Oliver Mundell

22 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many accidents on the A77 have been recorded by Transport Scotland in each of the last five years.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The following table contains details of the personal injury accident statistics on the A77 for the latest five full calendar years (2011 – 2015). Year Fatal Serious Slight TOTAL 2011 0 12 47 59 2012 1 8 52 61 2013 5 7 43 55 2014 2 5 …

22 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many organisations in Dumfries and Galloway have received support from its CashBack for Communities scheme.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Between 2008 and the end of March 2016, £1,037,636 of CashBack activities funding has been invested in the Dumfries and Galloway area, delivering 52,728 activities and opportunities for young people. Information on the organisations in Dumfries and Galloway w…

21 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether, in light of the proposed merger between British Transport Police (BTP) and Police Scotland, the number of BTP officers will counted towards its pledge to maintain officer numbers above 17,234.

Answer · Michael Matheson: BTP officers are not currently included in the figures giving the number of full-time equivalent officers in Scotland. Following the merger between BTP and Police Scotland any comparison of officer numbers in Scotland with the position prior to the merger wou…

20 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has for establishing a South of Scotland Enterprise Zone.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government's core purpose is to deliver sustainable economic growth with opportunities for all to flourish. Enterprise Areas (enterprise zones is the term used in England and Wales) are specifically targeted on sites and sectors where there are …

20 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider establishing new enterprise zones as part of its Enterprise and Skills review to include towns that have seen a decline in the textiles industry.

Answer · Keith Brown: As indicated in response to S5O-00145 and S5O-00146 on 15 September 2016 the Enterprise and Skills Review will be taken forward through a phased approach, with phase one reporting shortly on key recommendations for change across a number of areas while phase …

20 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to strengthen whistleblowing provision in Police Scotland.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Whistleblowing policies for Police Scotland are a matter for the Chief Constable, with oversight by the Scottish Police Authority.

14 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to assist Scotland TranServ with repair works on the A76.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government continues to invest in the maintenance of the A76 trunk road. Investment over financial years 2014-15 and 2015-16 has totalled £5.76 million. This includes continued expenditure on landslip/embankment stability works which include grou…

14 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assurances it has had or sought from Scotland TranServ regarding the timetable for completion of the works on the A76 between Sanquhar and Thornhill.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Transport Scotland meets regularly with Scotland Transerv to review the timetable for the completion of the works and is currently looking for opportunities to accelerate the programme for completion.

14 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the A76 between Sanquhar and Thornhill was last open as a two-lane highway without the use of temporary traffic lights.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: This section of the A76 was last open without temporary traffic lights in mid-September 2014 following landslides. The traffic lights at Auchensell Pool and Enterkinfoot are necessary to maintain the integrity of the road embankments, whilst construction solu…

14 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made regarding the potential economic impact that road works on the A76 are having on communities in Upper Nithsdale.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: No specific economic impact assessment has been undertaken. However, daily monitoring of the traffic light operation is undertaken to help ensure that any delays to road users are minimised. We continue to engage with local stakeholders such as the local auth…

14 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it became aware of outstanding repair works on the A76 between Sanquhar and Thornhill.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Transport Scotland were first aware of slope stability issues in Enterkinfoot in mid-September 2014.

14 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many times have temporary traffic lights in operation on the A76 have failed in the last 12 months.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The temporary lights on the A76 at Enterkinfoot have ceased to operate as required on five occasions. These were identified through the Operating Company’s daily inspections and were quickly made serviceable again.

14 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has invested in the A76 in each year since 2007.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Since 2007 a total of £39,023,818 has been invested in the A76. This figure includes £5,553,485 investment for the Glen Airlie improvement scheme. 2007-08 4,724,987 2008-09 6,566,315 2009-10 4,581,316 2010-11 7,058,087 2011-12 3,507,476 2012-13 4,…

14 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions ministers have had with Transport Scotland regarding outstanding repair works on the A76.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Transport Scotland is part of the Scottish Government and discussions/meetings with Ministers occur regularly in thenormal course of business. This specific issue was most recently discussed in early September.

