- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 02 July 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 20 July 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to receive approval from the European Commission to proceed with the CalMac ferry service tender.
Answer
The Clyde and Hebridesferry services tendering process has been underway since October 2005 whenadvertisements were published in a range of outlets seeking expressions ofinterest in tendering for the contract. Following a pre-qualification process,invitations to tender were issued to two companies in December 2006. One ofthese companies subsequently withdrew. A bid was received from CalMac Ferriesby the closing date of 11 May. This is now being evaluated and an announcementon the conclusion of the exercise will be made shortly.
- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 02 July 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 20 July 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to providing financial support for ferry travel for people living and working in the Western Isles, similar to that available for air travel.
Answer
The Scottish Government iscommitted to commissioning a study into Road Equivalent Tariff as a mechanismfor reducing ferry fares. We will announce our plans for that study in duecourse.
- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 July 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 19 July 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what studies have been carried out into the economic and social benefits that would accrue to West Dunbartonshire following construction of the North Clyde Development Route.
Answer
Any studies conducted inconnection with the construction of the North Clyde Development Route are a matterfor West Dunbartonshire and Glasgow City Councils.
- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 July 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 19 July 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will commit to construction of the North Clyde Development Route.
Answer
The construction of the North Clyde Development Route is a matter for West Dunbartonshire Council andGlasgow City Council as the local roads authorities responsible for the areawithin which the scheme would be constructed.
- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 July 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 19 July 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is in respect of reported comments by Councillor Ian Chisholm that SNP councillors in Fife favour a tunnel under the Forth and his statement in a letter to the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change that “I think the consensus view with the public at large is for a tunnel”.
Answer
It is Scottish ministers’ responsibilityto make the correct decision on the type of replacement Forth crossingbased on a factual analysis of the evidence available. Transport Scotland willhold Public Information Events over the summer to hear the views of the people whowill be affected by the crossing.
- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 02 July 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 19 July 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration will be given to the study commissioned by the South East of Scotland Transport Partnership and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport concerning a high-speed rail link between Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Answer
The study commissioned bythe South East of Scotland Transport Partnership and Strathclyde Partnershipfor Transport will be considered as part of the wider options for the Edinburghto Glasgow route to improve reliability, attractiveness and journey timesthrough the Strategic Transport Projects Review.
- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 July 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 17 July 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish any reports on the cost of the proposed dualling of the A9 from Perth to Inverness.
Answer
The most recent studyon dualling sections of the A9 was the A9 Perth to Blair Atholl Route ImprovementStrategy Study which is available on the Transport Scotland website at:
http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/defaultpage1221cde0.aspx?pageID=109&rlID=585.Further scoping workis underway and this will feed into the Strategic Transport Projects Review whichis due to report in June 2008.
- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 July 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 17 July 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there have been economic advantages to the Scottish economy as a result of implementation of the Air Route Development Fund and the reduced need for short-haul flights through hub airports.
Answer
The Scottish Executive’sRoute Development Fund has contributed substantially to the growth of direct internationalair routes to and from Scotland. As a result, Scotland is now much betterconnected to the rest of Europe and served by a growing number of intercontinentalconnections to key markets in North America, the Middle East and beyond, reducingthe reliance on connecting internal UK flights and providing journey time savingsfor both business and inbound tourists.
- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 02 July 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 17 July 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding mechanism will be used to cover the costs of building a new Forth crossing.
Answer
Further work on fundingoptions for the crossing will take place over the summer to allow a decision tobe made in autumn 2007.
- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 02 July 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 17 July 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what estimated costs are associated with moving the International School of Aberdeen from the preferred route of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.
Answer
The compensation payableis not yet known but will be paid in accordance with relevant legislation and willbe assessed by the independent Valuation Office Agency.
