Parliamentary questions

Kenny MacAskill

2,611 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

9 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what access improvement projects it has supported, and is currently supporting, for train stations.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive is funding works to improve access at specific points on the network in Scotland.<table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> Local Authority Area </td> <td> Type of …

8 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what involvement it has in the current rollout of Global System for Mobile Telecommunication (GSM-R) masts.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: GSM-R is primarily a rail safety matter – and therefore reserved. It is intended to improve communication between train drivers and signallers. The programme’s implementation is a matter for Network Rail, due to its responsibility for railway infrastructure a…

8 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who has planning competence over Network Rail in relation to their permitted development rights, which allow the rollout of Global System for Mobile Telecommunications (GSM-R) masts in excess of 15 metres in the Strathclyde area.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: I refer the member to the question S2W-10263 from Robert Brown MSP answered on 16 September 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: <ahref="http://ww…

8 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much traffic has been removed from the roads as a result of the Freight Facilities Grant awarded to BP at Grangemouth.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: A total of 5.9 million lorry miles were removed from Scotland’s roads as a result of this award of grant during the first two years of operation from April 2002 to March 2004.

8 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its most immediate transport infrastructure priorities are.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The key major transport infrastructure projects being given priority by the Scottish Executive are set out in the Transport White Paper Scotland’s Transport Future (published on 16 June 2004), available from the Scottish Parliament Reference Centre (Bi…

8 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the #3 billion it announced for investment in new transport infrastructure and initiatives in 2002 (a) has been spent and (b) remains to be spent, broken down by project.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: In the past two financial years 2002-03 and 2003-04 we spent over £86 million on the major transport infrastructure projects set out in the Transport White Paper Scotland’s Transport Future.The final capital costs of these projects will depend o…

8 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who will operate and manage the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine railway line once it has been completed.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Once constructed, it is intended that the line will be transferred by Clackmannanshire Council to Network Rail to own, operate and maintain.

8 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made on the reinstatement of the Stirling to Alloa to Kincardine railway line and whether there are any funding difficulties in respect of the line.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Following Royal Assent to the Stirling to Alloa to Kincardine Railway and Linked Improvements Act 2004, work on the detailed design of the scheme continues on schedule.In parallel with this work detailed discussions with Network Rail and on funding iss…

8 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much rolling stock ScotRail currently holds; what its fleet carrying capacity is, and how much of the rolling stock is currently non-operational and for what reason.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The ScotRail daytime fleet currently comprises 234 trains with over 40,000 seats.The rest of the ScotRail fleet currently comprises of 53 sleeping vehicles and 11 vehicles with seating accommodation offering a total of 864 berths and 248 seats per nigh…

8 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funds it expects to receive following Her Majestys Governments rail review and whether these funds will be allocated from the budget of the Strategic Rail Authority or the Department of Transport.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: As part of the Review of the Railways, the UK Government intends that greater responsibility for railways in Scotland will transfer to Scottish ministers.The changes, outlined in the UK Government Future of Rail White Paper, remain subject to ag…

8 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who will (a) own and (b) fund the proposed Edinburgh Airport rail station.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Ownership of the station is under discussion between Transport Innovative Edinburgh Limited, the British Airports Authority and Network Rail. The detailed funding arrangements for the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link has not yet been agreed.

8 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether ScotRail will be eligible to apply for the Access for All fund, established by the Strategic Rail Authority to improve access at rail stations, and, if not, how the Executive will support access improvements to stations.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Access for All fund will be prioritised on a British National basis. I understand that the Strategic Rail Authority intend to publish a consultation paper in November that will cover the scope for applications to be made to the Access for All fund as well…

8 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a list of rail stations that have been prioritised for access improvements and, if so, what the criteria are for such prioritisation.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Strategic Rail Authority intends to consult shortly on its proposed Access for All programme, which seeks to identify stations that are a high priority for access improvements. It will consider – amongst other things – station usage, geographic criteria, …

8 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who will be responsible for future maintenance costs associated with the disabled access footbridge at Lockerbie rail station.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Provision for maintenance until the end of the current Office of the Rail Regulator control period will be included in the cost analysis that will be part of the project development work. A key consideration is that any additional infrastructure will require …

8 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made with the installation of the disabled access footbridge at Lockerbie rail station.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Network Rail have now allocated their own staff resources to this project, enabling detailed design work to proceed and a realistic work programme to be drawn up.

8 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria were applied in the provision of funding for the disabled access footbridge at Lockerbie rail station.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The decision by the Scottish Executive to make available funding of up to £750,000 for a new footbridge at Lockerbie rail station, allowing disabled access to the southbound platform, was taken largely because of the station’s isolation within the rail networ…

8 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what strategic benefits the Gourock interchange will deliver for railways in Scotland.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Gourock Interchange project will enable rail, ferry, bus and taxi users to switch between travel modes in a modern purpose built environment.

