Derek Brownlee

23 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what implications the increase in construction costs for the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine railway line project has for the Waverley railway line.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The increase in construction costs for the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine railway will not impact on the funding available to support construction of the Borders railway.</p>

23 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish a report detailing the reasons for the increase in construction costs for the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine railway line.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive is commissioning a lessons learned report from the Stirling–Alloa–Kincardine project and that report will be published in due course.</p>

18 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria it uses to assess requests for additional funding for capital construction costs in respect of transport infrastructure.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive considers such requests on a case by case basis. It takes into consideration all relevant factors including whether the scheme still represents value for money; whether the original objectives of the scheme would still be met; the exten…

18 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider any request from the promoters of the Waverley Line for additional funding.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Any request for additional funding by the Waverley Railway Partnership will be considered on its merits by the Scottish Executive.</p>

18 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the likely cost of constructing the Waverley Line.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive has reviewed the cost estimate prepared by the Waverley Railway Partnership. Independent assessments of the likely costs of constructing the Waverley Line have also been carried out.</p>

18 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has given any consideration to the possibility of cost overruns in the construction of the Waverley Line.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive has made it clear that one of the conditions for its continued support for the Borders Railway is the development and delivery of a clear and comprehensive risk management strategy by the Waverley Railway Partnership.</p>

17 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what projections it has made in respect of police staffing levels in Lothian and Borders police in (a) 2006, (b) 2007 and (c) 2008.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Since the practice of setting establishments was abolished in 1996, police staffing levels have been a matter for each Chief Constable.</p> <p>The levels of Police Grant Aided Expenditure (GAE) allocated to Lothian and Borders Police in 2006-07 and 2007-08 ar…

17 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many unfilled vacancies for police officers there are in Lothian and Borders police and at what level, broken down by division.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: This information is not held centrally. The management of vacancies in Lothian and Borders Police is a matter for the Chief Constable.</p>

17 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers in Lothian and Borders police are eligible for retirement in (a) 2005, (b) 2006, (c) 2007 and (d) 2008, broken down by division.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The information requested is shown, by force, in the following table:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p>Year</p></td> <td> <p align=center>No. of Officers</p> <p align=center>Eligible to Retire</p…

17 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what projections it has made in respect of police staffing levels in Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary in (a) 2006, (b) 2007 and (c) 2008.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Since the practice of setting establishments was abolished in 1996, police staffing levels have been a matter for each Chief Constable.</p> <p>The levels of Police Grant Aided Expenditure (GAE) allocated to Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary in 2006-07 and 20…

17 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many unfilled vacancies for police officers there are in Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary and at what level.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: This information is not held centrally. The management of vacancies in Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary is a matter for the Chief Constable.</p>

17 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers in Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary are eligible for retirement in (a) 2005, (b) 2006, (c) 2007 and (d) 2008.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The information requested is shown in the following table:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p>Year</p></td> <td> <p align=center>No. of Officers</p> <p align=center>Eligible to Retire</p></td> …

16 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost is of the "It's Only Natural" renewable energy information tour, announced on 15 August 2005.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The tour is estimated to cost around £400,000.</p>

15 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued to Lothian and Borders Fire Board on the use of the Fire Service Emergency Cover toolkit.

Answer · Hugh Henry: The Fire Service Emergency Cover (FSEC) toolkit was given to all the Scottish fire and rescue services in September 2003. HM Fire Service Inspectorate issued a Scottish Fire Service Circular 4/2003 on 3 April 2003 which gave information and advice on the tool…

5 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the A6091/A7 Route Action Plan Study.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive will publish an Executive summary of the findings of the A6091/A7 Route Action Plan Study in the spring of 2006.</p>

5 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to implement the upgrading of the existing overtaking section of the A7 at Wrae, as set out in the A7 Route Action Plan.

Answer · Tavish Scott: There are no current plans to implement the Wrae scheme.</p>

5 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to implement the upgrading of the existing overtaking section of the A7 at Mosspaul, as set out in the A7 Route Action Plan.

Answer · Tavish Scott: There are no current plans to implement the Mosspaul scheme.</p>

5 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to implement the upgrading of the existing overtaking section of the A7 at Branxholm, as set out in the A7 Route Action Plan.

Answer · Tavish Scott: There are no current plans to implement the Branxholm scheme.</p>

5 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to upgrade the A7 south of Galashiels.

Answer · Tavish Scott: A realignment of the A7 at Auchenrivock is in preparation and we hope to publish draft statutory orders later this year. A further scheme at Glenmayne is currently being reviewed.</p>

5 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will bring the A7 north of Galashiels within the trunk road network.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The A7 north of Galashiels was detrunked in 1996. There are no plans to bring it back into the trunk road network.</p>