Tavish Scott

27 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many independent reviews such as that to examine the scientific case for a special area of conservation in the Sound of Barra have taken place in each year since 2007 and for what geographical areas.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Tavish Scott (Shetland Islands) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government how many independent reviews such as that to examine the scientific case for a special area of conservation in the Sound of Barra have taken place in each year since …

26 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in addition to improved journey times, what steps or measures it has taken to ensure that the proposed high speed rail link between Edinburgh and Glasgow will offer better service, enough seating and luggage storage space, working toilets and efficient heating systems.

Answer · Keith Brown: The business case, to report in 2014, will determine the demand for high speed rail between Edinburgh and Glasgow. That will inform future decisions on rolling stock. There is no specification at this time for the design of new rolling stock, which could be u…

26 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-11185 by Keith Brown on 23 November 2012,  which meetings referred to the proposed high speed rail link between Edinburgh and Glasgow in isolation and which referred to it in relation to links to London.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Edinburgh to Glasgow link is an integral part of the development of high speed rail in Scotland which could see both Edinburgh and Glasgow connected to each other as well as independently to the network proposed elsewhere in the UK. It was recommended by…

26 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the proposed high speed rail link between Edinburgh and Glasgow, what equivalent train routes it has studied in order to assess safety, reliability, environmental impact and emissions.

Answer · Keith Brown: These factors will be considered during business case development. That process will report in 2014.

26 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what carbon analysis (a) has been done or (b) is proposed regarding the proposed high speed rail link between Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Answer · Keith Brown: Initial assessment of the environmental benefits of high speed rail was presented in Fast Track Scotland. However, that analysis was for the construction of an England to Scotland high speed line. Further appraisal of the environmental benefits of an Edinburg…

26 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what economic benefit there is for every minute reduction in train journey times between Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Answer · Keith Brown: As part of the business case for a high speed rail link between Edinburgh and Glasgow, an assessment of the benefits to Scotland will be undertaken. This work will establish the economic benefit of each minute of journey time saved as a consequence of a high …

26 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it expects to have an estimate of the cost and route of a new route between Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Answer · Keith Brown: We intend to conduct route appraisal and business case development in 2013. That process will report in 2014.

26 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-11185 by Keith Brown on 23 November 2012, how many meetings have been held on a similar basis in the last year relating to rail links northwards from (a) Edinburgh and (b) Glasgow.

Answer · Keith Brown: Transport Scotland holds regular discussions relating to rail links northwards from Edinburgh and Glasgow. These typically involve discussion with Network Rail, First ScotRail, Local authorities, Regional Transport Groups, business groups and others. It would…

26 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-11185 by Keith Brown on 23 November 2012, when the minutes of the meetings referred to will be made available.

Answer · Keith Brown : The minutes of meetings of the Scottish Partnership Group for High Speed Rail, organised by Transport Scotland, will be published shortly on the Transport Scotland website. Other meetings have comprised information sharing meetings, seminars and informal mee…

22 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to implement deposit and return schemes under the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 in order to achieve its aim of zero waste.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government is committed to pilot deposit return and reverse vending schemes in line with our 2011 Manifesto. Zero Waste Scotland is currently preparing a number of pilots of different schemes which we expect to be announced early next year with m…

21 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the fastest rail journey times will be between (a) Glasgow–Aberdeen, (b) Edinburgh–Aberdeen, (c) Aberdeen–Inverness, (d) Glasgow–Inverness and (e) Edinburgh–Inverness in 2024.

Answer · Keith Brown: Journey times for some services operating between Glasgow/Edinburgh and Inverness will be reduced by up to 17 minutes from 9 December 2012. Phase two of the Highland Main Line Improvements Project aims to reduce the journey time further by around 10 minutes i…

20 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it made to support the retention of the CITB Construction Skills Scotland North Office in Inverness, which has closed.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: ConstructionSkills have confirmed that this is a relocation of their office within Inverness rather than a closure. However, I plan to write to the chair of ConstructionSkills to ask for reassurance that it will not impact on their service delivery.

16 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of what the economic impact would be of improved journey times by rail between (a) Inverness and (b) Aberdeen and (i) Edinburgh and (ii) Glasgow.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) appraisal, published in 2008, included a strategic assessment of economic impacts of its recommendations for upgrades to the Highland Main Line and the Aberdeen to Central Belt railways. The economic assessment i…

16 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the (a) Edinburgh Gateway and (b) Haymarket railway station improvements will be completed.

Answer · Keith Brown: The opening of Edinburgh gateway station will coincide with the introduction of a new tram stop in the Edinburgh gateway area. Commencement of works on the new station will be dependent on the completion of tram infrastructure works in the area. We continue t…

13 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reasons the proposed high-speed rail link from Edinburgh to Glasgow will use trains with a maximum speed of 140 mph instead of 225 mph.