8 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made with the delivery of the Gourock interchange.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: We understand that Inverclyde Council and Network Rail, as the main parties, have made progress in agreeing outline development and design proposals for the Gourock transport interchange.

8 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the proposal to devolve further powers to it in respect of railways, whether rail funding will be allocated through the block grant or the National Track Access regime; what its powers over Network Rail will be; whether it or the Office of the Rail Regulator will have the pow…

Answer · Nicol Stephen: It has been agreed with the UK Government that, in future, the Scottish Executive will specify network outputs to be delivered by Network Rail and fund Scottish infrastructure costs. This agreement is subject to a fair and appropriate transfer of funding to e…

2 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the announcement in The Future of Rail of further devolution of powers in respect of rail infrastructure, whether the Executive has secured additional funding to enable it to exercise such powers; if so, how much and what proportion of such funding will be spent on (a) the ra…

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The changes, outlined in the UK Government The Future of Rail White Paper, remain subject to agreement regarding the transfer of appropriate resources from the UK Government to the Scottish Executive.

23 Aug 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations or submissions it has made to the Department for Transports consultation on the review of the rail industry; whether it will publish such submissions, and whether it sought additional powers in respect of the rail industry and, if so, in what areas.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive fully engaged in the review of the rail industry process, working jointly with the Department for Transport on proposals as they related to the devolution of rail powers to Scotland.The UK Government intends that the tasks of pla…

23 Aug 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to change the structure of the Rail Passengers Committee Scotland.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The UK White Paper The Future of Rail proposes the abolition of the Rail Passenger Council regional committees, retaining the council as a single national body. This is a matter for the UK Government. Scottish ministers will be able to appoint a member…

23 Aug 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which schemes are funded under the bus route development scheme, showing the amount awarded in each case.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Transport authorities were invited to submit proposals by 30 July 2004. The proposals received are currently being analysed, and once this process is complete recommendations will be made as to which proposals should be supported. An announcement regarding wh…

23 Aug 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any increase in fuel tax in September will lead to an increase in the Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG); if not, when consideration will be given to an increase in the BSOG, and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The rate of Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) paid to operators will be reviewed in the light of any changes to fuel duty. The aim of BSOG is to maintain or increase the number of kilometres run by local services and for any requirement for fares increases t…

28 Jul 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the Scottish Arts Council's report Review of Publishing - A review of Scottish publishing in the 21st Century - summary report and any consequent additional funding, what sums will be made available for the direct support of publishing and publications; what sums have been, o…

Answer · Frank McAveety: I have asked Graham Berry, Directorof the Scottish Arts Council (SAC), to respond. His response is as follows:The SAC has allocated an additional£215,000 in 2004-05 to implement a number of the Review’s recommendations. Thisone-off additional sum will …

23 Jul 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many prosecutions there have been relating to the possession of offensive weapons at airports in each year since 1999, broken down by airport.

Answer · Colin Boyd: There is no specific offencerelating to the possession of offensive weapons at airports and our case data doesnot enable us to identify cases involving the possession of offensive weapons atairports separately from cases relating to other locations.

23 Jul 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether all passengers landing at airports in Scotland found to be in possession of offensive weapons are charged with a criminal offence and what the reasons are for its position on this matter; whether information on the actions of such passengers are given to the police or the Procura…

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Where a passenger arriving ata Scottish airport is found by HM Customs and Excise to be in possession of an offensiveweapon, that person is routinely reported to the police. It is a matter for thepolice to decide, in light of the circumstances and the type of…

5 Jul 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what studies (a) it or (b) its agencies are undertaking in respect of economic benefits from the cruise liner sector; what the terms of reference of any such studies are; with whom those terms of reference were discussed prior to approval, and when the results of any such studies will be …

Answer · Frank McAveety: Initial discussions have taken place between VisitScotland, CruiseScotland and Forth Ports plc about the prospect of research into trends in the cruise liner sector. The plans for this research are still at a very early stage; the next step is for VisitScotla…

30 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-8861 by Nicol Stephen on 24 June 2004, when the (a) current and (b) next franchise agreement will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The current franchiseagreement has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Reference Centre (Bib.number 33206).The next franchise agreementhas still to be finalised and signed by the relevant parties. It will be placedin the Scottish Parliament Referenc…

28 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the national transport agency will be responsible for the franchise arrangements for the Northern Isles ferry routes and other routes to be tendered and, if not, what role the agency will have with regard to this issue and what the reasons are for the position on this matter.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: I refer the member to the answer given to his question S2W-9414 answered on 26 July 2004. All answers towritten parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, thesearch facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliam…