- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 20 March 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 17 April 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-10758 by Stewart Stevenson on 20 March 2008, from what date the proposal to dissolve the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland in order for it to be amalgamated with the Public Transport Users’ Committee will take effect.
Answer
It is planned that the Mobility and Accessibility Committee for Scotland would be dissolved with effect from 30 June 2008 to allow for the amalgamation with the Public Transport Users'' Committee for Scotland to take place on 1 July 2008.
- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 March 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 17 April 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact a 40% reduction in ferry fares for residents of Cumbrae, Arran, Mull and Islay would have on the economies of these islands.
Answer
The current study into Road Equivalent Study is considering the impact of a reduction in fares for all categories of passengers. The Scottish Government believes that is the way to stimulate economies in rural communities served by ferries. The suggestion to restrict the 40% to residents would have likely no, or little, impact on tourism.
- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 March 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 17 April 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost per mile is for (a) passengers, (b) average sized passenger cars and (c) large commercial vehicles on ferry routes to (i) Arran and Cumbrae, (ii) Islay and Mull and (iii) the Western Isles.
Answer
The first phase of the report of the study into road equivalent tariff is currently being finalised. The report will include details of the cost per mile for (a) passengers, (b) average-sized passenger cars and (c) large commercial vehicles on ferry routes to (i) Arran and Cumbrae, (ii) Islay and Mull and (iii) the Western Isles.
As indicated in my answer to question S3W-10834 on 25 March 2008. I will ensure that you are sent a copy of the report. The report will be published shortly.
All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.
- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 March 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 17 April 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average incomes are on (a) Cumbrae, (b) Islay, (c) Mull and (d) the Western Isles.
Answer
We only hold figures at local authority level therefore I am unable to provide the average incomes for (a) Cumbrae, (b) Islay or (c) Mull. The average weekly income in (d) the Western Isles in 2007 was £445.20. The source of this information is the 2007 Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) by the Office of National Statistics(ONE).
- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 March 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 17 April 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what studies into road equivalent tariffs have been commissioned using public funds in the last five years, also showing which have been published.
Answer
The Scottish Government is currently undertaking a study into road equivalent tariff (RET). Details of that study will be published in due course. I understand that no such studies had been undertaken by the previous administration.
We are not aware of any other such studies. However in January 2006 the Scottish Transport Studies Group published the findings of the research paper Western Isles Fares Mechanism, a joint research project by Napier University''s Employment Research Institute and Transport Research Institute Maritime Research Group in partnership with Pederson Consulting for Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. The report considered the use of RET.
- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 14 March 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 17 April 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how many planning approvals will be necessary by 2010 to meet the criteria for consents for housing development set by it as one of the conditions of funding for the Waverley railway project.
Answer
Details of the number of planning approvals and housing developments required to meet the funding conditions set for the Waverley Railway project can be found in the development plans for both Midlothian and Scottish Borders councils.
Finalised Midlothian local plan (2006):
http://www.midlothian.gov.uk/images/cms/PDFs/local_plans/Finalised_MidlothianLP_06.pdf.
Midlothian, Shawfair development:
http://www.midlothian.gov.uk/images/localplan/Shawfair_localplandoc.pdf.
Scottish Borders Council local plan (2005):
http://www.scotborders.gov.uk/life/planningandbuilding/localplan/.
- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 March 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 15 April 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how much grant aided expenditure (GAE) was awarded to West Dumbartonshire Council in 2008-09 and what the comparative figure would have been if the GAE had been increased in line with the average annual increase across all local authorities.
Answer
Under the terms of the concordat with local government, the Scottish Government no longer uses grant aided expenditure provision to indicate the government''s spending priorities.
- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 14 March 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 15 April 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-10525 by Stewart Stevenson on 13 March 2008, when the Strategic Transport Project Review will commence; when the outcome will be known, and how it will be reported to the Parliament.
Answer
The Strategic Transport Projects Review commenced in August 2006 and the indicative transport investment plan arising from this review will be announced later this year.
- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 March 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 3 April 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how much was allocated to West Dumbartonshire from the Supporting People Fund in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2007-08 and what the percentage difference is in real terms.
Answer
West Dunbartonshire Council was allocated £14.355 million of Supporting People grant in 2007-08. From 1 April 2008, the Supporting People baseline was transferred in its entirely into the financial settlement for each local authority, and is therefore no longer separately identifiable.
- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 March 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 27 March 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there have been any revised costings for the proposed Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route; if so, whether these show that there have been any financial savings from the original estimated costs and, if not, whether any revised costings will be produced and made available prior to the public local inquiry into the route.
Answer
The cost estimate for the scheme is £295 million to £395 million. This is based on the risks currently identified but we will continue to monitor this in light of prevailing tender prices for roads contracts.
