Parliamentary questions
Lewis Macdonald
2,224 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
5 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects construction work on the Borders Railway line to be completed.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government remain committed to the target of completing the new line by December 2014.
5 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it planned to place the required notice for the Borders Railway project in the Official Journal of the European Union under the project's previous procurement model, and when it now plans to do so.
Answer · Keith Brown: The required notice for the Borders Railway project was placed in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) in December 2009. A Notice of Discontinuance was placed in the OJEU in October 2011.
5 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-02836 by Keith Brown on 29 September 2011, what preliminary works are scheduled for the Borders Railway project and when these are expected to be completed.
Answer · Keith Brown: The package of advance utility diversion works which commenced in March 2010 is nearing completion. Transport Scotland is currently in discussions with Network Rail regarding additional preliminary works which may be required in advance of main construction w…
5 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the first tracks to be laid on the Borders Railway line.
Answer · Keith Brown: The first tracks were laid on the Borders Railway in May 2011, as part of the advance works undertaken by Network Rail to complete the connection spur at the Millerhill junction.
30 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has regarding the number of transport projects valued at over £200 million that have been carried out successfully using the non-profit distributing model as the funding mechanism in (a) Scotland, (b) the rest of the UK and (c) the rest of the world.
Answer · Keith Brown: The NPD has been developed as the Scottish Government’s preferred procurement option for revenue financed projects. NPD seeks to transfer risk and private sector expertise both during the construction phase of a project and throughout its lifetime, but withou…
27 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with stakeholders about the creation of its mortgage indemnity scheme.
Answer · Keith Brown: Discussions about the establishment of a private sector mortgage indemnity scheme have taken place with Homes for Scotland, the Council of Mortgage Lenders and the insurance broker Jardine Lloyd Thompson.
27 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considered funding organisations other than Homes for Scotland to develop a mortgage indemnity scheme.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government’s Innovation Fund, launched in March, invited proposals related to mortgage indemnity schemes from all housing providers.
27 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will monitor the progress of Homes for Scotland in developing a mortgage indemnity scheme.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government’s offer of financial support to Homes for Scotland includes detailed requirements for the provision of regular written reports on progress. In addition, officials will discuss the development of the scheme as part of their ongoing prog…
27 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has given to Homes for Scotland in relation to developing a mortgage indemnity scheme.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government has made clear that it wishes to see the introduction of a private sector mortgage indemnity scheme that will increase the availability of higher loan to value lending to first time buyers and others, where sensible and sustainable. …
19 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any discussions between either Donald Trump or the Trump Organization and (a) the developers or (b) any other third party regarding offshore wind development plans in Aberdeen Bay between October 2008 and August 2011 and, if so, what organisations and on what dates.…
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Scottish ministers have no record or knowledge of any such communication.
19 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it had with Donald Trump or the Trump Organization regarding offshore wind development plans in Aberdeen Bay between May 2007 and October 2008.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: There is no record of Scottish ministers or their officials communicating with Donald Trump or the Trump Organization on this issue.
19 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any discussions between either Donald Trump or the Trump Organization and (a) the developers or (b) any other third party regarding offshore wind development plans in Aberdeen Bay between May 2007 and October 2008 and, if so, what organisations and on what dates.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Scottish ministers have no record or knowledge of any such communication.
19 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it had with Donald Trump or the Trump Organization regarding offshore wind development plans in Aberdeen Bay between October 2008 and August 2011.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: There is no record of Scottish ministers or their officials communicating with Donald Trump or the Trump Organization on this issue.
19 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether further preliminary work is required on the Borders Railway project and, if so, whether this will involve additional costs.
Answer · Keith Brown: Further preliminary work is scheduled for the Borders Railway, as would be expected on a large scale, complex project and the costs have been accounted for in the overall project capital budget.
19 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects work to begin on the Borders Railway project.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37461 on 25 November 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/MAQAS…
19 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with BAM Construction UK regarding the construction costs of the Borders Railway project.
Answer · Keith Brown: Transport Scotland has, as part of the competitive dialogue procurement process, discussed a range of topics with BAM PPP UK Ltd, a subsidiary of the Royal BAM Group, in relation to the Borders Railway Design, Build, Finance & Maintain (DBFM) procurement comp…
19 Sep 2011 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government plans to impose a cap on the costs of the Borders Railway project.
15 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Network Rail and rail franchise operators regarding cycling facilities in each of the last five years.
Answer · Keith Brown: Opportunities to discuss cycling facilities arise at regular monthly meetings with Network Rail, at the quarterly Rail Environmental Forum hosted, since inauguration in 2009, by Transport Scotland and attended by Network Rail and ScotRail and at the bi-annual…
15 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what cycling projects it supported in 2010-11 and has supported in 2011-12.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government has supported the following cycling projects in both 2010-11 and 2011-12: Local authority led projects supported through the Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets grant; The Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme currently running in…
15 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to promote cycling among young people.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government promotes the sport of cycling among young people through sportscotland. In the year 2010-11, sportscotland awarded Scottish Cycling over £635,000, part of which is designed to enable the sport’s governing body, Scottish Cycling, develo…
15 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to how many private sector businesses it has provided funding for workplace cycling facilities and how much in each case, in each of the last five years.
Answer · Keith Brown: There has been no payment of grants to private sector organisations from the Scottish Government for workplace cycling facilities in the last five years. Subsequent feedback from organisations said that if cycling facilities were needed it would be easier and…
15 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made toward achieving its Cycling Action Plan for Scotland target of 10% of all journeys to be by bike by 2020.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Cycling Action Plan for Scotland (CAPS) was published only last year in June 2010. Cycling Scotland is charged with reporting progress on the actions in CAPS to Scottish Ministers on an annual basis with the first report due in May 2012. This first report…
15 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the National Cycle Network will be completed.
Answer · Keith Brown: The completion of the National Cycle Network will depend on availability of annual funding and successful partnership working between Sustrans, local authorities and private landowners. Neither Sustrans nor the Scottish Government has set a completion date.
15 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the new Cycle Training Standards and Delivery Support Group will next meet and what issues will be discussed.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Cycle Training Standards and Delivery Group, recently renamed as the Bikeability Scotland Delivery Group, first met in September 2010 to formulate a delivery plan which was published by the end of last year. The plan includes four main outcomes: a 2.5 pe…
15 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce the result of its discussions with local authorities regarding the third phase of the Scotland’s Schools for the Future programme.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-02780 on 23 September 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentar…
15 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what requirements have been placed on Aberdeenshire Council regarding timetabling to secure funding from the Scottish Futures Trust for the building and maintenance of the replacement Ellon Academy.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government is providing funding towards the replacement of Ellon Academy, and all other schools within the £1.25 billion Scotland’s Schools for the Future programme. The government, Scottish Futures Trust and Aberdeenshire Council are working clo…
15 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria have been set for local authorities to receive funding under the third phase of the Scotland’s Schools for the Future programme.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government will shortly commence discussions with local authorities to identify school projects for the third phase of the Scotland’s Schools for the Future building programme, focussing on those in the worst condition and suitability categories.…
14 Sep 2011 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it provides to community councils.
7 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to publish the process and timetable for letting the next ScotRail franchise.
Answer · Keith Brown: The current ScotRail franchise is due to end in November 2014. Preparatory work on how we wish to deliver future rail passenger services is currently being undertaken, and this includes a public consultation which is expected to be launched later this year. D…
31 Aug 2011 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what date it expects to publish an updated infrastructure investment plan.