Parliamentary questions
Lewis Macdonald
2,224 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
31 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it has set for the completion of affordable homes in 2011 and whether it expects them to be met.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government has not set a specific target linked to the completion of affordable homes for 2011. However, we do monitor the number of completions of affordable homes each year and the relevant statistics are published on a quarterly basis on the H…
31 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding is or will be available for the Empty Homes scheme in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14 and (d) 2014-15.
Answer · Keith Brown: £53,755 has been set aside in 2011-12 to fund the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership, which is managed by Shelter Scotland. While the Scottish Government plans to extend funding for the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership beyond 2011-12, details of funding for fut…
25 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for the upgrading of water treatment works and wastewater treatment works in each of the next five years.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The required improvements to the services provided by Scottish Water to its customers are set out in Ministers' Objectives. The objectives covering the current regulatory period 2010-15 are available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/wa…
25 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding borrowing powers for Scottish Water.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has identified a range of improvements to the Scotland Bill for discussion with the UK Government.
25 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals are being considered for inclusion in the legislation on expanding the role of Scottish Water.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-255 on 9 June 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/Apps2/Business/PQA/D…
25 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will present its proposed legislation on expanding the role of Scottish Water to the Parliament.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government's consultation, Building A Hydro Nation, on how Scotland should develop as a hydro nation and the role of Scottish Water, within that closed on 9 March 2011. The responses are being analysed and the Scottish Government will set out its…
25 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it provided to Scottish Water in each of the last five years and how much it will provide in each of the next five years.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson : The amounts lent to Scottish Water in the last five years are available in Scottish Water's annual accounts which are laid before the Parliament. Copies of these documents are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe). The relevant Bib. …
25 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-38686 by Keith Brown on 20 January 2011, what work has been undertaken on the Highland main line to reduce journey times between Inverness and Glasgow/Edinburgh and whether additional financial commitments or improvements will be made in the current …
Answer · Keith Brown: Network Rail has recently completed a line speed assessment of the route, and has identified opportunities for higher speeds along specific sections. A number of technical improvements will be implemented later this year and should deliver reduced journey tim…
25 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-39333 by Keith Brown on 24 February 2011, whether there will be changes to the (a) final cost or (b) completion date of the (i) Forth Replacement Crossing, (ii) M74 extension, (iii) M8/Network Improvements/M74 Raith, (iv) M80 Completion (Stepps to Ha…
Answer · Keith Brown: The total out-turn cost of the Forth Replacement Crossing is now £1.62 billion with an estimated completion date of 2016-17. All other information contained in the answer to question S3W-39333 remains the same.
24 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the M8 Baillieston to Newhouse project, how long the operational period of the non-profit distributing arrangements will be; what the timetable is for delivery of the project; what the expected capital investment is for 2011-12 and each of the following four financial year…
Answer · Keith Brown: The operational period of the non-profit distributing arrangement is expected to be 30 years. The M8 Baillieston to Newhouse project, in combination with schemes on the M74 at Raith Junction and on the M73 and M74, will take four years to construct following …
24 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to improvements to the A96, what funding mechanism will be used; what the timetable is for delivery of the project; what the expected capital investment is for 2011-12 and each of the following four financial years, and what the projected total cost is.
Answer · Keith Brown: Design work for the A96 Inveramsay Bridge scheme is currently underway. A capital budget of £750,000 has been allocated to take the design work up to the stage where a preferred option can be identified. This design work is currently programmed for delivery i…
24 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to improvements to the A90/A96 at the Haudagain roundabout, what funding mechanism will be used; what the timetable is for delivery of the project; what the expected capital investment is for 2011-12 and each of the following four financial years, and what the projected total…
Answer · Keith Brown: The commitment previously given to start improvements to Haudagain Roundabout following completion of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) remains firmly in place and preparation work will be put in hand at the appropriate time to achieve that end. Th…
24 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the M8, M73 and M74 network improvements, how long the operational period of the non-profit distributing arrangements will be and what the expected capital investment is for 2011-12 and each of the following four financial years.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-225 on 7 June 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/Apps2/Business/PQA/D…
24 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the Glasgow Fastlink project, what funding mechanism will be used; what the timetable is for delivery of the project; what the expected capital investment is for 2011-12 and each of the following four financial years, and what the projected total cost is.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government has reaffirmed its commitment to Fastlink and, in particular, a core scheme which improves bus services between the city centre, the Southern General Hospital, and the SECC, with obvious benefits for the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Our ob…
24 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the deployment of the new fleet of longer electric trains in Central Scotland, what funding mechanism will be used; what the timetable is for delivery of the project; what the expected capital investment is for 2011-12 and each of the following four financial years, and wh…
Answer · Keith Brown: Consideration is currently underway to determine the most efficient way of procuring and funding the new electric trains for the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme. These new trains are required to deliver the Scottish Government's ambitious railway elec…
24 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the dualling of the A9 between Perth and Inverness, what funding mechanism will be used; what the timetable is for delivery of the project; what the expected capital investment is for 2011-12 and each of the following four financial years, and what the projected total cost…
Answer · Keith Brown: The A9 is a key artery in Scotland’s transport network and we will continue to invest in improvements to the road on a continuing and progressive basis. The construction of the extended dual section at Crubenmore is well advanced and we are taking forward des…
24 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the Forth Replacement Crossing, what funding mechanism will be used and what the expected capital investment is for 2011-12 and each of the following four financial years.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Forth Replacement Crossing will be fully funded through capital budgets. Following award of the Forth Replacement Crossing Principal Contract, the project now has a revised total outturn cost of £1.47 to £1.62 billion. The expected annual capital inves…
24 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the modernisation of the Glasgow subway, what funding mechanism will be used; what the timetable is for delivery of the project; what the expected capital investment is for 2011-12 and each of the following four financial years, and what the projected total cost is.
