Charlie Gordon

18 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of its £500 million grant to the Edinburgh tram scheme has been paid to its promoters.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: 71% of the £500 million grant for the Edinburgh Tram scheme has been paid to the promoter, City of Edinburgh Council.</p>

3 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what ministerial guidance was given to Transport Scotland before it advised First ScotRail to proceed with plans for train services on the Airdrie-Bathgate rail line to be driver-only operated.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government''s priority is firstly safety and then efficiency. Ministers'' guidance was that the Airdrie to Bathgate services should be implemented on the basis of these priorities. Advice provided to ministers from ORR, RAIB and RSSB has consiste…

28 Apr 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the transport projects for which completion dates have altered since May 2007, showing original and revised completion dates.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Please find the requested information below which has been split into Road and Rail Projects:</p> <p >Trunk Road Programme</p> <p >The current Scottish Motorway and Trunk Road Programme is available from Transport Scotland''s website at: </p> <p ><a href="…

28 Apr 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the open-access train operators that operate wholly or partly on railways in Scotland.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: As well as freight operators DB Schenker, Freightliner, GB Rail and Direct Rail Services, which operate on an open access basis, there are a small number of charter operators, such as West Coast Railways, who provide limited services aimed at the tourist and …

26 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it would cost it to extend the Road Equivalent Tariff pilot to all ferry routes on the Clyde and to the Argyll islands.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: It is estimated that the additional revenue cost of extending the Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) pilot to all ferry routes on the Clyde and the Argyll islands is in the range of £10 million to £14 million per annum.</p> <p >The £10 million figure assumes an in…

26 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it would cost it per annum to retain free ferry travel on Clyde routes for island and peninsular residents aged over 60.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: That is entirely a matter for the Strathclyde Concessionary Travel Scheme Joint Committee to consider. We have not looked at the costs of the scheme.</p>

26 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will respond to the request from Strathclyde Partnership for Transport for additional resources for local concessionary travel and what that response will be.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: A reply was issued on 14 April 2010 to Councillor Robert Burrows, Chairman of the Strathclyde Concessionary Travel Scheme Joint Committee, request to include the free ferry element of its concessionary travel scheme in the Scotland-wide Free Bus Travel Scheme…

26 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much a 40% discount for all island and peninsular residents across all ferry routes would cost the Scottish Government to introduce in comparison with the current and future costs of the Road Equivalent Tariff pilot.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The information required to answer this question is not available.</p>

26 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive by (a) how much in cash terms and (b) what percentage have all Calmac ferry fares (i) on the Clyde, (ii) to the Western Isles and (iii) across the rest of the network increased or decreased since May 2007.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: It is not possible to provide the annual changes in cash terms, given the complexity of the CalMac fares structure. The percentage changes from May 2007 are as follows:</p> <p >March 2008</p> <p >From March 2008 the fares increased across the whole network …

1 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what resources are in place for further education colleges to support students with learning difficulties.

Answer · Keith Brown: Under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (as amended in 2005), all colleges are expected to meet their statutory duties and as such need to consider their provision for all students with learning difficulties. </p> <p >Institutions are expected to meet t…

29 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many registered holders of entitlement cards under the free bus travel scheme there were in (a) 2007-08 and (b) 2008-09.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scotland-Wide Free Bus Travel for Older and Disabled People Scheme is delivered through the National Entitlement Card, a multi-application smartcard developed by Scotland''s local authorities with the support of the Scottish Government.</p> <p >Informati…

13 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many holders of entitlement cards for local concessionary travel schemes who were in receipt of the lower rate of disability living allowance were admitted initially to the free bus travel scheme when it commenced.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: During April 2006, when the National Concessionary Travel scheme started, approximately 820,000 existing local concessionary scheme cardholders passported into the Scotland-wide scheme without undergoing a formal re-assessment of their entitlement. This inclu…

9 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29023 by Stewart Stevenson on 3 December 2009, what determination payments are made to Network Rail, broken down by instalments for each project.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3O-8878 on 17 December 2009. The answer to the oral parliamentary question is available on the Parliaments website, the official report can be viewed at </p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/busine…

2 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many students or former students are being pursued for outstanding debts relating to the former graduate endowment.

