Minister on 7 December 2007 expressing concern about delays by the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) and by other public bodies in their handling of the planning application from Aviemore Highland Resort. Officials …
18 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-20901 by Stewart Stevenson on 9 March 2009, whether it can confirm that eight meetings of the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland took place in 2007 and that a move to quarterly meetings in 2009 would mean a reduction in the number of meetings…
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: In 2007, eight meetings of the main committee of the then Mobility and Access Committee (MACS) took place. The decision to meet more often than the statutory requirement is a matter for the Convener and Members of MACS. The committee consider that meeting fou…
18 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent quality targets for punctuality within the rail franchise have been affected by delays attributable to Network Rail in 2008 and in 2009 for which information is available and what action ministers or Transport Scotland officials can take when delays reach an unacceptable le…
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Network Rail operates under a network licence and is accountable to the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) if they do not meet the conditions of its licence and the outputs specified within it. If Network Rail fails to meet their specified outputs the ORR can re…
18 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers or Transport Scotland officials have raised concerns over delays attributable to poor performance on the part of Network Rail during 2008 or 2009 and, if so, on what dates these were raised and what response was received from Network Rail.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Ministers met with Network Rail representatives at least every six months. In addition, Transport Scotland officials met frequently with their Network Rail counterparts to progress issues relating to the rail network in Scotland. Ministers met with Network Ra…
18 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the performance level of Network Rail was in terms of delays for (a) the Glasgow/west of Scotland area and (b) Scotland in each 28 day period in 2008 and in 2009 for which information is available.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) sets the contractual and financial framework within which Network Rail operates the network, ensuring that the company carries out its activities efficiently and well. This includes monitoring and enforcement of Network Rai…