Answer · Keith Brown: These are matters for Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) as promoters of the subway modernisation. Further information on SPT’s plans and progress can be found at: http://www.spt.co.uk/projects/subway_modernisation.aspx.
24 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the dualling of the A90 between Balmedie and Tipperty, what funding mechanism will be used; what the timetable is for delivery of the project; what the expected capital investment is for 2011-12 and each of the following four financial years, and what the projected total c…
Answer · Keith Brown: The A90 Balmedie to Tipperty scheme and the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) will be procured through a combined Non-Profit Distributing (NPD) Model contract. The programme for both schemes will be reviewed once the current legal challenges against th…
24 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it will offer rail companies for the roll-out of wi-fi on train services.
Answer · Keith Brown: The ScotRail franchise agreement included an option in which Scottish ministers required ScotRail to arrange for the production of a detailed report for the introduction of wi-fi on ScotRail express routes. This report has been delivered and now forms one of …
24 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the electrification of the Central Scotland rail network, what funding mechanism will be used; what the timetable is for the delivery of the project; what the expected capital investment is for 2011-12 and each of the following four financial years, and what the projected …
Answer · Keith Brown: The capital cost of the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP) is currently estimated at £1.08 billion. The programme remains on schedule for final completion by December 2016. EGIP will be fully funded by the Scottish Government. Network Rail and …
24 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the Borders Railway project, how long the operational period of the non-profit distributing arrangements will be and what the expected capital investment is for 2011-12 and each of the following four financial years.
Answer · Keith Brown: The operational period for the non-profit distributing (NPD) arrangements will be 30 years. The capital investment for the construction of the new railway will be funded through the NPD contract and repaid over the 30 years. The forecast capital expenditure …
24 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to increase the frequency of the train service between Airdrie and Bathgate.
Answer · Keith Brown: ScotRail introduced a new timetable on the Airdrie to Bathgate route on 23 May 2011 which now delivers the planned four trains per hour frequency on the re-opened line.
24 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are for faster and more frequent rail services between Aberdeen and Inverness.
Answer · Keith Brown: A pre-feasibility study on how to deliver improvements to the Aberdeen to Inverness rail line was published on 22 March 2011, and is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre and on Transport Scotland’s website. The study explored a number of p…
24 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are for faster and more frequent rail services between Aberdeen and (a) Glasgow and (b) Edinburgh.
Answer · Keith Brown: Services operating on the Aberdeen to central belt route have seen a number of improvements since December 2008, including faster journey times of around 10 minutes, and service frequency enhancements along the route. Recognising that an effective transport …
19 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make further awards from the National Renewables Infrastructure Fund in 2011-12.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Both Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Scottish Enterprise anticipate that significant funding awards will be made during 2011-12 based on current negotiations.
19 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what awards have been made from the National Renewables Infrastructure Fund and to what organisations or businesses.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has awarded £5 million to Scrabster Harbour Trust and both HIE and Scottish Enterprise are involved in detailed ongoing negotiations with a number of site owners. In parallel with activities associated with the National …
19 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications it has received for funding from the National Renewables Infrastructure Fund and from what organisations or businesses.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: To date there have been 37 expressions of interest in the fund received by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and Scottish Enterprise (SE). Both HIE and SE are actively engaged in commercial discussions with a number of site owners where there is early in…
13 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the (a) UK Government and (b) oil and gas industry regarding the increase in supplementary taxation of oil and gas production, in view of the possible impact on employment in Scotland, and whether it has proposed alternative approaches or measures to mitig…
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The First Minister has had full and frank discussions with the Chancellor on the recent changes to the North Sea fiscal regime and the impacts on oil and gas production, investment, jobs and the Scottish economy. The Scottish Government has also engaged in cl…
7 Mar 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are sufficient grounds to call in the proposal for a third crossing over the River Don in Aberdeen and whether it will make a statement on the matter.
Answer · John Swinney: No. As formal planning consent has been granted by Aberdeen City Council, Scottish Ministers have no locus to intervene but I am satisfied that there were no issues of national significance raised by this application that would have justified it being determi…