Fergus Ewing

6 May 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Natural Heritage would be liable to compensate any landowners who incurred loss as a result of damage caused by the reintroduction of the beaver.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The current licence application from Scottish Natural Heritage raises the issue of compensation for damage to landowners who may be adversely affected by the proposed re-introduction of beavers. However, it is only one of a very wide range of issues in a case…

5 May 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to ensure that the redundant sleeping cars stored by Porterbrook Leasing are not scrapped and can be used on the West Highland Line if the service is developed.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The decision on storage and future leasing arrangements is for First ScotRail and Porterbrook to make within the terms of the franchise requirement. The Executive is satisfied, having consulted with First ScotRail, that sufficient capacity exists within the f…

5 May 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the creation of a rail link between Glasgow airport and Glasgow city centre would have on reducing traffic from the M8 to the city centre (a) without and (b) with a park-and-ride facility at the airport connection.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Strathclyde Passenger Transport (SPT), the promoter of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link, are in the final stages of analysing the impact that their proposals will have in reducing congestion on the M8. This information will be available towards the end of May, b…

5 May 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what provision it will seek, in connection with the proposed rail link from Glasgow Airport to Glasgow city centre, for park-and-ride schemes to encourage users of the M8 to leave their cars at the airport connection and take the rail link into the city centre and, if no such park-and-rid…

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive supports the current design of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link as proposed by Strathclyde Passenger Transport (SPT). If the SPT or a local authority wished to pursue a proposal for a park-and-ride facility such a project would be assessed…

5 May 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will carry out a feasibility study into the (a) cost per unit of refurbishing the redundant sleeping cars stored by Porterbrook Leasing for use on the West Highland Line or other sleeper service, comparing that to the cost of purchasing new stock, and (b) economic costs and ben…

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The franchise agreement allows the Executive to receive a range of information about sleeper services on a regular basis, on marketing, demand, costs and revenues. In addition, service development is considered on an on-going basis by First ScotRail and by th…

5 May 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any arrangement to prevent the destruction of redundant sleeping cars stored by Porterbrook Leasing to enable these cars to be used as extra sleeping cars for the West Highland Line and, if not, how much it will cost to purchase new sleeping cars.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Executive has no plans to require First ScotRail to lease additional sleeping cars as there is already sufficient capacity within the fleet. Purchase of new sleeping cars would be subject to a procurement process before reliable estimates of the costs inv…

5 May 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what provision it has made in the franchise to First ScotRail for expansion of the West Highland Line service by (a) more train journeys and (b) securing extra rolling stock and whether its transport policy includes any commitment that the West Highland Line should be expanded by more tra…

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The franchise allows the Executive to require additional services to be provided. Any proposal to run additional services would be considered alongside the existing service level commitment and needs across the rail network. Expansion of the West Highland Lin…

4 May 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-15893 by Nicol Stephen on 26 April 2005, under which subsection and paragraph of sections 103 and 104 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 it acted in purchasing plots referred to in Annex B of the letter of 24 March 2005 containing Scottish ministers' d…

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The powers for acquiring land that are contained in sections 103 and 104 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 have to be read with the remainder of Part IX of the act, which provides further provisions depending on what use the land is to be put.</p>

28 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that recommended procurement practice has been followed in the tender process for the management and maintenance of the trunk road network in north-west and south-west Scotland where only two firms, rather than three, have been selected to bid and whether it will p…

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Yes. The tender process is being carried out in accordance with EU procurement rules for public works contracts and the procedural guidance set out in the Scottish Executive’s <i>Construction Works Procurement Guidance: Client Pack.</i> This information is av…

28 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the announcement that only two firms have been selected to bid for the management and maintenance of the trunk road network in north-west and south-west Scotland, whether it is concerned that the cost to the taxpayer may be unreasonably high.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: No. Although there are only two bidders for each contract, including the existing service providers, the firms involved all have the resources and experience to offer competitive bids that will provide value for money.</p>

28 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is concerned that its tender list for the management and maintenance of the trunk road network in north-west and south-west Scotland comprises only two contractors and whether this is in accordance with applicable guidelines governing the tender process and, if not, what steps…

Answer · Nicol Stephen: No. Although current procurement guidance recommends a minimum of three bidders, two is acceptable when this is considered to provide genuine competition. The nature of the firms which have been selected to tender for these contracts should ensure a genuine c…

27 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-15892 by Nicol Stephen on 26 April 2005, (a) which consultants received payment from the sum of £327,735.29, how much was paid to each consultant and what consultancy services were provided, (b) how much of the sum of £152,673.11 was for legal fees a…

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The information requested is as follows:</p> <p>(a) The following consultants received payment from the sum of £327,735.29.</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p align=center>Consultant</p></td> <td> <p align=…

26 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who bears the risk of delays in relation to the awarding of contracts for the construction of the M74 extension; whether it will place in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre any contract documents providing for such risk, and whether there will be any provision in respect of who b…

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Our standard Design and Build contract conditions, which are proposed for the construction of the M74 completion scheme, place most of the risk for delays due to unforeseen circumstances on the contractor, since he is best placed to manage the consequence of …

25 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it accepts the recommendations in the Calman report in respect of additional undergraduate medical student places and medical schools' admission policies; whether it will make a statement on its position, and when its decision on the report's findings will be announced.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive is carefully considering the implications of Sir Kenneth Calmans report and will look to publish its response as soon as possible.</p>