Answer · Keith Brown: It is intended that we plan lines with the capability for 400 kilometre per hour (kph) operation. This is to future proof the new line and ensure technical interoperability with the HS2 line being developed in England. Transport Scotland has modelled the pro…

13 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4T-00120 by Keith Brown on 13 November 2012 (Official Report, c. 13318), what plans the minister has seen in relation to the high-speed rail project and the planned technology and whether these will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Cent…

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Partnership Group for High Speed Rail delivered a pre-appraisal planning report to me in January 2012. I will ensure that this is placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre. I am keen that Parliament is kept apprised of the detail of t…

13 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4T-00120 by Keith Brown on 13 November 2012 (Official Report, c. 13318), whether all of (a) the papers of the partnership group for high-speed rail and (b) the (i) information and (ii) reports that it has on the economic benefits of the proposals will …

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government has already placed the Partnership Group’s report [Fast Track Scotland, ISBN 978-1-908181-21-3] in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 54510). Copies were also sent to all MSPs directly in December 2011. I will be …

13 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many meetings have taken place between its officials and (a) Transport Scotland, (b) the Department for Transport, (c) industry bodies and (d) local authorities regarding the plans for a high speed rail link between Edinburgh and Glasgow announced on 12 November 2012, and on what dat…

Answer · Keith Brown: Since I announced the formation the Scottish Partnership Group for High Speed Rail on 21 June 2011 officials have worked in partnership with those organisations referred to in your question. In the context of this question it is officials from Transport Scot…

8 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to an independent Scotland's membership of the EU, what its position is on the statement by Catalonia's regional leader, Artur Mas, on 7 November 2012 that "The European treaties do not say Catalonia can stay in the EU, but they don't say the opposite either.”

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I would refer the member to the Deputy First Minister’s statement on 23 October 2012 and her speech in the debate on the Future of Scotland on 30 October 2012.

7 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will open applications for a further round of Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP) funding for farmers and crofters; whether any funds remain in individual SRDP budget lines in the existing programme, and what advice it is giving to potential applicants and the agencies re…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: As I set out to the Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee on 19 September 2012, we are in the final stages of the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP) with limited budget remaining. As such any future rounds must be focused on key spe…

24 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide a substantive answer to question S4W-09705, which received a holding response from John Swinney on 2 October 2012, and what the reason is for the delay.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-09705 on 29 October 2012. 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/parliamentaryb…

24 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of paragraph 41 of Audit Scotland’s report, Scotland’s colleges: Current finances, future challenges, whether it plans to instruct the Scottish Funding Council to collect data on the number of potential students to colleges who apply but do not obtain a place.

Answer · Michael Russell: We are working with the Scottish Funding Council to examine college procedures for gathering data on the number and circumstances of people who are unsuccessful in obtaining a college place. This work will also address our concerns about waiting lists as an a…

22 Oct 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to support an independent Scottish office of budget responsibility.

2 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W–09704 by Richard Lochhead on 2 October 2012, what the average Less Favoured Area Support Scheme expenditure was in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09, (c) 2009-10, (d) 2010-11 and (e) 2011-12, broken down by (i) Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate area…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Further to the answer to question S4W-09704, the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS) is one of the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP) schemes where we can break down the expenditure by Rural Payments and Inspections Division (RPID) area office.…

2 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W–09701 by Richard Lochhead on 2 October 2012, when it will publish the Scotland Rural Development Programme review, annual and evaluation reports.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government published the First Stage Review and Mid-term Evaluation of the 2007-2013 Scotland Rural Development Programme back in May 2009 and December 2010 respectively. The Scottish Government is required to submit to the European Commission e…

2 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W–09704 by Richard Lochhead on 2 October 2012, what the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme expenditure was in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09, (c) 2009-10, (d) 2010-11 and (e) 2011-12, also broken down by (i) Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate area of…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Further to the answer to question S4W-09704, the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS) is one of the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP) schemes where we can break down the expenditure by Rural Payments and Inspections Division (RPID) area office.…

2 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W–09702 by Richard Lochhead on 2 October 2012, how many Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate customers there were in 2011-12, broken down by area office, and what its definition of customer is.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Further to my answer to S4W-09702, we have determined the number of Rural Payments and Inspections Division (RPID) customers in terms of the number of Single Application Forms (SAF) submitted across Scotland. This amounted to 21,747 applications in 2012. Appl…

1 Oct 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what provision has been made in the schools building programme for artificial full-sized sports pitches.

26 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on who will pay for the creation and distribution of new croft maps that crofters will use as part of the crofting register requirements.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Costs in relation to the provision of a map to accompany an application to register a croft are expected to be low. Crofters may have existing maps which have been prepared for other purposes but which show the croft extent; such maps can, if they accord with…

18 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which of the ministerial engagements and events listed on its website took place at Bute House in 2011-12.

Answer · John Swinney: Information regarding events hosted by Scottish Government Ministers at Bute House in 2011 is proactively published on the Scottish Government website, detailing the date, host, location and guest list. It can be accessed at the following link: http://www.s…