Parliamentary questions

Jeremy Purvis

909 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

7 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with (a) Transport Scotland, (b) Partnerships UK and (c) the Waverley Railway Partnership regarding the funding of the Borders rail project through the non-profit distributing model.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-10781 on 25 March 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp…

7 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why it considers that the non-profit distributing model is better suited to the Borders rail project than the Edinburgh tram scheme.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The use of the Regulated Asset Base (RAB) or non-profit distribution (NPD) funding models offer maximum value for money and flexibility for projects of this nature. The procurement route chosen for the Edinburgh tram project is a matter for Edinburgh City Cou…

7 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why the decision was taken to fund the Borders rail project through the non-profit distributing model instead of traditional funding methods.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The use of non-profit distribution (NPD) funding models offer maximum value for money and flexibility for a project of this nature. </ht

7 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many projects in Scotland it plans to develop in future using the non-profit distributing model.

Answer · John Swinney: There are plans to take forward the procurement of the Borders Railway project using the non-profit distributing (NPD) model. The NPD model has already been used in schools and has now extended into the health sector. The model will be developed for use in ot…

7 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many projects in Scotland have been developed using the non-profit distributing model.

Answer · John Swinney: There have been three projects in Scotland completed using the non-profit distributing (NPD) model. These projects are in the schools sector and are now in construction. There are also a further four projects at various stages of procurement currently using t…

7 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive over what proportion of the asset life of the Borders rail project the project capital will be repaid by annual service charges.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We would expect repayment of debt to take place over 25 to 30 years

7 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the project capital of the Borders rail project will be borrowed from financial markets.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: It is anticipated that all capital for the Borders rail project will be borrowed from financial markets through the NPD Special Purpose Vehicle or via Network Rail''s Regulated Asset Base (RAB).

7 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the capital expenditure for the Borders rail project will come from the regulated asset base provided by Network Rail.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The capital expenditure for the Borders rail project will come from the non-profit distributing model which does not rely on the Regulated Asset Base (RAB) provided by Network Rail, but does not preclude its use in the event of Network Rail being selected as …

7 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how, in relation to the funding of the Borders rail project, it will attract investment into the non-profit distributing model.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Established markets exist for both senior and junior debt. The procurement process will allow for thorough dialogue with lenders.

7 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in relation to the funding of the Borders rail project, it has any concerns that the financial market will be cautious about investing in an unproven delivery model.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: In the current testing financial times, investors will move to high-quality investments. Financial markets are already expressing considerable interest in providing funding via this excellent investment opportunity.

7 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the target date is for the opening of the Borders rail line.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The target date for the opening of the Borders rail line will be immediately after the construction is completed and the testing and commissioning has taken place, which is currently scheduled for 2013.

7 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the target date is for the construction of the Borders rail project to be completed.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: As announced in my statement to Parliament on 5 March 2008, the target date for the construction of the Borders rail project to be completed is anticipated to be 2013.

7 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the target date is for the procurement process of the Borders rail project to be completed.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The target date for the procurement process of the Borders rail project to be completed i.e. financial close with the preferred Bidder, is currently scheduled for the end of 2010.

7 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the target date is for the design stage of the Borders rail project to be completed.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The current target date for the outline specimen design stage of the Borders rail project to be completed is mid-October 2008. Final design will be the responsibility of the winning contractor/concessionary vehicle.

7 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will guarantee that track will be laid for the Borders rail project before May 2011.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: As answered in my statement to Parliament on 5 March 2008 construction is planned to commence for the Borders rail project within the life of this Parliament.

7 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the construction of overbridges at Shawfair constitutes commencement of the Borders rail project.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The construction of the overbridges at Shawfair does not constitute the commencement of the Borders rail project. The overbridges are part of the plans and access road requirements to the Shawfair site for the residential, retail and commercial devel…

7 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether all the construction costs of the Borders rail project will be required to be met before the construction of the line commences.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The terms and conditions of the Borders rail project will be required to be met by the successful tenderer before the construction of the line commences.

7 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will underwrite the construction costs of the Borders rail project.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Construction costs are borne by the non-profit distributing (NPD) company which in turn receive Unitary Charge payments over the lifetime of the contract.

7 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the non-profit distributing model to fund the Borders rail project will be established.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The non-profit distributing model to fund the Borders rail project will be established on award of tender.

7 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what interest rate will be used for the return on the borrowing to fund the Borders rail project.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The actual interest rate will not be known until the project has reached financial close and will be dependent on such conditions as prevailing markets and negotiations with the successful bidder. Transport Scotland will monitor funding markets and will carry…

7 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what formal contact with Partnerships UK has taken place regarding the funding of the Borders rail project and when this contact was.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland has been in regular discussions with Partnerships UK (PUK) over funding of a number of our road and rail projects (including Borders), as recently as the day of my announcement. Transport Scotland are being advised by Ernst and Young on the…

7 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much capital funding from the Scottish budget will be invested in the construction of the Borders rail project.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Exact details of how much capital funding from the Scottish budget will be invested in the construction of the Borders rail project will be the subject of negotiations with the successful tenderer but is expected to be between the range of £235 million and £2…

7 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the construction costs of the Borders rail project will be funded through the Scottish Futures Trust or the proposed new non-profit distributing model.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Exact details of what proportion of the construction costs of the Borders rail project will be funded through the proposed non-profit distributing model will be the subject of negotiations with the successful tender but is expected to be between the range of …