14 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the re-opening of junction 45 to northbound traffic on the M6.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: There have been no direct discussions between the Scottish Government and the UK Government. However there have been on-going discussions over a number of years between Highways England (formerly Highways Agency), Transport Scotland, Local Authorities and Com…

14 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many Transport Scotland staff have been based in each local authority area in each year since 2007.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Transport Scotland has two main office locations, one in Glasgow and one in Edinburgh, with additional staff on site at the Forth Replacement Crossing, Fife. Both the main Glasgow and Edinburgh locations are where the bulk of Transport Scotland staff are perm…

14 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve accessibility on rural public transport.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Going Further- Scotland’s Accessible Travel Framework was published on 21 September 2016. Accessibility issues in urban and rural areas will be an important focus of work through the 10 year lifetime of the Framework. The Scottish Government is investing in …

14 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it has given to (a) Dumfries and Galloway Council and (b) Dumfries and Galloway NHS board to ensure that adequate transport infrastructure is in place to support the new Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary.

Answer · Shona Robison: Through the £212 million investment in the replacement Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary, NHS Dumfries and Galloway will discharge the conditions associated with the planning consent for the new hospital, including required improvements to a major trunk r…

14 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the estimated cost was of its transport summit in Dumfries on 22 August 2016.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The total cost of the transport summit was approximately £5,000.

14 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many hours it estimates that its staff spent on preparing for the transport summit in Dumfries on 22 August 2016.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Transport Scotland staff do not routinely record the time spent on individual projects, hence we do not hold that information.

14 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what criteria was used to decide which local transport groups should be invited to the transport summit in Dumfries on 22 August 2016.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: In order to ensure a focussed discussion took place at the summit invitations were issued to key representatives and stakeholders including local politicians, members of Dumfries & Galloway Council, along with transport and port operators, business groups, th…

14 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what commitments and undertakings were given by ministers at the transport summit in Dumfries on 22 August 2016.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: A draft report on the proceedings of the summit was published on the Transport Scotland website on the 19 September. Contained within it were a number of action points that the Scottish Government will take forward. This confirms that Transport Scotland will…

14 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that local authorities share best practice regarding road repair and maintenance.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-02824 on 27 September 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusine…

14 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what technical advice and support it offers local authorities to assist with local road repairs.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government is continuing to co-fund the Road Collaboration Programme. The Programme was established in December 2013 to explore opportunities for road authorities to share services and is overseen by a Board comprising Transport Scotland, members…

14 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the creation of a rural roads repair fund, following the findings of the recent Audit Scotland report, Maintaining Scotland's Roads, A follow-up report.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 places statutory responsibility for local roads, including structures, improvements, maintenance and repair with local roads authorities. The Scottish Government has allocated over £10.3 billion to local government in 2016-17 and…

14 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to review the financial support given to local authorities to assist with local road repairs following the recent Audit Scotland report, Maintaining Scotland's Roads, A follow-up report.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-02822 on 27 September 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusin…

14 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that local authorities fulfil their statutory duties regarding roads repairs.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: While local authorities are responsible for ensuring they are fulfilling their statutory obligations regarding the maintenance of local roads in their area, the Scottish Government is committed to working with local authorities to ensure the efficient mainten…

14 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to review technical support given to local authorities to assist with local road repairs, following the recent Audit Scotland report, Maintaining Scotland's Roads, A follow-up report.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-02824 on 27 September 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusine…

14 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact that sub-standard roads are having on the economy following the recent Audit Scotland report, Maintaining Scotland's Roads, A follow-up report.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government recognises that road infrastructure in Scotland is hugely important in promoting sustainable economic growth. Since 2007, over £8.2 billion has been invested in our Motorways and Trunk Road Network and we are currently committed to the…

14 Sep 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to ensure that local authorities work together to ensure the viability of strategically important bus services.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government has regular ongoing engagement with local authorities and Regional Transport Partnerships (RTPs) through a range of fora, including the Association of Transport Coordinating Officers (ATCO), RTP lead officer and chairs meetings and the…