13 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimate was of the cost of the public local inquiry on the M74 Special Road (Fullarton Road to West of Kingston Bridge) Orders prior to the inquiry commencing.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The estimated cost at the start of the PLI was £602,000.</p>

12 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-15164 by Nicol Stephen on 24 March 2005, whether it is in a position to indicate whether a Director for Scotland will be appointed as a single point of contact for the Executive.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Network Rail will remain a private sector company and its internal management arrangements are a matter for the company.</p>

12 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-15166 by Nicol Stephen on 24 March 2005, what specific role the new regional partnership in the west of Scotland will have in the development, management and monitoring of rail services in its area.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: There are a number of tasks that we propose that the new regional transport partnership in the west of Scotland could perform:</p> <p>Development – developing project proposals, including producing feasibility studies, developing the business case, through to…

12 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it received representations from NFU Scotland on the consequences of the method of calculating the single farm payment (SFP) for sheep farmers; whether it considers that an anomaly has arisen through the effect experienced by some sheep farmers as a result of foot-and-mouth diseas…

Answer · Ross Finnie: NFU Scotland hasbrought to my officials’ attention a number of aspects of sheep farming and theSingle Farm Payment Scheme (SFPS), including the impact of FMD and the ability torestock fully. </p><p>Before dealing with sheep producers,I need to set out the pos…

11 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has a policy of using Scottish rather than English legal terminology in Parliamentary answers and ministerial statements.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The Scottish Executive’s policy is that parliamentary answers and ministerial statements shouldbe as clear, accurate and helpful as possible; and that any legal terminology whichis used is appropriate in the particular context.</p>

11 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings took place between Scottish ministers and directors of companies which own, lease or occupy properties which have been, or will be, purchased under the M74 Special Road (Fullarton Road to West of Kingston Bridge) Orders between 1 May 2003 and 24 March 2005.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Deputy First Minister visited the Morris Furniture Group site at Polmadie Road on 12 August 2003 to meet Mr Robert Morris, the Managing Director. There is no record of any other meetings between Scottish ministers and directors of affected companies.</p>

11 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it paid in respect of purchase of land under the M74 Special Road (Fullarton Road to West of Kingston Bridge) Orders up to 23 March 2005.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Total compensation paid for thepurchase of land for the M74 completion scheme to 23 March 2005 was £40,345,215.</p>

11 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what total price it has paid, or is liable to pay, to Network Rail in respect of the M74 project for property and property interests which it (a) has acquired where the transactions have been completed (b) will acquire where transactions have not been completed.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: No property or interests haveyet been acquired from Network Rail. The amount of compensation that will becomedue when title to the land is taken is not yet known.</p>

11 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to Annex B of the letter of 24 March 2005 containing Scottish ministers' decision on the M74, how much it cost to purchase each plot where the plot was acquired voluntarily by Scottish ministers and whether it will provide details in respect of (a) where each plot is locat…

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The information requested is given in the table. This includes details of all land acquired to date for the M74 Completion Scheme.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p>Previous Owner (own)/Occupier (occ) or Lessee …

11 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the legal basis was for the voluntary purchase of plots referred to in Annex B of the letter of 24 March 2005 containing Scottish ministers' decision on the M74.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Powers to purchase property in advance are available to the Scottish ministers under Sections 103 and 104 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984.</p>

11 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was of the public local inquiry on the M74 Special Road (Fullarton Road to West of Kingston Bridge) Orders, detailing each component and element of the total costs and broken down into costs incurred by (a) the Inquiry Reporters Unit, (b) the civil service and (c) others.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The latest recorded costs incurred by the Inquiry Reporters Unit and the Executive are given in the table. Costs incurred by others represented at the Inquiry are not known.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p>&n…

8 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-13270 by Nicol Stephen on 24 January 2005, whether there are costs relating to the Smartcards other than those stated in that answer and, if so, what these other costs are and what the total cost is of the Smartcard scheme including all categories of…

Answer · Nicol Stephen: In addition to the costs set out in my answer to question S2W-13270, we estimate that the cost of the Smartcards themselves including distribution will be of the order of £3.6 million.</p>

8 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the timetable is for the tender process for the provision of the appropriate bus infrastructure to support the use of Smartcards for concessionary travel.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The timetable is as follows</p> <p>An OJEU (European Journal procurement notice) for interested parties (EOI) was published on 21 March. Replies close on 28 April. The notice reference number is 2005/S 56-054142.</p><p>The planned programme for the remainder …

6 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any of the documents or files containing documents relating to the (a) Holyrood Inquiry and (b) Holyrood Project will be subject to the 30-year rule; if so, whether early release of such documents can be considered under its records management rules and, if so, on what date or dat…

Answer · Tom McCabe: Under the Freedom of Information(Scotland) Act 2002, the 30-year rule no longer applies to any files. The only potentialbars to public access to information held on these files will be particular exemptionswhich might be applied under either FOI or the Data P…

6 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any of its destroyed files have had the protective marking "SECRET", "CONFIDENTIAL" or "RESTRICTED"; whether it will confirm that none of the documents contained within files having this marking will be destroyed or, if not, whether it will, prior to any such documents being destr…

Answer · Tom McCabe: Yes, files which have at somepoint carried one of the protective markings listed have been destroyed. The Executivemanages its records in partnership with the National Archives of Scotland, whosestaff work alongside Executive staff to ensure that the proper p…

6 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will complete its records management policy in respect of computer-generated documents and electronic records.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive is in the process of implementing a system for the electronic storage andarchiving of records. It is planned that the system will be fully implemented during2006. The same broad policies and principles of record keeping that apply to th…