Answer · Michael Russell: Over 22,000 individuals have paid the graduate endowment, either directly or by student loan. Only 882 individuals have yet to make arrangements for payment.</p>

24 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it indemnifies the ScotRail franchisee against any adverse financial consequences of industrial disputes in the rail industry.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Franchise Agreement between Scottish Ministers and the ScotRail franchisee which was drawn up by the previous administration and has applied since 2004, allows the franchisee to ask for reimbursement for net losses as a result of industrial action providi…

24 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when all services provided by the new Victoria Hospital will be fully operational.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Renal Dialysis Unit moved from Gartnavel General to the new Victoria Hospital on Sunday 22 November 2009.</p> <p >The laboratory at the new Victoria Hospital will be made operational when the remainder of the Victoria Infirmary closes down and the new …

17 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what projects Network Rail has contracted to finance, on behalf of the Scottish Government, from borrowing against its regulated asset base, broken down by (a) project and (b) repayment timescales.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Periodic Review for Control Period 4 (2009-14) includes confirmation from the Office of Rail Regulation that the projects Airdrie to Bathgate, GARL mainline and Glasgow Barrhead Kilmarnock are funded through the Network Rail Regulatory Asset Base (RAB). T…

12 Nov 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected increase in traffic volume is on the M8 motorway between the south side of the Kingston Bridge and Glasgow Airport as a result of the cancellation of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link (GARL).

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We would only expect there to be a negligible impact on traffic volume on the M8 motorway as a result of cancelling the GARL project.</p> <p >The Environmental Statement for the GARL project, developed by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport in January 2006…

30 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will grant additional funding to Glasgow City Council in recognition of the metropolitan services provided by it and, if so, when.

Answer · John Swinney: We have no plans to grant additional funding to Glasgow City Council in recognition of the metropolitan services provided by it. The Scottish Government already provides substantial financial support to Glasgow City Council to assist it in delivering services…

18 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it will spend on transport projects associated with the 2014 Commonwealth Games bid document, broken down by project and expenditure.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Current projected spend on transport projects already under construction or planned and associated with the 2014 Commonwealth Games include:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <tr > <td width=379 valign=top > <p align=center >Project T…

18 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it will contribute to the costs of the Fastlink project in Glasgow.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I have asked my officials to discuss further with Glasgow City Council officials a Scottish Government financial contribution to an initial phase of the Fastlink initiative.</p>

18 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on the Glasgow Airport Rail Link.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Since acquiring powers for the Glasgow Airport Rail Link (GARL) project in January 2007, which was subsequently combined with Paisley Corridor Renewal works in June 2007, the total spent on the combined project to date (September 2009) is £47.64million excl V…

18 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been saved following the cancellation of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Current, conservative estimates, of the savings which should result, officials having already commenced cancellation procedures on the basis of ministers decision, is £170 million. Consequently any decision to reinstate these works at a later date would be at…

21 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider including gluten-free breakfast cereals on the list of foods available on prescription to patients with coeliac disease.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Advisory Council for Borderline Substances (ACBS) is a UK-wide body that complies the Borderline Substances List which sets out the gluten-free items available on prescription throughout the UK. Gluten-free breakfast cereals are not currently included in …

8 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering making representations to Network Rail that the upgrading of track gauges on the East Coast Main Line to accommodate larger freight loads should extend into Scotland.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22707 on 29 April 2009. 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/Apps2/…

2 Apr 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will respond to the implications for Scotland arising from the final report of the Competition Commission’s BAA airports market investigation.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Competition in the airport sector can drive investment, innovation and the further development of Scotland''s direct international air links. This can make Scotland more accessible for inbound tourists and can improve business connectivity, contribution to su…

5 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of delays in the supply of pharmaceuticals to community pharmacists and consequently to patients as a result of the direct-to-pharmacy supply schemes recently introduced by pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Answer · Shona Robison: A number of pharmaceutical manufacturers have changed their distribution systems and we are aware of the various issues that affect the supply of medicines to community pharmacies. Whilst the method of medicines distribution is a commercial decision for the m…

16 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will respond to the UK Government’s recent announcement to develop the high speed two rail line.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government will continue to engage with UK Ministers and other stakeholders to work towards achieving our long-term policy ambition of establishing a high-speed rail link between Scotland and London.</b></p>

15 Jan 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the operation of GHA (Management) Ltd should be regulated and, if so, how.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: <i > This PQ was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></b></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0115-01.htm">http://www.scotti…

7 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied with the effectiveness in Scotland of the UK Fireworks Act 2003 and the Fireworks (Scotland) Regulations 2004.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17545 on 19 November 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/Ap…